Delhi

•23h

Hello, I've been looking to buy a new automatic petrol car with either a TC or a CVT transmission for a family of three. Our usage will mainly involve daily city driving in Bengaluru, with occasional highway trips of 100-500 km. So far, we have tested the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TC, Kylaq and Kushaq, Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 TC, Honda Elevate facelift (2026), Kia Sonet, Tata Punch AMT, Tata Sierra DCT and TC automatic options, and Punch EV. My wife is a beginner driver who currently drives a manual turbo sedan and a hatchback, so the car should also be suitable for her daily driving needs. Personally, I loved the Slavia for its punchy performance, handling, ride quality, softer suspension in the city and safety. However, I'm concerned about EPC errors and reliability issues. Since I already drive a turbo car, I enjoy the strong performance on highways, particularly the quick overtakes and punch. My wife, on the other hand, prefers sedate driving, although neither of us is particularly enthusiastic about driving. She preferred the Honda Elevate CVT over the Sonet. We're quite confused about which automatic to choose from these options. Please help us decide.

•3m

Based on your preferences, we'd advise you to narrow down your choice between the Honda Elevate 1.5 CVT and Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI AT. The Honda Elevate will be a bit easier to drive for your wife, who is a new driver, given its higher seating position and more responsive naturally aspirated petrol engine without any turbo lag. Its CVT (automatic) is seamless, and its engine delivers strong performance to keep you entertained. Overall, the Elevate is a comfortable, practical, no-nonsense SUV with excellent ride comfort. Given Honda's reputation for reliability, you can look forward to a trouble-free ownership experience.

The Skoda Slavia, being a sedan, will feel a bit nicer to drive given its low centre of gravity and relatively less body roll. The 1.0 TSI will also feel more effortless while making quick overtakes on the highway. Its 179mm ground clearance and large boot make it a very practical car for long family drives.

In the initial year/s of its launch, some owners reported EPC errors, possibly due to poor fuel quality. However, the Slavia has been on the market for over four years now, and complaints of the same issue are extremely rare, indicating that it may have been resolved. If you loved the Slavia for what it offers, go for it. It'll leave you smiling every time you get behind the wheel.

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•23h

I am looking for an automatic five-seater car under Rs 18 lakh and am confused between the Honda Elevate and Hyundai Creta. Which would be more comfortable for highway travel? My annual running will be below 12,000km.

•6h

The Hyundai Creta IVT would be our pick for comfortable highway travel. Its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is refined, and better sound insulation keeps the cabin quieter at cruising speeds. The flat, wide rear seat also makes it a good choice if you occasionally travel with three people at the back. With annual running below 12,000km, the petrol automatic makes sense.The Honda Elevate CVT is worth considering because you can get a higher variant for similar money, with more features for your budget. Honda has worked on improving the sound insulation with the 2026 facelift, but the Elevate still doesn't feel as refined as the Creta when it comes to engine noise and overall cabin quietness.

Hyundai Creta

Honda Elevate

•1d

Hi Autocar team, I am looking to buy a new petrol automatic car for my family of three. Most of my driving will be in Bengaluru city, with occasional highway trips of 100-500 km. I prefer a torque-converter automatic or a CVT. We have test-driven the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI, Kylaq and Kushaq, Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 TSI, 2026 Honda Elevate facelift, Kia Sonet, Tata Punch AMT, Tata Sierra DCT and the Tata Punch EV with its automatic transmission. I personally liked the Slavia for its performance, handling, ride quality and safety, but I am concerned about EPC warnings and reliability. My wife is a beginner driver who currently drives a manual turbo sedan and a hatchback. She prefers relaxed driving and liked the Honda Elevate CVT more than the Sonet. I enjoy strong performance and effortless overtaking on highways, although neither of us is an outright driving enthusiast. With so many options, which automatic would you recommend?

•23h

Since your wife preferred the Honda Elevate over the Kia Sonet and is still building confidence, the smooth, predictable response of the Honda's CVT makes it an easier daily companion in Bengaluru traffic. Its upright seating position and suspension also suit the city's broken roads, while the naturally aspirated petrol engine avoids the added complexity of a turbo.The Skoda Slavia is more engaging on the highway, with stronger mid range punch and enjoyable handling, and its eight-speed torque converter automatic is a good match for someone concerned about dual clutch reliability. EPC warnings and reliability concerns are worth discussing with the dealer, but they aren't a reason to rule out every Skoda car. The Elevate's main drawback is that its engine can sound strained when accelerating hard, and it won't deliver the same effortless overtaking response as the Slavia.Given that you both drive the car, choose the Elevate CVT if ease of use and relaxed ownership come first; choose the Slavia automatic if you both test drive it and are happy with its driving behaviour and service support.

Hi Autocar India, I currently own a Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI MT, but since my wife prefers to drive an automatic, I'm planning to sell it and upgrade to either Hyundai Verna 1.5 IVT or 1.5 Turbo DCT. I need a car that feels a little more responsive at the lower end, especially in stop-and-go traffic, as I find my Slavia slightly sluggish in this situation. My monthly running is around 1,000 km, with approximately 70% highway and 30% city driving. Between the two Verna variants, which one would you recommend based on my requirements? Also, are there any SUVs in the similar price range that offer good mileage and better low-end response? I would love to hear your recommendation.

•23h

The Hyundai Verna 1.5 IVT will certainly feel more responsive than the Slavia, especially in stop-go conditions, and this is the ideal choice for a city commuter. However, give that 70 percent of your usage will be on the highway, we'd suggest you opt for the Verna 1.5 Turbo DCT for its stronger performance and effortless overtaking ability. Coming from a Slavia 1.0, the 1.5 Turbo will feel like a good replacement for you as far as performance goes, and its 7-speed dual-clutch transmission will provide the convenience of an automatic that your wife is looking for.If you want to stick to a strong naturally aspirated petrol engine for better low-end performance as well as satisfactory highway effortlessness, consider the Honda City or Honda Elevate CVT. Honda's 1.5 feels much stronger that Hyundai's NA engine in the city and on the highway, with the only downside being refinement, where the Verna's petrol fares better.

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•4d

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•3d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

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•5d

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•4d

Since your choice is between these two exact models, go for the Tata Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kWh at Rs 22 lakh on-road. It is a much better value proposition given the Rs. 5-6 lakh savings over the Mahindra XEV 9S. The Harrier EV is a solidly-built, hardy SUV that's comfy for 5 adults and their luggage.Sure, the XEV 9S gives you the flexibility of three-rows of seating; a lighter steering with a tighter turning radius; and with a larger battery and a more efficient electric powertrain, real-world range will be better. But since you don't specifically need a three-row SUV, the Harrier EV's lower price makes it the more sensible buy.

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•4d

Hi Autocar team, I am considering the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Maruti Suzuki Victoris. The 3XO offers more features and space than the Brezza, but I expect it to be less fuel-efficient. The Victoris is considerably more expensive. Is the 3XO a good choice, or should I consider other options?

•3d

Yes, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is a very good choice. It is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin that makes it a genuinely comfortable five-seater. It is also feature-rich and offers strong value for money. The only real drawback is the boot, which is one of the smallest in the segment, at least on paper; however, usable space is comparable to rivals.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the more sensible choice if you are prioritising reliability, low maintenance costs and Maruti's service network. It is also a comfortable five-seater with a good ride. The Mahindra car, however, feels like the more modern and better-equipped product.

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