Autocar India
•16w

I have been using a Honda City i-VTEC for the last 14 years, and now I want to switch to a new car. I am confused about whether I should go for the newer City or the Elevate. I don’t want to consider Hyundai, as I am very unhappy with my i10 Nios. Within the first year, it has developed noise issues, and the service center has been unable to find the root cause.

Verified
•15w
Your usage should determine which Honda you go for, as the City and Elevate are mechanically identical. Both are powered by a 121hp, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT automatic and are similar in terms of driving experience.
If you're going to be primarily using the car in the city and if you are chauffeur-driven, go for the Honda City as it has a more comfortable rear seat and being smaller, it is easier to drive in the city. The City also benefits from a larger boot than the Elevate.
However, if you want the elevated driving position of an SUV, the added practicality, more ground clearance, easier ingress/egress to the cabin and a more robust suspension, go for the Honda Elevate.
Honda City

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More questions on similar cars

•3d

I want to purchase a car, considering 3 options- Petrol, Hybrid & EV 1- slavia 1.5 dsg 2- Mahindra BE6 pack2 79kwh 3- Honda City Hybrid My yearly drive is 12.5K km (60% highway and 40% city), and I am planning to keep the car for 15 years. Due to e20 concern, I am hesitant to buy Slavia, as a European car may need only xp95 or xp100, which will have high running cost, so I kept 2 more options of hybrid & EV. Can I put normal E20 to slavia1.5dsg, and with all 3, which one should I pick? All 3 cars are almost 25L on road.

Verified
•21h

Go for the Honda City Hybrid. With 12,500km a year and a 60% highway/40% city split, the hybrid powertrain will deliver the best balance of efficiency, refinement and long-term ownership confidence. The City Hybrid is a proven, reliable package with excellent fuel economy in both city and highway conditions, and Honda’s ownership experience is among the best in the segment. It is also a car you can realistically keep for 15 years without major concerns.The Mahindra BE6 is an interesting EV, and at 12,500km a year and EV would prove to be economical. However, with significant highway usage, charging infrastructure, and long-distance planning, you may not want to add complexity.The City Hybrid gives you the best of both worlds: low running costs, strong reliability and no charging concerns. It is the most sensible long-term choice for your usage pattern.

VehicleHonda City
VehicleMahindra BE 6
•4d

I am looking to upgrade from my current car, a Hyundai Aura 1.2 Petrol, as I find it a little boring to drive. I drive around 8,000 to 10,000 km a year, out of which 1,500 to 2,000 km are road trips. My budget is under Rs 25 lakh. I have shortlisted the Volkswagen Virtus, Honda Elevate, and the Renault Duster. I wanted to know whether I should buy a car now or wait for the E20 fuel-related issues to settle. Also considering the facelifts for the Elevate and Virtus are expected soon, so I am wondering if it would be better to wait for those. One more question is should I buy one of these brand-new cars, or would it be wiser to consider a pre-owned car from a higher segment within the same budget? Thank you!

Verified
•1d

Go for the Volkswagen Virtus GT with the 1.5 TSI engine and DSG gearbox. Since you are upgrading from a Hyundai Aura 1.2 Petrol and find it boring to drive, it's clear that driving experience matters to you. Among your shortlisted cars, the Virtus is the most engaging to drive, with a strong turbo petrol engine and a genuinely enjoyable chassis.It would also be worth waiting a few months for the facelift. It is expected to bring more features, sharper look and an improved air-conditioning system.The Renault Duster is quite engaging too, while offering the practicality and ground clearance of an SUV. However, it is not spacious for its size and nor is it very fuel efficient. The Honda Elevate is the most sensible long-term ownership choice, but it is not as exciting to drive as the Virtus and is due to receive a facelift soon.As for E20 fuel, do not wait. All three cars are E20 compliant, and there is no confirmed official roadmap beyond E20 at the moment. Modern engines are designed to run on E20 fuel, and the impact is limited to lower fuel efficiency, regardless of the model.Regarding a new versus pre-owned car, your budget is sufficient to buy a top-spec Virtus or a well-equipped Duster. There is little reason to compromise on a used car. Moreover, there are not too many engaging options in the segment above that make a compelling used-car buy within your budget. Buying new gives you the full warranty, and an ownership experience that is likely to be more satisfying in the long run.

VehicleVolkswagen Virtus
VehicleRenault Duster
VehicleHonda Elevate
•3d

I am planning to buy my first car with a budget of around 8-9 lakh. I am also currently learning to drive, so ease of driving, visibility, and confidence for a new driver are important considerations for me. At present, my family consists of my wife and me, though my mother occasionally travels with us. My daily commute is around 15-20 km, but that could change significantly if I relocate to a different city in the future. In addition to daily commuting, I intend to use the car for long-distance travel, including trips to my hometown, which is approximately 20 hours away from my current workplace. Therefore, I am looking for a car that offers a good balance of comfort, safety, fuel efficiency, practicality, and long-term ownership experience. I prefer a CNG vehicle to keep running costs low. After my initial research, I have shortlisted the following cars in decreasing order of preference: 1. Hyundai Exter HX4 CNG 2. Tata Punch Pure Plus CNG 3. Hyundai Aura S CNG 4. Tata Nexon Pure CNG. I would appreciate your recommendations on which option would best suit my requirements and whether there are any other vehicles in this budget range that I should consider.

Verified
•4h

Go for the Hyundai Exter HX4 CNG. It is the best fit for your requirements as a first-time buyer who is still learning to drive. This Hyundai car is compact, easy to manoeuvre and offers excellent visibility, which will help build your confidence behind the wheel. It also has a slightly higher seating position than a sedan, making it easier to judge the car’s dimensions in traffic and while parking. The CNG option keeps running costs low, and Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The only downside is that, while very smooth, it's not particularly powerful. It will feel more than adequate since your use is primarily in the city.The Tata Nexon Pure CNG is a strong alternative, as it gives you a larger car, more performance for your highway trips and better comfort overall. However, the Exter feels more refined and easier to drive in the city. However, the Pure variant is very barebones on features, not even getting a screen-based infotainment system, which doesn't make you feel like you've got your money's worth. Plus, since your mother only occasionally joins you on your trips, the added space in the rear seat won't be a huge regular benefit. Most crucially, however, the larger and more swoopy Nexon isn't as easy to drive as the Exter for a first-time buyer.

VehicleHyundai Exter
VehicleTata Nexon

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Popular discussions right now

•4d

I want to buy a low-maintenance car for my father, who is 65 years old. My budget is around 15 lakh. His daily commute is around 30-40km, and he also visits our farm 7-8 times a month. Which car would you recommend?

Verified
•3d

For your father, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza petrol automatic is the most sensible recommendation. At 65, ease of use, reliability and low maintenance are far more important than outright performance or flashy features. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simple, proven and well-suited to a 30-40 km daily commute, while the automatic gearbox makes city driving effortless. Maruti’s service network is the best in the country, which means low running costs and peace of mind over the long term.This Maruti Suzuki car also has enough ground clearance and a robust suspension setup to handle occasional farm visits without any fuss. It is not the most exciting car in the segment, but it is comfortable, easy to drive and built for hassle-free ownership. At Rs 15 lakh, it is one of the most dependable choices you can make for your father. Since the Brezza facelift is just around the corner, you can wait for that or try to get a good deal on the outgoing model.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
•1w

I currently own a Toyota Innova Crysta 2.8 ZX Variant AT, which has covered 55,000 km and has been an absolute peace of mind. I am now planning to upgrade my vehicle with a budget of around Rs. 30 lakh. Which car would you recommend?

Verified
•6d

If you have enjoyed 55,000 km of trouble-free ownership with the Innova Crysta, the most logical upgrade is the Toyota Innova HyCross. It retains the core strengths of the Crysta - reliability, comfort and Toyota's experience - while offering a genuinely meaningful step up in refinement, technology and efficiency. The Toyota Cars hybrid powertrain is particularly well-suited to Indian conditions, delivering strong fuel economy in the city and a smooth, effortless driving experience on the highway. The cabin is a significant upgrade over the Crysta, with a more modern layout, better materials and a more premium feel overall. The only caveat is that the HyCross does not offer the same diesel torque as the 2.8, so if you are a very heavy highway user who values that diesel punch, you may want to consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel as an alternative. However, for most owners, the HyCross represents the best balance of reliability, comfort and long-term peace of mind.

VehicleToyota Innova Crysta
VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
•1w

I'm planning to buy a small automatic car for my wife, who is 5'1" tall. The car will be used mostly in the city, with occasional highway trips. Which would be the best option?

Verified
•5d

For your wife, consider the Hyundai Exter. At 5'1", she will benefit from its good all-round visibility, light steering and compact dimensions, which make it very easy to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight parking spaces. This Hyundai car also gets driver's seat height adjustment from the base trim, which will be very handy for your wife. The AMT gearbox is smooth enough for daily commuting, and the car is very easy to drive. Fuel efficiency is decent; expect 9 to 10kpl in the city and 15kpl on the highway.If you want something a bit more efficient, consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift. In our testing we managed 12.7kpl in the city and 19kpl on the highway with the AGS. However, height adjustment for the driver's seat is only available on the ZXi trim onwards.Overall, the Hyundai Exter AMT is the better fit for your requirements. It is simple, reliable, easy to drive and well-suited to both city use and occasional highway trips.

VehicleHyundai Exter
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift

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Posted on: 2 Apr 2026