Mumbai

•9w

Which is the best SUV to buy now or is it better to wait for 1-1.5 years since there are going to be a lot of changes in the powertrain landscape? Should I buy a hybrid or a petrol automatic SUV under a budget of Rs. 25 lakh. My daily usage is 50-60 km within the city, including heavy traffic and bad roads, along with highway travel once or twice a month. I am looking for an SUV with a good driving experience, reliability, safety, good features, and a proven track record.

•9w

With a budget of Rs. 25 lakh, daily city usage of 50-60 km in heavy traffic and bad roads, and 1-2 highway trips a month, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the best fit. The hybrid system of this Maruti Suzuki car delivers excellent fuel efficiency in stop-start traffic, the ride is comfortable over broken roads, and Maruti’s service network and reliability are strong. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid is essentially the same car with Toyota’s badge and service network, so choose whichever brand you are more comfortable with.

There is no need to wait 1-1.5 years. The powertrain landscape is evolving, but there is no major shift expected in this price bracket that would make waiting worthwhile. Hybrids like the Victoris and Hyryder are already well-proven and deliver real-world benefits today. If you are willing to wait, however, a Kia Seltos hybrid and Renault Duster hybrid are expected to launch later this year.

Between hybrid and petrol automatic, hybrid is the clear choice for your usage. Your daily city running is high, and the hybrid system will save you significant fuel costs over time while still being easy to live with. Petrol automatics are cheaper to purchase, but the fuel savings of the hybrid far outweigh that.

If you want a more premium feel and stronger performance, the Kia Seltos IVT or Hyundai Creta IVT are good alternatives, but they will not match the hybrid for fuel efficiency in your usage. The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are the better driver’s cars, but again, they will not be as efficient in city traffic. Overall, the Victoris Hybrid or Hyryder Hybrid are the most sensible and cost-effective choices for your usage.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.39 Lakh

Toyota

Urban Cruiser Hyryder

from ₹13.31 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.38 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.62 Lakh

Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹12.98 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.88 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

•9w•

@abhims007 Go for Victoris hybrid because it gives you milage of above 18kmpl in city stop go traffic. Others with turbo or higher power give 8-9 kmpl. Plus it's much more reliable than a turbo in longer run. If you have long highway travel with no elevation and can maintain 90-100 kmph, then you can opt for seltos or creta NA engine. If you have windy roads and can't maintain 80kmph speed, the Victoris/Hyryder is the best choice. Or you could wait for latest version of Hyryder/ Grand Vitara by 2027.

•9w•

@strider991 When would one need to replace the batteries and how much would it cost at present rates ?!

•9w•

@abhims007 Go for Urban Cruiser Hyryder

•9w•

If that's th case where is th case for Tata's, are we saying if Petrol is choice nine if the home grown brands have anything to offer for above use case

•9w•

Buy it only if it is absolutely necessary. I would hughly recommend to wait for 1.5 years before spending 25L on a car. For 50-60kms withing the city, I would recommend Urban Cruiser Strong Hybrid.

•9w•

Creta owner · 19,800 km

You shouldn't wait 1-1.5 years as strong hybrid makes the most sense today. My recommendation would be the Toyota Hyryder Strong Hybrid. It offers excellent fuel efficiency in traffic, proven reliability, a comfortable ride, and low running costs, while also being well-suited for long-term ownership.

•9w•

Hyryder and Vitara are Essentially the Same car not Victories. Victories next level

•9w•

@babun it's the other way around. Grand Vitara is sold through Nexa and Victoris through Arena. I personally like the Victoris though..

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•3d

Hi, I am looking for a new car for my father (54 years old, 6 feet tall), who is currently using a second-hand Maruti 800. He works as a Police Inspector in Mathura, UP, and needs a comfortable and reliable upgrade for long-term use. Here are our exact requirements: Usage: Diverse daily duties, including jurisdiction commutes, court visits, police line visits and VIP duties Monthly running: 1,800-2,000 km, although this can vary slightly depending on his duties Driving mix: 50% city / 50% highway Key requirements: High comfort (essential given his height and daily travel), good mileage and reliability Transmission: Manual (MT) only Fuel dilemma: Given the high monthly running, we are confused between choosing a diesel or a petrol + CNG option Budget: Strictly capped at ₹16 lakh on-road in Mathura Could you please suggest the best long-term options that would suit his requirements and usage?

•2d

With 1,800- 2,000 km of monthly running, CNG cars make more financial sense than a petrol car or diesel option, especially with 50 percent of the usage being in the city. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG would be the recommendation as it combines good fuel efficiency with a comfortable cabin, sufficient space for a 6ft driver and Maruti’s wide service network, making it well suited to long term ownership.The CNG system is also factory fitted, so there is no need to compromise on reliability by adding an aftermarket kit. Its naturally aspirated engine is not particularly powerful, but for regular commuting and highway speeds it is adequate. The large CNG tank does reduce boot space, which is the main compromise.A diesel car could make sense at this running, particularly for frequent highway use, but the additional cost and complexity of a modern diesel make CNG more attractive when half the driving is in town. The running cost saving over 18,000- 24,000 km a year will also be significant.

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•3d

I have been using a Swift Dzire diesel for the last 11 years and now want to change to a new car. I am about to retire in a couple of years. My current car has covered around 1,50,000 km in the last 11 years, and I expect my usage to increase by around 10%. We are a family of five, but we rarely travel together. I love the driving power of the Dzire diesel, along with its fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs. Which car should I choose now? There is no budget constraint.

•2d

With around 15,000 km a year and a 10% expected increase, you are still a high-mileage user, but your usage is not extreme. Since you rarely travel as a family of five, a midsize SUV would be the right segment.The key is to find a car that offers a similar sense of torque and effortless performance while keeping running costs reasonable. In your Rs 20-30 lakh price budget, you have quite a few diesel options to consider. Our top recommendation would be the Kia Seltos. The GTX (O) variant will fit your budget and comes with a proven 1.5-litre diesel engine that is reliable, efficient and torquey. This Kia car also comes paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox that is smooth to shift and offers a seamless and hassle-free drive in the city. The GTX (O) is also the top-spec model that comes extremely well-equipped with the likes of ADAS, LED headlamps, wireless connectivity, panoramic sunroof and a lot more. If you want to stray away from a diesel but still want the peace of mind of a Maruti, then a strong hybrid is also worth consideration. The Victoris, in its top spec, ZXi Plus (O), will get you a strong hybrid with an automatic gearbox and along with that you will get a decent amount of equipment as well. The strong hybrid means you have electric assist and that gives you good low-end performance in the city. Off-the-line response is a lot better and a lot like diesel, but then you get the convenience of an automatic, offering a nice smooth drive in the city. So overall it comes down to you. If you want to stick to a diesel, the Seltos is our top choice. If you want to move away, given the uncertainty of diesel, then a strong hybrid in the form of the Victoris will be a good choice to consider and will keep you in the Maruti family, which you are familiar with.

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•3d

I am confused between the Grand Vitara Zeta CNG and the Victoris ZXi CNG. Please help me decide which one would be a better choice.

•3d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Victoris ZXi CNG. Both the Grand Vitara and Victoris are essentially the same car underneath, sharing the same engine, platform and CNG powertrain, so performance, efficiency and reliability will be identical. The key difference is that the Victoris gets a brighter interior with a more modern-looking dashboard, and a slightly better feature list at a similar price point. The Victoris's biggest advantage is its underbody CNG tank, which doesn't compromise luggage space.

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•6d

I am planning to buy a naturally aspirated petrol automatic car and have shortlisted the Toyota Hyryder mild hybrid and Honda Elevate. Which one would be the better choice?

•6d

Go for the Honda Elevate CVT. Both the Elevate and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder mild hybrid use naturally aspirated petrol engines, but the Elevate’s 1.5-litre engine is more refined, and the CVT gearbox is silky smooth, making it a more relaxed car to drive in everyday conditions. The Elevate also benefits from Honda’s strong reputation for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs, which is exactly what you want from a naturally aspirated petrol automatic. The Hyryder is still a good car, but the Elevate is the more complete package for this brief.

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•1w

I am new to driving and am looking for a sub-4-metre petrol SUV with a torque converter automatic gearbox. My budget is around Rs 12-13 lakh on-road. I have shortlisted two options: the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic and the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic. We are a family of five. My current usage is mostly within the city, but based on my future work requirements, it could shift to an 80:20 mix of city and highway driving.

•1w

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Signature AT. For a new driver with predominantly city use, its 1.0 TSI with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic is smooth and easy to drive, while the compact dimensions make it relatively easy to manage in traffic. It also has a more mature, planted feel on the highway.The Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro AT is the better choice if rear-seat space is the priority. Its cabin is wider and more accommodating for a family of five, and its 1.2 turbo-petrol makes 200Nm, giving it stronger low-end and mid-range performance than the Kylaq.However, the 3XO's boot is also one of its compromises, while the Kylaq offers a better balance of driving dynamics, boot space and highway manners. With your usage potentially becoming 80:20 city/highway, the Kylaq's combination works particularly well.

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•1w

Which car should I buy among Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Petrol base or Kia Seltos petrol base? And also tell me if anyone has faced power issue or pickup issue while overtaking as I want the car for long term.

•1w

Between the two, the Seltos is the better choice, especially if you are looking at the base variant. It feels more premium, is the newer product and offers a more complete package even in its lower variants.The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol makes 115hp and 144Nm. It isn't a particularly powerful engine, but it is smooth and refined and is perfectly adequate for normal city driving.For overtaking, it won't have the punch of the Seltos turbo, but it isn't underpowered either. With a full load and during quick highway overtakes, you may need to plan ahead and use higher revs. The Grand Vitara's 1.5 petrol is also a smooth, simple powertrain, but its performance is more relaxed and the base variant is quite sparsely equipped.

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