Hello! I am planning to buy an automatic petrol car with a budget of up to Rs. 15 lakh. I am a new driver, and my usage will mainly be in the city, including heavy traffic conditions like those in Mumbai, along with occasional highway trips with my family of five every few months. I would like a car that is comfortable, safe, fuel-efficient, and relatively low-maintenance. Considering my requirements, which would be the best car options for me?

autocar.india

•1d

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

autocar.india

•2d

Buy the Honda Elevate, since you have back trouble, seat comfort would be a high priority, and in this regard, the Elevate does well. The seats set a benchmark for comfort and have a finely judged foam density, which is not too hard and not too soft, so they should provide your back with good support. Under-thigh support is also generous. However, we would recommend you sit in it and test drive it yourself to make sure it suits your body type. Within your budget, you would get the mid-range automatic version, and we would recommend you opt for an automatic as it would reduce your left leg strain in traffic, which would also help alleviate some of the back pain. Ride quality is also good; it is on the firmer side, but the long travel suspension with well-judged damping means it can soak up bumps and potholes well without jarring you too much. If you would like to stick to something small, you could consider the Tata Punch. The entry and exit height is just right, the ride is well-damped and comfortable, and the seats are well cushioned and supportive enough. The top-end version would also come in well under your budget, and you would enjoy some top-end features too.

Honda Elevate

Tata Punch

autocar.india

•2d

You don’t have to sell the Figo yet. If it’s healthy, keep it 1-2 years more; parts and service are still fine, and depreciation from here is slow. The Rs. 2.75 lakh offer is fair for a 2019 petrol at 65k km. Try direct sale or multiple portals and aim closer to Rs. 3 lakh-plus if the car is clean.Pick the VW Taigun 1.5 if you upgrade now, because it’s the only one on your list that truly feels like a step up from your Figo for daily drives and relaxed highway runs. The 1.5 is punchy, and the steering and body control make city and highway drives enjoyable. One honest catch: the automatic can feel a bit hesitant in crawl; the manual is more fun if you don’t mind a clutch. The Honda Elevate is nice, but it isn't as enjoyable as the VW/Skoda SUVs.With 500-600 km a month in the city and about 2,000km a year out of town, an EV like the Nexon EV won’t pay back quickly unless you have cheap home charging and your running shoots up.Go petrol. Don’t stress about E20/E30 - the VW-Skoda 1.0/1.5 are E20-ready, and should not pose issues if and when E30 is rolled out.

Volkswagen Taigun

Honda Elevate

Tata Nexon EV