My father is planning to buy a new car and, after extensive research, he has finalized the Honda Elevate ADV DT (automatic). However, we are wondering if it would be worth waiting for the new Renault Duster before making the final decision. We are based in Nagpur and currently drive a 2011 Swift diesel. Our running is not very high, so we are now preferring a petrol automatic for better ease of driving and convenience. We test drove the Honda Elevate, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Creta, and he liked the Elevate the most. He especially appreciated the seating stance and felt it offered a proper SUV-like driving position and commanding feel, whereas the others, although feature-rich, didn’t give him the same SUV feel. Our priorities are comfort, reliability, ease of driving in city traffic, and a strong SUV-like feel. Would it be worth waiting for the new Renault Duster, or is the Elevate CVT a good choice to proceed with?

Autocar India

•16h

With a Rs. 15 lakh cap, you want a tall, tough-looking but easy-to-drive monocoque SUV for daily use and family comfort, so we would lean toward the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi AT. It carries that square, upright look you like from the Scorpio N in a smaller, lighter body. The back seat offers good headroom and legroom, and the ride is comfortable on broken roads. The automatic is smooth, and Maruti’s wide service network and simple running costs also tick your reliability box.A few trade-offs to note for you: the engine feels just okay on fast highways, so quick overtakes need a little planning, and the cabin doesn’t feel as rich as some Korean rivals. But for your mix of looks, comfort, space and worry-free ownership at this price, it hits the brief well.If you want a bit more road presence and stronger performance while staying close to your budget, look at the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 automatic. It has a bold, upright stance, and the turbo engine feels stronger. Another option, if you can stretch a little, is the Honda Elevate V CVT. It is very roomy, very easy and smooth to drive in the city, and Honda’s reliability record is strong, but prices in some cities may cross your 15 lakh target. Overall, for value within your budget, the Brezza ZXi automatic lines up best with what you want.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Honda Elevate

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Mahindra Scorpio N

Autocar India

•2d

The Kia Seltos would suit your requirements well. The new Seltos has a roomier cabin, especially at the rear and will seat three adults in reasonable comfort. Legroom is plenty, even for six-footers, while headroom is adequate. The seat back angle is also adjustable, which will help with both comfort and head clearance for taller passengers. Ground clearance is good, as are the safety features, moreover the Seltos also scored a 5-star rating in the Bharat NCAP tests. The driver's seat is also comfy, though larger-framed individuals might find it snug. We would suggest checking this out yourself to see if you are happy. As an alternative, look at the Honda Elevate. There's plenty of cabin space at the front and rear, and the boot is amongst the largest in its class and will be more than adequate for your 3-4 days of luggage. There's generous ground clearance, too, and safety equipment is good. The only issue might be for the centre passenger as the tunnel is fairly pronounced.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Autocar India

•1d

The Renault Duster certainly rides and handles better, and has a bigger boot too. However, its rear seat space is tight compared to a Tata Sierra, which is much more spacious in comparison. And besides a roomier cabin, the Sierra's seats (front and rear) are comfier, its cabin feels more inviting than the Duster's, and the turbo-petrol is a strong performer too.Overall, as a family car, the Sierra fits the brief better. Yes, it doesn't have a good reputation as far as reliability and after-sales service go, so we'd recommend you opt for the longest warranty coverage on the car.

Renault Duster

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•5d

You’re after a no-drama, long-term family car that is easy to drive, comfortable and roomy. For that brief, the Honda Elevate VX CVT is a good fit. The VX CVT is the sweet spot because the automatic keeps the engine smooth in traffic, and the VX trim gets the useful features without pushing the price too high.Why it fits your list: Honda’s simple 1.5 petrol has a long, clean track record, so it suits your “no issues for 10+ years” aim. The driving position is high, the steering is light, and the CVT makes stop-go city work very easy. Space is good for four adults, the seats are supportive, and the suspension deals with broken roads well, so daily comfort is strong.Trade-offs to note: it is not the quickest for fast highway passes, and rivals offer more flashy features. If you expect a lot of high-speed use with a full load, you may want more punch.Regarding waiting for a facelift, while it may launch this year, there is no confirmed date or list of changes. An update usually brings small styling tweaks and a few extra features, and prices can go up too. The basics you care about are space, ease of driving, Honda’s engine and service and these are unlikely to change much.If you do want to look around, pick the Kia Seltos IVT for more features and a more modern cabin. Overall, for your needs, the Elevate VX CVT lines up best right now.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•6d

Going by your shortlist, you want a bigger family car on a tight budget and are looking at base trims. If you need the car in the next couple of months for mostly city use with some weekend trips, pick the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT. It is well equipped and, compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, gives you more back-seat space and boot room.The Brezza update will be relatively minor, though we expect the 1.5 NA engine to make way for the 1.0 turbo-petrol from the Fronx. Waiting for it only makes sense if you mainly drive in tight city areas and want an easier-to-park car.Overall, for a near-term purchase and everyday comfort, the Seltos lines up best with what you’re considering.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•6d

You need a car for pure highway use and want the longest stretch between stops; in that case, we would lean towards the Mahindra XEV 9S 79kWh for its better real-world highway range. In our real-world testing, we managed 477 km on the highway, which suits your “pure highway” pattern. We have also tested the AWD Harrier EV, which managed 401 km (combined). While the RWD version should better that, it will likely still fall short of the XEV 9S’s range.One thing to note: the Mahindra’s ride can feel a bit floaty on undulating highway surfaces, so try it out before you commit. If that is an issue, the XEV 9e has a more settled ride.Overall, for highway-first use and maximum range, the XEV 9S 79kWh is the safer bet.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Harrier EV