Coming back from the USA after 15 years. I drive a Honda Accord in the USA. What would be the best first car to buy in India with all the bells and whistles under ₹15 lakh?

Autocar India

•2h

The Innova Crysta is a good choice for purely highway use. It shines on long runs: the diesel pulls strongly without effort, it stays steady at speed, and the ride keeps bad patches in check so your family stays comfortable. The seats are wide and supportive, and Toyota’s track record and service reach make cross-country trips worry-free.Know the trade-offs. The cabin feels a bit old next to newer rivals, and an automatic is no longer on offer, which can become tiring on longer drives.If you want an easy automatic, look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It rides better and feels smoother and more powerful, though the third row is a bit tight for adults. If you are open to petrol power, then the Innova Hycross is a better choice than the Crysta in terms of comfort, safety and ease of use.For pure highway runs, the Innova Crysta is still a solid choice.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova HyCross

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•5h

Mostly city office runs, about 1,000km a month, and a Rs. 8.5 lakh cap with Rs. 4 lakh for down payment and an EMI under Rs. 10,000. In this use case, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift VXi manual. It is easy to drive and park, handles bad roads and speed breakers well, and feels steady at city speeds. The petrol motor is smooth at low speeds with good drivability, and the light controls make traffic easy. Fuel efficiency is also excellent, as our real-world tests revealed 14kpl in the city and 19kpl on the highway.Trade-offs: the rear seat is better for two adults than three, and quick highway overtakes need a shift to a lower gear.If you want an alternative with a taller seating position, consider the Tata Punch. It is just as easy to drive in traffic and rides well on bad roads, but fuel efficiency won’t be as good as the Swift’s.For a first car used mainly in the city, the Swift lines up best with your budget and comfort needs.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•6h

Short answer: there is no official plan to bring the CR-V back to India right now, CBU or otherwise. Honda has not announced a relaunch, and dealers aren’t taking bookings.About the ZR-V, Honda is importing a few units under the 2,500-car rule to gauge interest in out market, and it's set to be unveiled today. A CBU ZR-V would be niche and pricey due to taxes, likely in the Rs 40-50 lakh range.Honda’s current focus in India is on higher volume mass market models and its first EV that's set to arrive next year.

Honda ZR-V