Umesh Sundareshan
•5wI have been driving a 2016 Skoda Octavia 1.8L DSG Petrol and have been extremely happy with its performance, ride quality, and overall driving confidence. However, I have recently started making regular trips to my land, which involves driving through a few kilometres of extremely rough roads. The conditions are so poor that my car often shifts down to first gear, and I am now concerned that these frequent trips may eventually take a toll on the gearbox and engine. Because of this, I am considering switching to another automatic vehicle with better ground clearance that can handle rough patches more comfortably without putting excessive strain on the engine or transmission. After considerable thought, I have shortlisted the older Hyundai Creta Petrol Automatic with the torque converter gearbox. Here are my constraints and preferences: I do not want to buy a new vehicle, as I feel I have already spent heavily on road tax without getting roads of matching quality. Since DCT gearboxes are not ideal for stop-and-go traffic, I do not want another DCT vehicle. I do not prefer CVTs or AMTs either. I do not want to spend more than ₹12 lakh on a used vehicle. My questions are: Is a used Hyundai Creta Petrol Automatic with the torque converter gearbox and around 30,000 km on the odometer a good choice? Since it would likely be a BS4 vehicle, would buying it still make sense considering the upcoming emission norms and regulations? Would you suggest any other suitable alternatives within my budget and requirements?
Autocar India
Yes, in good condition and well maintained, an old Creta petrol with a 6-speed torque converter and 30,000km on the clock is not a bad idea, at a good price. However, just bear in mind that the old 1.4 and 1.6 naturally aspirated petrol engines will have nowhere near as much pep as your Octavia TSI.
As for BS4, while there have been some restrictions in the Delhi-NCR area regarding older vehicles, thus far, there haven't been too many in other states, and assuming the car you are looking at is 6-7 years old, it should definitely have some good years left in it for use in Bengaluru.
That said, however, on a budget of Rs 12 lakh, there could possibly be newer, BS6 options you can look at, like a Maruti Suzuki Brezza, XL6 or, for a small stretch, a Grand Vitara. The 1.5 petrol in these isn't very powerful, but it does come with a torque-converter automatic.
Alternatively, you could go down the diesel route, in which case a newer Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos with a torque-converter auto also come into the picture, though then the associated shortcomings of a diesel come with it. The Creta is a good idea, but consider moving up to a BS6 model just to avoid potential future restrictions.
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
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Posted on: 10 May 2026
