Dear advisor, I am looking to purchase a new SUV with a budget of approximately ₹17 lakhs. My usage is roughly 500 km per month, primarily within city limits, with occasional highway trips. I am looking for a vehicle that is robust and trustworthy, offering a balance of decent mileage and good boot space for luggage. I specifically prefer an automatic transmission, ideally a Dual-Clutch (DCA/DCT) or a Torque Converter (TC). Given my requirements, could you suggest 3 specific value-for-money models?

Autocar India

•7h

For your usage of around 70 km daily, running costs become very important, and since you are also hesitant about diesel due to future regulations, it makes more sense to go for the Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG.With this kind of running, CNG will be significantly more efficient and cost-effective compared to a modern diesel. Due to stricter emission norms, diesel cars are not as efficient as they used to be, so the cost advantage over CNG is no longer as strong as before. The Victoris CNG will help you keep running costs low while still offering a smooth and reliable ownership experience.One of the usual drawbacks of CNG cars is the loss of boot space, but in the case of the Victoris, this is less of a compromise. The CNG cylinder is smartly packaged under the boot floor, where the spare wheel would usually sit, so you still retain a usable boot. The only trade-off is that the car does not get a spare wheel, and instead comes with a puncture repair kit.The Kia Seltos diesel, on the other hand, is the better choice in terms of performance and driving experience, especially on highways. But given your hesitation towards diesel and the higher running costs compared to CNG, it may not be the most suitable option for your needs.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•2d

Since you're looking for comfort and fuel efficiency, you could consider the 1.5 NA petrol versions of the Maruti Victoris or Maruti Grand Vitara. Both these are competent, no-nonsense cars that will meet your requirements. Also, being high-riding vehicles, ingress-egress will be easier than in your Honda City, and because you're seated higher up, visibility is also quite good. Since these cars are very similar beneath their skin, pick the one that you think looks better outside and in. You won't go wrong picking either.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Honda City

Autocar India

•2d

With 100-125 km a day, mostly in the city, you should consider getting a strong hybrid like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. In city driving, a strong hybrid runs on electric power a lot of the time without you needing to charge, so your fuel bills will drop noticeably. Do note, though, the Victoris strong hybrid will be more expensive to buy than the regular petrol versions, and it has a smaller boot thanks to the battery.However, if you have access to home charging, an electric car like the Hyundai Creta Electric makes sense. It will drop your per-km cost sharply, one overnight home charge can comfortably cover your daily run, and the smooth, quiet driving experience makes heavy traffic far less tiring than your Creta diesel. You will also appreciate the familiarity with your current Creta.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta Electric

Autocar India

•1d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•5d

With the kind of mileage you are already seeing from your 4th generation Honda City, I would not rush to fit a CNG kit. Around 16 kpl over 85,000 km is actually a healthy real world figure for a petrol sedan, and since the City is known for its smoothness and refinement, adding an aftermarket CNG kit will inevitably change the character of the car. Honda does not offer a factory CNG option for the City, so any retrofit will be third party, which means compromises in boot space, some loss in outright performance and the added variable of installation quality and long term reliability. Honda also recommends using fuel that meets the vehicle specifications, and aftermarket modifications can complicate warranty or support considerations on newer cars.A CNG conversion only starts making strong financial sense if your running is very high and you plan to keep the car for several more years to recover the kit cost. If your annual usage is moderate, the payback period can be longer than expected. The only real case for going CNG here is if fuel cost reduction is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, given how well your City is already performing, I would leave it as is and enjoy the refinement rather than fixing something that is not really broken.

Honda City

Autocar India

•5d

If you are waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, the good news is that it does not seem too far away. Current indications suggest a launch could happen either later this month or in June.Expect it to slot below the Tata Harrier EV in Tata’s electric line-up, likely with multiple battery pack options and a more premium positioning than the Tata Curvv EV. Tata has also indicated that both Rear Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive versions are planned, which should make it one of the more interesting mainstream electric SUVs in India.

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Curvv EV