I have been considering purchasing the Honda Elevate ZX MT and recently visited a Honda showroom, although I did not take a test drive during the visit. I understand that the naturally aspirated engine is reliable and the overall ergonomics seem well designed. However, a few aspects have made me reconsider my decision, such as the under-thigh support for both the driver and rear passengers, the relatively boxy seat design (including how comfortable the middle seat is due to the hump), NVH levels, and Honda’s service experience. I am also wondering whether it would be advisable to wait for a potential hybrid version of the Elevate, although there is no clarity on when Honda might introduce it. Could you please advise whether I should proceed with the Elevate ZX MT or consider waiting or exploring other options?

Autocar India

•1d

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Strong Hybrid are still relatively new in the Indian market, so there isn’t enough real-world data yet to say definitively which one will have better resale value. What we can go by for now is brand perception and past trends: Toyotas typically enjoy very strong resale because of their reputation for reliability and low running costs, so it is reasonable to expect the Hyryder to hold its value slightly better over time, all else being equal. That said, the Grand Vitara shares the same Toyota-sourced hybrid powertrain and battery tech, and Maruti’s wide service network and lower maintenance costs also work in its favour, so the gap in resale may not be huge in the real world.On the hybrid battery side, both the Grand Vitara and the Hyryder Strong Hybrid come with an 8-year or 1,60,000 km warranty on the lithium-ion hybrid battery pack, which is now fairly standard for Toyota’s self-charging hybrids and has been extended to the Maruti-Toyota joint products as well. This long warranty is significant because it effectively covers the period when most owners would worry about a big-ticket failure. The battery in these cars is relatively small (around 0.7–0.8 kWh) and is designed to cycle gently between partial states of charge, which greatly improves its life compared to a full EV battery that is regularly fast-charged and deep-cycled.As for eventual replacement cost, there is no official India-specific figure published for the Grand Vitara/Hyryder hybrid pack yet, but looking at typical Toyota hybrid battery pricing abroad and early dealer-level indications, a rough ballpark of around Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh for a full pack replacement is a reasonable estimate in today’s terms, excluding any future inflation. Actual cost will depend on the exact part price at the time, taxes, and whether you go through the authorised network or a specialist workshop once the car is much older. It is also worth noting that Toyota hybrids globally have a very strong track record for battery longevity, with many running well past 10 years and high mileages without needing a pack replacement, and India gets the same basic technology. So while you should be aware of the potential cost, for most owners the battery is unlikely to be a recurring expense within the normal ownership window.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

•2h

The Hyundai Creta is the better all-rounder and offers more space, a stronger and smoother powertrain (1.5 P IVT) and marginally better comfort. However, given your priorities of mileage and maintenance costs, it's hard to beat Maruti Suzuki on these fronts.Whether you choose the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or Victoris is a matter of preference (and which dealership is more accessible to you - Arena or Nexa), as they are essentially the same car underneath, using the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and 6-speed AT gearbox. Despite using a torque converter automatic gearbox, which is not typically associated with good mileage, both Maruti SUVs offer exceptional fuel economy, and maintenance costs over the course of their lives will be among the lowest in the segment.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•22h

If you are keen on a hybrid and can wait for 6 to 8 months, then we would recommend you do so. MG, JSW Motor and Renault will all be launching either strong and/or plug-in hybrids this year. As for the driving pattern, it doesn't make much of a difference if your daily runs vary, as you have indicated, from 10 to 100 km. An important factor when considering a hybrid is simply how many kilometres you would drive in its time with you. If you are going to keep the car for a long time, like 4 years and would on average have a running of about 1800km per month. In the case of something like a Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, a strong hybrid over the regular engine makes sense. As for plug-in hybrids, you'll have to wait to see the pricing difference and figure out if it works for you.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara