Nagpur

•6w

Hi Autocar Team, I currently own a 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZDi+ Diesel. Since the car is now almost 10 years old, I am planning to replace it with a new car. I am looking for an SUV with good mileage, comfortable interiors, and strong safety features. My budget is around Rs. 20 lakh, and my monthly running is approximately 350 km. Could you please suggest some good SUV options that would be suitable for my requirements?

•6w

With a monthly running of just 350km, diesel is not financially justified, so you should focus on petrol or hybrid options. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the most sensible recommendation here. This Maruti Suzuki car offers excellent fuel efficiency, a comfortable ride and a proven ownership experience, making it a very easy car to live with over the long term. The hybrid system works seamlessly in city traffic and keeps running costs low, which is exactly what you want with your usage pattern.

If you want something with a more premium feel and a stronger safety package, the Kia Seltos is the alternative to consider. It has a more upmarket cabin, a wider range of features and a more substantial feel on the road. The only trade-off is that it will not be as efficient as the Victoris Hybrid in city driving.

Overall, the Victoris Hybrid in its ZXI trim will cost around your budget and is the most balanced recommendation for your requirements. It is efficient, comfortable and easy to own, which is exactly what you need coming from a Dzire diesel.

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Maruti Suzuki

Dzire

from ₹7.29 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.39 Lakh

Kia

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from ₹12.98 Lakh

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•6w•

I am planning to buy Hyundai Venue DCT is it Reliable for long term ownership. I mostly drive open roads and occasionally city traffic

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•3d

I own a 2018 Tata Nexon XZ+ petrol and am now looking for an automatic vehicle, but not an EV, as I live in a flat-based society with shared charging facilities and do not want the hassle of waiting for the car to charge. However, I would like something that is future-ready and offers a lower per-kilometre running cost. I commute 60–70km to my office in Delhi NCR three times a week, so I am looking for an automatic that can comfortably handle this usage.

•18h

Given your usage pattern of 60-70 km three times a week in Delhi NCR, a hybrid is the most sensible choice. It offers significantly lower running costs than a petrol car without the charging hassles of an EV, which is important given your shared charging situation. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the best fit here. It delivers excellent fuel efficiency, is easy to drive in traffic, and has a proven hybrid system that works seamlessly in both city and highway conditions. It is also backed by Maruti's strong service network, which is a big advantage for long-term ownership. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid is mechanically identical and equally good, so the choice between the two can come down to dealer experience and availability. If you want something more premium and spacious, the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid is worth considering, but it comes at a significantly higher price point. Overall, the Victoris Hybrid strikes the best balance between efficiency, ease of ownership and value for your usage.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Toyota Innova HyCross

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•2d

I live in Delhi and am looking for a mid-size SUV. I’m currently considering three options: the Hyundai Creta SX Petrol Manual, Kia Seltos HTK (Optional) Petrol Manual, and Tata Sierra Adventure Petrol Manual. My driving pattern is approximately 90% city and 10% highway. Considering my usage, which of these three would you recommend? Please rank them clearly from 1st to 3rd and explain the reasons behind each position.

•17h

Our top pick would be the Kia Seltos. It is the most well-rounded midsize SUV of the three, with a spacious cabin, good equipment levels and interiors that feel genuinely premium. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the manual gearbox is a smooth, easy-to-use combination, and that is particularly important given that 90 percent of your driving will be in the city. It is easy enough to manoeuvre in traffic, comfortable on the occasional highway run and feels like the most complete package overall.The Hyundai Creta would be our second choice. It uses the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and manual gearbox as the Seltos, so performance, drivability and likely running costs will be very similar. It is also well equipped in SX trim and Hyundai’s service network is a big plus. However, compared to the Seltos, the Creta feels a little less fresh in terms of its cabin ambience and overall appeal. With a replacement expected in the near future, it could also start to feel dated sooner. It remains a sensible option, but the Seltos currently has the edge.The Tata Sierra petrol manual would be our last choice for this specific usage. It is the most spacious of the three, has real road presence and feels the most secure, safe and planted on the highway, thanks to its excellent high-speed manners. However, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine feels sluggish in a vehicle of this size and weight. You have to work it harder in city traffic, while highway overtakes need more planning than in the Hyundai or Kia. It is also larger and heavier, which makes it less convenient in Delhi’s traffic and tight parking spaces. If you are mostly driving yourself, the Seltos is the one we would recommend.

I’m planning to buy my first car in Bengaluru, with a maximum on-road budget of Rs 13 lakh. My usage will be around 60% city and 40% highway, and I’m considering the Kia Seltos and Honda Elevate in their base variants, along with the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi and Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5. I plan to keep the car for around 10 years, so I’m looking for something that offers good mileage, low maintenance and reliable long-term ownership. Which of these would be the best overall choice?

•17h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi. With a Rs 13 lakh on-road budget and a 10-year ownership plan, the Brezza is the most sensible choice. It is reliable, easy to maintain, and Maruti's service network is excellent, which is important for long-term ownership. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and well-suited to your 60-40 city-highway usage, and the car is comfortable enough for regular highway runs. The ZXi variant is well-equipped, so you are not compromising on features either.The Kia Seltos and Honda Elevate base models are good cars, but at this budget you are getting entry-level variants with fewer features, and the ownership experience will not feel as complete. The Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 is a strong value proposition with more features, but Mahindra's long-term ownership experience is not as proven as Maruti's, and the Brezza is the safer bet for a 10-year ownership horizon.The Brezza is not the most exciting car to drive, but it is the most dependable and cost-effective choice for your requirements.

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Popular discussions right now

•4d

I am confused between the Elevate and the Creta. I understand that the Creta is the more established one, but with Honda, the value it brings is amazing, while the price of the Creta is a bit higher than the value it offers. I am mostly a city driver, with around 95% of my driving in the city and occasional highway trips, covering around 10,000km per year. Can you help me get some perspective?

•2d

The Hyundai Creta is the more premium product with a richer feature list. Since your usage is mainly in the city, you are likely to appreciate the Creta's smoothness and refinement, as well as the additional features it offers. Sure, this Hyundai car might cost a bit more, but it is a proven product that commands strong brand equity, which is likely to translate to higher resale value. The Honda Elevate gives you most of what you need at a significantly lower cost, and Honda’s service network is strong enough to make ownership hassle-free. Go for the Elevate if you value its stronger engine performance, else for a refined drive experience, pick the Creta.

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•1w

I am planning to buy a 7-seater car. My daily running is approximately 15-20 km, with occasional trips of 60-70 km once a week. I have shortlisted two cars based on my preferences: the Innova Hycross and XUV 7XO. I am confused between the two. Which one would be the best for my requirements, and which fuel option should I choose?

•6d

Go for the Toyota Innova Hycross strong hybrid. With your daily running of 15-20 km and occasional 60-70 km trips, a diesel does not make financial sense, and the hybrid will give you significantly better fuel efficiency in city driving than petrol. The Hycross is also the more comfortable and spacious 7-seater, with a proven Toyota ownership experience and lower long-term maintenance costs. The XUV 7XO is the better driver's car, offers more features and has a more premium cabin, but for your usage pattern, the Hycross strong hybrid is the more sensible and hassle-free choice.

Toyota Innova HyCross

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•3d

Help me choose the right car for my usage. Please be practical and challenge my assumptions. My situation: I am 31 and work as a software developer. I currently work from home in Balsane, Dhule, but I am moving to Mumbai around March. My wife and I are expecting a baby in February. My parents live in a village where local transport is poor. My Mumbai office is near Powai, but parking is difficult. I prefer a manual car. Usage: My current running is around 10,000 km per year, but it may increase. I travel between Mumbai and Balsane, which is around 400 km one way, around 5-7 times a year, along with Dhule/Sakri and local trips. I also drive around Mumbai on weekends. The AC is usually on, and on long trips, the car will have my wife, baby, and luggage. Budget: Rs. 6-9 lakh on-road. I am willing to spend more only if it is genuinely worth it. Shortlist: - Tiago XE Petrol - Punch Pure+/Smart Petrol - Punch Pure+/Smart CNG - Brezza LXi turbo-petrol Please tell me: 1. Which one should I buy and why? 2. Petrol vs CNG for my usage? The CNG premium is around Rs. 1 lakh, and the nearby village pump may open around Diwali, but this is not guaranteed. 3. What real-world mileage can I expect with the AC on? 4. Please consider loan interest, fuel costs, maintenance, depreciation, and resale value. 5. Is the Brezza worth the extra money? 6. Give me one final choice and tell me what I should avoid.

•3d

The Brezza LXI Turbo is far superior to the Punch and Tiago as far as smoothness, performance, and cabin space are concerned. It is also backed by Maruti's widespread support network, and the ownership experience is likely to be fuss-free. The on-road cost of the Brezza LXI will fall within your Rs 9 lakh budget, and even though you might miss a few features, it still feels worth opting for. Alternatively, you could also consider the Maruti Dzire VXI MT for its large boot, comfy ride and strong fuel efficiency.

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