Upcoming Kia cars in India (2)

autocar.india

•1h

Given that you're upgrading from a Citroen C3, and looking at an excellent highway cruiser while keeping running costs in check, we'd strongly recommend you to consider the Renault Duster Hybrid Evolution variant, which is priced similar to other cars that you've shorlisted. The hybrid powertrain will be very efficient, and Duster's excellent suspension tune makes it ideal for your kind of usage. Sure, cabin space is not as generous as the Kia Seltos, and Renault's service network isn't as widespread as Maruti's. If you want to pick from the cars you've shortlisted, the Kia Seltos diesel-automatic is the one to get - it feels thoroughly modern; it gives you the most premium feel of the lot; and its diesel engine is smooth, refined and efficient.

Renault Duster

Citroen C3

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•22h

Go for the Kia Syros EV. With your running of 20,000 km a year, home charging and a solar plant planned, the maths works in your favour. Your payback calculation of 4.5-5 years is realistic, and with solar, your running costs drop even further. The Syros EV is a well-rounded EV with a comfortable ride, good space and a smooth powertrain. Your usage pattern is ideal for an EV: daily charging at home, predictable running and the Ciaz available for longer trips.The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is a strong product and makes sense for high-mileage highway users, but your usage is city-heavy, and the EV will be far cheaper to run. The Hyundai compact EV is worth waiting for only if you are not in a hurry, but the Syros EV is already a very competent product. The only thing to keep in mind is resale value, which is still evolving for electric cars in India. But with your running and ownership period, the savings will more than offset that. Go for the Syros EV and enjoy the savings.

Kia Syros EV

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•23h

Since your wife preferred the Honda Elevate over the Kia Sonet and is still building confidence, the smooth, predictable response of the Honda's CVT makes it an easier daily companion in Bengaluru traffic. Its upright seating position and suspension also suit the city's broken roads, while the naturally aspirated petrol engine avoids the added complexity of a turbo.The Skoda Slavia is more engaging on the highway, with stronger mid range punch and enjoyable handling, and its eight-speed torque converter automatic is a good match for someone concerned about dual clutch reliability. EPC warnings and reliability concerns are worth discussing with the dealer, but they aren't a reason to rule out every Skoda car. The Elevate's main drawback is that its engine can sound strained when accelerating hard, and it won't deliver the same effortless overtaking response as the Slavia.Given that you both drive the car, choose the Elevate CVT if ease of use and relaxed ownership come first; choose the Slavia automatic if you both test drive it and are happy with its driving behaviour and service support.

Honda Elevate

Skoda Slavia

Kia Sonet

autocar.india

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. Your usage pattern of around 500km a month in the city with only two outstation trips a year does not justify the premium of the Tata Sierra EV Empowered 75. The Seltos IVT is a smooth, refined and reliable petrol automatic that will handle your city driving effortlessly, and Kia’s service network and ownership experience are strong. Concerns about petrol availability and ethanol blending are largely overblown - E20-compliant engines are designed to handle the fuel, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage. The Sierra EV is a very impressive product with a premium cabin and strong range, but it is significantly more expensive and you will not recover that premium through fuel savings at your level of usage. The Seltos is the more sensible and cost-effective choice for your requirements.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra EV

autocar.india

•1d

With an on road budget of Rs. 20 lakh, stretchable to Rs. 25 lakh, the best fit is a compact or mid-size SUV with a punchy engine, large alloy wheels and a good factory-fitted sound system. The key is to choose a car that delivers all three without compromising ride comfort on Indian roads. A powerful engine and big wheels can make a car fun to drive, but the largest wheel option isn't always the most comfortable.The Tata Sierra turbo-petrol automatic is the closest match if you want something distinctive, powerful and with a premium sound system. Its top variants get 19-inch wheels and a banging 12-speaker JBL system. The Kia Seltos is another good option, with an available Bose sound system and 18-inch wheels, while the Skoda Kushaq is worth considering if driving enjoyment matters more than sheer size or visual presence.Before choosing, prioritise a test drive over the wheel size alone: larger wheels can make sharp bumps more noticeable.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq