Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a 5-seater SUV within a budget of ₹18–19 lakh. I currently own a 15-year-old Honda City and am looking to upgrade. My key requirements are: Automatic transmission Petrol or hybrid powertrain Comfortable rear seat space (especially for second-row passengers) My usage is around 500 km per month, mostly within the city, with occasional outstation trips every couple of months. Please suggest a suitable SUV that meets these requirements.

Autocar India

•52m

You should consider the Honda Elevate ZX CVT.

Coming from your Honda City, you'll appreciate the familiarity when it comes to the drive experience and after-sales service. It gets a peppy 1.5-litre petrol engine that's paired to a smooth CVT automatic gearbox, which makes it easy and stress-free to drive.

The Elevate also has a comfy rear seat, and getting in/out of the cabin is easy, which your parents will appreciate. The Honda also feels composed going over broken roads and at highway speeds.

Alternatively, you can even consider the Hyundai Creta SX IVT, which offers a smoother drive and a more refined cabin.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.82 Lakh

Honda

City

from ₹14.28 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.78 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Srinivas

•3d

I am looking for a mid-size SUV and am confused between the Duster and the Elevate. Most of my usage will be for long trips, with very little city driving. My mind says Elevate CVT, as it is a no-nonsense car with strong reliability. My heart says Duster DCT, but worried as it is a freshly baked product. I'm worried about the brand’s poor service and the reliability of a DCT, etc. Please guide me.

Autocar India

•1d

If dependability and fuss-free ownership are your top priorities, the Honda Elevate CVT remains the safer choice, backed by Honda’s strong reputation for reliability and longevity. It’s a simple, well-sorted SUV that’s easy to live with, especially for largely urban usage.That said, given your focus on long highway trips, the Renault Duster might actually serve you better on the open road. Its 1.3‑litre turbo‑petrol engine is punchy and well‑suited to highway cruising, and the ride quality is distinctly more mature and composed at higher speeds. Compared to the Elevate, the Duster feels more planted, and cabin insulation is noticeably better, while the Elevate’s CVT can get noisy when driven hard.Your concerns about Renault’s patchy service network and the long‑term reliability of its DCT are valid, but they may not be deal‑breakers if the new Duster delivers on its promise. If Renault manages to reinvigorate its dealer ecosystem, ownership experience could see a marked improvement.

Honda Elevate

Renault Duster

Arpit

•2d

Hi, I already own a Hyundai Creta IVT and am now looking to buy another car for my wife, primarily for city driving in Pune. The Creta feels a bit large for her to manoeuvre on narrow city roads and in traffic, so I am looking for a more compact option. My key requirements are: Automatic transmission (mandatory) Compact size and easy to drive Low budget (do not want to spend much) Petrol only (cannot consider EV due to lack of charging space) I have ruled out Tata due to reliability concerns. I also had a previous Hyundai Grand i10, which had AC issues, so I am hesitant about that as well. The Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic looks appealing but may be too powerful for city use. The Hyundai Venue is a good option, but at a price of ₹14-15 lakh, the XUV 3XO seems like a better value. I am also unsure about Maruti options like the Swift (concerns about fit and finish) and the Baleno (feels slightly large and low-slung). Given these considerations, which car would you recommend?

Autocar India

•14h

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT is a good option for your wife’s city use in Pune, it is the right size, has a smooth automatic and is not too powerful, and it's easy on the pocket. Compared to your Hyundai Creta, the Brezza feels much smaller in traffic and easier to park. The high seat and big windows make it simple to judge gaps and U-turns, which will help on narrow Pune roads. The AT here is a regular automatic (not an AMT), so it moves off gently, shifts with minimal jerks, and is very calm in stop-go traffic. AC performance is strong, and overall fit and finish are better than in the Maruti Suzuki Swift or Baleno. Maruti’s service reach in Pune is a bonus for easy ownership. The cabin does not feel as plush as a Venue or XUV 3XO, but for daily city use, it works very well. If you want to spend less and still want a very smooth auto, look at the Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT. It is very compact, and the CVT is easy in traffic, though the cabin feels simpler, and Nissan’s service network is smaller. If you do stretch, the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L AT is also easy to drive despite its power and offers top safety and features.

Saurab

I am looking to buy a new SUV and have considered options like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq, Tata Sierra, Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and the new Renault Duster. I have test-driven all of them and found the Creta to be the most comfortable, though it feels slightly outdated. The Elevate also seems to lack some modern features and feels a bit dated. The Kushaq/Taigun feel slightly small for five occupants, which is a concern. I really enjoyed driving the new Duster, but rear seat comfort seemed to be an issue. This car will be my primary vehicle for weekly Jaipur–Delhi trips and occasional long drives, while city usage will mostly be handled by my secondary car (Volkswagen Polo diesel). Based on this, which SUV should I choose, and which engine option would you recommend?

Autocar India

•2d

If you found the Hyundai Creta the most comfortable but too dated, the obvious answer is the new Kia Seltos. It gives you that same relaxed, easy-going ride but is more spacious than the Creta and feels more modern and upmarket inside, which will make your frequent Jaipur-Delhi runs nicer to live with.Given your usage is mainly highway with the Polo handling city duty, we would strongly recommend the 1.5 turbo-petrol Seltos. It has a strong mid-range punch, plenty of torque for effortless overtakes, and cruises very comfortably, which is exactly what you want for long, fast runs.The new Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and Renault Duster are all very good to drive on the highway and dynamically more engaging, but as you’ve noticed, their rear seats are tighter for three adults across, and that’s a compromise on long trips with family. That’s where the Seltos scores: it strikes the best balance between space, comfort and a properly fresh cabin.

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