Mumbai

Shreesh

•3w

Hello Autocar India. I am planning to purchase a car under Rs 40 lakh. Right now, I own a Creta diesel manual Knight Edition. I’m considering entering the full-size SUV segment, but there are no major options under Rs 40 lakh. I want a proper SUV with 7 seats, plush interiors that feel worth the money, strong brand value and genuine toughness. I considered the Fortuner, but the on-road price in Chennai is around Rs 44 lakh, and I do not want to go beyond Rs 40 lakh. I want something that is tough, something that could go anywhere it wanted to. I also looked at the Hilux, but it feels too long for Chennai roads. Right now, I have shortlisted the Jeep Meridian Longitude Plus manual. It seems to hit the sweet spot, but I am worried about reliability and resale value. What should I do? Are there any other options? I am open to other segments too, as long as it feels like a proper upgrade from my current car.

Autocar India

•3w

You are right that there are very few genuine options in this price band if you want a proper full-size SUV experience, which is why the Jeep Meridian ends up making a lot of sense within your stated budget. The Longitude Plus manual offers a premium enough cabin, strong road presence and a far more sophisticated driving experience than most ladder frame SUVs. But there are a few things to keep in mind. Jeep ownership will mean higher service costs as compared to the Hyundai Creta that you own, resale will not be as strong as Toyota, and while the Meridian is capable on rough roads, it is still a monocoque SUV rather than a true, rugged body-on-frame machine.

Which is why, for your exact brief, the Toyota Fortuner is still the best answer. That extra stretch over budget hurts today, but it pays you back over time with excellent resale, stronger service support, lower ownership anxiety and genuine go-anywhere toughness. Coming from a Creta, it will feel like the full-blown SUV upgrade you are actually looking for.

If you are open to waiting, the Jetour T2 is worth keeping an eye on as well. It is expected to come in as a plug-in hybrid with potentially AWD, rugged styling and a more premium positioning, which could make it an interesting alternative in this space. The catch, of course, is that it is an all new brand for India, so ownership confidence, service support and resale remain complete unknowns.

Explore cars mentioned

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Fortuner

from ₹41.35 Lakh

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from ₹28.27 Lakh

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Creta

from ₹12.92 Lakh

Harshit

•3w

Hello I am planning to buy the car between alcazar and creta Please let me know which one is better and which fuel type petrol or diesel. My monthly running 1200-1500 , in this 5-6 times Noida to gurgaon and 02times , 500KM per trip on highway to my hometown. Please advice which one is good Budget is thinking for 16-17lac

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More questions on similar cars

Satyajit Mukherjee

•2d

Hello Autocar team, This question is in two parts. I am tearfully moving on from my beautiful Ford Endeavour 3.2 Titanium AT and am in the market for a new vehicle. Priorities are good ground clearance (laden), a powerful and responsive engine, and preferably a 4-by-4 or AWD. The second part is the tough one. Situated in Delhi NCR, do you think it makes sense to go for diesel again? Because my boxes are mostly ticked only by diesel powertrains, and the petrol ones are either too expensive (Kodiaq), or too small (e.g., the Jimny). Can you please help?

Autocar India

•1d

4WD SUVs are getting rarer by the day, but given what you're looking for, the best fit is the Mahindra Thar Roxx. For the price, it feels the closest to your Endeavour in the stuff that matters - proper 4x4 with low range, generous ground clearance even when loaded, and a strong 2.2-litre diesel that responds eagerly. The Roxx's new-gen chassis is Mahindra's best ladder frame yet, soaking up rough roads without breaking a sweat and handling highway duties reasonably well too. It's also gotten a lot more liveable than previous Thars, with genuine space, premium feel and creature comforts.There's the Jeep Compass and Meridian too, but their interiors won't feel spacious enough after your Endeavour, and on the other end are the MG Majestor and Toyota Fortuner, though those are likely to be out of budget. Of the petrols, the Kodiaq is probably the best AWD bet, but as you said, it is too expensive. A few-year-old example of any of these, however, might be a good option.On diesel in NCR, it might still make sense, if you can make your peace with the 10-year cap - and the associated resale value hit. You may see the odd winter restriction put into place, but new BS6 diesels have generally been clear of those. It's not an easy decision, but if it's for a car you'll enjoy, and you can work out a shorter ownership cycle that suits your needs, it can still work.

Pankaj

Harrier Petrol Pure X Manual vs Hyundai Creta S(O) IVT vs Kia Seltos HTK(O) IVT - which would be the better choice? My daily usage is around 40 km in the city, and I do highway trips of around 600 km once every 2-3 months.

Autocar India

•10h

Pick the Kia Seltos HTK(O) IVT. With 40 km of city use every day, it is the easiest to live with - the CVT automatic is smooth in traffic, steering is light, the ride is comfy, and it will likely use less fuel than a Tata Harrier petrol. For your 600 km runs every 2-3 months, it cruises quietly, feels relaxed, and the back seat is spacious too.The Hyundai Creta S(O) automatic comes close, but it isn't as well-equipped or as new as the Seltos. The Harrier petrol Pure X manual is the wrong fit here. It is larger and heavier, the manual will tire you in stop-and-go traffic, and it also takes more effort to park in tight city spots.One trade-off with the Seltos IVT - it does not have the performance of the Harrier petrol or the turbo petrol version of the Seltos.

Arnav Nagar

Hi, We want to buy a new SUV. We have selected some of the options between Siera and Creta. Our budget is between 16 and 16.50 lakhs. Firstly, we are going for the Sierra Pure Plus because it is new, but later we found out that its engine is the worst in this segment. So, we decided to go for the diesel variant of Sierra Pure, comprising the sunroof and also my dad wants a new design, actually Sierra's design. So what should we do, go for the Creta or the Sierra diesel? In Creta, we got almost all features. Our mostly drive is in highway, we take trips every four months, long trips like 1000km.

Autocar India

•12h

Pick the Hyundai Creta diesel. For your kind of use - mostly highway and 1,000 km trips every few months - Hyundai’s diesel is relaxed, efficient and already proven, so you get long range and low-stress cruising. You also said the Creta gives you almost all the features you want within Rs. 16-16.5 lakh, which keeps the maths clean, and this is something you will enjoy each time you use your car. The Tata Sierra looks fresh, and your dad will love the design, but the diesel with a sunroof will likely sit well above your budget.Creta’s seats and ride are sorted for long runs, and Hyundai’s network makes life easier on the road. You do give up the Sierra’s stand-out look and bigger road presence, so if design is your number one goal and you can stretch the budget and accept potential first-batch rough edges, go Sierra. Otherwise, Creta diesel is the smarter highway pick.

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Popular discussions right now

Balaji

•4d

I am looking to buy a 6/7-seater EV. My primary usage will be as a 4-seater, with occasional 6-seater use. I will mainly drive it in the city for my daily office commute and undertake long-distance trips of around 500 km once every two months. I have a solar setup at home and can charge the vehicle comfortably. My budget is Rs 30-40 lakh, although I can stretch it slightly if required.

Autocar India

•3d

You should go for the Mahindra XEV 9S. It's a proper three-row EV, and it fits your use case perfectly. With home solar charging, your running costs are very low, and the smooth, quiet drive is just right for city runs as a 4-seater. When you do need six or seven seats, the third row is reasonably spacious, and for your 500 km trip every couple of months, you’ll need just one quick top-up at a highway charger.Do note that with all three rows up, boot space is tight, so your highway trips will require some planning.Alternatively, consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It isn't as feature-rich and doesn't have as much range as the XEV 9S, but its third row is more comfortable for adults.

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Anshuman Mishra

•5d

I am planning to buy an automatic car for my family and am confused between the Kia Sonet and the Skoda Kylaq. Could you please advise which one would be the better choice and explain the pros and cons of each?

Autocar India

•4d

Skoda Kylaq is the better family automatic, mainly because it gives you a bit more cabin and boot space and a calmer ride over bad roads. It feels more secure at highway speeds with a full load, and its turbo engine with the automatic pulls cleanly, so hills and quick overtakes are easy even with the AC on. The petrol Kylaq automatic uses a torque convertor gearbox which is also smoother than the dual clutch unit on the Sonet so it would fare better in city traffic. Kia Sonet makes sense if you want more features and need Kia’s service reach which is wider. For weekend trips with four on board it will do the job too, but rear seat width and long-journey comfort are not its strong points and within a year it will get a major update, thus buying it now would not be ideal.

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Sandeep

•3d

I want to buy a car under Rs 12 lakh. It should be a petrol automatic and will be my first car. I need good ground clearance, a good engine and gearbox combination for 70% city and 30% highway use, and my daily running is around 30 km in Bengaluru traffic. Comfort, space, decent fuel efficiency, ease of driving, and long-term ownership are important to me. I do not want a Fronx, Baleno, i20, Exter, Punch, or Nexon. Please suggest a value-for-money option. Thank you.

Autocar India

•2d

Given your exclusions, the Skoda Kylaq automatic would be our first recommendation. Specifically, the Signature automatic is if you can stretch slightly. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol and torque converter automatic are a very good combination for Bangalore traffic. The gearbox is smooth, the engine has enough punch for highway overtakes, and the car feels more premium and substantial than most options in this price range. Ground clearance is good, it is easy to drive, and it has the solid feel that many first-time buyers appreciate.Another strong option is the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic. It has a wider rear seat, feels bigger inside and is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment. The torque converter automatic is smooth, and it is comfortable for city use. The downside is that fuel efficiency is not that great, and the boot is on the smaller side.If you are willing to consider a sedan, the Honda Amaze CVT is also worth a look. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in traffic, reliability is excellent, and it is the kind of car you can comfortably keep for a decade. The only reason it is not our primary recommendation is that you specifically mentioned wanting good ground clearance.

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