Upcoming Kia cars in India (3)

autocar.india

•3h

Considering your usage, CNG car would be a better fit. While an electric car will be cheaper to run, the charging network in rural areas is patchy, which will limit your usage. CNG is more readily available where you are and, on longer trips where you don't find a pump, you can still revert to petrol.In your budget, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is a solid choice. It comes with a dual-tank setup, so the boot is only slightly smaller than the petrol version. Maruti has also done a good job of tuning the car to run on CNG and its service network is the largest in the country. The downside is that highway performance on CNG will feel a bit dull, requiring a downshift for an overtake.Alternatively, you could continue with a diesel car, as you are already comfortable with that. Running costs will be higher than on CNG, but availability of diesel is not an issue and you avoid the queues at CNG stations. In your budget, the Kia Seltos diesel is the best bet. The manual will be fine for your use, but an automatic is available if you wish. The Creta diesel offers a similar experience, but Hyundai has a wider service network than Kia.Overall, the Victoris CNG makes the most sense for your needs but, if you want a bit more punch on the highway, the Seltos diesel is a good fit.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•5h

Consider the Kia Seltos DCT. For a 12km commute and occasional 5-6-hour road trips, you will find it comfortable in the city, quick on the highway and easy to own long term. The latest-generation Seltos is larger than before, so feels spacious inside. The cabin is tech-laden and upmarket, and the ride quality has improved too. The turbo-petrol DCT has good performance for quick overtakes on the highway, and the DCT is responsive. The downside is that it can occasionally hesitate in the city, but with your short commute this shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Kia's service is also amongst the best in the business.If you want something larger, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic is also a solid choice in your budget. It is a genuinely comfortable car with a spacious cabin, excellent ride quality and strong highway manners. The petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the automatic gearbox makes city driving effortless. Mahindra's service network is strong in Thane and Mumbai. The drawback is that the big petrol engine will be thirsty in the city.An electric car makes sense if you can charge at home and if there are fast chargers on your usual highway route. In that case, the Hyundai Creta Electric is a safe bet. It is well suited to your short daily commute and offers very low running costs. In our real-world testing, it managed an impressive 486km on a single charge in the city and 378km on the highway.Overall, the Seltos is the best balance of comfort, reliability, running costs and ownership experience for your needs.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Creta Electric

autocar.india

•1h

For your father, the Kia Seltos IVT is a solid choice. The naturally aspirated engine and IVT auto combo deliver a smooth, calm driving experience, the cabin is spacious and the large boot will accommodate your airport runs. It is a sensible and stress-free choice for long-term ownership.Alternatively, look at the Honda Elevate. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the CVT is smooth, reliable and easy to drive. The car is also spacious enough for five adults and has a decent boot for airport runs. Honda's reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs makes it a safe bet for ownership beyond five years.If fuel efficiency is a priority, then the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is worth considering, though the cabin will feel tighter than the above two.Overall, choose between the Seltos and the Elevate for the most stress-free ownership experience for your father.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

autocar.india

•10h

With a daily commute of just 6 km and a budget of up to Rs 20 lakh, you are in a very comfortable position. Your usage is low, so fuel savings from a hybrid or EV will take a very long time to justify the premium. A petrol car is the most sensible choice for your usage pattern, especially since you plan to use it as a family car. In cars under 20 Lakh, you will get a midsize petrol SUV, but only a compact EV - and only a few base-model hybrids.There is no major reason to wait. The current crop of cars offers a vast and varied choice, and there are no imminent launches in your budget that would fundamentally change your options. In terms of what to buy, we would recommend looking at the Kia Seltos or the Hyundai Creta. Both are excellent all-rounders with strong petrol engines, comfortable cabins and a good balance of features and value. The Seltos is larger and slightly more premium, and is the one we would lean towards. You can get a high-ish variant comfortably within your budget.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•1d

Since you're open to electric cars, get the Hyundai Creta Electric. It is a fantastic, well-rounded EV that'll easily fall into your budget. Performance is very smooth and effortless, and there's ample power on tap. Coming from an i20, the Creta Electric will feel like a natural upgrade within the Hyundai family.In case you're keen on diesels, you could opt for the new Kia Seltos, which feels thoroughly modern, spacious, and its engine delivers impressive fuel efficiency. For outright performance, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel remains unmatched - power delivery feels strong, and even though it won't be as efficient as the Kia, it will still return decent fuel efficiency given its size and power.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos, which is a very good all rounder and will suit your mixed usage very well. In the city you will find it quite manageable and out on the highway high-speed stability is good, and the car tracks straight even on less-than-perfect surfaces. Go for the naturally aspirated 1.5 litre petrol that comes with a CVT gearbox. The combination delivers a smooth and easy drive experience when driven at normal everyday pace and enough performance for highway drives too. Inside the new Seltos has more space too and the 447 litre boot is also well shaped and would easily manage luggage for a weekend trip. With long drives every alternate month, if you are looking for something more fun to drive, consider the Renault Duster turbo petrol automatic. The Duster’s ride quality is excellent especially on highways and rough patches, and the handling feels quite sporty. The turbo petrol engine paired with the 6-speed dual clutch automatic is smooth and responsive but on the efficiency front the Seltos might prove to be better for you.

Kia Seltos

Renault Duster

autocar.india

•2d

Given your limited usage, the initial premium a hybrid or an electric car command over a petrol-automatic can't be justified, despite the significant difference in running costs. Hence, we'd advise you to consider a petrol-automatic car instead. For the money, you can consider a VW Taigun 1.0 TSI 8AT or a Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI 8AT. Both these are smooth and compact in size, and will feel rather easy to drive in urban conditions. Also, both are solid, and you will feel confident driving on your occasional highway drives. In case you want a car that's larger and more modern, the Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT is an excellent option.However, if you're still keen to keep the running costs to a bare minimum, and if you have a provision for home charging, then consider the upcoming Kia Syros EV (expected to launch in the coming weeks). This Kia car is compact in size, yet it is surprisingly spacious, and with adjustable rear seats, the Syros will feel like a natural progression from your outgoing Honda Jazz. The electric powertrain is likely to be shared with the Clavis EV, which means it will be smooth and very efficient too. Sure, the Syros EV's looks might not be universally appealing; however, we'd strongly recommend that you drive it once - it is likely to be an ideal Jazz replacement for you.

Volkswagen Taigun

Skoda Kushaq

Kia Seltos

Kia Syros EV

Kia Carens Clavis EV

autocar.india

•2d

Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. At Rs 17.5 lakh, you are right at the point where the Seltos becomes the most sensible choice. The IVT automatic is smooth, reliable and well suited to your 2,000 km/month usage, and the Seltos is a genuinely well-rounded SUV with good space, a comfortable ride and a strong safety package. Kia’s service network is strong, and ownership costs are reasonable. The Skoda Kushaq is the better driver’s car, but the Seltos is the more complete family SUV. Tata Sierra is a good option, and very spacious but would feel much larger than the Kia car, thus go with the Seltos it feels premium and is the better long-term ownership proposition. Although, the Seltos is also one of the longer cars in the segment, but this translates into better rear seat space and a more comfortable cabin for family use. Overall, the Seltos IVT is the safest, most value-for-money choice in your budget.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

Tata Sierra

autocar.india

•1d

For your usage, the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel manual is the best fit. Your running is high, the route is highway-heavy, and you are doing this regularly. The 7XO diesel is built for exactly this kind of use. The 2.2-litre diesel engine is strong, efficient and relaxed at highway speeds, and the car feels stable and planted on long runs. This Mahindra car is also spacious and comfortable, which matters when you are doing this distance five times a month. The petrol version is also good, but at this kind of running, diesel makes more sense financially and in terms of driving experience. The only thing to keep in mind is that the 7XO is a big car, so if your city driving is genuinely very limited, that is not a problem. If you want something smaller, the Kia Seltos 1.5 diesel is the alternative. It is more compact and still very good on the highway, but when you're running, the diesel 7XO is the more sensible choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•1d

The Tata Punch EV is a good option for city traffic. Its compact footprint makes it easy to manage in tight, crowded spaces, and the ride is comfortable. The car is well-equipped, and the EV drivetrain is very well calibrated, offering a nice and easy drive experience. However, yes, you are right, the Tata dealer network is not known for its quality; thus, we would suggest checking with Tata owners in your area about the quality of dealers and service centers, and only then decide.If you can wait for just about a month, consider the electric Kia Syros. It has a very quirky look, but what you will get inside is a brilliantly packaged interior that's larger and very comfy with premium and well-finished interiors. There's a whole host of features on offer, and the drivetrain should offer a very easy drive experience. Kia and its parent Hyundai have good experience with electric cars, and the Syros would represent a smart choice.

Tata Punch EV

Kia Syros EV