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•19w

I currently own a Jimny AT and am planning to sell it and buy a naturally aspirated petrol automatic car under Rs 18 lakh on-road in Mumbai/Pune. I need it for a family of five. My monthly running is around 800km, with 70% highway and 30% city driving. I am considering only Maruti, Hyundai or Honda. Preferably, I want something with good fuel efficiency and reliability.

•19w

Go for the Hyundai Creta because your 70% highway use and family of five will benefit most from its space, calm cruising and real-world efficiency. The 1.5 NA petrol with the automatic is smooth, stress-free and proven reliable, and the big cabin and boot of this Hyundai car make family trips easy. Real-world mileage of this automatic car should be good too, and maintenance should be relatively low. In your budget, you should be able to get the mid-range S (O) CVT. Coming from a Maruti Jimny AT, you’ll love the greater refinement, more comfortable ride and stronger high-speed performance.

From Maruti Suzuki, there are the Grand Vitara and Victoris, which are both excellent options too. Great mileage, smooth gearboxes and exceptional reliability, but for a family of five, space in the back seat isn't as good as the Creta, and the 105hp 1.5-litre petrol can feel overwhelmed under heavy load, especially on the highway, where you do 70% of your driving. Honda's 1.5-litre petrol in Elevate doesn't have this issue, but compared to the Creta, space and comfort aren't quite as good, and it lacks the same wow factor. However, if you don't mind a sedan, the City is a more compelling choice.

Overall, though you won't get it in a higher variant with as many features as others, we feel the Creta is the best all-rounder for the money.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.66 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Jimny

from ₹14.55 Lakh

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Grand Vitara

from ₹12.49 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.18 Lakh

Honda

Elevate (2023-2026)

•19w•

Hi. I own a 2018 Innova Crysta that is in very good condition. I’m an enthusiastic driver. We live in a village and often go to Bangalore. About 80% of my driving is on the highway, and my car is excellent and very comfortable on long drives. In the city, however, I find the steering a bit tight. I’m thinking of buying a second, new midsize car. Would you suggest an AT (automatic torque-converter) or a DCT (dual-clutch transmission) car? We regularly commute with 3–4 people.

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•2d

Dear Autocar team, I am planning to buy a petrol automatic SUV priced under Rs 20 lakh. I have been considering the Tata Sierra petrol automatic but am concerned about Tata's after-sales service. My key requirements are comfortable seating for four to five adults, a spacious midsize SUV rather than a compact SUV, strong safety standards and build quality, and modern features such as a 360-degree camera. Which options should I consider?

•2d

Based on your requirements, the Tata Sierra turbo-petrol automatic is a good fit. It is a genuinely spacious midsize SUV with a wide cabin that comfortably accommodates five adults. Plus, it offers a premium interior with a good feature set, including a 360-degree camera. Safety and build quality are also among its key strengths.Your concern about Tata's after-sales service is understandable, and the experience continues to vary depending on the dealership.If you are looking for alternatives, the Kia Seltos petrol IVT is an excellent option. The petrol engine isn't as powerful, but Kia's ownership experience is generally more consistent compared to Tata's. The Hyundai Creta is due for a full generation change in 2027, so it is not the best time to buy one.Overall, the Sierra turbo-petrol automatic remains the best fit for your requirements. If you are still concerned about after-sales, the Seltos is the safer ownership choice, but you will be compromising on cabin and boot space.

The new Duster Hybrid looks like a really good deal. I currently own a 5th-gen Honda City and a Renault Pulse Diesel, and I’m considering replacing the Pulse with the new Duster Hybrid. Would you recommend going for the Duster Hybrid, or would I be better off with the Kia Seltos Diesel? Around 80-85% of my driving is in the city, with occasional highway trips and weekend outings. I am a bit worried about the service at Renault because the ones with pulse weren’t so good. Please suggest.

•2d

Given your usage pattern of 80–85% city driving with occasional highway trips, the Renault Duster Hybrid is actually a very good fit. The hybrid system is designed to maximise efficiency in stop-start city conditions, and the Duster’s ride quality and robust suspension make it well-suited to Indian roads. The new Duster also feels like a genuinely fresh product, with a strong value proposition and a more engaging driving experience than most rivals.The Kia Seltos Diesel, on the other hand, is the better choice if your usage was more highway-focused. The diesel engine is efficient and relaxed on long drives, but with predominantly city driving, the benefits of diesel ownership diminish, especially with modern diesel particulate filter systems that can become problematic with short, low-speed runs.Your concern about Renault service is valid. The brand’s service network and consistency are not on the same level as Kia, and that is something to factor in. However, the new Duster is a far more important product for Renault than the Pulse ever was, and the company is likely to put more effort behind it.If you are still hesitant about Renault’s service, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid or Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid are worth considering. Both offer strong hybrid systems, excellent fuel efficiency and a far more reliable and widespread service network.

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

•2d

I am planning to upgrade from my Hyundai i10. My daily commute is around 40 km in Chennai city, and I drive approximately 600 km on the highway once a month. I am considering the Tata Altroz diesel, with a budget of around Rs. 11 lakh. I am looking for a reliable diesel car with good mileage and low maintenance costs. I prefer a practical car without unnecessary fancy features. Please suggest the best options for my usage.

•1d

Given your usage pattern of 40 km daily city driving and a 600 km highway run every month, diesel does make sense, and the Tata Altroz diesel is a solid choice. It offers good fuel efficiency, a comfortable ride and a well-built cabin, and it is one of the few diesel hatchbacks still available in the market. The Altroz diesel remains a sensible option, but do keep in mind that Tata's service experience can be inconsistent depending on the dealership. If you are open to stretching your budget slightly, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is worth considering. It offers a more powerful diesel engine, better highway performance and a more robust ownership experience. If you are strictly sticking to the Rs 11 lakh budget, the Altroz diesel is the best fit for your requirements. It is practical, efficient and well-suited to your usage pattern. Just make sure you are comfortable with your local Tata service centre before making the final decision.

Tata Altroz

Mahindra XUV 3XO

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Popular discussions right now

•3d

Please advise which car would be the best choice for long-term ownership: the Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen SUV, or any other suitable option. My priority is reliability, long-term durability, and hassle-free ownership over the next 10 years or more. I would appreciate suggestions based on real-world ownership experience, maintenance costs, spare parts availability, and after-sales support.

•3d

For long-term ownership, the Mahindra Scorpio N is the safest recommendation from your shortlist. It has a proven track record, robust mechanicals and a strong service network, making it a dependable choice for 5-10 years of ownership. The Tata Harrier and Tata Safari have improved significantly, but the Scorpio N still has the edge on long-term reliability and ownership confidence. The Jeep Compass is a good product, but it is now an ageing model and does not offer the same value proposition as the Scorpio N. If you are open to alternatives, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is worth considering. It is a more modern product with a better balance of comfort, features and refinement, and it is a strong long-term ownership proposition as well. The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are excellent driver's cars, but they are smaller and do not offer the same level of space or road presence as the Scorpio N or XUV 7XO.

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a seven-seater car. I have test-driven the Renault Triber Turbo and Citroen Aircross X and was impressed by what both offer at their price points. However, the Aircross put a wide smile on my face. As a current Maruti Suzuki user, I did not consider the Ertiga because it feels similar to our Swift. I liked the Aircross X but am sceptical about Citroen's service network and spare parts availability. However, there are three Citroen showrooms within 45 km of my place. Please suggest which car I should choose. My budget: Rs. 15 lakh Current vehicle: Second-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift petrol (2017) Annual usage: Around 10,000 km, with a 50:30:20 split between town, highway and city driving Requirement: A seven-seater car

•6d

The Citroen's interiors feel more special, its engine is more powerful, and its ride-handling balance is outstanding; however, for seven adults, it won't be as comfortable as the Triber.In fact, the Triber's superb packaging makes it genuinely comfortable for passengers in all three rows, despite its compact sub-4-meter dimensions. The new turbo-petrol engine makes it an effortless performer, and its ride quality feels very mature too. Moreover, the Triber Turbo is also much more affordable in comparison, making it outstanding value for money. Yes, the Aircross X will appeal to your heart, but given Citroen's limited service network and cramped third row, the Triber Turbo is the more sensible choice.

Renault Triber

Citroen Aircross

•3d

I am planning to buy my first car. I want to have a 7-seater and need it for long term ownership. I liked the Citroen Aircross X design for 5+2. I am planning to choose a car with automatic transmission. I have couple of major concerns for which I would like your advice. First one is Mileage, I heard Aircross has a mileage issue and its real-world city mileage is 8 kpl while on highway it is 14 kpl. Is it the same for X version also? Second advice is for its service network. I have heard from the people that its service is slow. Regular servicing also takes around 2 days of time. I have a service center within 10 km from my home. My budget is Rs. 20 Lakh and I need an automatic transmission with rear and front parking camera or 360-degree camera since I am a new driver. Are there any 7-seater alternatives within this budget?

•2d

The Citroen Aircross X is a good-looking car, now with a premium interior. It is the only SUV in its category which offers a 5+2 seating configuration, and even though the third row is not particularly spacious, it works for occasional use. The real-world fuel efficiency figures as per our tests are 9.5kpl and 13.62kpl in city and highway conditions, respectively, which is quite decent given the strong and smooth performance this 1.2-turbo-petrol-AT delivers. What's more is that ride comfort is outstanding, perhaps the best among all midsize SUVs. So as far as comfort and practicality goes, the Aircross X is a good car.Citroen's service centre network is limited, but since you have a touchpoint close to your home, your vehicle's regular servicing and maintenance is likely to be taken care of smoothly. If you love the Aircross X for what it is, go for it - as far as value goes, it is an outstanding proposition. If you're looking for proper seven-seater alternatives, we'd strongly recommend the Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ turbo-petrol automatic version. All three rows are properly spacious, well-suited for adults. This variant will be within your Rs 20 lakh on-road budget, and it has front and rear parking sensors, as well as rear-view camera to make parking easy for you. Sure, it isn't an SUV, but it is a very sensible car, if you need a proper seven-seater.

Citroen Aircross

Kia Carens Clavis

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