Mumbai

Swapnil Kamble

•4w

I am concerned about the future increase in ethanol blending percentages. Will E20 continue to be available as the base fuel option alongside higher ethanol blends in the future? I am considering the Citroen BasaltX, Honda Elevate CVT, and Kia Seltos NA CVT. My usage is mostly in the city with occasional highway drives, and my annual running is around 10,000 km. I am looking for a long-term car for at least 10-12 years.

Autocar India

•3w

You do not need to worry too much about E20 or future ethanol blends while buying a new petrol car today, especially if you are planning to keep it for 10 to 12 years. All modern petrol cars from major manufacturers, including the Kia Seltos, Citroen Basalt and Honda Elevate, are already designed to run on E20 fuel. More importantly, cars that are only E20 compatible cannot run on E85 or higher ethanol blends, because those require dedicated flex fuel engines with significant changes to the fuel system and engine calibration. This means fuel companies and the government will still have to continue supplying E20 compatible fuel alongside any future higher ethanol blends for flex fuel vehicles.

For your usage, the Kia Seltos IVT is the best all round choice. Since most of your driving is in the city, the naturally aspirated petrol with the IVT automatic will feel extremely smooth and effortless in traffic, while the cabin feels genuinely premium and well insulated for long term ownership. It also strikes a very good balance between comfort, features and ease of driving, which is exactly what matters in a car you plan to keep for over a decade.

The Citroen Basalt is the alternative if you are more budget conscious and want maximum practicality. It offers massive boot space, excellent rear seat room and a very comfortable ride, making it a superb family car for the money. However, it does not feel as polished, premium or as refined overall as the Seltos, especially inside the cabin and in terms of overall ownership experience. The Honda Elevate CVT sits somewhere in the middle with Honda’s strong reliability reputation and easygoing nature, but it feels less feature rich and not as plush inside as the Kia.

Explore cars mentioned

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from ₹10.03 Lakh

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Kshitij BIsht

•3w

Good suggestion

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More questions on similar cars

Sabya

•4d

We're a family of three. I'm looking for a reliable petrol automatic with high safety, good fuel efficiency, E20 compliance, ADAS features, and all the modern equipment expected in a B- or C-segment car. A strong hybrid would be preferred, although options are limited. My budget is ideally under Rs 20 lakh on-road, with a maximum stretch to Rs 25 lakh. Running will be 30% city and 70% highway. Future-proofing is important, and while E20 compliance is essential, I am also interested in vehicles that may be compatible with future E30 fuel blends. Please suggest at least three models.

Autocar India

•20h

Our first recommendation would be the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol automatic. With 70% highway driving, you will appreciate its comprehensive ADAS suite with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. It also has a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating, a wide service network, and you’ll get the full spread of modern features inside your budget. The honest catch is that the automatic is tuned for calm progress, not thrills. The honest catch is that the automatic is tuned for calm progress, not thrills.The Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol automatic lands very close. It matches the features and ADAS you want, rides a touch softer for family comfort, and Hyundai’s service reach is the strongest. Highway economy is similar to the Seltos, and it is E20-ready.The Honda Elevate is a strong choice, too, giving you ADAS and a very easy drive. It also offers slightly quicker performance than the above two. It stays within your price range and is proven on long runs.All three are E20-compliant. No mainstream brand here officially guarantees E30 yet, so that is the one future-proofing gap today.

Param

I am getting good discounts on the Honda Elevate. Should I wait for the Honda Elevate facelift or buy the current version? Also, I am a little confused about the features. I am considering the Elevate V CVT variant. Since the updated Honda City now offers Level 2 ADAS on the V variant, what are the chances of the Elevate facelift getting ADAS on the V CVT variant as well? When can we expect the Honda Elevate facelift, considering it is already June 2026?

Autocar India

•1d

If you are getting a good discount on the current Honda Elevate, we would be inclined to buy now rather than wait.That said, yes, we do think the Elevate facelift is likely to get Level 2 ADAS, especially considering Honda has already expanded ADAS availability on the updated City and the industry as a whole is moving in that direction. However, it is worth remembering that the current Elevate already gets camera based Honda Sensing ADAS, which covers features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking.The bigger question is how important Level 2 ADAS is to you. If having the latest ADAS package is a must-have feature and something you will genuinely use regularly, then waiting for the facelift makes sense. However, if your priority is getting a good deal on a practical, reliable SUV, the current Elevate remains a very competent package, and the discounts available today could easily offset the benefits of waiting for the facelift and paying a higher price.

Honda Elevate

Honda City

Santosh Prakash

•2d

Hi, I'm currently driving the Honda Elevate CVT. So far, I am not unhappy with it. The car does what I want it to do, and while it is not particularly exciting, I am satisfied with it. My question is: if the Elevate eventually gets a hybrid option, should I consider upgrading? I am concerned about fuel economy as fuel prices continue to rise. I currently get around 11-12 kpl overall. Assuming the hybrid is priced around Rs 5 lakh higher, my calculations suggest I would need to drive roughly 1.5-1.7 lakh kilometres to recover the additional cost. Financially, it does not seem to make sense. However, there is also the peace of mind of seeing fuel economy figures above 20 kpl, and the hybrid setup could offer slightly better performance and make the car more enjoyable. What do you think? If Honda eventually launches it, should I go for it?

Autocar India

•2d

Honda near term focus has been on EVs and upcoming new-generation products rather than adding a hybrid powertrain to the current Elevate. More importantly, we have recently reported that Honda currently has no plans to introduce an Elevate Hybrid, and that the upcoming Elevate update is expected to be a minor facelift with no hybrid powertrain being added.That is why we would not overthink this. Your own calculations already suggest that a Rs 5 lakh premium would take a very long time to recover through fuel savings alone. While a strong hybrid would certainly deliver better efficiency and a more effortless driving experience, it is unlikely to transform the ownership experience enough to justify replacing a perfectly good Elevate CVT.The bigger point is that you already seem satisfied with the car. The Elevate is doing exactly what you bought it for. Unless Honda surprises everyone with a competitively priced hybrid version, which currently looks unlikely, we would simply continue enjoying the car you have.

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Balaji

•3d

I am looking to buy a 6/7-seater EV. My primary usage will be as a 4-seater, with occasional 6-seater use. I will mainly drive it in the city for my daily office commute and undertake long-distance trips of around 500 km once every two months. I have a solar setup at home and can charge the vehicle comfortably. My budget is Rs 30-40 lakh, although I can stretch it slightly if required.

Autocar India

•2d

You should go for the Mahindra XEV 9S. It's a proper three-row EV, and it fits your use case perfectly. With home solar charging, your running costs are very low, and the smooth, quiet drive is just right for city runs as a 4-seater. When you do need six or seven seats, the third row is reasonably spacious, and for your 500 km trip every couple of months, you’ll need just one quick top-up at a highway charger.Do note that with all three rows up, boot space is tight, so your highway trips will require some planning.Alternatively, consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It isn't as feature-rich and doesn't have as much range as the XEV 9S, but its third row is more comfortable for adults.

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Mohamed khalidh

•1w

I am getting the Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT for Rs. 9.5 lakh and the Honda Amaze VX CVT for Rs. 10.5 lakh. Which one should I buy?

Autocar India

•6d

Pick the Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT. Besides being Rs 1 lakh more affordable, the i20 feels like a more refined, smooth and polished car in comparison. The cabin feels a touch nicer with better quality of materials and fit-finish, and the rear seat is wider if you occasionally seat three.If you often do airport runs or road trips with family, the Amaze CVT VX could makes sense on account of its huge boot. But overall, the i20 IVT is the better pick.

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Sandeep

•2d

I want to buy a car under Rs 12 lakh. It should be a petrol automatic and will be my first car. I need good ground clearance, a good engine and gearbox combination for 70% city and 30% highway use, and my daily running is around 30 km in Bengaluru traffic. Comfort, space, decent fuel efficiency, ease of driving, and long-term ownership are important to me. I do not want a Fronx, Baleno, i20, Exter, Punch, or Nexon. Please suggest a value-for-money option. Thank you.

Autocar India

•1d

Given your exclusions, the Skoda Kylaq automatic would be our first recommendation. Specifically, the Signature automatic is if you can stretch slightly. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol and torque converter automatic are a very good combination for Bangalore traffic. The gearbox is smooth, the engine has enough punch for highway overtakes, and the car feels more premium and substantial than most options in this price range. Ground clearance is good, it is easy to drive, and it has the solid feel that many first-time buyers appreciate.Another strong option is the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic. It has a wider rear seat, feels bigger inside and is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment. The torque converter automatic is smooth, and it is comfortable for city use. The downside is that fuel efficiency is not that great, and the boot is on the smaller side.If you are willing to consider a sedan, the Honda Amaze CVT is also worth a look. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in traffic, reliability is excellent, and it is the kind of car you can comfortably keep for a decade. The only reason it is not our primary recommendation is that you specifically mentioned wanting good ground clearance.

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