Mumbai

•2d

I am looking for a replacement for my Ford EcoSport petrol automatic Titanium+ and am planning to upgrade to a higher segment. This would be my last car purchase, as I am approaching 70, so reliability is my foremost concern. The car will be self-driven and should be petrol and automatic, as I am based in NCR. I prefer a torque-converter (TC) automatic and would also consider a CVT, but I do not want a DSG, DCT, DCA, or AMT. The car should also be reliable and capable on the hills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where I drive 3-4 times a year. My budget is Rs. 18-19 lakh, and stretching beyond this would not be possible. I would really appreciate your informed opinion and advice on which car would best suit my requirements. Thank you.

•4m

You should consider the Honda Elevate ZX CVT. As far as reliable, no-nonsense midsize SUVs go, this Honda car is among the best. Honda's 1.5-litre i-VTEC is a great mix of smoothness, reliability and efficiency, and with 120hp on tap, it has enough punch to handle the hills of Uttarakhand and Himachal when you need it to. It's a fuss-free SUV that will serve you well over a long period of time; Honda's service is known to be of high quality, and you get quite a few features within your budget of Rs 18-19 lakh.

Other options you could look at are the Maruti Suzuki Victoris/Grand Vitara, which use a similarly reliable 1.5-litre petrol engine with a torque-converter automatic, but it isn't quite as punchy as the Honda engine and may feel lethargic in the hills if the car is loaded up. In a similar vein are the Hyundai Creta/Kia Seltos, which also use a 1.5 petrol engine and CVT, though these aren't quite as efficient, and in your budget you'll only get the base models of these cars. Overall, we feel the Honda Elevate is the best bet for you.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.94 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.39 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Grand Vitara

from ₹12.71 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.88 Lakh

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