Autocar India
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Piyush

7w

I own a Honda City SMT 2012 and i10 Nios AMT. Happy with Honda, unhappy with Hyundai in terms of service cost and maintenance of car. So want to stick to Honda.. my requirement is 2-3 days city drive.. monthly around 500km, and monthly once or twice highway drive about 1200 to 1500kms.. so should I look for elevate or go back fmto new city again? Or wait for new hybrid Elevate or next gen City to come.. this time I want an automatic car.. or in similar budget or slightly more can I look for other options who are stable in long term like my city is 14+ years old and still feels great, unlike my Hyundai which has so bad vibrations and noise for 4yr old car and service center people have no solution. Please advise with suggestions which are long term viable like Honda

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6w

Pick the Honda City CVT, given how happy you are with your 2012 City. 

The CVT is smooth and makes city drives convenient and effortless and on the highway the City feels calm and comfy, and its large boot makes long trips easy. Service is familiar and reliable, and Honda’s 1.5 petrol is proven for reliability, so it should give you the same fuss-free experience as your old City. One thing to be aware of: when you press the accelerator hard for a quick overtake, you will feel the CVT's 'rubber band effect'. 

If you want a higher seating position and easier entry to the cabin, look at the Honda Elevate CVT instead. It rides over bad roads better and the view out is great, but the boot is smaller. It's not advisable to wait for the next‑gen City unless you’re okay waiting without a clear date. If you’re curious about a hybrid today, check the City e:HEV.

Honda City Front Left Three Quarter

Honda City

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Piyush

6w

Thanks for your feedback, can I checkout any alternate car in similar or slightly higher budget considering ling term peace of mind

More questions on similar cars

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Harshit

2d

Hi, I am planning to buy either the Hyundai Creta or the Hyundai Alcazar. My monthly running is around 1,200-1,500 km. This includes around 5–7 trips per month between Noida and Gurgaon, along with two highway trips every month of approximately 500 km each. Could you please suggest which fuel type would be the better option for my usage pattern - petrol or diesel?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
5h

Since your usage isn’t particularly high, and considering the 10-year diesel vehicle restriction in the Delhi-NCR region, we’d recommend opting for a petrol-powered model.The Hyundai Creta’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth, refined and feels adequate for city driving, but it lacks the effortless performance of the turbo-petrol on highways. In fact, out on the open road, the turbo-petrol is also likely to be more fuel efficient.Hyundai has limited the Creta turbo-DCT to a single variant priced at Rs 20.05 lakh, or you have to opt for the Creta N Line, which is priced between Rs 17.83 lakh and Rs 21.21 lakh. Interestingly, the Hyundai Alcazar turbo-petrol engine with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is available across a broad price range of Rs 14.50 lakh-21.20 lakh (ex-showroom). Overall, the Hyundai Alcazar scores over the Creta not just because of its three-row seating, but also due to its added practicality. When not in use, the third row can be folded down to free up a large luggage area, giving the Alcazar a clear versatility advantage. As a family car, it is therefore the more sensible choice.

VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleHyundai Alcazar

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Deepak Jain

6d

I am planning to buy the Honda City facelift that was launched yesterday. How does it compare with the Volkswagen Virtus? I am also assuming that the government will continue supporting E20 fuel even if E85 is introduced in the future. So, is it still safe to buy a petrol vehicle in Delhi/NCR?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
5d

The new City facelift does make a stronger case now because Honda has added genuinely useful features like a larger infotainment screen and ventilated front seats, while pricing has remained fairly sensible. But fundamentally, the character of the car has not changed.Against the VW Virtus, the choice still comes down to personality. The Virtus is the more fun to drive option, especially with the turbo petrol engines, because it feels stronger, more eager and more engaging from behind the wheel. The City, on the other hand, is the more balanced sedan. The 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol is smooth, refined and easy to live with, but if outright performance is your priority, it will not feel as quick as the turbo Virtus. The City hybrid changes that equation because it is genuinely quick and can match the 1.5 TSI for straight line pace, but it is still not what you would call an enthusiast’s car.On the fuel front, yes, it is safe to buy a petrol car in Delhi NCR. Current mainstream petrol cars are already E20 compatible, and even if India eventually pushes toward higher ethanol blends, that transition will be gradual rather than an overnight switch. Beyond a certain point, if the country were to move meaningfully toward very high blends like E85, manufacturers would need proper flex fuel engines engineered for that fuel, and the government would also need to continue offering lower blend fuel options during any transition.

VehicleVolkswagen Virtus
VehicleHonda City

Posted on: 11 Apr 2026