Latest questions answered by experts

autocar.india

•1h

Our suggestion would be to keep it in the Skoda family and pick the Kushaq. Your 600km highway runs will feel the easiest in this one, thanks to the TSI engine's strong pull and a stable, confident high-speed feel. Coming from a Fabia, you will also like the familiar solid build, but it's still compact enough for your weekend city drives. For your usage, the 1.5 TSI with the DSG gearbox is honestly the better bet, as it has the stronger yet smoother engine, snappier gearbox and almost no fuel economy penalty thanks to clever cylinder deactivation tech.However, these variants are several lakhs outside your budget, so you might have to choose the 1.0 TSI, which is also very good. The Kylaq with the 1.0 TSI is also a good bet, but it won't feel as significant an update from your Fabia in terms of size.The Honda Elevate hybrid, sadly, does not look like it will see the light of day, as Honda is focused on bringing out its midsize EV first, and other all-new models thereafter. You could look at the Elevate petrol, however, which is plenty efficient enough on its own. However, we still think the Kushaq is the best option for you.

Skoda Kushaq

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•2h

Of your shortlist, it comes down to the Honda Elevate, Maruti Suzuki Victoris/Grand Vitara, or Toyota Hyryder, and finally the Kia Seltos.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is simply not practical enough for the money, and its ride isn't suitable for touring. The Sierra's 1.5 NA petrol is its weakest engine, and the diesel is expensive, and between the Creta and Seltos, we'd pick the newer Seltos as it is more modern, larger and more spacious. And though we would recommend using the official service outlets, if you are interested in servicing the vehicle yourself, the naturally aspirated petrol manual is the best bet. The good news is that all these cars will fall comfortably within your budget, too.The Maruti and Toyota SUVs are superbly reliable and incredibly efficient, though rear-seat space is not as good as the others. The power figure is not great either, and though sufficient in the city, for your highway touring use, you might feel it wanting slightly.The Kia Seltos' 1.5-litre petrol engine produces slightly more power, but the vehicle is also heavier, so it does not feel dramatically quicker on the highway. It is larger than the others, though, offering noticeably more cabin space, better interior quality and a stronger feature list. While it costs roughly Rs 1.5 lakh more in higher trims, you do get more for your money.In terms of outright value, though, the Honda Elevate strikes the best balance. It is more spacious than the Maruti/Toyota, cheaper than the Seltos, and has the most powerful engine, which is also fuel-efficient and legendarily reliable. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC remains tractable at low speeds as well as strong enough on the highway. It is also backed by solid ride and handling dynamics. Downsides are that refinement isn't as good as the others, and even in top-spec guise, the feature set is not as good, though you do get the essentials. We would recommend the Honda over the others for your needs.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•3h

The Honda Amaze CVT would be the recommendation here. Since this will be a secondary car primarily for city use in Delhi NCR, with monthly running of just 600-700km and a focus on long-term ownership, the Amaze makes a lot of sense. The CVT automatic is among the smoothest gearboxes in this price range, the petrol engine is refined and proven, and Honda's reputation for reliability and hassle-free ownership is hard to ignore. If you're planning to take the maximum warranty and service packages, it should be an extremely easy car to live with for many years.The Hyundai i20 IVT would be the second choice. It feels more premium inside than the Amaze, offers excellent fit and finish, and its IVT automatic is just as smooth in city traffic. It is also compact and easy to drive, making it a great urban runabout.If you're willing to stretch your budget slightly, the Skoda Kylaq Classic+ AT is worth considering. It brings the benefits of an SUV body style, a solid feel and a smooth torque-converter automatic. However, for your specific use case, the Honda and Hyundai edge it out thanks to their smoother powertrains and stronger reputation for long-term ownership peace of mind.

Honda Amaze

Hyundai i20

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•4h

Within the compact and sub-compact SUV segments, there is a wide choice, and setting a budget would help in narrowing it down. However, given your requirements, a good option is the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It's a Maruti, so it's something you're familiar with, and it keeps you within the same aftersales and service ecosystem. It's a good all-rounder that feels large and spacious, giving you a sense of having made a proper upgrade while remaining compact enough to be manageable. There's sufficient ground clearance and boot space, and depending on your budget, you could get some good features too.Its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and strong enough for your occasional highway trips, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth. Plus, maintenance costs are manageable, especially given your limited usage. Do note, however, that a facelift of the Maruti Brezza is right around the corner, so if you can wait a few months, it will no doubt be worthwhile.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•5h

Pick the Hyundai Creta Electric. For 70% city use, its performance and throttle modulation are just perfect for a relaxed city drive. Its power delivery is smooth and quick, with light, accurate steering, so darting through gaps feels easy and safe rather than startling. Hyundai’s EV tuning is very polished, with useful regen levels, so you can ease into a near one‑pedal flow in traffic. That makes daily driving calmer but still satisfying. The cabin is quiet, and the seats are supportive, which matters after a long weekday commute. The ride is also good, and it rounds off speed breakers and potholes nicely so you and your passengers won’t get tossed about. On the highway, too, you will find the ride nicely tied down, whereas the Mahindra can get a bit floaty on long undulations.The only bit is that the drive experience is more dialled down and not sporty, which is what you will get with the Mahindra. So this is non-negotiable, go with the XEV 9S. For city comfort and a relaxed driving pleasure, the Creta Electric is the better bet.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra XEV 9S