Mumbai

Apurv

•5d

I own a 2017 Renault Kwid 800cc manual and am looking to upgrade mainly for comfort, space, and some more power. My budget is around Rs 15-17 lakh on-road in Hyderabad. My monthly running is around 300 km, mainly in city stop-and-go traffic. Please suggest whether I should extend my budget for a CVT (Elevate/Creta) or go for a torque-converter automatic (Kylaq/3XO).

Autocar India

•11m

For mostly city use within a 15-17 lakh on-road budget, where comfort, space and ease of driving matter most, the Honda Elevate automatic fits best. The automatic is very smooth at low speeds, so stop-go driving feels calm, and compared to your Kwid, the seat is higher, the cabin is wider, and the ride is more comfortable over bad roads. Power is not wild, but it is a big step up from your Kwid and feels relaxed in the city.

A quick word on gearbox types for your use: for pure city traffic, the automatics in the Elevate and Creta feel smoother because there are no obvious gear changes. Torque‑converter automatics in the Kylaq and XUV 3XO are also smooth, but you will feel a few more gear changes at low speeds.

The trade-offs with the Elevate are that the engine does not feel particularly quick when pushed hard, and the cabin does not feel as premium as the Creta’s.

If you can stretch, the Hyundai Creta automatic adds a plusher cabin and a bit more space. If you want more punch for less money and can live with a smaller back seat, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is the value pick. Overall, for your city commute and budget, the Elevate automatic lines up best.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.82 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.78 Lakh

Skoda

Kylaq

from ₹8.92 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.86 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Amit

•5d

Hi Autocar, I am looking for a car to keep for 10 years. My driving is not much at the moment. I currently own a Nexon AMT that has done 20,000 km. I mostly do frequent short trips in the city and occasional long highway drives. I love the turbo in the Nexon, but not much else, as it started giving me trouble as soon as it entered its fifth year, so I am no longer sure about its reliability. I am now thinking mainly from a reliability perspective and am confused between the Seltos/Creta diesel automatic, Seltos/Creta iVT, and Elevate CVT. However, I would still like to retain Nexon’s grunt and avoid DCTs.

Autocar India

•1h

For a ten-year ownership period with strong reliability, mostly short city runs with the occasional highway trip, the Honda Elevate CVT is a good fit. Given your usage is fairly low and largely limited to the city, a petrol would be a better choice than a diesel. Being naturally aspirated, it won’t have the same grunt as the Nexon’s turbo-petrol, but among naturally aspirated midsize SUVs, it feels one of the most energetic.Test drive it to see if the performance feels adequate, but if you miss that turbo punch, then consider the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI AT instead. It comes with an 8-speed torque-converter automatic, which avoids your DCT concerns, though overall upkeep cost will be higher than Honda’s.If you want the least hassle with many short city trips, pick the Honda Elevate.

Honda Elevate

Skoda Kushaq

Deepak

•1d

I am confused between the Honda Elevate and the Tata Harrier Diesel base variant. My usage is around 60% city driving and 40% highway driving. At the same time, I also want a car that is enjoyable to drive and feels engaging behind the wheel. Could you please advise which one would be the better option considering driving experience, comfort, maintenance costs, long-term ownership, and overall value for money? Also, would it make sense to wait for any upcoming updates or facelifts before making a decision?

Autocar India

•17h

The Honda Elevate manual/CVT seems to be the better fit for you. It feels light and easy in traffic, the petrol motor is smooth, and the steering is quite light, so daily drives are calmer. It also costs less to buy, and its routine service is likely to be cheaper than a big diesel. On the highway, it stays steady and performance is strong, so it feels friendly and confident.The Tata Harrier diesel base is great if most of your use is on wide highways. But in the city, it feels big, the manual needs more clutch work, parking is harder, and overall, it isn't as easy to drive as the Honda.If you can wait, the Elevate facelift is expected in the second half of 2026. If not, pick the outgoing version.

Honda Elevate

Tata Harrier

KARAN NATH

•2d

Hi Team Autocar, Thank you for the invaluable expert advice you provide to so many enthusiasts and buyers. I currently drive a 2017 Renault Duster 110PS AMT Diesel and am now considering purchasing a used petrol automatic SUV that is around three years old. My priorities are decent fuel efficiency, low running and maintenance costs, and overall reliability. My monthly city driving is approximately 1,000-1,200 km. Please note that I am not considering vehicles from Maruti, Mahindra, or Tata. Could you please recommend the most suitable options for my requirements and budget? Regards, Karan

Autocar India

•2d

With mostly city use at 1,000-1,200 km a month and a focus on mileage and low upkeep, a three-year-old Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder hybrid automatic suits you best. In slow city traffic, it often runs on electric power, so fuel use is far lower than that of a regular petrol car, and the automatic transmission is very smooth and quiet. Coming from your Duster diesel AMT, you will notice easier stop-go driving, lower vibration, and Toyota’s simple, predictable service experience.Do note a couple of trade-offs. The hybrid’s boot is smaller than some rivals, and it doesn’t feel very strong if you push hard on the highway. Clean used examples can also cost more than a regular petrol.If the hybrid price stretches the budget, look for a Hyundai Creta petrol automatic from the same period. It is easy to drive, comfortable over bad roads, and has wide, affordable service support.Another sensible pick is the Honda Elevate automatic for its simple ownership and light steering. For your brief, the Hyryder hybrid lines up best, with the Creta or Elevate as safer-value backups.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai Creta

Honda Elevate

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Popular discussions right now

TechiePetrolhead

•1w

Hi AutocarIndia Team, I am really interested in the Tata Sierra EV. Any scoops or news on when we can potentially expect the same to be launched here in India? Thanks, TechiePetrolhead

Autocar India

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If you are waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, the good news is that it does not seem too far away. Current indications suggest a launch could happen either later this month or in June.Expect it to slot below the Tata Harrier EV in Tata’s electric line-up, likely with multiple battery pack options and a more premium positioning than the Tata Curvv EV. Tata has also indicated that both Rear Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive versions are planned, which should make it one of the more interesting mainstream electric SUVs in India.

Soumith Uppu

I am looking for a family car and am currently confused between the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT, Maruti Fronx Delta Plus AMT, and Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT. Could you please help me choose the best option?

Autocar India

•2d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

Vasu

I own a Honda City 4th Generation and have been getting an average fuel efficiency of 16.1 km/l over 85,000 km. Would it be worth installing a CNG kit to improve the mileage further? Please suggest.

Autocar India

•6d

With the kind of mileage you are already seeing from your 4th generation Honda City, I would not rush to fit a CNG kit. Around 16 kpl over 85,000 km is actually a healthy real world figure for a petrol sedan, and since the City is known for its smoothness and refinement, adding an aftermarket CNG kit will inevitably change the character of the car. Honda does not offer a factory CNG option for the City, so any retrofit will be third party, which means compromises in boot space, some loss in outright performance and the added variable of installation quality and long term reliability. Honda also recommends using fuel that meets the vehicle specifications, and aftermarket modifications can complicate warranty or support considerations on newer cars.A CNG conversion only starts making strong financial sense if your running is very high and you plan to keep the car for several more years to recover the kit cost. If your annual usage is moderate, the payback period can be longer than expected. The only real case for going CNG here is if fuel cost reduction is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, given how well your City is already performing, I would leave it as is and enjoy the refinement rather than fixing something that is not really broken.

Honda City

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Posted on: 16 May 2026

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