Gulbarga

•9w

I would appreciate your recommendation on which car I should buy in India. Here are my requirements: I want an automatic transmission. It should have a strong road presence, look premium, and not feel like a budget vehicle. It should be highly reliable, durable, and capable of lasting for many years with minimal maintenance, as I don't enjoy spending a lot of time maintaining vehicles. There may be occasions when the car remains unused for one or even two weeks, so it should be able to handle infrequent use without issues. Although I don't frequently carry heavy loads, once or twice a year I may need to transport cement bags, rice bags, or other bulky items. Therefore, the vehicle should have a reasonably spacious boot or cargo area. I also occasionally travel to villages where the roads are unpaved, uneven, and in poor condition, although they are not true off-road trails. I don't think an AWD system is essential, but the vehicle should be comfortable and capable on such roads. For context, I currently own: A Maruti Suzuki Wagon R (purchased in 2006) A Mahindra XUV500 AWD (purchased in 2017) Both vehicles are still in good running condition. However, I am now looking to replace one of them or add another vehicle with an automatic transmission that is dependable, comfortable, and built to last. My budget is between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 40 lakh (on-road). One final point that may be relevant is that I am now over 50 years old, so I would prefer a vehicle that is comfortable to drive, easy to get in and out of, and well-suited to long-term ownership. Based on these requirements, which cars available in India would you recommend, and why? Please compare the shortlisted models in terms of reliability, maintenance costs, comfort, road presence, practicality, fuel efficiency, resale value, and suitability for my intended use.

•8w

Consider the Toyota Innova HyCross automatic hybrid. It suits your “own it for a decade, little fuss” style better than anything else in your budget, gives easy ingress for a 50-plus driver, rides comfortably on broken village roads, and with the third row folded, it swallows cement or rice bags without drama. Toyota’s hybrid is proven, the automatic is smooth in traffic, the real-world economy is strong for a big car, and it tolerates long idle periods well. Road presence is solid, the cabin feels premium enough, and Toyota service and resale are still the safest bets in India.

The drawback is that you won't have the rugged feel or off-road ability of a ladder frame chassis SUV. If that is something you are looking for, the Fortuner will be a good fit, but it will require you to stretch your budget a bit. Also, fuel economy won't be as good as the HyCross, and getting in and out will require more effort.

Alternatively, you could consider the Mahindra Thar Roxx, which will get you 4x4 and a proven diesel automatic under your specified budget. Another option is the XUV 7XO AWD, which is a suitable replacement for your XUV 500 AWD. The drawback with these two is that long-term reliability and resale are not at the Toyota level.

Overall, the HyCross wins for reliability, low running costs, comfort, space and long-term peace of mind, while still fitting Rs. 35-40 lakh on-road.

Explore cars mentioned

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹23.01 Lakh

Toyota

Fortuner

from ₹43.28 Lakh

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹15.41 Lakh

•8w•

But any car but don't buy grand vitara as it has serious headlight issues a manufacturing fault which car maker doesn't convey to its customers neither do their dealers tell......they just sell and wash off their hands

More posts on similar cars

•2d

I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of Rs 25 lakh. I currently drive a 2021 Kia Sonet DCT and am quite interested in the Thar Roxx. However, around 80% of my driving is in Hyderabad’s heavy traffic. Is the Thar Roxx a good choice for my usage, or are there other options worth considering?

•1d

With 80 percent of your driving in Hyderabad's heavy traffic, the Mahindra Thar Roxx is not the most sensible upgrade from your Kia Sonet DCT. The Thar Roxx is a lifestyle SUV with a rugged, off-road-focused character, and while it is great fun on trails and highways, it is not the most comfortable or practical daily driver in dense city traffic. The ride is firm, the turning circle is large, and the overall driving experience can become tiring in stop-and-go conditions.Given your budget of Rs 25 lakh, a more practical upgrade would be something like the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta. Both offer a significant step up in space, comfort and refinement over the Sonet, and are far better suited to daily city driving while still being capable on highways. If you are looking for something with a bit more character, the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun are also worth considering, especially if you enjoy driving.If you are still drawn to the Thar Roxx for its lifestyle appeal, it is best approached as a second car rather than a primary daily driver. For your usage pattern, prioritising comfort, ease of driving and practicality will make you much happier over the long term.

Hi Autocar, I currently own a 2021 Creta SX, but my family members are not comfortable in a 5-seater car. We are therefore looking to buy a new 6/7-seater SUV with a budget of up to Rs 30 lakh. It should have a diesel engine, and I am open to both automatic and manual options. Please recommend a good car within my budget.

•3d

Go for the XUV 7XO diesel automatic. It is the best fit for your requirements. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a spacious 6/7 seater with a comfy third row, a strong 2.0 diesel engine and a well-sorted torque converter automatic gearbox. It is also one of the most feature-rich cars in the segment and offers good value for money. The diesel engine is refined, punchy and well suited to both city and highway driving, while the automatic gearbox is smooth and easy to live with. This Mahindra car also has a good ride quality and a comfortable cabin, which makes it a great family car for long journeys.The Maruti Suzuki Invicto strong hybrid, which is a rebadged Toyota Innova HyCross, is also worth a look if you prioritise fuel efficiency, reliability and long-term ownership, but it is not as feature-rich as the XUV 7XO and doesn't come with a diesel engine option . Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel automatic is the best all-rounder and the car we would recommend.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Maruti Suzuki Invicto

Toyota Innova HyCross

•1d

I'm 6'2" tall and am on the heavier side. I have recently been affected with Disc bulge due to which doctors have adviced me to reduce driving. I currently own an Alto, and want to move to a car that will let me drive in a better posture with no further trouble due to the same in the long run. Please suggest suitable options. I prefer manual petrol car but I am open to automatic car. I do not prefer 6 or 7-seater cars. My budget is between 8-12 lakh (on road). Please guide.

•4h

Given your height, build and recent disc bulge, the priority should be a car with an easy entry and exit, a high seating position and upright driving posture. The Tata Punch is a good option here. The doors open very wide and the seat height makes entry and exit easy. The seats are also comfy and supportive enough. The suspension is also very good delivering a comfy ride and can manage bad roads, this would be important given your back troubles. Lastly, the Punch meets your budget and you would be able to opt for an automatic too. Given your back trouble it would make sense to have your left leg do less work as repeated use of the clutch could put a little strain on your hips and lower back area.

Tata Punch

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Popular discussions right now

•2d

I have a Tata Nexon Creative AMT that is only a year old, but I have already had to replace the spark plugs four times and the ignition coil once. I am still facing engine misfires and vibrations inside the car. I am honestly fed up with Tata's service, as they have been unable to resolve the issue. I am therefore planning to sell the Nexon and buy a Kia Seltos with a manual transmission this time. My priority was safety earlier, and it remains my top priority. However, I now also want peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience. Would selling the Nexon and switching to the Seltos be a good decision?

•1d

Yes, it is a good decisionYes, it is a good decision to sell the Tata Nexon and move to the Seltos manual. The Nexon is generally a safe and well-engineered car, but if you are facing repeated engine issues and the service centre is unable to resolve them, it is understandable to lose confidence in the ownership experience. The Kia Seltos is a very well-rounded SUV with a strong safety package, a more refined ownership experience and a good service network. The manual transmission is also a good choice if you want to avoid any potential automatic gearbox-related issues. Overall, if peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience are your top priorities, the Seltos is a sensible upgrade.

Kia Seltos

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•4d

I currently drive a Grand i10 Manual petrol and am now planning to buy a new compact SUV that is comfortable, fuel efficient and has low maintenance. My usage is 35km of daily office commute in Delhi-NCR traffic. Please advice which option is best fit amongst Hyundai Venue HX 6T, SONET HTK+O and XUV 3XO.

•4d

Go for the Hyundai Venue. With your daily 35km commute in Delhi NCR traffic, comfort and low maintenance are key, and the Venue delivers on both. The 1.2 NA petrol is smooth, refined and easy to drive in stop-start conditions, while Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The HX6T variant also gives you a good balance of features without pushing the budget too far.The Sonet HTK+O is mechanically very similar, but the Venue is a newer model and offers a more spacious cabin. The XUV 3XO is also a good option, but its turbo petrol engine won't be as efficient as the Hyundai’s.Overall, the Venue is the most sensible upgrade from your Grand i10 for daily city use.

I am planning to buy a sub-compact SUV. My budget is Rs. 13-14 lakh, and my priorities are a smooth automatic transmission and good mileage. I am considering the Brezza ZXi AT, Sonet HXT DCT, and Venue HX6 DCT. I am very confused because the Brezza’s torque-converter automatic offers good fuel efficiency but lacks some features, while the Sonet and Venue offer all the features I need. However, I am concerned that the DCT may be less fuel-efficient and could involve higher maintenance costs. My daily commute is around 30 km, mostly in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. Please suggest which one would be the best choice for my requirements.

•3d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT. Your priorities are a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and a daily 30km commute in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Brezza’s 6-speed torque converter automatic is the best fit for this usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start conditions, and the naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and easy to live with. Maruti’s service reach and low maintenance costs add to the ownership peace of mind.The Sonet and Venue DCTs are good cars, but the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy traffic. It can feel jerky at low speeds.Alternatively, if you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option.

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