Which is the best automatic petrol SUV to buy today with a reasonably good average (15 km/l or more) under ₹15 lakhs?

Autocar India

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For mostly Mumbai city use, learning to drive from scratch, and a firm Rs. 10 lakh on-road cap, the Renault Triber fits your brief best because it is the only small, easy car in this price that can truly seat five adults in comfort.It works for you for three clear reasons. One, space - the Triber’s cabin is wide, and the rear seat is roomy, so three healthy adults can sit together without rubbing shoulders all the time. Two, it is beginner-friendly - the driving position is high, the view out is clear, and the controls are light, which helps a new driver stay calm in traffic and in tight lanes. Three, it rides well over bad patches and speed breakers you see across Mumbai, so your family will be comfortable. In five-seat mode, the boot is huge for airport runs; you can also use the extra two pop-up seats for short trips if needed.A couple of trade-offs to know. The engine is calm, not fast, so with five on board, it feels best at city speeds and unhurried highway runs. If you pick the AMT, shifts are a bit slow, and you will feel the car pause between gears. If you want a more premium cabin and mainly carry four, look at the Maruti Fronx.

Renault Triber

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

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Consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI+ AT for your requirements. The SUV comes with a refined 103hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine that's paired with a smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic that has a claimed mileage of 19.8kpl, though real-world numbers will be lower. The Brezza's cabin is comfy and spacious, and the rear seat can also accommodate three adults in relative comfort. While the Brezza is yet to be crash tested, it does come equipped with safety features like 6 airbags, traction control and much more. Being a Maruti, the Brezza will be reliable, and the widespread service network means your ownership experience will be stress-free.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

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With 70% highway use, monthly Hyderabad-Vijayawada runs, and a Rs 10-12 lakh cap, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual is the safer fit for you because it delivers good fuel efficiency on steady highway runs and is the cheapest to maintain of your three choices. Coming from a Tata Vista diesel, the Brezza’s petrol engine will feel quieter and smoother on long drives, and Maruti’s service costs and parts prices are usually the lowest, which matches your “low maintenance” goal.Two trade-offs to note are: the diesel options will pull harder for quick overtakes, especially with a full load, and some premium features are available only in higher Brezza variants, which may stretch your budget.On fuel choice, go for petrol if your running is under roughly 1,200-1,500 km a month. At that usage, the lower price and lower upkeep of a petrol Brezza outweigh the diesel’s fuel savings. If you do more than that, a diesel makes sense. Between your diesel picks, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel feels stronger on the highway and is a better long-distance cruiser. Overall, for your mix and budget, the Brezza lines up best.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

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You want a car that is comfortable in the city, easy to drive and capable of doing long trips for the next 10 years. The Toyota Innova Hycross fits this very well. The hybrid system makes it very smooth and quiet in city driving, and the automatic gearbox is effortless, which becomes more important with age. On highways, it is stable, comfortable and built for long-distance travel, which is what the Innova name has always stood for.What really works in your favour is long-term ownership. Toyota’s reliability, strong service network and resale value make it one of the safest bets if you plan to keep the car for many years. The Hycross also offers excellent space, easy ingress and egress and a comfortable ride, which are important for everyday use and for passengers as you grow older.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

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For your usage, a naturally aspirated petrol with a CVT or IVT is the best fit. These setups are smoother, easier to drive in traffic and more predictable, which matters far more in city conditions than outright performance. So yes, in your case, NA engines are better suited than turbo petrol.The Hyundai Verna IVT stands out as the most well-rounded option for city driving. The engine is smooth, the IVT gearbox is very intuitive in stop-and-go traffic, and the overall driving experience is effortless. It feels refined and easy to live with daily.The Honda City Hybrid is worth considering if your running is high. It offers excellent fuel efficiency, strong performance and is very easy to drive in the city thanks to its hybrid system. However, it comes with a higher upfront cost, and the battery placement results in a higher boot floor, which slightly affects practicality.Compared to the Verna, the standard Honda City CVT is also an option, but the engine feels a bit noisier, and the gearbox is not as intuitive as the Verna’s IVT in everyday use.

Hyundai Verna

Honda City

Autocar India

•6d

The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol HTK (O) MT fits your brief best. In daily traffic, the Seltos will be easy to drive thanks to its smooth, naturally aspirated petrol engine and light gearshift and clutch, and the higher seat makes getting in and out easy. It also rides over bad roads and tall speed breakers without worry, which matters on mixed city-highway use. Space is good for four and fine for five for shorter trips, and the boot will take a family’s weekend bags.The HTK (O) MT is a good value for money as it offers quite a few features for the price. Just bear in mind that, on the highway, the engine will require a bit more effort to make easy overtakes. If your trips are often with four adults and lots of luggage, and you value a bigger boot and stronger pull on the highway, look at the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Sportline MT. Its small turbo engine gives more punch. But it is a lower car, so entry is not as easy, and you have to be a bit more careful on rough roads. Compared to the Seltos' naturally aspirated 1.5, you'll also experience some turbo lag at city speeds, and at your budget, you won't get as many features. Overall, for your mix of city and highway and firm budget, the Seltos HTK is the most practical pick.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Slavia