I currently own a 2014 Swift Dzire, which has been driven 96,000 km, and I am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My driving will mostly be in the city, with an average monthly run of around 200 to 250 km. I take 2 to 3 long trips a year, covering 500 to 1,000 km. I have three kids. I have taken test drives of the Duster, Elevate, Kushaq, Taigun, Seltos, and Creta. I initially booked the Duster but cancelled it due to limited rear-seat space. I have now booked the Elevate, but it feels lacking in performance. Should I go ahead with a car now, or wait for some time considering the current geopolitical conflicts and rising oil prices, and explore hybrid 7-seater options in the future?

Autocar India

•31m

Go ahead with the Honda Elevate, there is no strong reason to wait. With your low monthly running and occasional long trips, what matters most is space, comfort and ease of ownership, and the Elevate delivers that well with a roomy cabin and a relaxed, fuss-free driving experience.

Waiting for a 7 seater hybrid sounds logical, but realistically, apart from the Toyota Innova HyCross and Maruti Suzuki Invicto, there are no real options today, and new ones will take time to arrive, so you may end up waiting without a clear benefit.

If you do want a 7 seater right now, the Kia Carens Clavis petrol is a strong alternative. This Kia car offers flexible seating for your family and is comfortable for both city use and occasional long trips.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.82 Lakh

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹21.60 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Invicto

from ₹29.75 Lakh

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.27 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Knt

•2d

I am a first-time car buyer looking to purchase an SUV within a budget of ₹16 lakh (on-road). My usage will primarily be for weekend drives, occasional trips, and highway driving, with minimal city use. My key requirements are good features, strong mileage, and overall comfort. Could you please suggest the best SUV option that offers a good balance of performance, features, and long-term ownership?

Autocar India

•1d

Mostly highway weekends with an Rs 16 lakh on-road cap, and you want strong features and low fuel use, in that case, the Kia Seltos HTK (manual) fits you best. The HTK trim brings the useful bits you will actually use on trips, like an HD touchscreen, a clear camera, auto climate control and solid safety features, without pushing the price past your limit. The 1.5 NA petrol is very refined, with adequate performance for most users and decent fuel efficiency. Since you do not drive in the city too much, we would stick with the manual, which is light and easy to use.One thing to keep in mind for your use: performance is adequate, but it can feel a bit underwhelming when pushed. If you want a bit more performance, then consider the Honda Elevate.Overall, for weekend and highway use under Rs 16 lakh, the Kia Seltos HTK (manual) lines up best with what you want.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Akshay Bhat

•3d

Which petrol automatic would you recommend for 60% city usage (daily 10-20kms) and highways 40%? My budget is around 16L. I need good mileage, a spacious boot and a commanding driving position. I need a reliable vehicle with good after-sales service. Resale value should also be good after 5 years. Should I consider an EV - the 8% road tax for EVs added in Karnataka is an added expense! OR do you suggest I should wait for some time, considering upcoming BS7 norms, % of ethanol blending madness, poor charging network, rapidly improving EV technology leading to poor resale, etc?

Autocar India

•2d

We would recommend the Honda Elevate V CVT for your needs. It fits your 60 percent city and 40 percent highway usage very naturally with a smooth, easy automatic that keeps daily drives stress-free and feels relaxed on longer runs. It also gives you that commanding driving position, a spacious cabin and a genuinely useful boot, and over time it will keep ownership simple thanks to Honda’s strong reliability and low maintenance reputation. It is a straightforward, no-drama car that focuses on comfort and ease rather than unnecessary complexity. Considering your usage, going electric right now does not make much sense due to the higher cost of buying in your location, charging dependency and resale uncertainty. As for BS7 or ethanol changes, there is no need to wait, as current petrol cars are already well adapted to future norms. If you are willing to stretch your budget, the Hyundai Creta is worth considering as it feels more premium and feature-rich, but in comparable automatic variants, it does sit noticeably higher on price and does not fundamentally improve your day-to-day usability. The only real downside with the Elevate is that the interior feels a bit plain for the price. But overall, it is an easy, dependable car that will just work for you every single day without fuss.

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

Ram

•4d

I am using the Honda Amaze diesel CVT. I plan to change my car. My average driving in a month is 1750km. I am going for a mid-size SUV. Kindly guide. Should I go for the Honda Elevate?

Autocar India

•2d

Budget permitting, you should go for the Honda Elevate ZX CVT. It is the easiest, most hassle-free upgrade from your Amaze for a mid-size SUV. You are used to a diesel CVT, and the Elevate’s CVT keeps that smooth, calm feel in traffic. The higher seat and good all-around view make city driving and parking simple, and the suspension handles bad roads well. Size-wise, it is not too big, so it is easy to live with, but it still gives you more space and ground clearance than your Amaze. Honda’s engines are reliable, and service quality is generally consistent in most cities.One thing to be aware of is that, coming from a diesel, the Elevate's naturally aspirated petrol engine will not feel as strong at low speeds with a full load or on steep hills, and you will need to press the accelerator more. Also, your monthly use is high, so petrol running costs will be higher than your Amaze diesel.If fuel cost is your top worry at 1,750 km a month, look at the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid, again, budget permitting. It is very smooth and uses a lot less fuel in the city. If you do frequent highway runs with family and luggage and want that strong pull you had in your diesel, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic is the better fit.Do a back-to-back drive. Take four people, climb a flyover and try a quick overtake. If the Elevate’s pull and refinement feel fine to you there, you’ll be happy with it.

Honda Amaze

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

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