I am from Himachal and currently own a 4th-gen Honda City. It is very comfortable but sometimes hard to manage in the mountains. I am looking to upgrade to a rugged SUV/Jeep. I test-drove the Thar Roxx and loved the go-anywhere feel, but the lack of thigh support at the front is a deal-breaker for me. The Innova HyCross offers ideal comfort for my family and me, but an MPV feels too large for my liking, and I do not need the extra two seats. Please give some recommendations.

Autocar India

•14w

If you are happy with the Honda experience, you should consider the Elevate. It scores very well on seat comfort and also has other pluses like good ground clearance and a robust build. The suspension can also take quite a beating and is something that you will appreciate, especially on rough roads in the hills.
The engine is adequate but doesn’t have the punch of a turbo engine in case.

Alternatively, you could wait for the new Renault Duster that will go on sale in early 2026. The Duster is a tough amd hardy crossover, and the new one that will be offered with turbo-petrol engines should also satisfy with performance.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.49 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.22 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Recommended questions for you

Vaibhav

•6d

I currently own a 2012 Hyundai i10 Era and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My budget is ₹15-17 lakh (on-road). My annual driving is around 3,000 km, mostly in the city with occasional long drives. My priorities are low maintenance, good mileage, and better rear seat and boot space. I am more inclined towards an automatic transmission and would also prefer ADAS Level 2 features. At the moment, I am considering the Hyundai Venue HX10 and the Honda Elevate ZX. I am not considering Tata or Mahindra models. Could you share your opinion on choosing automatic versus manual transmission for city driving in a place like Ahmedabad? Also, how useful are ADAS features in city traffic? Please suggest any alternative models based on your experience.

Autocar India

•23h

Since most of your driving is in the city, an automatic gearbox makes the most sense. Compared to a manual, it brings a lot more convenience and generally makes driving less stressful. ADAS is good to have, but it should be treated as an added safety net rather than something you depend on completely.Between your two choices, the Hyundai Venue is a compact SUV, and the Honda Elevate is a midsize SUV. Naturally, the Elevate is the larger of the two, but if you want ADAS, you will need to opt for the top ZX trim, which costs around Rs 19.5 lakh on-road, putting it out of your price range. The new Venue HX10 with the turbo-petrol DCT combination is a good fit for your budget and even has more ADAS features than the Elevate. However, it cannot match the larger Elevate in terms of interior space, which is why we also suggest you take a look at the Kia Syros.In the compact SUV segment, it is the most spacious vehicle. It uses the same powertrain and has most of the same ADAS features as the Venue. It is more expensive than the Venue, but it also gets features like a panoramic sunroof and ventilated rear seats.

Hyundai Venue

Honda Elevate

Daniel Steve

•4w

Hi Autocar, I currently own a Tata Indica V2, which is now 19 years old, and I am planning to upgrade. I am looking for an SUV with an automatic gearbox within a budget of ₹17 lakh. My mother and I like the Mahindra XUV 3XO for its performance, safety, and features, while my father prefers the Toyota Taisor for its mileage. Could you suggest the best car for our needs within this budget? Also, as a family, we really like the Renault Duster. Considering that the new Duster has just been launched, would it be a better idea to wait for it instead of buying a car right now?

Autocar India

•1h

While the other cars you have listed are indeed capable for the reasons you have listed, if you all agree on the new Renault Duster, then you should go for it. The SUV has just been launched for Rs 10.49 lakh to Rs 18.49 lakh (ex-showroom), though the petrol automatic option you are interested in starts at Rs 14.49 lakh. In your budget, you should be able to get the upper-mid Techno+ variant with the 1.3 turbo-DCT powertrain. While we haven't driven the new Duster yet, signs point to it being a good middle ground between performance and mileage, and it's expected to, as before, have excellent ride comfort. It's also got that boxy shape that made the original so popular, and it's quite well equipped too, although the rear seat isn't as spacious as we had hoped. Bookings are open for the new Duster, with deliveries starting in April. But if you really don't mind waiting, the strong hybrid version is expected by Diwali, which should easily surpass the Toyota Taisor on mileage.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Renault Duster

Emmanuel

•1w

I am currently using a Tata Harrier and am very satisfied with it overall. Now, I am planning to upgrade and am considering two options: either going for the latest version of the Tata Harrier again or choosing the Mahindra XUV 7XO. Could you please advise which would be the better option?

Autocar India

•3h

While the facelift of the Tata Harrier received in 2023 was fairly substantial, it isn’t enough of an upgrade over your Harrier. Instead, we suggest you try something new and opt for the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It is a three-row SUV compared to the two-row Harrier, is better equipped with features such as a triple-screen setup as standard, and offers a more powerful diesel engine. Take a test drive of both SUVs before you decide.

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO

View all Posts