I want to buy a five-seater SUV with good fuel efficiency and the latest features. I’m open to petrol or hybrid variants, and my budget is ₹20–25 lakh. Which should I choose?

Autocar India

•7h

Since you are looking for a proven tension-free engine, pick the Honda Elevate, its 1.5‑litre naturally aspirated engine is a very reliable unit and coming from your Tata Altroz NA. You’ll appreciate the Elevate’s smooth, linear power delivery from a simple 4‑cylinder petrol, no turbo lag, fewer parts to worry about, and a decade of reliability in India. The steering is very light at low speeds, and this is also something you would like, given that you drive mostly in the city. What's nice, though, is that it weighs up nicely as speeds rise. The ride is a bit firm but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The 1.3 litre turbo direct injection engine on the Duster is also another good and reliable powerplant, and should you not like the Elevate, you could also look at this. You will have lower rear space, and the gearbox is a DSG unit, which in start-stop city traffic is not as smooth as the CVT on the Honda.

Honda Elevate

Tata Altroz

Autocar India

•8h

Check out the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It has a relatively compact sub-four-metre footprint, but still manages to be spacious for five adults, thanks to its boxy and tall design. This design also affords it a tall seating position, and visibility is great all around. And since you're already in the Maruti Suzuki ecosystem, it will be an easy transition, and you could even ask them for a loyalty bonus. The Brezza's 1.5-litre petrol is not exceptionally powerful, but it is sufficient, and its 6-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and seamless with its shifts. The best part, however, is that it's incredibly fuel-efficient, which should make your annual long drives a little easier on the pocket. Ground clearance is a substantial 198mm, and the suspension is well-tuned for comfort and stability. Another alternative is the Mahindra XUV 3XO, which also has a wide second row bench and strong petrol and diesel engines as well. But its driving position isn't as tall, and it isn't particularly fuel efficient.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•8h

For your requirement, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios CNG is a very sensible choice. It stands out for its smooth and easy driving nature, light controls, and it feels premium on the inside, too, which makes it a well-rounded package. It will also offer you low running costs and hassle-free ownership.At this price point, there aren’t many options that clearly feel like an upgrade over the Nios in CNG form, so rather than looking for a better alternative, it makes more sense to focus on what matters to you. If you value comfort, ease of driving and overall refinement, the Nios remains one of the most well-rounded options available.The key is to take a proper test drive in CNG mode with a full load and AC on, and see if the performance meets your expectations. If it does, you can go ahead with confidence, as it already fits your requirements very well.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios