Hyundai Creta Petrol SX Premium CVT

Autocar India

•22h

With around 70 percent highway driving, a diesel SUV is still very well suited to your requirements. In fact, your usage should normally be sufficient to keep the DPF healthy, provided the vehicle is regularly driven at sustained speeds. The fact that the DPF warning light is appearing after relatively short city runs suggests there could be an underlying issue that needs investigation rather than this being purely a usage-related problem.Before taking the significant financial hit of selling a 3.5-year-old vehicle, it would be worth getting the car thoroughly inspected by Hyundai and escalating the matter if necessary. A healthy diesel vehicle should not be causing repeated DPF concerns with your mix of highway and city driving.As for the alternatives, the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engines in the Creta and Seltos are smooth, refined and hassle-free, but they will feel less effortless on the highway and will not match the diesel's fuel efficiency. The Venue 1.2 petrol would be an even bigger step down in performance.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•2d

Go ahead with the Seltos in October; it already offers the same core package the new-gen Creta is likely to bring, without waiting on launch dates or risking a price jump. Both share engines and most features, and the Seltos’ facelift brought all the modern, feel-good bits, so you are not missing anything major. October also tends to bring festival deals, and quicker delivery on the Seltos, which you can actually use.The next-gen Creta is likely to hit showrooms in the first half of 2027. And even post launch, deliveries could take a few weeks. Hence, your wait is likely to get even longer.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•1d

If you can install a charger at home and have charging stations on the route to your destination, an EV does make sense for your heavy use. Under Rs. 20 lakh, consider the Tata Curvv EV with the 55kWh battery pack. In our real world tests, it managed 352km on the highway which means your 350km journey is possible with a quick stop in between to top up. It also has good ground clearance and rides well, so it will deal with village roads nicely.For under Rs. 30 lakh, consider the Mahindra XEV 9e with the 79kWh battery pack. In our tests, it managed 488km on the highway meaning with some care, your 350km journey is possible in one go. You will need to charge at your destination though. EVs are less efficient on the highway and particularly with a full load require care to ensure the battery doesn't deplete too quickly. Your charging stops will also need to be planned in advance and there is possibility that you will have to wait at a stop for charge to become available. If this seems like too much work, then stick to a diesel. Under Rs. 20 lakh, consider the Kia Seltos diesel or the Hyundai Creta diesel. Under 30 lakh, you could consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO or the Scorpio N. All of these will comfortably manage village roads and do long highway stints without worries.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Tata Curvv EV

Hyundai Creta

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra Scorpio N

Autocar India

•3d

The Mahindra Scorpio Classic still makes the most sense for your requirements. Coming from a Bolero Storm, the Scorpio Classic will feel familiar in terms of its rugged nature, commanding driving position and ability to tackle rough roads, highways and hilly terrain with ease. Even though your monthly running is only around 700km, the Scorpio's diesel engine should not pose any issues as long as the vehicle is driven regularly and occasionally taken on longer runs.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol are more modern and refined vehicles. They are quieter, easier to drive in traffic and better suited to urban commuting. Given your limited running, a petrol SUV is certainly the more logical choice from a purely financial perspective.However, your reasons for preferring the Scorpio are valid. If you value durability, high ground clearance, strong low-end performance and the ability to comfortably handle city roads, highways and hilly areas, the Scorpio Classic remains difficult to beat at its price point. It also offers a very different character from the Maruti and Hyundai.

Mahindra Scorpio Classic

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•4d

Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 diesel automatic - it is the one that best suits your 1,000km a month usage. On Chennai’s outskirts and your 400km trips to your native place, the diesel’s readily available torque at low revs makes highway cruising and overtaking effortless. Hilly sections are also taken with ease even with family and luggage, and it cruises at low revs, so fuel use on the highway will still be low. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and well suited to the engine, and the suspension is a great mix of softness and stability.However, the diesel variants cost more and the engine is a bit noisier than the petrol engine. Plus, Hyundai's 1.5-litre diesel engine is not as punchy or exciting as its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Do also note that a new-gen Hyundai Creta is going to be launched next year, in case you are able to wait for that. Another alternative you can buy now is the Kia Seltos, which is a new-gen model, with similar strengths as the Creta and a more spacious cabin.If budget allows, choose a mid or top variant with all safety kit and ADAS functions, including adaptive cruise control - both will help on your long highway drives. If your budget is tight, maybe consider the diesel manual, rather than the automatic, which is also smooth and easy to drive.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•4d

Go for the Creta SX petrol manual. With your usage pattern, you'll appreciate the Creta's smoothness and stress-free ownership experience, which will feel familiar to your Baleno manual. It has a roomy cabin, it rides well over bad roads, and Hyundai service is everywhere.The Tata Curvv EV will be cheaper to run and nice to drive in the city - quiet, quick and single-pedal friendly. But your highway runs will require some planning for charging stops, and it also isn't as proven as the Creta.One honest catch with the Hyundai Creta is that you will spend more on fuel, and a manual can tire you in heavy traffic. If you are okay with that, the Creta is the safer, easier choice today.

Hyundai Creta

Tata Curvv EV

Autocar India

•1d

Pick a used Hyundai Creta petrol automatic. It keeps the easy, fuss-free feel you’re used to in the City, adds a higher seat and better ground clearance, and within Rs. 10 lakh, you’ll find clean 2018-19 cars with good kit or even the new 2020 model with a higher mileage. Cabin and boot space are plenty for family use, the automatic is smooth in traffic, and Hyundai’s wide service network helps when you’re buying used.You may see lower mileage than your i-VTEC and the drive is relaxed rather than exciting. If sheer cabin space is the priority and you can stretch a bit, a first‑batch MG Hector petrol automatic is huge and very feature rich, but it usually sits just above Rs. 10 lakh and drinks more fuel. If you prefer a fresher feel and sharper features, an early Kia Seltos petrol automatic can land near your budget in some cities, though its rear seat is a touch tighter than the Creta.

Hyundai Creta

MG Hector

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•5d

Go for the Hyundai Creta because your 70% highway use and family of five will benefit most from its space, calm cruising and real-world efficiency. The 1.5 NA petrol with the automatic is smooth, stress-free and proven reliable, and the Creta’s big cabin and boot make family trips easy. Real-world mileage should be good too, and maintenance should be relatively low. In your budget, you should be able to get the mid-range S (O) CVT. Coming from a Maruti Jimny AT, you’ll love the greater refinement, more comfortable ride and stronger high-speed performance.From Maruti Suzuki, there are the Grand Vitara and Victoris, which are both excellent options too. Great mileage, smooth gearboxes and exceptional reliability, but for a family of five, space in the back seat isn't as good as the Creta, and the 105hp 1.5-litre petrol can feel overwhelmed under heavy load, especially on the highway, where you do 70% of your driving. Honda's 1.5-litre petrol in Elevate doesn't have this issue, but compared to the Creta, space and comfort aren't quite as good, and it lacks the same wow factor. However, if you don't mind a sedan, the City is a more compelling choice.Overall, though you won't get it in a higher variant with as many features as others, we feel the Creta is the best all-rounder for the money.

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Honda Elevate

Autocar India

•1d

Go ahead with the Seltos HTX petrol automatic. For your mostly-highway 1000km a month with four on board, the 1.5 petrol with the smooth automatic is relaxed at cruising speeds, has enough space and comfort for a City owner to feel at home, and its simple engine-gearbox combo is the safer long-term bet for a 10-year ownership.The Kia Seltos hybrid was initially planned for later this year, but has since been pushed to 2027 as Kia wants to localise the hybrid powertrain as much as possible before launch for a competitive price, though it will still be noticeably higher than the petrol version. Moreover, hybrids work better in city traffic than high-speed highway driving, so given your usage, the petrol is probably a better bet. We'll have to test drive it to know this for sure. The next-gen Hyundai Creta is also due only next year, and it will share its platform and engines with the Seltos. If you really value the Hyundai brand over Kia, then it's worth waiting, but in most aspects, you're already getting everything from that car in the Seltos, so it's probably not worth the wait.All things considered, then, go with the Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol IVT.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Honda City

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Seltos simply because it feels more modern and premium on the inside, and thanks to its larger dimensions, cabin space is a bit better too. Both cars share their 1.5-petrol engine, and both have light and smooth controls, which make them equally easy to drive. Performance and efficiency will be similar too. The Creta on the other hand, is a car you can't go wrong with, and you will also find more Hyundai service touchpoints than Kia. That said, if you have a Kia service centre near you, it is the Seltos we'd recommend.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta