Delhi

•2d

Hi team, I am planning to buy my first car and am looking forward to your recommendation. My budget is Rs. 20 lakh (on-road) that I can stretch slightly for clearly more value. I need a 5-seater that I can keep for more than 10 years. My running is around 8,000-10,000 km annually which is mostly within the city and I also travel occasionally on Ajmer-Noida highway (around 420 km one way). My hometown is Ajmer where I have my own parking and rooftop solar (6 kW sanctioned load). The car will stay there most of the time and will be registered in Rajasthan. But I have a doubt. I work in Noida where I have no parking or charging at home or at the office. I am not sure where my next job will be and I might have to take the car may move with me in a few years. My priorities are safety, reliability, low long-term ownership cost and good service support. Features come second in priority. I'm in no hurry to buy the car and can wait a few months. For this usage, which powertrain makes the most sense for an ownership of over 10 years among petrol, strong hybrid or EV? Which car and variant would you advise in this budget? Should I buy a car now, or is there an upcoming launch worth waiting for?

•16h

For your usage, a strong hybrid like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris makes a lot of sense. You won't have to worry about charging in Noida or during your long highway trips, while the hybrid system should help you save a considerable amount on fuel, given that most of your driving is within the city.

Maruti has the widest service network in India, so no matter where your job takes you, a service centre shouldn't be too far away. Maruti also has a strong reputation for reliability, which is important since you plan to keep the car for a long time. The Renault Duster Hybrid is another excellent option. Although the brand's limited service reach could be an issue if you're transferred to a remote location.

Among upcoming cars, the Kia Seltos Hybrid also fits your requirements, although it may stretch your budget. Overall, the Victoris is the best fit for your needs at this time.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.18 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.76 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.17 Lakh

•3m•

@autocar.india go for duster hybrid lowest price highest premium don't buy Japanese car cheap parts and material used people will say u have sat in alto

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•5d

My budget is under Rs 12 lakh, and I want a petrol manual car. I currently drive a 17-year-old Maruti Dzire diesel and am looking to replace it with a compact SUV. My priorities are good highway performance, safety, decent fuel efficiency and a spacious cabin. I will sometimes drive the car myself, but it will mostly be chauffeur-driven. I have shortlisted the Mahindra XUV 3XO MPFi, but some people have advised me against buying it, leaving me unsure about its reliability. Should I go ahead with it or consider other options? At this price, I can also get the Hyundai Venue HX5+ and Maruti Victoris LXi. What would you suggest?

•1d

The Mahindra XUV 3XO is a great choice for your needs. It has good performance on the highway, decent efficiency and a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating. If you are being chauffeured and spend time in the back seat, you'll find the seat is wide and comfortable, with good space too. Reliability is also quite good, though some owners report electronic glitches.Among your alternatives, the Maruti Victoris LXi is larger overall and therefore roomier, but being the base model, it will feel a bit bare-bones. The Hyundai Venue HX5+ is a better choice, offering a good balance of features and passenger comfort. However, if you want the most space in the sub-4-meter SUV segment, consider the Kia Syros. It has a very spacious and comfy back seat and a large boot. It is offered with the same 1.0-litre turbo petrol as the Venue, so highway performance is good too.Overall, the XUV 3XO is a solid choice, but if you are not convinced, then consider the Venue or the Syros.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

•3d

Hi, I am keen on buying a petrol AWD. In case, the vehicle will be used for trips to mountains where there are kaccha roads with unmetalled surface and loose stones. Which would be a better choice between Victoris and Grand Vitara?

•2d

The Victoris and Grand Vitara are essentially the same vehicle with the only differentiation being their body style, and interior colour and design. The Victoris feels more modern, and its light grey and black coloured interiors look airier and more inviting than the Grand Vitara. It is also better-equipped, but that makes it around Rs 50,000 more expensive than the equivalent Grand Vitara. Overall, if you're not limited by budget, the Victoris AWD AT would be the one we'd recommend.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

•3d

I have a budget of Rs 15 lakh and am planning to buy either the Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXi AT or the Grand Vitara Delta 1.5 AT mild hybrid. Both are within my budget. I’ve recently heard that the Victoris has an AC leak issue. Is that true? Which of these would you recommend? I take five to six trips a year of more than 1,500 km each, and my city driving is around 400 km a month. Please advise.

•2d

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXi AT and Grand Vitara Delta AT are mechanically very similar, sharing the same platform, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, six-speed torque converter automatic and several key components. Therefore, the choice should largely come down to the deal you get, the design you prefer and the dealership experience. The Victoris is the newer product and has a more contemporary cabin with better perceived quality. However, its sloping roofline does compromise rear headroom slightly, which is worth checking if you regularly travel with adults in the back. The Grand Vitara has a more conventional SUV profile.Regarding the AC concern, there have been some owner reports of cooling-related issues with the Victoris, but it is too early to suggest that this is a widespread problem. The Victoris and Grand Vitara share much of their underlying hardware, including several components of the air-conditioning system, so there is no particular reason to assume that the Grand Vitara is immune to similar issues.Our recommendation would be to pick whichever dealership offers you the better deal. If you prefer the newer styling, cabin and Arena network, go for the Victoris. If you like the more conventional design and prefer the Nexa buying experience, the Grand Vitara is equally good.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

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•1d

I’m a first-time car buyer and I’m confused between the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Delta (Rs 12.7 lakh on-road), the Brezza VXi automatic (Rs 11.4 lakh) and the Brezza ZXi manual (Rs 11.5 lakh). I’m not sure how much of my driving will be in the city and how much on the highway. If I choose the automatic, I’ll miss out on many features that come with the Brezza ZXi and the Grand Vitara Delta. Is it okay to give up those features and choose the VXi automatic?

•21h

It is a tricky choice, but we would lean towards the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi automatic. In today's increasingly congested traffic conditions, the convenience of an automatic transmission is something you will appreciate every day. The additional features on the Brezza ZXi manual or Grand Vitara Delta may seem attractive initially, but over the years, the ease of driving an automatic is likely to matter more.The Brezza VXi AT is not poorly equipped either. It gets a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, six airbags, ESP and hill-hold assist. You will miss out on features such as cruise control, a rear parking camera and a sunroof, but some convenience features can be added later through accessories.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

•3d

What are Mahindra’s plans for an ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO? Specifically, does Mahindra plan to launch any ICE SUVs in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket?

•2d

Mahindra has not yet confirmed an all-new ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket. However, there are some interesting developments on its future product roadmap. The company has outlined plans for 10 new ICE models by 2031, including nine new nameplates, with several expected to use its upcoming NU_IQ platform. The Vision X and Vision SXT concepts are among the products to watch, although their final positioning and specifications are yet to be revealed. A more immediate development is the possibility of a strong-hybrid version of the XUV 7XO, which Mahindra is evaluating and could introduce around 2027. This would potentially sit above the current petrol and diesel variants, offering better fuel efficiency and a more sophisticated powertrain. Mahindra is also working on a coupe-styled hybrid SUV, internally codenamed W623, which could arrive around 2028, although its positioning is not yet clear.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•1w

improve the grammar and write it in a paragraph - Hi Autocar, Iam looking to book a car this week. I have narrowed it down to one of 3 cars. Petrol Automatic IVTs. My running is mostly going to be 95% city (office to work in Mumbai traffic). Daily commute is around 15km, so I don't want a turbo in traffic. That's roughly 5k annual running. I am 6ft tall so wouldn't want something that is cramped 1. New Seltos HTK(O) 2. New elevate VX 3. Bayon HX 8 All of these are close to the 16L ex showroom price. I've driven the Seltos and Elevate. I really liked both of them. The Seltos feels more premium from the inside and I feel like that is something worth having in a daily car. The elevate is brilliant, but it seems cheap on the inside. No pani sunroof too, although I would maybe use it 1 day in year, it's priced the same as the Seltos, so that felt a miss. I know Honda engines are top, but at my running and limited enthusiast journey, I'm not sure if that does justice to need. Now comes the bayon. I have not done a test drive yet as its not available, but the bayon pricing at Hx6 and hx8 seems very close to the Creta currently.. I am tempted to go for the hx8 as it as a 360 camera,( I think that might be usefull for parking etc as I am coming from a hatchback ) but I am getting a "lesser car" vs the Seltos here I wonder.. Which one would you recommend? I am keen on booking before diwali, will see if there are any discounts on the Seltos (unlikey though)

•1w

All things considered, the Kia Seltos is the better fit for your needs. Since you are on the taller side, you will appreciate the extra room it has to offer compared to the Hyundai Bayon. Opting for the Bayon does get you a higher variant with a 360-degree camera, which can be helpful in tight spots. However, once you get used to the size of the vehicle, you might find yourself using the camera less often.As for the Honda Elevate, as you rightly mentioned, the Seltos feels more premium inside and costs about the same. The Elevate does offer a bit more performance from its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, but since 95% of your driving is in slow-moving Mumbai traffic, the added performance won't really make much of a difference.Overall, the Seltos is the right fit for your needs.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Bayon

Honda Elevate

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