Autocar India
•6h

I need your suggestion on car. We live in Thane, and my commute every alternate day is around 12 km. Our budget is Rs. 20-25 lakhs, and we’re looking for an automatic car (petrol or EV). We also take 5-6-hour road trips once every 2-3 months. Currently, we drive a 2011 Hyundai i20 and are planning to upgrade. Which car would you recommend and why, considering comfort, reliability, running costs, safety, and after-sales service? Thanks!

Verified
•13m

Consider the Kia Seltos DCT. For a 12km commute and occasional 5-6-hour road trips, you will find it comfortable in the city, quick on the highway and easy to own long term. The latest-generation Seltos is larger than before, so feels spacious inside. The cabin is tech-laden and upmarket, and the ride quality has improved too. The turbo-petrol DCT has good performance for quick overtakes on the highway, and the DCT is responsive. The downside is that it can occasionally hesitate in the city, but with your short commute this shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Kia's service is also amongst the best in the business.If you want something larger, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic is also a solid choice in your budget. It is a genuinely comfortable car with a spacious cabin, excellent ride quality and strong highway manners. The petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the automatic gearbox makes city driving effortless. Mahindra's service network is strong in Thane and Mumbai. The drawback is that the big petrol engine will be thirsty in the city.An electric car makes sense if you can charge at home and if there are fast chargers on your usual highway route. In that case, the Hyundai Creta Electric is a safe bet. It is well suited to your short daily commute and offers very low running costs. In our real-world testing, it managed an impressive 486km on a single charge in the city and 378km on the highway.Overall, the Seltos is the best balance of comfort, reliability, running costs and ownership experience for your needs.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleHyundai Creta Electric
Kia Seltos
Kia Seltos
•5h

I bought a Mahindra XUV 3XO two years ago, but its mileage has been quite poor, averaging only around 7 kpl due to mostly city and office-area driving. I also own a Honda City petrol, purchased in August 2016, which is now 10 years old. It has covered around 50k km and also returns an average of about 7 kpl. I now want to replace one of these cars with an electric SUV within a budget of Rs. 10 - 12 lakh. Which EV would you recommend?

Verified
•39m

Given your budget of Rs 10-12 lakh and the desire to replace one of your petrol cars with an electric SUV, the Tata Punch EV is the most sensible recommendation. It is the most affordable electric SUV in the market today, and it offers a genuinely usable range for city commuting. The Punch EV is compact and easy to drive in urban conditions, and it will significantly reduce your running costs compared to your current petrol cars. Tata also has one of the widest electric car service networks in the country.The only caveat is that the Punch EV is a compact SUV, so if you are replacing the Honda City, you will be moving to a smaller car in terms of rear seat space and boot capacity. Overall, the Punch EV is the best fit for your budget and usage, and it will deliver the biggest running cost benefit in your city-heavy driving pattern.

VehicleTata Punch EV
VehicleHonda City
•2d

Hi Autocar, I'm planning to buy my first automatic car with an on-road budget of around Rs. 12 lakh, and I'm a bit confused between these options: Honda Amaze ZX CVT, Tata Punch Accomplished+ S AMT, Skoda Kylaq Signature AT The car will mostly be used for a mix of city driving and occasional highway trips. A few things about my usage: I'm a first-time driver, so I want something easy to drive, and that helps me build confidence. Right now, the car will be used occasionally, but the usage could increase over the next few years. My parents will also be driving it sometimes, so ease of driving and comfort are important. I'm looking for a reliable car that doesn't give frequent issues and is easy to own. Which of these would you recommend based on my requirements? Also, if I go with the Kylaq, is the Signature+ AT really worth paying around Rs. 2 lakh more than the Signature AT? Are the extra features and overall package worth the premium, or is the Signature AT good enough? Thanks!

Verified
•1h

Between your picks, the Skoda Kylaq and Honda Amaze are the best bets for your needs. The Amaze CVT is smooth, the car is compact and easy to manoeuvre, and Honda’s reliability and low maintenance costs make it a stress-free ownership experience. It is also a proper automatic gearbox, unlike the AMT in the Punch, which can feel jerky at low speeds.The Kylaq is more fun to drive and has the most premium feeling of the three. The 1.0 TSI engine also offers the most performance, which will be handy on the highway, but will also consume more fuel in the city. Its torque converter automatic is very smooth shifting and makes driving in the city very easy. What also helps is that you sit higher than the Amaze, which will give you a bit more confidence in tight city traffic. The downside is that Skoda’s service network is not as widespread as Honda’s, and upkeep can cost more. As for the variant, the Signature+ AT adds a couple of useful features like a reversing camera and a larger infotainment screen, but it is not worth paying Rs 2 lakh extra over the Signature AT. Between these two, the Amaze ZX CVT is the better fit for your requirements - easy to drive, reliable, comfortable and hassle-free to own.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleTata Punch
Skoda Kylaq
Skoda Kylaq
•2d

Dear Sir/Madam, I would appreciate your advice regarding the purchase of a compact SUV for my parents, who are around 65+ years old. The vehicle will mainly be used for commuting within a rural town, with occasional city drives and around 2 airport trips per year. My requirements are: Petrol automatic transmission, Good interior space and comfortable seating for 5 passengers, Good fuel efficiency, Easy and stress-free ownership with long-term reliability, Comfortable ride quality suitable for elderly passengers, and good after-sales support (service centres of major brands are available within 20 km). I am considering models such as the Honda Elevate, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun/Kushaq, and similar compact SUVs. Could you please advise which would be the best choice considering space, efficiency, comfort, reliability, and long-term maintenance? Is the Honda Elevate still a good buy compared with the newer competitors? Your suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Verified
•1h

For your parents’ requirements, the Honda Elevate is still a very strong recommendation. It is a simple, reliable and easy-to-live-with SUV with a naturally aspirated petrol engine and a CVT automatic, which makes it very smooth and stress-free to drive, especially in rural and city conditions. Honda’s reputation for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs also makes it a sensible choice for ownership beyond five years.The Elevate’s ride quality is comfortable and well-suited to elderly passengers, and the seating position is upright and easy to get in and out of. This Honda car has a spacious cabin and a large boot, which will be useful for airport runs. The only drawback is that the engine is not as punchy as some turbocharged rivals, but for your parents’ usage pattern, that is not a concern.If you want something with a bit more space and a softer ride, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder mild hybrid is worth considering. It is more fuel-efficient and has a comfortable ride, but the boot is smaller. The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, with their 1.5-litre NA engines and IVT, are good choices too, offering more modern interiors, though they will cost a bit more than the Elevate.Overall, the Honda Elevate remains one of the best choices for your parents’ needs - simple, reliable, comfortable and easy to own.

VehicleHonda Elevate
VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleKia Seltos