I am planning to buy a new vehicle with a budget of 15 to 16 lakh on-road. My usage is mainly in the city, between 60% to 70%, while the rest is on highways and occasional hill drives. Daily running is around 30 to 40 km. I am currently considering the Honda Elevate, Renault Duster, and Tata Sierra.

Autocar India

•1d

The Honda Elevate is a sensible, no-nonsense pick. The visibility is good due to its high seating, the seats are comfy, and the ride quality is impressive. Its petrol engine is strong and responsive, and drivability is very good too. Fuel efficiency, however, isn't its strength, with the manual and automatic (CVT) both averaging around 11kpl. If you are a new user, though, we'd recommend opting for the CVT, simply because it is smooth and makes the driving experience much more convenient.The Elevate is equipped with standard kit such as ESP, 6 airbags, etc., and most variants also get camera-based ADAS, which further adds a layer of safety.Alternatively, you could consider the new Kia Seltos, which is newer, better equipped and more spacious.

Honda Elevate

Autocar India

•2d

Since you are looking for a proven tension-free engine, pick the Honda Elevate, its 1.5‑litre naturally aspirated engine is a very reliable unit and coming from your Tata Altroz NA. You’ll appreciate the Elevate’s smooth, linear power delivery from a simple 4‑cylinder petrol, no turbo lag, fewer parts to worry about, and a decade of reliability in India. The steering is very light at low speeds, and this is also something you would like, given that you drive mostly in the city. What's nice, though, is that it weighs up nicely as speeds rise. The ride is a bit firm but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The 1.3 litre turbo direct injection engine on the Duster is also another good and reliable powerplant, and should you not like the Elevate, you could also look at this. You will have lower rear space, and the gearbox is a DSG unit, which in start-stop city traffic is not as smooth as the CVT on the Honda.

Honda Elevate

Tata Altroz

Autocar India

•1h

The Maruti Suzuki E Vitara is a sensible EV for your usage and budget.For 70-80 km a day and around 25,000 km a year, going electric will significantly cut your running costs, and charging from solar makes it even more economical. The e‑Vitara is positioned as a reasonably priced compact electric car, so it should sit comfortably within your 17 lakh budget and still offer the ease of an automatic, quiet drive and low maintenance.However, there are some important comfort limitations to be aware of, particularly for someone who is 6'3". The cabin is not very spacious, and you’re likely to need the driver’s seat pushed all the way back, which leaves very little legroom for a passenger sitting directly behind you. The floor is also quite high because of the battery pack, so your knees sit more upright than normal, which can reduce long‑distance comfort for tall occupants.If rear‑seat space matters or you often travel with family, it’s worth looking at alternatives like the MG Windsor EV, which offers a noticeably roomier cabin and more comfortable back seat. But if you mostly drive alone or with one front passenger, the e‑Vitara will do the job quite well.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

MG Windsor