Mumbai

Dhananjay

•33w

Hi! I am looking for an SUV under ₹20 lakh on-road that can comfortably accommodate three adults in the back seat. Could you please suggest suitable options?

Autocar India

•32w

In the sub-compact category, the Mahindra XUV 3XO offers the widest rear seat and is the best choice for accommodating three passengers comfortably.

In the compact category, it’s a close call between the Hyundai Creta and the Honda Elevate. While you can get the top variants of the XUV 3XO and Honda Elevate within your budget, the Hyundai Creta will likely be available only in a mid-spec trim.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.86 Lakh

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.73 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.92 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

Sandeep

•18h

I want to buy a car under Rs 12 lakh. It should be a petrol automatic and will be my first car. I need good ground clearance, a good engine and gearbox combination for 70% city and 30% highway use, and my daily running is around 30 km in Bengaluru traffic. Comfort, space, decent fuel efficiency, ease of driving, and long-term ownership are important to me. I do not want a Fronx, Baleno, i20, Exter, Punch, or Nexon. Please suggest a value-for-money option. Thank you.

Autocar India

•1h

Given your exclusions, the Skoda Kylaq automatic would be our first recommendation. Specifically, the Signature automatic is if you can stretch slightly. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol and torque converter automatic are a very good combination for Bangalore traffic. The gearbox is smooth, the engine has enough punch for highway overtakes, and the car feels more premium and substantial than most options in this price range. Ground clearance is good, it is easy to drive, and it has the solid feel that many first-time buyers appreciate.Another strong option is the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic. It has a wider rear seat, feels bigger inside and is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment. The torque converter automatic is smooth, and it is comfortable for city use. The downside is that fuel efficiency is not that great, and the boot is on the smaller side.If you are willing to consider a sedan, the Honda Amaze CVT is also worth a look. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in traffic, reliability is excellent, and it is the kind of car you can comfortably keep for a decade. The only reason it is not our primary recommendation is that you specifically mentioned wanting good ground clearance.

Asha

We are a family of four, and my budget is up to Rs. 10 lakh. I am looking for a car that is safe, fun to drive, fuel-efficient, and stable on highways. It should also be comfortable for three passengers in the rear seat, have a good sound system, effective air conditioning, and sufficient boot space. The maintenance and service network should also be hassle-free. My running is usually at weekends, 60% city and 40% rural. I prefer a petrol manual only. Is there any ideal family car which fits into my requirements, or do I need to stretch my budget a bit, say by 1-2 lakhs, to get a car suiting my requirements? Please suggest. I am also open to used car options.

Autocar India

•2d

The Kia Syros HTK (base) Turbo-Petrol MT variant is an excellent family car that seems to meet your requirements of comfort, highway stability and good air-conditioning. Additionally, this car is surprisingly spacious despite being under four metres in length. Alternatively, you could consider the new Hyundai Venue HX2 Turbo-petrol MT or Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX M. Both of which are good options, and should be in the Rs 10 lakh on-road price.If you're keen to explore used options, we'd recommend getting the newest possible example covered by factory warranty for added peace of mind. You could consider a Honda City or Maruti Grand Vitara (or Toyota Hybrid), which are safe, sensible options that should be priced at around Rs 10 lakh.

Kia Syros

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Santosh Prakash

•16h

Hi, I'm currently driving the Honda Elevate CVT. So far, I am not unhappy with it. The car does what I want it to do, and while it is not particularly exciting, I am satisfied with it. My question is: if the Elevate eventually gets a hybrid option, should I consider upgrading? I am concerned about fuel economy as fuel prices continue to rise. I currently get around 11-12 kpl overall. Assuming the hybrid is priced around Rs 5 lakh higher, my calculations suggest I would need to drive roughly 1.5-1.7 lakh kilometres to recover the additional cost. Financially, it does not seem to make sense. However, there is also the peace of mind of seeing fuel economy figures above 20 kpl, and the hybrid setup could offer slightly better performance and make the car more enjoyable. What do you think? If Honda eventually launches it, should I go for it?

Autocar India

•15h

Honda near term focus has been on EVs and upcoming new-generation products rather than adding a hybrid powertrain to the current Elevate. More importantly, we have recently reported that Honda currently has no plans to introduce an Elevate Hybrid, and that the upcoming Elevate update is expected to be a minor facelift with no hybrid powertrain being added.That is why we would not overthink this. Your own calculations already suggest that a Rs 5 lakh premium would take a very long time to recover through fuel savings alone. While a strong hybrid would certainly deliver better efficiency and a more effortless driving experience, it is unlikely to transform the ownership experience enough to justify replacing a perfectly good Elevate CVT.The bigger point is that you already seem satisfied with the car. The Elevate is doing exactly what you bought it for. Unless Honda surprises everyone with a competitively priced hybrid version, which currently looks unlikely, we would simply continue enjoying the car you have.

Honda Elevate

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Popular discussions right now

Balaji

•1d

I am looking to buy a 6/7-seater EV. My primary usage will be as a 4-seater, with occasional 6-seater use. I will mainly drive it in the city for my daily office commute and undertake long-distance trips of around 500 km once every two months. I have a solar setup at home and can charge the vehicle comfortably. My budget is Rs 30-40 lakh, although I can stretch it slightly if required.

Autocar India

•1d

You should go for the Mahindra XEV 9S. It's a proper three-row EV, and it fits your use case perfectly. With home solar charging, your running costs are very low, and the smooth, quiet drive is just right for city runs as a 4-seater. When you do need six or seven seats, the third row is reasonably spacious, and for your 500 km trip every couple of months, you’ll need just one quick top-up at a highway charger.Do note that with all three rows up, boot space is tight, so your highway trips will require some planning.Alternatively, consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It isn't as feature-rich and doesn't have as much range as the XEV 9S, but its third row is more comfortable for adults.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Zorro

•1w

Hello Experts, I recently test drove the Citroen C5 Aircross, and my primary concern was the price, around 41-42 lakhs for a diesel model. I'd appreciate your expert opinion on whether it's worth the investment.

Autocar India

•6d

The Citroen C5 Aircross diesel automatic is worth it if your top priority is comfort and a calm drive. It rides over broken roads better than almost anything at this price, the seats are soft and supportive, and the diesel is quiet and smooth, so long trips feel easy. Space is good, the back seat is friendly for three, and the boot is big for airport runs or weekend bags.The catch is value. At this price, others give more showy features and tech. Also, the Citroen brand has a small dealer network, so ready service is available only in pockets. Further, the Citroen brand is not very strong at the moment, and this will impact resale value down the road.Also note, the diesel engine is best suited for longer runs. If your daily life includes rough roads and frequent highway trips, pay for the comfort. If you want rich features, badge pull, or mostly city use, the price feels high.

Citroen C5 Aircross

Arun Sharma

•6d

I am looking to buy a new car, preferably an EV or a strong hybrid, mainly for my daily office commute. My monthly running is around 600–700 km, and I rarely take my own car on outstation trips, as I usually prefer to hire a cab or a chauffeur-driven vehicle for long journeys. I currently drive a Maruti Wagon R CNG and want to upgrade to an automatic car for a more premium, comfortable experience. My budget can stretch up to around ₹22-25 lakh, and my main priorities are: Hassle-free long-term ownership for the next 8–10 years Reliability and low maintenance Comfortable automatic driving experience Practical and sensible design without unnecessary gimmicks or flashy features Good efficiency and peace of mind

Autocar India

•5d

Pick the strong-hybrid variants of the Maruti Grand Vitara, Victoris or Toyota Hyryder. The hybrid powertrain is very efficient; it is an automatic, and Toyota’s hybrid tech has a proven track record worldwide, so keeping it for 8-10 years should be stress-free.Since you don't drive out of the station at all, you could also consider the Hyundai Creta Electric with a 42kWh battery. For your daily office commute, it is a smooth, reliable option.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai Creta Electric

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Posted on: 19 Oct 2025