I currently drive an i10 Nios petrol and cover about 3,000 km per month, roughly 50% on the highway. My budget is ₹20 lakh. We are a family of four and I prefer an automatic with good ground clearance. Which vehicle would you suggest?

Autocar India

•15w

Since you have been driving a Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and are used to Hyundai's ecosystem, the natural upgrade would be the Hyundai Creta. It is an excellent SUV that offers a good balance of performance, ease of use and features and holds its value very well. The Hyundai Creta Diesel S(O) AT would be our recommendation as your high running will be better suited to a diesel engine.

The 6-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and convenient in the city and also adept on the highways. Over bad roads, the Creta has a good ground clearance, resulting in added peace of mind.

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Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.78 Lakh

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Hemant Sharma

•2d

Hi, I want to buy a new car or SUV. We are a family of 4: husband, wife, and 2 kids. I live in the Uttarakhand mountains. My yearly driving is around 6-7 thousand km, as we travel from the mountains to relatives living in cities like Delhi, Kanpur, etc. The usage is mostly on highways and in hilly areas. My budget is between ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh. Currently, I own a Baleno Delta 2015 diesel, which has run around 1,05,000 km.

Autocar India

•1d

In your case, we would suggest going for the Renault Duster 1.3 turbo petrol DCT as the first choice. It suits your needs very well because it offers a strong turbo petrol engine, which makes driving in the hills much easier, especially during climbs and overtakes. At the same time, the Duster has excellent ride quality, which handles broken mountain roads and highways with equal ease. It also feels stable and confidence-inspiring at speed, which is important for your long trips to cities like Delhi and Kanpur. Overall, it will feel like a proper upgrade from your Baleno.If you are looking for something that is easier to live with, you can also consider the Hyundai Creta. It offers a very comfortable ride, a smooth driving experience and strong reliability, making it a great all-rounder.

Renault Duster

Hyundai Creta

Anunay Sinha

•11h

Hi, I am planning to buy a mid-size SUV with a budget of around ₹15-16 lakh on-road. I have shortlisted the following options: Tata Sierra Honda Elevate Renault Duster I am considering the second base variant, and my driving will be around 60–70% in the city and the rest on highways. Please suggest a tension-free (reliable and low-maintenance) engine option, as I am currently using a Tata Altroz NA engine.

Autocar India

•38m

Since you are looking for a proven tension-free engine, pick the Honda Elevate, its 1.5‑litre naturally aspirated engine is a very reliable unit and coming from your Tata Altroz NA. You’ll appreciate the Elevate’s smooth, linear power delivery from a simple 4‑cylinder petrol, no turbo lag, fewer parts to worry about, and a decade of reliability in India. The steering is very light at low speeds, and this is also something you would like, given that you drive mostly in the city. What's nice, though, is that it weighs up nicely as speeds rise. The ride is a bit firm but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The 1.3 litre turbo direct injection engine on the Duster is also another good and reliable powerplant, and should you not like the Elevate, you could also look at this. You will have lower rear space, and the gearbox is a DSG unit, which in start-stop city traffic is not as smooth as the CVT on the Honda.

Honda Elevate

Tata Altroz

Indranil Basu

•7h

I currently own a Maruti Suzuki S-Presso VXi. While I like its compact size and ground clearance, I now feel the need for a proper 5-seater car. My driving includes about 200 km per month within Bangalore city and around 4,000 km of long-distance travel annually. Could you suggest an automatic car with good ground clearance, a high seating position, and a comfortable rear seat for three passengers?

Autocar India

•1h

Check out the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It has a relatively compact sub-four-metre footprint, but still manages to be spacious for five adults, thanks to its boxy and tall design. This design also affords it a tall seating position, and visibility is great all around. And since you're already in the Maruti Suzuki ecosystem, it will be an easy transition, and you could even ask them for a loyalty bonus. The Brezza's 1.5-litre petrol is not exceptionally powerful, but it is sufficient, and its 6-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and seamless with its shifts. The best part, however, is that it's incredibly fuel-efficient, which should make your annual long drives a little easier on the pocket. Ground clearance is a substantial 198mm, and the suspension is well-tuned for comfort and stability. Another alternative is the Mahindra XUV 3XO, which also has a wide second row bench and strong petrol and diesel engines as well. But its driving position isn't as tall, and it isn't particularly fuel efficient.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO

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