Sundargarh

•3w

I am planning to buy a new crossover within a month and want to keep it for four to five years. My priorities are good resale value, decent highway acceleration and mileage. My budget is Rs 15-17.5 lakh, and I am considering only cars with a DCT, torque-converter, CVT or IVT automatic. I have shortlisted the Skoda Kushaq Signature, Hyundai Creta S(O), Kia Seltos HTK and Honda Elevate VX. I am also considering waiting for the new Elevate facelift in October. I was thinking of waiting for the Creta facelift as well, but it will take a few more months. I expect to drive 60% in the city, with occasional highway trips. I want a car that performs well on the highway, offers good overtaking ability and delivers decent mileage. I have driven Honda and Volkswagen sedans abroad. Which car would be the better fit for my needs?

•3w

Based on your requirements, the Skoda Kushaq Signature 1.0 TSI with the 8-speed torque converter automatic is the best fit. It offers strong mid-range performance for highway overtakes, a proven and reliable powertrain, and a driving experience that will feel familiar and engaging given your experience with VW group cars abroad. The torque converter automatic is smooth and well-suited to your 60% city usage, while still delivering the punch you want on the highway. This Skoda car also sits comfortably within your budget and is available immediately, which is important given your one-month timeline.

The Hyundai Creta S(O) IVT and Kia Seltos HTK IVT are both excellent alternatives if you prioritise refinement and a more premium cabin experience. The IVT gearbox is exceptionally smooth in the city, but the naturally aspirated petrol engine does not offer the same mid-range punch as the Kushaq for highway overtakes. The Honda Elevate VX CVT is the most reliable long-term ownership proposition, but again, the naturally aspirated engine is not as strong on the highway.

Waiting for the Elevate facelift in October is a reasonable option if you are not in a hurry, but the changes are expected to be incremental rather than transformative.

Overall, the Kushaq Signature 1.0 TSI torque converter strikes the best balance between performance, reliability, driving enjoyment and immediate availability. It will deliver the highway performance you want while remaining easy to live with in the city.

Explore cars mentioned

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.41 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.66 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.76 Lakh

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.70 Lakh

•3w•

@coolguy2026 Go with Honda Elevate 👍

•3w•

@coolguy2026 Kushaq signature 1.0 TSI torque converter automatic is the best option among your choices, but it will touch almost 19L on road price which is well above your budget. I will suggest you to test drive Honda elevate and assess the performance or else you can try Taigun 1.0 L torque converter or Citroen aircross TC if you prefer a punchier car, but you should forget about the resale value then.

•3w•

@torque, thanks for the update. I test drove Honda elevate today and saw the ride was good. But there seems to be an issue in the driver seat as it is not going more backwards like Skoda Slavia, Kushaq, Creta and new Seltos. I have 5 ft 10 inch and Elevate seats have this issue of not going further back like others leading to right foot directly on those pedals with lesser legroom. And I am currently not preferring for turbo engines as they have reliability issues long term. I prefer naturally aspirated engine so do you think Creta S(O) IVT or new Seltos HTK IVT will make sense for me? I can wait for new Elevate facelift but I am not sure if Honda can correct that issue in the new Elevate facelift.

•3w•

I would suggest doing a test drive of the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Grand Vitara. You get the 1.5L NA Petrol with Torque Converter, all must have features in the variants available at your budget, best resale value (Victoris might have an edge since Grand Vitara is due for a facelift soon). Mileage is best in class too, both city and highway. Performance will be good enough in comparison to other NA Petrols mentioned, it works out for highway cruising at 110 kmph all day, so 80-90 kmph that you mentioned will be even easier.

•3w•

@rak.1 @torque , I will try Suzuki Victoris sometime this week. I saw that Skoda and VW vehicles are good but their resale values are bit lower than others in 4 years. Plus I saw VW, Skoda have ac cooling issues. If I consider VW, Skoda then I will require 4 cylinder engine instead of 3 as I have driven VW in the past with 4 cylinder DSG engine. In this case of resale and 4 cylinder engine requirement, can I consider the new Seltos HTE, HTK IVT? Elevate is currently unavailable as newer model is coming and it is sold out everywhere. Plus I saw Kia seltos holds more resale value compared to other crossovers. Please review and let me know. https://www.autocarindia.com/auto-features-amp/used-car-stud...

•3w•

@coolguy2026 Seltos is good, not sure if it would best Suzuki in resale value. But, I found the Kia to lack features, basic ones like Automatic AC in this budget, depends on which features you prioritise I guess. Bigger display, 2 additional speakers Vs. Auto AC, Tilt & Telescopic steering.

•3w•

Thank you. I think 3 cylinder engine in Skoda Kushaq may have noise issues at higher rpm and NVH levels may increase. I may drive at 80-90 kmph on highways. Plus I heard Skoda does not have better resale value like Kia and Hyundai.

More posts on similar cars

•4d

I’m considering buying a pre-owned 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque SE R-Dynamic with the 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol engine and AWD. It has covered only 15,000km, was manufactured and registered in 2021, and is a BS6 vehicle. The fuel flap says “Premium Gasoline Recommended, 91”. I want to confirm whether this generation and engine are compatible with E20 petrol. Also, should I buy it? I’m looking to enter the premium SUV segment with a budget of around Rs 40 lakh.

•3h

The 2021 Range Rover Evoque SE R-Dynamic 2.0L Ingenium petrol is a BS6-compliant engine, but it is not officially certified for E20 fuel. The “Premium Gasoline Recommended, 91” label refers to octane rating, not ethanol content. In India, regular petrol is now 95 octane, so you do not need to use premium fuel unless the manufacturer specifically requires it. The bigger question is ethanol compatibility. BS6 engines were designed with some ethanol tolerance, but E20 certification only became mandatory for new models from April 2023 onwards. Land Rover has not issued a blanket statement confirming E20 compatibility for older BS6 models.Should you buy it? At Rs 40 lakh, a lightly used Evoque is a tempting entry into the premium SUV segment. The Evoque offers a genuinely premium cabin, strong performance and a distinctive design. However, ownership costs are high. Land Rover parts and service are expensive, and long-term reliability is not as bulletproof as some German rivals. If you are buying this as a weekend car or a second car, it makes sense. If this is your only car and you plan to keep it for 5-10 years, you need to be comfortable with higher maintenance costs.On E20, the reality is that most modern BS6 engines will run on E20 without immediate issues, but long-term durability is unproven. Ethanol can accelerate wear on certain rubber and plastic fuel system components over time.Overall, buy the Evoque if you want a premium SUV experience and are comfortable with higher running costs. If you want a lower-risk, long-term ownership experience, a new Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta or Skoda Kushaq at a similar price is the safer bet.

Hi, could you please suggest first car for my family. I am confused between Skoda Kushaq, Honda Elevate and Nissan Tekton for my office commute. I am looking for a trouble free value for money product. Thanks.

•20h

For a first family car, I’d go for the Honda Elevate. It’s the most straightforward, easy-to-live-with choice here, with a proven 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a smooth CVT option. Honda’s established service network and reputation for durability should also appeal if hassle-free ownership is your priority.The Kushaq is the driver’s car, but its turbo-petrol engines are more complex than the Elevate’s naturally aspirated unit. The Nissan Tekton is a strong value proposition, though Nissan’s service network is not as extensive as Honda’s. And while its 1.3-litre turbo-petrol makes good power, the naturally aspirated Elevate may feel more predictable in stop-start traffic.One important update: the Elevate facelift is due to launch on October 6, just days away. It’s expected to bring styling and feature changes while retaining the same engine and gearbox options, so it may be worth waiting to see the final pricing and equipment before deciding.The Elevate may not be the most exciting SUV here, but for a family’s first car and a 65 per cent city commute, it looks like the sensible pick.

I am currently driving a Grand i10 petrol (2014 model). I would like to buy a new car under a budget of around 20 lakhs. My running is 30% on highway and 70% in the city. I want to buy a car that is comfortable for the driver as well as for the passengers. The car should be modern, feels fun to drive and is fuel efficient too. Which cars should I consider?

•1d

Coming from a Grand i10 and with a 70 percent city, 30 percent highway usage pattern, the Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT would be the best all round upgrade around your Rs 20 lakh budget. It offers a comfortable and spacious cabin, smooth automatic, good refinement and enough performance for everyday driving, while being more fuel efficient than the turbo petrol alternatives. It also feels considerably more modern than your current car without becoming difficult to drive in the city. In our testing the Seltos IVT returned 9.27kpl in the city and 14.76kpl on the highway for the petrol automatic.The Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG would be the choice if fun to drive is more important. It is the most engaging SUV here, with strong performance and excellent highway manners, and it was also the most fuel efficient of the turbo petrol SUVs. You can get the Sportline variant with DCT in your budget.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

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•2d

Hi Autocar Team, I am confused between the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual and automatic. My current ride is a Fluidic Verna diesel manual, which is nearing 15 years of ownership and has clocked nearly 2.5 lakh km. My usage consists of mixed city and highway driving, with around 40km daily and weekend highway runs of about 400km. For long-term ownership, which would be the better choice: the manual or automatic?

•2d

Go for the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic. The diesel engine is well suited to your high running, and the automatic gearbox is a proven torque converter unit that is reliable and well matched to the engine. This Mahindra car will make your daily city driving far less tiring, while still being smooth and efficient on the highway. Coming from a 15-year-old Hyundai Verna diesel manual, the automatic will feel like a significant upgrade in terms of comfort and ease of use, without compromising on long-term reliability. The manual is still a good option if you strongly prefer the engagement, but for your usage and ownership horizon, the automatic is the smarter choice.

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•4d

I am confused between Creta SX IVT and Elevate CVT for 8000 km of annual running with long trips of 1200 km 3-4 times in a year for a family of 4. Apart from this, day to day usage is less than 100km per month. I am looking for a car for long term ownership and travel comfort.

•3d

The Creta SX IVT is the better fit for your requirement. It offers a quieter, more refined cabin, comfortable rear seats and a smoother CVT, which are particularly valuable when spending several hours on the highway with four people and luggage. Autocar's long term experience with the Creta petrol IVT also found it refined, comfortable and particularly well suited to road trips.The Honda Elevate CVT has advantages of its own. Its 220mm ground clearance, long travel suspension and large 458-litre boot make it particularly good on poor roads, while its naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine and CVT make for a relatively simple powertrain. However, the cabin is noticeably noisier, particularly when accelerating hard, and the CVT can produce the typical rubber band effect.

Honda Elevate

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•5d

Hi, I am planning to buy a CNG SUV and am considering the Tata Nexon CNG and Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG. I will be driving around 150km every day for office, so my main concerns are fuel economy and maintenance costs. Many people have suggested the Brezza because of its mileage and lower running costs, but Tata is also a large company and has a wide service network. So, why do buyers generally recommend the Brezza over the Nexon CNG? I personally prefer the Nexon, but I am confused about whether it would be the right choice for my daily usage. Which one would make more sense for my requirements?

•4d

Go with the Tata Nexon CNG if that is your preference. At 150 km daily, CNG is the right fuel choice, and both the Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Brezza are factory CNG cars, so reliability and safety are not a concern. The Nexon CNG is a strong product with good performance, a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The reason many people suggest the Brezza is Maruti's reputation for low maintenance costs, wide service reach and a long-standing reputation for hassle-free ownership. The Brezza CNG is also a very reliable and efficient package. However, the Nexon CNG is the more modern car and feels more premium inside.At 150 km daily, the key is to choose the car you will enjoy driving every day. The Nexon CNG is a solid choice, and there is no reason to change your decision.

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