•2d

Hi, I currently own a 2023 Maruti Suzuki Baleno (previously an XUV300) and am planning to replace it. I have shortlisted the Honda Elevate Adv/Black, Honda City and Skoda Slavia 1.5. Most of my driving is in the city, with occasional highway trips of around 600-700km. I enjoy driving and like good performance. I really like the Honda Elevate, but I'm unsure about its body roll, and I've heard it lacks power. I'm inclined towards the Slavia because of its performance and looks. Please help me choose the better option. Thanks, Manohar.

•18m

Pick the Skoda Slavia 1.5 if driving fun matters most. In the city, it feels strongest off the line, pulls cleanly without needing big revs, and the steering and body control make gaps easy. On those rare 600-700 km runs, it sits calmly at speed, rides well, and still gives good mileage. Ground clearance is high enough for nasty speed breakers, so you will not miss the SUV stance.

Honda Elevate is likeable and easy in traffic, but its 1.5 petrol feels modest, especially with the automatic and a full load, and there is more body roll than the sedans. City is smoother and very comfortable, but it does not excite the way the Slavia 1.5 does.

One honest watch-out with the Slavia 1.5 is the automatic. It is lightning quick when you are pushing, but it can feel a bit jerky in crawling traffic. Alternatively, consider the Slavia 1.0 automatic. For city-heavy use, it has plenty of performance, and its torque converter is smoother in stop-and-go traffic. Coming from a Baleno, you will feel a big step up in power, grip and confidence, without giving up everyday ease.

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More questions on similar cars

•4d

I currently have a Hyundai Eon and I am planning to upgrade to the Virtus GT. How good is the Virtus over bad roads in the city? Does it make passengers uncomfortable? If yes, should I consider Slavia?

•2d

As far as your query regarding the Virtus GT or Slavia goes, both cars are mechanically identical, and the difference between their ride quality, if any, is negligible. Pick the one that appeals to you more. For bad city roads, these cars ride better than you’d expect, with enough ground clearance and suspension travel to clear tall speed breakers and swallow most potholes. Also, stability is rock-solid, which inspires great confidence at highway speeds.Volkswagen will be launching the updated Virtus towards the end of this year. It is likely to get some cosmetic enhancements, new features, and, more importantly, an upgraded air-con unit for more effective cooling. If you can, do wait for that.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

•1w

Dear Editor, I currently own a Ford Aspire Petrol (top-end but one variant) and am planning to upgrade to a more spacious car in around Rs. 20 lakh (ex-showroom). My daily city commute is between 10 to 20 km with an additional 50-60 km once a week. I also take occasional long drives of around 500-700 km. I travel with 3 passengers, but occassionally my parents join us. I have a dedicated parking slot with home charging setup capability. Coming from a Ford, I deeply value sharp handling, tight body control, and steering feedback. I am highly intrigued by the MG Windsor EV Pro through corporate car lease due to its incredible tax benefits, low running costs, and lounge-like rear seats for my parents. However, I am worried about its soft suspension and light steering that will feel too disconnected as compared to my Aspire. Does the MG Windsor EV Pro offer enough driving engagement, and are its drive modes sporty enough for a driving enthusiast? Please suggest some other option if I buy a car myself or choose a corporate car lease. Also, between turbo petrol or EV, which one will be fun-to-drive?

•2d

Go for the Volkswagen Virtus 1.5 TSI or Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI. They're the closest to your Aspire’s feel for Rs. 20 lakh - quick turbo punch, crisp steering, and tight body control that stays clean at highway speeds. They're exciting enough to keep you connected, yet are easy in the city. They're spacious, have big boots for trips, and the rear benches will keep your parents happy, though they're not “lounge-like”. Do note, both sedans are due for updates soon, so its best to wait for the latest versions. If you'd prefer higher seating, the VW Taigun 1.5 TSI and Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI SUVs are good alternatives.About the MG Windsor EV Pro: it's got an airy cabin, being an EV runs quiet, and your parents will love the sofa-like rear. But if driver feel matters, you will miss your Ford. The steering stays light and a bit numb, and the soft suspension brings float over bumps. Drive modes mostly tweak weight and throttle, not real feedback. Lease it only if rear comfort and ultra-low running cost beat driving fun for you.

My dad is 60 years old. He currently drives a Skoda Slavia 1.0 MT for his daily commute of around 30-40 km (to and fro), mostly on small two-lane roads with moderate traffic. He really loves the car, particularly because of its very light steering at city speeds. He also drives sedately and prioritizes fuel efficiency. The only issue now is that, due to ageing, he feels he may switch to a smaller automatic car. His priorities are fuel efficiency, ease of driving, light steering, and compact dimensions. He is inclined towards the Kylaq, as he has developed a liking for Skoda cars after owning the Slavia. What are the other EV and petrol options available in the sub-4-metre segment with light steering and easy drivability comparable to Skoda cars? Or should we go with the Kylaq 1.0 AT?

•2d

The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 AT would be our recommendation. Since your father already enjoys driving the Slavia 1.0 MT, the Kylaq will feel instantly familiar. It retains the light steering, solid build quality and confidence-inspiring driving manners that have made him a fan of Skoda cars. The 6-speed torque-converter automatic is smooth, predictable and well suited to city driving, making it an ideal upgrade as he gets older. Its compact dimensions also make it much easier to manoeuvre on narrow two-lane roads.If you're open to an EV and have access to home charging, the Tata Punch EV is another excellent option. The combination of light steering, instant torque and a single-speed transmission makes it one of the easiest cars to drive in city traffic, and its compact size is well suited to your father's usage.

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

My annual running is below 7,000 km, and I plan to keep my next car for 12-15 years. I am confused between Grand Vitara, Hyryder, Elevate, Creta, Seltos and Victoris. My priorities are reliability, a good balance of power and fuel efficiency, family comfort, low maintenance and long-term ownership. I am also concerned about India's future ethanol-blending policy (E20 and higher blends). Which of these would be the best long-term choice and why?

•5d

With an annual running of less than 7,000km, fuel efficiency should not be the deciding factor. Instead, you should focus on comfort, reliability, ownership experience and how well the car will age over the next 12-15 years. That's why we wouldn't prioritise the Grand Vitara, Hyryder or Victoris Hybrid. Their hybrid systems command a price premium that you'll struggle to recover with such low annual usage.Between the remaining options, the Kia Seltos strikes the best balance. It offers a refined and proven naturally aspirated petrol engine, a smooth IVT automatic, a spacious and premium cabin, excellent comfort and a strong ownership experience. It also feels newer and more upmarket than the Elevate, while the Creta is due for a generational update sooner.The Honda Elevate deserves a mention for its simplicity and reliability. If absolute mechanical simplicity is your priority, it is arguably the safest long-term bet. However, it doesn't feel as premium as the Seltos. The engine and CVT combination isn't quite as refined, and Honda's dealer network is smaller.As for ethanol blending, we wouldn't let it influence your purchase decision. While there is plenty of discussion around E25, E27 and E30 fuels, there is currently no confirmed roadmap for such a transition. More importantly, all of these cars are E20-compliant, and manufacturers have engineered a degree of tolerance beyond that. The most likely effect of higher ethanol blends would be a small reduction in fuel efficiency and slightly accelerated wear of certain fuel-system components over a very long period, not a major reliability issue.

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•1w

I was planning to buy a Maruti Ignis, but it’s been discontinued. I prefer small cars for city driving and office commutes, but I also need something highway-capable for an occasional 900 km trip to my hometown. It will mostly carry three of us (my spouse, child, and me), but needs to fit five people when my parents join. With a 12-lakh budget, what are the best compact cars that balance city manoeuvrability, highway stability, and occasional 5-seater comfort?

•4d

Pick the Maruti Fronx turbo within your Rs. 12 lakh budget, because it stays easy to park in the city yet feels secure on a 900 km run with enough room for five. The 1.0 turbo has decent mid-range for quick overtakes, and the suspension is absorbent and yet keeps the car steady at highway speeds. If you are opting for the automatic, then the Fronx torque converter auto is a very smooth unit and will make life much easier in the city.If you want an even smaller, lighter car with lower running costs, go for the Maruti Swift. It is smooth in the city, easy on fuel, has a usable boot for three, and will cruise comfortably at 100. It can take five in a pinch, but it will feel tight on shoulder room and lack the highway punch of the turbo Fronx.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

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•6d

Dear Autocar experts, I have tentatively decided to buy the Mahindra XUV 7X0 petrol AX7L AT as my next ride. To be frank, it is out of a lack of choice and options that I have made this decision in my head. In terms of capability, it is a downgrade, as I'm moving on from my beautiful Ford Endeavour 3.2 Titanium AT. Of course, it has a long list of bells and whistles that will be all new (and strange) to me. Being based in Delhi NCR, I am reluctant to go for a diesel again at this time. My driving in the city is quite minimal, say about 15kms max per day on average, but always in the clutches of peak Delhi traffic. I am terrified of BSVI diesel DPF horror stories. I am hoping that the 7X0 will be able to negotiate hills, mountain terrains and roads satisfactorily, as I make these trips quite frequently. I plan to keep this car for the next 4-5 years till India sorts out its fuel preferences and diktats, and fresh options are introduced that combine clean energy and performance along with the infrastructure to support them. Is my thought process sound? If not, please poke as many holes in it as you can.

•5d

Your plan seems sound for Delhi-NCR, because petrol dodges the 10-year diesel cap and DPF hassles, and your 15 km daily crawl will not punish petrol the way it would a BS6 diesel. The XUV 7XO petrol AT has strong performance and will certainly keep you satisfied while negotiating hill climbs. Sure, coming from an Endeavour 3.2, this will feel like a step down in terms of road presence and off-road ability. However, despite being a front-wheel drive monocoque, it still exudes an underlying toughness, which gives you ample confidence while dealing with rough terrain. Additionally, the tech and safety are up-to-date, and the three-row flexibility will come in handy, too, although boot space with all three rows in place is low. On the flipside, this petrol-AT is thirsty, so expect single-digit city fuel economy figures.If you aren't in a hurry, consider waiting for the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid SUV that JSW is expected to launch in the latter half of this year. Sure, it'll be more expensive than the Mahindra, and it might not have the off-road capability of your outgoing Endeavour, but since you aren't fully convinced of the Mahindra, this could be worthy of your consideration.

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