Wanted to buy an automatic car within a budget of Rs. 15 lakh on-road, with an additional Rs. 1.5 lakh available from my old car exchange. I have shortlisted the Honda Elevate VX CVT and the Renault Duster Revolution 1.3 CVT. My monthly usage includes 1,000-1,200 km of city driving and around 500 km of outstation travel. Please suggest which one I should choose, or recommend any other car in the same category and budget. My priorities are good headroom and a comfortable rear seat.

autocar.india

•2d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Zeta AT. It is the better fit for your requirements. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the torque converter automatic is a proven, reliable combination that will serve you well over a long ownership period. The Grand Vitara also offers a comfortable ride, good rear seat space and a spacious cabin. Maruti's service network and low maintenance costs further strengthen its case for long-term ownership.The Honda Elevate VX CVT is also a good car, but Honda's CVT is not as refined as a torque converter automatic. The Grand Vitara's automatic is smoother and more predictable in everyday driving. Fuel efficiency between the two will be broadly similar, with the Grand Vitara having a slight edge in real-world conditions.Given your preference for a non-sunroof variant, the Grand Vitara Zeta is the more suitable choice. The Honda Elevate VX comes with a sunroof, which you specifically want to avoid. Overall, the Grand Vitara Zeta AT is the more complete package for your needs.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•2d

The Kylaq 1.0 TSI Prestige+ AT makes more sense for your requirements. Your daily commute involves significant city driving, so the compact dimensions and torque-converter automatic make it easier to manage Bengaluru traffic. The 1.0 TSI does have some initial turbo lag, but it isn't significant enough to be a deal-breaker. Once the turbo is on boost, the engine has good mid-range performance, while the automatic makes progress smooth and effortless.The Kushaq 1.0 AT is the more mature and comfortable car, and its new 8-speed torque-converter automatic is a considerable improvement, particularly in low-speed traffic. It also offers more space and feels more substantial. However, spending around Rs 5.5 lakh more is difficult to justify when the Kylaq already meets your requirements well. The presence of an Elevate in the family also reduces the need to pay extra for the larger SUV.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Kushaq

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•1d

Good evening, Nagendra. The Honda City is a fantastic sedan and one of our default recommendations for buyers looking for a comfortable, reliable and refined family car. However, ground clearance is its only real weakness. The City has a ground clearance of 165mm, which is adequate for most speed breakers, but some of the larger, unscientific speed breakers in Mumbai can be a challenge, especially when the car is fully loaded.If your daily routes include particularly tall speed breakers or poorly designed humps, you will need to be careful with your approach angle and speed. The City can clear most speed breakers if you take them slowly and at an angle, but it is not as forgiving as an SUV or a crossover.If ground clearance is a major concern, you may want to consider the Honda Elevate instead. It offers a similar ownership experience, a higher seating position and significantly better ground clearance, making it much better suited to Mumbai's speed breakers. If you are set on a sedan, the Skoda Slavia and the VW Virtus do offer better ground clearance than the City.

Honda City

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

Honda Elevate