With average run of 500 kms per month, I want a petrol car manual. Which one will be better Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or Honda Elevate.

autocar.india

•12m

Go for the Kia Syros EV. With your usage pattern of 65 km runs in heavy traffic three times a week, plus local city driving on weekends, the Syros EV makes far more sense than the Maruti Grand Vitara Hybrid. You have a predictable, high-frequency commute and the ability to install a home charger, which is exactly the scenario where an EV delivers maximum benefit. The Syros EV is a well-rounded package with a comfortable ride, spacious cabin and a premium feel, and it will handle your daily runs effortlessly while keeping running costs low.On the question of breakdowns and roadside assistance, Kia offers a robust support network and dedicated EV roadside assistance. In the event of a breakdown, the response time is generally comparable to that of an ICE car, and Kia can arrange for the car to be towed to the nearest service centre if required. The Syros EV also comes with an 8-year battery warranty, which covers the most expensive component of the car and provides peace of mind over the ownership period.The company lease arrangement with a buyback after three years further strengthens the case for the Syros EV. You are not exposed to long-term depreciation risk, and you get the benefit of lower running costs and a modern EV ownership experience without worrying about long-term battery degradation.

Kia Syros EV

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

autocar.india

•1d

With your daily running of around 15km and retirement approaching, the focus should be on a comfortable, reliable and easy-to-own car so your shortlist makes sense. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris petrol is a good option, unless rear seat headroom and space are very important, in which case the Grand Vitara would be better.Mechanically, both the Vitara and Victoris are similar underneath, but the Victoris gets a slightly more premium interior and a better feature set at a similar price. Since your running isn't very high, you do not need to go for the hybrid; the regular naturally aspirated petrol engine would do fine, and it's smooth, refined and well-suited to your usage. If you want something smaller and easier to drive in the city, the Brezza is also worth considering, but the Victoris offers a more premium experience and better long-distance comfort.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

autocar.india

•1h

Given your 12 years of trouble free City ownership, the Elevate is the most natural replacement. It retains Honda’s simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, adds substantially better ground clearance and gives you the easier ingress and SUV driving position you liked. The CVT is also very well suited to your low speed, low running usage and should make the transition to an automatic easy.On your E20 concern, we would not treat it as a reason to avoid the Elevate. Honda says all its cars manufactured in India since January 2009 are E20 material compatible, and the current Elevate is officially certified for E20. Honda also says E20 should not cause durability concerns or require any component changes. There can be a marginal reduction in fuel economy because ethanol contains less energy than petrol, but with your 500km monthly running, that is unlikely to be significant.The Seltos is worth a look, particularly if you want a more feature rich and premium cabin, but given your priorities of reliability, easy driving, low maintenance and long term ownership, the Elevate fits your requirements more naturally. The Windsor EV is also an interesting option, but at just 500km a month, there is little financial reason to move to an EV, especially when you have concerns about its touchscreen heavy interface.

Honda City

Honda Elevate

MG Windsor

Kia Seltos