Hyundai cars in India (13)

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If you have the budget to accommodate the Rs. 3 lakh price difference, go for the Kia Seltos HTE(O) IVT. It is a significantly larger car, so your weekend trips with 4-5 people and luggage will be far easier. It also has a smoother and more refined powertrain overall, and its IVT automatic gearbox works equally well in the city and on the highway. Ride quality is better, the boot is much larger, and rear-seat space is something your passengers will appreciate.As for the Hyundai Venue, while a good SUV on its own, it is simply at a disadvantage for its size, given your intended usage. Its 1.0-litre turbo petrol is more powerful and feels punchier than the Seltos' 1.5 litre NA petrol, but it also suffers from serious turbo lag, and the DCT gearbox can be very clunky at low speeds, both of which are made worse when the car is full up. Thus, overall, the Seltos is just the better choice.Your automatic gearbox should have no real issue with sitting idle for 15-20 days at a time. What needs to be looked out for is the battery, which could discharge, and the fuel in the tank. E20 petrol, which is the norm in India now, can separate into petrol and ethanol if it comes in contact with moisture, which is a possibility when the car is left idle for a long. It is thus advisable in any case to run the car, even briefly, at least once a week.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Venue

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Yes, the Kia Carens Clavis diesel automatic is a smart upgrade for your kind of running and long trips. The 1.5 diesel with the smooth 6‑speed automatic cruises at low revs, is easy in traffic, and delivers good highway economy, so your yearly fuel bill stays reasonable after 20,000-25,000km. Space and comfort are a clear step up from your Ertiga, too. The second row is nicer for adults, the third row is usable for shorter stints, and the cabin is quieter over distance. The safety kit is solid with 6 airbags on all trims, and the ride is comfortable enough to keep you fresh after a full day’s drive.Pricing should sit around Rs 20-22 lakh on-road if you choose a mid or upper-mid trim. The top variant can go higher in some cities. Given your mileage, the diesel automatic also keeps clutch wear out of the picture and makes city usage easy. The only catch may be performance when fully loaded on steep ghats; it will do the job, but you may need to plan overtakes and use manual shifts.An alternative is the Hyundai Alcazar. It's in the more desirable SUV shape with better road presence, and as such, it will feel like more of an upgrade from your Ertiga. It uses the same smooth and efficient diesel AT powertrain as the Clavis, too. However, the third row is not as spacious, and you will definitely have to stretch your budget to get higher variants.

Kia Carens Clavis

Hyundai Alcazar

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Pick the Maruti Brezza ZXi manual. For a 30 km daily city run, it’s the easiest to live with and will consistently return the best real-world mileage here. Its light controls make it easy to drive in town, and its 1.5 petrol feels stronger than the Venue’s 1.2. Ride comfort over broken roads is better too, and the ZXi trim packs all the features you’d need and stays within your Rs. 11-13 lakh budget.The Venue HX5 petrol manual is fine in town, but with four people and the AC on, it feels short on punch on the highway, and the mileage gain over Brezza isn’t big enough to matter. The Victoris is mechanically identical to the Brezza, but the VXi is out of your budget. Do note, the Brezza isn’t exciting to drive, and quick overtakes will need a downshift.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Hyundai Venue

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Go with the Kia Seltos. It sits on the newer platform than the Creta, is roomier on the inside, and the base model is better equipped than the base Creta. While the dealer is offering to fit an infotainment screen, it won’t be as seamless to use as the factory-fit unit on the Seltos. The coating and Shield of Trust being offered are not enough to sway the decision in favour of the Creta.In terms of powertrains, both use the same engine, so they will drive similarly. However, the Creta rides a bit softer, the Seltos will feel a touch firmer. That said, the Seltos’ rear seat is comfier, and the cabin looks a touch more premium.Between the two, the Seltos is the better pick.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

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Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO, and get the petrol with the 6‑speed automatic. It gives you a roomy back seat, a strong crash rating, and a planted and secure highway ride that suits your 80 percent highway use. The turbo petrol engine is the strongest here, and it's the only one of your shortlist to get a smooth torque-converter automatic gearbox. The only real downside is that the boot is not as big as that of rivals, and fuel economy won't be as good either, but for your largely highway use, the difference won't be so bad.The Hyundai Venue HX5 is fine for four but tight for five on long trips, and while the Kia Syros HTK Plus feels the largest, rear width and thigh support are only average, and its ride quality is quite choppy. Tata Nexon diesel would be lovely on highways and is safe, but the diesel automatic is an AMT, which is nowhere near as smooth as the XUV's torque converter, or even the Hyundai/Kia's DCT.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

Tata Nexon

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The Kia Seltos IVT would be our recommendation. While the Honda Elevate undoubtedly offers the best value for money at current prices, there are two factors working against it in your case. First, you don't have a Honda showroom in your city, which could make routine servicing and warranty-related work less convenient. Second, the Elevate facelift is expected in the not-too-distant future, which could impact resale values of the current model.Between the Seltos and Creta, we'd pick the Seltos. It feels a little more premium inside, has a richer feature set and remains one of the best-looking SUVs in the segment. It is also newer than the Creta and therefore likely to remain fresh for longer. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT automatic is smooth, refined and perfectly suited to your low daily running and occasional 400km trips.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

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If you can stretch your budget, go for the Nexon CNG, as it has two key advantages. For one, as you mentioned, it has the bigger boot, and thanks to the dual-cylinder setup (as in the Punch and Exter too) lets you use most of the space effectively. Secondly, it uses a turbocharged engine, which addresses a big complaint with CNG cars, namely a lack of power. It also has far more space in the cabin which makes it a proper five seater, whereas the Exter and Punch will not be as comfy for rear passengers. The disadvantage, of course, is that even with a small budget stretch, you will still only get a mid-range variant of the Nexon CNG, but you should still get all the essentials. The Punch and Exter CNG will be available in their top-spec variants in your budget, and the Punch even gets an AMT option. However, this being your first car, we feel the bigger Nexon will feel like more of a statement while still keeping running costs in check. Yes, it's likely the Brezza facelift will get a dual-cylinder CNG setup, and it should launch before August, but how it will be priced remains unknown.

Tata Nexon

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

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You can go ahead and buy the Hyundai i20 Asta IVT now. There's no further facelift planned, and the Bayon-based crossover will be positioned much higher and closer to the Hyundai Creta in price. For mostly city use, the i20's smooth, automatic and light controls make traffic a breeze, and it fits your budget better than most compact SUVs would. You still get six airbags, a big screen, a sunroof and all the everyday comforts, and it’s fine for the odd highway run. However, the i20 doesn’t get a 360 camera, and Android Auto/CarPlay aren't wireless unless you buy a special adapter accessory.If a 360 camera is a must and you want the SUV look, the Hyundai Venue SX(O) DCT or Kia Sonet GTX+ have it, but they’ll sit well past Rs 14 lakh on-road in most cities, and their dual-clutch automatics aren’t as smooth as the i20’s CVT in bumper-to-bumper traffic.Another alternative you could consider is the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Turbo Petrol V AT, which gets a punchy but efficient engine, a smooth automatic, and the features you want at around your Rs 14 lakh budget.

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

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Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. With 20 km a day and only a few 200-300 km trips a year, the Seltos keeps life simple on highways and in the city, with wide service support and no charging stops to plan. It also gives you the most rounded mix of space, features and safety from your shortlist, and it feels easy to drive every day.The Seltos is E20 compliant, and material-wise, it should be fine with slightly higher blends. A drop in fuel efficiency, though, is to be expected from higher ethanol content. The honest catch is the running cost. An EV like the Mahindra XEV 9e will be cheaper per km and quieter. If you have a fixed parking spot with a plug at home, the XEV 9e starts to make sense for your short daily runs, but fast-charging on intercity routes can still be hit-or-miss outside big cities. Alternatively, consider the Hyundai Creta Electric.Overall, the Seltos makes the most sense for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XEV 9e

Hyundai Creta Electric

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The Hyundai Creta N Line is a sportier-looking derivative of the Creta. It gets revised front-end styling, red detailing, larger 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler and dual tip exhausts on the outside. The interior gets an all-black look with red detailing, which does give the cabin a sporty flavour. Unique to the Creta N Line is the option of a manual gearbox with the turbo-petrol engine. The steering has also been redone for more weight.The larger wheels and tweaks to the steering do make the Creta N Line feel slightly sportier to drive. However, the dual tip exhausts sound no different to the standard Creta's, and that's a downer. Further, the move to larger wheels comes with a firmer ride, which can get uncomfortable. Also, the 6-speed manual gearbox isn't the slickest or most enjoyable. We'd stick to the DCT.In a nutshell, while the N Line does look distinctive and attractive, it isn't the best Creta you can buy. The standard model feels comfier, and its lower price also makes it a better deal. If you want an enjoyable driving experience above all else, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG or VW Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG will satisfy you more.

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq