I am 6 feet 3 inches tall and I’ve been struggling to fit in a car in which I can sit comfortably without the steering wheel hitting my knees. I drove a Tata Zest for 11 years and have recently sold it. With a tight budget of Rs. 18 - 20 lakh (on-road) , I need a good car for my everyday office drive with good fuel efficiency. I drive around 20 km up and down everyday mostly within the city. Please suggest a good car that I can try out.

autocar.india

•19h

Go for the Honda Elevate manual. It is the most sensible choice for your requirements. Honda’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is proven, reliable and efficient, and the manual gearbox is smooth and easy to use in both city traffic and on highways. The Elevate is also comfortable for family use, with a spacious cabin and a well-balanced ride, and Honda’s ownership experience is among the best in the segment. It is a car you can confidently keep for 8-10 years without worrying about major reliability or maintenance issues.If you want a slightly more premium feel and a bit more space, the Kia Seltos petrol manual is a good alternative. It offers a more feature-rich cabin and a more premium overall experience, but it is also more expensive and does not offer a significant reliability advantage over the Elevate. Alternatively, consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris petrol manual. Its powertrain is smooth and efficient and Maruti’s service network is unmatched. Overall, the Honda Elevate manual strikes the best balance between reliability, comfort, safety, driving experience and long-term ownership confidence.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

autocar.india

•20h

The Honda Elevate CVT is actually a very good choice for a new driver who is not very confident. The CVT automatic is extremely smooth and easy to drive, with no perceptible gear changes, which makes it very forgiving in stop-start traffic. The steering is also light at low speeds, making it easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces and heavy traffic. The only concern you have is the length, but the Elevate is not excessively long for its segment and visibility is good, so it should not be a major issue once you get used to the car.If you are still concerned about size, you could consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. It is more compact, has light steering and is very easy to drive in the city. Overall, the Elevate CVT remains a strong recommendation. It is easy to drive, reliable and confidence-inspiring. If size is a major concern, the Brezza auto is the best alternative.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•1d

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.

Honda Elevate

Skoda Kushaq

Nissan Tekton