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.

Autocar India

•6m

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 ₹12.75 Lakh

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Kushaq

from ₹12.66 Lakh

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Deva

•3d

Hi Autocar team, I am going to purchase my first new car. My daily driving is around 160 to 170km, mainly in the city. I need comfortable seating for my family of four, including one 5-year-old child. I am also looking for a highly safe car that can comfortably handle bad roads and is suitable for the rainy season. Which car should I consider? Please recommend 4 to 5 cars and the best among them. I am not looking for an electric car due to the unavailability of charging space in my society.

Autocar India

•22h

160-170km daily is a rather high usage, and as an EV is off the cards, your next best bet is a strong hybrid if you want to keep running costs in check. You should check out the Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid. In real-world usage, it gives upwards of 20kpl easily and in city usage, that could go up to 25kpl. This is because it will largely run on the electric motor at lower speeds, and the best part is you don't have to plug it in to recharge it. It has achieved a 5-star crash test rating from both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP, since safety is also a concern of yours.Alternatives come from the same family of SUVs - the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, and later this year, Renault will also be launching a strong hybrid variant of the new Duster.

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•1d

I want to buy an SUV that will mostly be used for city commuting and occasional long drives once a month. Can you suggest which is the best among the new Seltos, Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Victoris, and Creta?

Autocar India

•1h

If you are looking for an all-rounder, the new Kia Seltos is the pick of the models on your shortlist. It's the most spacious, offers the best ride comfort and feels most upmarket too. The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol NA with the IVT automatic gearbox is well-suited to your city-centric driving.If fuel economy is your top priority, the strong hybrid versions of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Victoris, and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder fit the bill. The hybrid powertrain switches to EV mode, often allowing exceptional fuel economy numbers. The Victoris is the newest, best-equipped and most appealing of the three strong hybrid models.

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Uddhav shatma

•1d

My yearly running is 15,000 km, mainly on highways. I am searching for a car that provides good safety and very comfortable rear seats for long journeys, as I have elders who travel with me. Good thigh support for long journeys is important. My budget is ₹12 lakh. Which car should I consider, and which fuel type?

Autocar India

•1h

There are quite a few options within your budget, but we'll trim the list down to the Mahindra XUV 3XO, Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (and its twin, the Toyota Rumion).The Mahindra XUV 3XO is a tough compact SUV with a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating. It is quite roomy for its size with ample space at the back. Good ride comfort is also a plus. Punchy engines also make it well-suited to highway drives.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza isn't as punchy as the Mahindra XUV 3XO, but it has very comfortable rear seats, good ride comfort, and is very easy to get into and out of, which your parents will appreciate.If you are open to a larger vehicle, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga VXi (or higher spec) ZXi is an option. The large rear doors and elevated seating position make getting in and out very comfortable. The large rear windows, backrest adjust, and soft seat cushioning are other aspects your parents will like. Performance isn't great, but power is enough for relaxed highway drives.

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