I am considering purchasing a new car within a ₹20 lakh budget and am confused between the Mahindra XUV700, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, and Grand Vitara. While I am inclined towards the XUV700, I have concerns regarding its fuel efficiency and boot space. Could you please advise on which car would be the best fit for my needs? I am feeling quite puzzled.

Autocar India

•1d

The Grand Vitara and Victoris are essentially the same car - they share the same platform, powertrain options, feature-set, and several other components. What differentiates them is their styling, both inside and out. The Victoris gets lighter interiors, while the Grand Vitara petrol gets a relatively darker cabin. Also, while the Grand Vitara is sold through the Nexa sales network, the Victoris is sold via the more widespread Arena channel. At the end of the day, pick the car whose design and interior colour appeals to you more. You could also consider the better deal and choose the one that's giving you more value for money. Whichever option you pick, you won't go wrong.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•2d

Pick the Maruti Victoris CNG over the Grand Vitara CNG. For your Rs. 15 lakh on-road budget and mostly city running, the Victoris VXi fits comfortably within budget, and it gets a dual underfloor CNG tank setup, which gives it a much more usable boot than the Grand Vitara.The downside is that the Victoris does not come with a spare tyre. However, you can buy one as a dealer accessory and carry it in the boot on longer journeys if needed.If you need other accessories, Maruti usually offers a long list of dealer-fit options. These are definitely preferable to aftermarket parts, which can sometimes affect your warranty coverage.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

•2d

Go for the Hyundai Creta because your 70% highway use and family of five will benefit most from its space, calm cruising and real-world efficiency. The 1.5 NA petrol with the automatic is smooth, stress-free and proven reliable, and the Creta’s big cabin and boot make family trips easy. Real-world mileage should be good too, and maintenance should be relatively low. In your budget, you should be able to get the mid-range S (O) CVT. Coming from a Maruti Jimny AT, you’ll love the greater refinement, more comfortable ride and stronger high-speed performance.From Maruti Suzuki, there are the Grand Vitara and Victoris, which are both excellent options too. Great mileage, smooth gearboxes and exceptional reliability, but for a family of five, space in the back seat isn't as good as the Creta, and the 105hp 1.5-litre petrol can feel overwhelmed under heavy load, especially on the highway, where you do 70% of your driving. Honda's 1.5-litre petrol in Elevate doesn't have this issue, but compared to the Creta, space and comfort aren't quite as good, and it lacks the same wow factor. However, if you don't mind a sedan, the City is a more compelling choice.Overall, though you won't get it in a higher variant with as many features as others, we feel the Creta is the best all-rounder for the money.

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Honda Elevate