Autocar India
50w

My daily running is not going to be much, which car should I buy? Budget 15 -17 lacs. Should I go for the Vitara, the Kia Seltos, or the Elevate?

Verified
50w

You should go for the Kia Seltos. It delivers a more premium cabin experience compared to the other options you've listed.

More posts on similar cars

12h

I am using a Datsun redi-GO 2016 model and am planning to upgrade to a 5-seater automatic car. I mostly use it in city traffic, with an average daily travel of 60 km. I have a bit of a back problem, so I need a car that is suited for long-term ownership. I am open to suggestions for current or upcoming cars, except Tata and Mahindra. I initially shortlisted the Creta S (O) and later tried the Kylaq, but the Creta is expensive for my budget. My budget is Rs. 15-18 lakh.

Verified
12h

Given your requirements, the Skoda Kylaq automatic is the most sensible recommendation. Your daily running of 60 km in city traffic makes a petrol automatic the right choice, and the Kylaq's 6-speed torque converter automatic is well suited to stop-start conditions. The Kylaq also offers a comfortable ride and supportive seats, which is important given your back problem. It is also a more practical upgrade from your Redigo, offering a higher seating position and better overall comfort without stretching your budget.The Hyundai Creta S Optional is a good car, but it sits at the upper end of your budget and though it does offer additional value like a more spacious cabin. The Kylaq, on the other hand, offers a more engaging driving experience while still delivering a comfortable ride, making it better value for money for your requirements. If you are open to upcoming cars, the Honda Elevate facelift is worth considering as well, as it is expected to offer a comfortable ride and Honda's reputation for reliability. However, the Kylaq remains the stronger recommendation given your budget and requirements.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleHonda Elevate
1w

Hi Autocar, I’m looking for a petrol SUV under Rs 18 lakh with a manual transmission. I live in a small town and travel to Bengaluru occasionally. Most of my driving is a mix of city and highway use, with some hill driving, and I expect to cover around 5,000–8,000 km a year. I’m not looking for excessive features, as I feel the more electronics and automation a car has, the higher the maintenance costs can be. My priorities are a strong SUV stance and commanding driving position, good safety, annual maintenance costs below Rs 10,000, decent mileage, good road presence, predictable handling and comfortable ride quality. I also go trekking and take part in other outdoor activities, so some light off-road capability would be useful. Nothing extreme, but enough ground clearance and confidence to tackle rough patches and uneven roads. At the moment, I’m considering the Honda Elevate and Renault Duster, but I’m slightly concerned about long-term maintenance and after-sales support. From what I understand, Honda parts are generally sourced through its authorised network, while the Duster is not particularly known for having strong after-sales support. Could you please suggest which SUV would be the better choice for my requirements? Any other recommendations would also be helpful.

Verified
2d

We would recommend the Renault Duster with the turbo-petrol engine paired with the six-speed manual. It is the best fit for the stated usage and priorities. With relatively low annual running, a petrol engine makes more sense, and while the Honda Elevate’s naturally aspirated engine is smooth, reliable and easy to live with, it does not have the Duster’s sense of toughness.The Elevate also feels less modern inside compared with the Duster. The Duster has a strong SUV stance, a commanding driving position and good ground clearance, which should provide greater confidence on rough patches and light off-road trails. Its handling and suspension are particular strengths, while the overall build quality also feels reassuring.Renault’s service network is not the strongest, but support should be better in Bengaluru, given that it is a major city. As an overall package, and considering the requirements, the Duster makes for the better choice. A relatively limited service network for Renault cars is a drawback, but the Duster’s strengths make it a more suitable option for this particular usage.

VehicleRenault Duster
VehicleHonda Elevate
4d

I'm planning to buy a Honda Elevate and have received an on-road quote of Rs. 18.7 lakh in Hyderabad for the ZX CVT. However, I've been reading reports that an Elevate facelift may be launched soon. My top priorities are: ADAS (Honda Sensing), LaneWatch camera Nice-to-have features: 360-degree camera, ventilated seats Given the current discounts, would it be better to buy the Elevate now or wait for the facelift? If the facelift does add features such as a 360° camera, ventilated seats, or expanded ADAS availability across more variants, do you expect Honda to increase prices significantly? Honda has already expanded ADAS availability in some City variants. Is it likely that Honda could make ADAS available in more Elevate variants as part of the facelift? I usually keep my cars for 8-10 years, so I'm trying to understand whether the current discounts on the existing model outweigh the potential benefits of waiting for the facelift. Thank you

Verified
1d

The facelift is expected soon, but Honda is unlikely to make major changes to the mechanical package. The Elevate is a simple, reliable SUV with a proven naturally aspirated petrol engine and a smooth CVT. It is not a feature-rich car, and Honda has positioned it as a straightforward, dependable family SUV rather than a tech-heavy product.That said, Honda Sensing (ADAS) is already available on the ZX variant, and like the City, Honda may expand ADAS availability to lower variants in the facelift. A 360-degree camera and ventilated seats are possible additions, as they were in the City, but Honda is not known for aggressive feature updates, and any meaningful additions would likely be accompanied by a price increase.If you keep cars for 8-10 years, the Elevate is a good choice nonetheless. While the current discount is quite significant, if these features mean a lot to you, it's just a matter of waiting a few months more. There's a chance that stocks of the outgoing model will still be available and going at even higher discounts as the updated model is launched, so in case the price hike is too much, you could even take a call then.

VehicleHonda Elevate
VehicleHonda City

Popular discussions right now

6d

I want to buy a car for 40% city use and 60% long trips. I own a 2015 model of Celerio AGS. Should I buy Baleno AGS considering E20 fuel in the future.

Verified
6d

Given your usage pattern of 40% city and 60% long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AGS is actually a sensible upgrade from your 2015 Celerio AGS. The Baleno offers a more comfortable cabin, better highway stability and a more refined driving experience, which will make those long trips far more enjoyable. The AGS gearbox is also well suited to your occasional city use, keeping things simple and efficient.On the E20 front, there is no reason to worry. The Baleno is E20 compliant, and modern engines are engineered to handle this blend without any long-term reliability concerns. Maruti has also stated that their E20 engines are built for a material tolerance of slightly more than E20, so on the material front the car should be good for something like E22 for example. The main impact of a higher blend would be a reduction in fuel efficiency.The only thing to consider is whether you want to stick with AGS or move to a more conventional automatic. If you are happy with how AGS behaves, the Baleno is a solid choice. If you want a smoother and more premium automatic experience, you could look at something like the Hyundai i20 IVT or the Honda Amaze CVT instead. Both offer a more refined automatic gearbox, which can make a difference on long highway drives.Overall, the Baleno AGS is a good fit for your usage and there is no E20-related reason to avoid it. The decision really comes down to whether you are happy with AGS or want to move to a more conventional automatic.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
VehicleHyundai i20
VehicleHonda Amaze

Posted on: 29 Aug 2025