Sukma

•24w

I am planning to buy a car with a budget of 15-17 lakh. My average monthly running is 1500 km. I have short-listed the Grand Vitara Zeta mild hybrid variant. I am a car enthusiast, and I love driving. I am looking for a car with low maintenance costs and high comfort on long drives. Have I made a good choice, or can you suggest a better option? Thanks.

•24w

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Zeta (O) MT is a good choice that meets most of your needs. It comes in under Rs 17 lakh, and its excellent fuel economy should be good for your relatively high running of 1,500km per month. This is a Maruti car, so maintenance will be easy on the pocket too, estimated at Rs 4,000-6,000 per service, which happens at 10,000km intervals. It's reasonably comfortable too, with a well-sorted suspension.

The only downside is the driving dynamics, which aren't geared to enthusiastic driving. While the chassis is well-engineered, the steering feels light and slow. Most of all, though, the 105hp petrol engine isn't particularly exciting, tuned as it is for fuel economy.

For a more engaging drive, consider the Skoda Kushaq, though bear in mind you'll only get a low-spec Signature 1.0 TSI MT variant at your budget, and it won't be as good as the Maruti on running costs.

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Maruti Suzuki

Grand Vitara

from ₹12.06 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹11.98 Lakh

•23w•

58000 run with GV manual zeta purchased in June 23. Pros: smooth running both on highway and city. Mileage on highway 18-22 with 5 person. Maintenance around 7000 to 9000 per service. Interior ok ok. Exterior look and road presence excellent.

•23w•

Cons: Somewhat underpowered when overtake needed on highway. Throw of headlight is not good.

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•4d

Currently, I own a Sonet and am extremely unhappy with its poor suspension and very low mileage. My driving is mostly limited to congested areas and heavy traffic, with a daily running of around 20–22 km. I also do not have dedicated EV charging facilities, so a fully electric vehicle is not an option. Given my priorities of good mileage and a comfortable rear-seat ride without excessive wobbling or jerking, would it make sense to go for a strong hybrid such as the Toyota Hyryder or Maruti Suzuki Vitara, or would a regular Honda City be the better choice? I am particularly wondering whether spending an additional Rs 7-8 lakh on a hybrid would be justified, considering my relatively low daily usage of around 22 km. Open to all suggestions.

•2d

Go for the Honda City petrol CVT. The City’s CVT is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-and-go traffic, and the rear seat ride is comfortable and stable, which addresses your main complaint with the Kia Sonet. The strong hybrid premium on the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara / Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is difficult to justify at your running; the fuel savings will take a very long time to recover, and the City’s petrol efficiency is good enough for your usage pattern. The City also has a proven long-term ownership track record with low running costs and a comfortable ride, which is exactly what you are looking for. If you want a slightly higher seating position and a more SUV-like feel, the Honda Elevate is a good alternative with the same engine and a similarly comfortable ride.

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•1d

Kushaq vs Taigun, same platform and drivetrain options, but they somehow feel like completely different cars to drive. Curious which one people think actually justifies its badge here?

•3d

My wife is 5'0", and we are looking to buy an automatic car primarily for city commutes, with occasional highway trips. We are considering the Kia Seltos. Is it a good choice, particularly in terms of seating ergonomics and visibility for a 5-foot-tall driver? Another option I am considering is the Skoda Kushaq. Which one would be better for our requirements?

•1d

The Kia Seltos is a very good all-rounder, but for a 5-foot-tall driver, the Skoda Kushaq is actually the better choice. The Kushaq has a more upright seating position, a lower dashboard and a more compact bonnet, which makes it much easier to judge the car's extremities and improves overall visibility. The Seltos has a higher dashboard and a longer bonnet, which can make it harder for shorter drivers to judge the front of the car, even with the seat height adjusted.The Kushaq is also slightly narrower and easier to manoeuvre in city traffic, which is important for your primary usage. The Seltos does feel more premium inside and offers a slightly more spacious rear seat, but from a driver's perspective, the Kushaq is the more confidence-inspiring car.Go for the Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic. It uses an 8-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth and well-suited to city driving. The Seltos IVT is also a good gearbox, but the overall ergonomics of the Kushaq give it the edge for your specific requirement.

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Popular discussions right now

•3d

I have a Tata Nexon Creative AMT that is only a year old, but I have already had to replace the spark plugs four times and the ignition coil once. I am still facing engine misfires and vibrations inside the car. I am honestly fed up with Tata's service, as they have been unable to resolve the issue. I am therefore planning to sell the Nexon and buy a Kia Seltos with a manual transmission this time. My priority was safety earlier, and it remains my top priority. However, I now also want peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience. Would selling the Nexon and switching to the Seltos be a good decision?

•2d

Yes, it is a good decisionYes, it is a good decision to sell the Tata Nexon and move to the Seltos manual. The Nexon is generally a safe and well-engineered car, but if you are facing repeated engine issues and the service centre is unable to resolve them, it is understandable to lose confidence in the ownership experience. The Kia Seltos is a very well-rounded SUV with a strong safety package, a more refined ownership experience and a good service network. The manual transmission is also a good choice if you want to avoid any potential automatic gearbox-related issues. Overall, if peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience are your top priorities, the Seltos is a sensible upgrade.

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•5d

I am planning to buy a sub-compact SUV. My budget is Rs. 13-14 lakh, and my priorities are a smooth automatic transmission and good mileage. I am considering the Brezza ZXi AT, Sonet HXT DCT, and Venue HX6 DCT. I am very confused because the Brezza’s torque-converter automatic offers good fuel efficiency but lacks some features, while the Sonet and Venue offer all the features I need. However, I am concerned that the DCT may be less fuel-efficient and could involve higher maintenance costs. My daily commute is around 30 km, mostly in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. Please suggest which one would be the best choice for my requirements.

•5d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT. Your priorities are a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and a daily 30km commute in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Brezza’s 6-speed torque converter automatic is the best fit for this usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start conditions, and the naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and easy to live with. Maruti’s service reach and low maintenance costs add to the ownership peace of mind.The Sonet and Venue DCTs are good cars, but the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy traffic. It can feel jerky at low speeds.Alternatively, if you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option.

I currently drive a Grand i10 Manual petrol and am now planning to buy a new compact SUV that is comfortable, fuel efficient and has low maintenance. My usage is 35km of daily office commute in Delhi-NCR traffic. Please advice which option is best fit amongst Hyundai Venue HX 6T, SONET HTK+O and XUV 3XO.

•6d

Go for the Hyundai Venue. With your daily 35km commute in Delhi NCR traffic, comfort and low maintenance are key, and the Venue delivers on both. The 1.2 NA petrol is smooth, refined and easy to drive in stop-start conditions, while Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The HX6T variant also gives you a good balance of features without pushing the budget too far.The Sonet HTK+O is mechanically very similar, but the Venue is a newer model and offers a more spacious cabin. The XUV 3XO is also a good option, but its turbo petrol engine won't be as efficient as the Hyundai’s.Overall, the Venue is the most sensible upgrade from your Grand i10 for daily city use.

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