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Delhi
MU

Mudit

•1w

My monthly driving is around 2,000 km (65% city and 35% highway). My budget is ₹18-20 lakh on-road. I am planning to buy the Maruti Suzuki Victoris ZXI (O) Strong Hybrid AT or the ZXI+ (O) Strong Hybrid AT, especially since there is currently a discount of around ₹1.5 lakh on the 2035 variant. Could you please suggest whether my decision to buy the Victoris Strong Hybrid is the right one for my usage, or if I should consider any other cars in this price range? Also, if I go ahead with the Victoris Strong Hybrid, should I choose the ZXI (O) or the ZXI+ (O), considering the ZXI+ (O) costs around ₹1.9 lakh more? Please note that the strong hybrid variants do not come with ADAS. I prefer an automatic car, and my city is New Delhi.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•28m

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid is a great fit for your requirements. Since most of your driving is in the city, its hybrid system should deliver excellent fuel efficiency while also offering a comfortable, reliable and well-equipped package.With regard to the variant, the ZXI (O) is quite well equipped as it is, with features like auto LED headlamps, alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, a digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch infotainment screen. However, the ZXI+ (O) adds a few niceties like powered and ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera with front parking sensors, and a larger 10-inch infotainment screen with an eight-speaker Infinity audio system.If these features are not worth the Rs 1.9 lakh premium to you, then the ZXI (O) has all the essentials and remains a good choice.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
Maruti Suzuki Victoris
Maruti Suzuki Victoris
NI

Nik

•2w

Hello Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a new car and would appreciate your advice. In my family, we are four adults and one child, and we usually travel around 1,000 km round-trip once a month or once every two months. City driving is very minimal. Sometimes we also travel with five adults and two kids, which is why I am considering a 7-seater. However, I am confused whether it would be better to buy a 5-seater or a 7-seater, considering that such full-capacity trips happen only occasionally. My budget is around ₹15 lakh, and I am currently considering the Kia Carens Clavis. Would this be the right choice for my usage pattern and family size? If yes, which variant would you recommend within my budget? Alternatively, should I wait for the upcoming three-row version of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara from Nexa? Would that be a better long-term option compared to buying now?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•59m

It definitely makes sense for you to go for a 7-seat vehicle, given how you will be using it. These days, the price premium isn't too much more compared to an equivalent size 5-seater. Long trips for five would be more comfortable if the fifth passenger had a separate seat. Plus, your kid will grow, and eventually, the five-seater will feel like a squeeze. The Kia Carens Clavis is the best option, offering you a spacious and flexible interior, with good quality, comfort and decent features. However, in your budget, you'll only be able to get a low-spec variant. If you want more features, a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is a much better value and a capable 7-seat MPV too. Sadly, plans for the 7-seat Grand Vitara have been shelved for now.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Ertiga
DI

Dipesh

•6d

Please suggest an automatic SUV within a budget of ₹20 lakh. My primary usage will be daily commuting in Mumbai, with a weekend drive of around 200 km once a month. I would prefer features like a 360-degree camera and good safety features, with ADAS being optional. My wife will also be driving the car, so it should be easy and comfortable to drive in city traffic.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1h

In your budget, the Hyundai Venue and the Kia Syros are good options. Both come with the 1.0-litre engine and DCT gearbox, which should be a good fit for your usage. The engine offers good performance, and the DCT is generally quite smooth, with only occasional hesitation.In terms of safety, both come very well equipped, with six airbags as standard, and a 360-degree camera and ADAS available on the top variants. The Syros has also scored five stars in the Bharat NCAP crash tests, and while the Venue is yet to be officially tested, it is based on the same platform as the Syros.

VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleKia Syros
AS

Ashish

•1w

Hi Autocar Expert, I currently own a Tata Nexon XZA diesel and am planning to upgrade. However, I have a major parking constraint at my home. I am interested in the Toyota Innova Hycross, but if it is parked in my parking space, the doors cannot be opened properly due to limited space. Because of this, I am considering buying a car that offers an automatic or self-parking feature. Could you please guide me on which cars offer this feature and would suit my situation?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2h

Auto parking might not solve your problem if your parking space is too narrow to open the doors. The summon feature that the Tata Harrier EV gets could be of some use, but it won’t fit your requirements if you need a three-row vehicle like the Toyota Innova Hycross.Instead, we suggest you take a look at the Kia Carens Clavis. It is narrower than the Hycross by about 45-50mm and is roughly the same width as your Nexon, so it should fit in your parking space. In terms of interior volume, while it is not as spacious as the Hycross, it offers plenty of room in the second row and a genuinely usable third row.

VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleTata Harrier EV
VehicleKia Carens Clavis
Toyota Innova HyCross
Toyota Innova HyCross
VA

Vaibhav

•5d

I currently own a 2012 Hyundai i10 Era and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My budget is ₹15-17 lakh (on-road). My annual driving is around 3,000 km, mostly in the city with occasional long drives. My priorities are low maintenance, good mileage, and better rear seat and boot space. I am more inclined towards an automatic transmission and would also prefer ADAS Level 2 features. At the moment, I am considering the Hyundai Venue HX10 and the Honda Elevate ZX. I am not considering Tata or Mahindra models. Could you share your opinion on choosing automatic versus manual transmission for city driving in a place like Ahmedabad? Also, how useful are ADAS features in city traffic? Please suggest any alternative models based on your experience.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2h

Since most of your driving is in the city, an automatic gearbox makes the most sense. Compared to a manual, it brings a lot more convenience and generally makes driving less stressful. ADAS is good to have, but it should be treated as an added safety net rather than something you depend on completely.Between your two choices, the Hyundai Venue is a compact SUV, and the Honda Elevate is a midsize SUV. Naturally, the Elevate is the larger of the two, but if you want ADAS, you will need to opt for the top ZX trim, which costs around Rs 19.5 lakh on-road, putting it out of your price range. The new Venue HX10 with the turbo-petrol DCT combination is a good fit for your budget and even has more ADAS features than the Elevate. However, it cannot match the larger Elevate in terms of interior space, which is why we also suggest you take a look at the Kia Syros.In the compact SUV segment, it is the most spacious vehicle. It uses the same powertrain and has most of the same ADAS features as the Venue. It is more expensive than the Venue, but it also gets features like a panoramic sunroof and ventilated rear seats.

VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleHonda Elevate
KS

Ks

•22h

I am planning to buy a car in the ₹20-21 lakh range. My priorities are safety, performance, and decent mileage. My daily driving varies a lot, ranging from around 10 km to 100 km per day. I was considering waiting for MG Motor to launch a plug-in hybrid. How long do you think it might take for MG to launch such a car, and would it be worth waiting for it? Or should I go ahead and buy an ICE vehicle instead? I do not need the car immediately and can wait for around 6-8 months. What do you think would be the best option for me?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3h

If you are keen on a hybrid and can wait for 6 to 8 months, then we would recommend you do so. MG, JSW Motor and Renault will all be launching either strong and/or plug-in hybrids this year. As for the driving pattern, it doesn't make much of a difference if your daily runs vary, as you have indicated, from 10 to 100 km. An important factor when considering a hybrid is simply how many kilometres you would drive in its time with you. If you are going to keep the car for a long time, like 4 years and would on average have a running of about 1800km per month. In the case of something like a Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, a strong hybrid over the regular engine makes sense. As for plug-in hybrids, you'll have to wait to see the pricing difference and figure out if it works for you.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Grand Vitara