Our budget is Rs.18 lakh, and we plan to sell our Maruti Swift VXi 2016 model and upgrade to the Hyundai Creta. Is it a good choice, or should we consider a hybrid car, considering the future of petrol cars? What would you suggest?

autocar.india

•3h

Given your usage pattern, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder petrol is the most sensible recommendation. The key factor here is long periods of inactivity. Strong hybrids are generally best avoided in this scenario because the high-voltage battery can degrade if the car is left unused for months at a time. The Hyryder petrol, on the other hand, is a simple, reliable, and low-maintenance powertrain that will cope far better with extended parking.The Hyryder also scores well on long-term reliability and low maintenance, thanks to Toyota's reputation and service network. It is comfortable for family use, has a spacious cabin, and a compliant ride. The only real drawback is that it is not as feature-rich or as premium-feeling as the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta, but that is a trade-off worth making for peace of mind.If you want something with a more premium feel and more features, the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta petrol IVT are the alternatives. They feel more sophisticated overall, but both these brands don't have the same reputation for long-term reliability as the Toyota Car.Overall, the Hyryder petrol is the best fit for your usage pattern and priorities. It is the car that will give you the least trouble after being parked for months, and that is the most important consideration here.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•19h

If you need a car now, the Hyundai Creta IVT is still a very sensible buy. The IVT is smooth in the city, the car is easy to live with, and it remains one of the most well-rounded midsize SUVs on sale. 2027 will see the arrival of the next-gen Creta (not merely a facelift). The new Creta is expected to be larger, roomier and more feature-equipped than the current model. The promise is of a lot more car for a bit more money, and it could be worth the wait. The new-gen Creta is expected to get a hybrid powertrain, which will likely use a battery pack under the boot floor. This will eat into boot space. However, the standard petrol IVT is sure to remain on offer and could be the right pick if luggage capacity is a decider. On ethanol, there is no need to worry. This Hyundai car is E20-compliant, and modern engines are engineered to handle E20 fuel without reliability concerns. There is no official roadmap beyond E20, so this is not something that should influence your buying decision.

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•1d

Considering your usage, CNG car would be a better fit. While an electric car will be cheaper to run, the charging network in rural areas is patchy, which will limit your usage. CNG is more readily available where you are and, on longer trips where you don't find a pump, you can still revert to petrol.In your budget, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is a solid choice. It comes with a dual-tank setup, so the boot is only slightly smaller than the petrol version. Maruti has also done a good job of tuning the car to run on CNG and its service network is the largest in the country. The downside is that highway performance on CNG will feel a bit dull, requiring a downshift for an overtake.Alternatively, you could continue with a diesel car, as you are already comfortable with that. Running costs will be higher than on CNG, but availability of diesel is not an issue and you avoid the queues at CNG stations. In your budget, the Kia Seltos diesel is the best bet. The manual will be fine for your use, but an automatic is available if you wish. The Creta diesel offers a similar experience, but Hyundai has a wider service network than Kia.Overall, the Victoris CNG makes the most sense for your needs but, if you want a bit more punch on the highway, the Seltos diesel is a good fit.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos