Honda Elevate Petrol ADV Edition MT

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Of your shortlist, it comes down to the Honda Elevate, Maruti Suzuki Victoris/Grand Vitara, or Toyota Hyryder, and finally the Kia Seltos.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is simply not practical enough for the money, and its ride isn't suitable for touring. The Sierra's 1.5 NA petrol is its weakest engine, and the diesel is expensive, and between the Creta and Seltos, we'd pick the newer Seltos as it is more modern, larger and more spacious. And though we would recommend using the official service outlets, if you are interested in servicing the vehicle yourself, the naturally aspirated petrol manual is the best bet. The good news is that all these cars will fall comfortably within your budget, too.The Maruti and Toyota SUVs are superbly reliable and incredibly efficient, though rear-seat space is not as good as the others. The power figure is not great either, and though sufficient in the city, for your highway touring use, you might feel it wanting slightly.The Kia Seltos' 1.5-litre petrol engine produces slightly more power, but the vehicle is also heavier, so it does not feel dramatically quicker on the highway. It is larger than the others, though, offering noticeably more cabin space, better interior quality and a stronger feature list. While it costs roughly Rs 1.5 lakh more in higher trims, you do get more for your money.In terms of outright value, though, the Honda Elevate strikes the best balance. It is more spacious than the Maruti/Toyota, cheaper than the Seltos, and has the most powerful engine, which is also fuel-efficient and legendarily reliable. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC remains tractable at low speeds as well as strong enough on the highway. It is also backed by solid ride and handling dynamics. Downsides are that refinement isn't as good as the others, and even in top-spec guise, the feature set is not as good, though you do get the essentials. We would recommend the Honda over the others for your needs.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

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The Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol IVT would be the recommendation here. Since you've enjoyed the refinement and smoothness of the Amaze's petrol engine and CVT, the Seltos feels like a natural upgrade. The IVT automatic is smooth in city traffic, the cabin feels significantly more premium and the higher ground clearance means you won't have to worry about scraping the underbody or damaging the oil sump on rough roads. It also offers a comfortable ride and a much more feature-rich cabin than your current car.If you'd prefer to stay within the Honda family, the Honda Elevate CVT is also worth considering. It offers excellent ground clearance, a comfortable ride and Honda's reputation for reliability. However, compared to the Kia car, the engine and transmission combination doesn't feel quite as refined, and the cabin lacks the premium feel and feature-rich experience of the Seltos.

Kia Seltos

Honda Amaze

Honda Elevate

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Your choice of a Linea suggests that you enjoy a fun-to-drive sedan. If that is the case, then consider the Skoda Slavia or Volkswagen Virtus with the 1.0 TSI automatic combination. The smooth torque-converter automatic makes city life easy, and the engine has enough performance for highway driving too. Under the skin, both sedans are largely identical, so choosing between them comes down to which design you prefer and which brand has a more convenient service centre near you. Alternatively, the updated Honda City is a solid choice that is easy to live with and a good long-term proposition. If you want to move into an SUV, consider the Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT or the Honda Elevate CVT. Both are solid choices for long-term ownership and feel spacious on the inside. An SUV will also be easier to get in and out of, and the elevated driving position makes it easier to manoeuvre in the city.

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

Honda City

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

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The Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI Automatic would be the top recommendations here.Since your usage is predominantly on highways, the strengths of these two SUVs align very well with your requirements. Both feel stable and confidence-inspiring at higher speeds, offer comfortable ride quality and have strong safety credentials. Their turbo-petrol engines deliver a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency, while the new 8-speed automatic transmission should further improve efficiency and drivability. They also represent a substantial upgrade over the Wagon R in terms of refinement, comfort and long-distance cruising ability.Another strong option is the Honda Elevate CVT. It may not feel as sporty or engaging to drive as the Skoda and Volkswagen twins, but it excels in comfort, reliability and ease of ownership. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and proven, while maintenance costs are likely to be among the lowest in the segment.

Volkswagen Taigun

Skoda Kushaq

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

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The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Automatic would be the recommendation here.Since your usage is predominantly on highways, the Kushaq's strengths align very well with your requirements. It feels stable and confidence-inspiring at higher speeds, offers a comfortable ride, has strong safety credentials, and its turbo-petrol engine delivers a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency. It also feels like a substantial upgrade from the Hyundai Grand i10 that you own currently in terms of refinement, comfort and long-distance ability.Another strong option is the Honda Elevate CVT. It may not feel as sporty as the Skoda, but it excels in comfort, reliability and ease of ownership. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and proven, while maintenance costs are likely to be among the lowest in the segment.

Skoda Kushaq

Honda Elevate

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From your shortlist, we would pick the Honda Elevate V manual. For a growing family with two elders, its higher seat, wide door opening and upright rear bench make getting in and out easy, and it has good interior space and a big boot for luggage on trips. The smooth, reliable and strong 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol and manual are proven, and should be relatively hassle free for 8-10 years, and it has good ground clearance too.The next best option is the Syros, whose space efficient design gives it surprising room for a sub-four-metre vehicle. Ingress and egress are good too, which will be helpful for your elder passengers, and the HTK+ variant will get you more features than the Elevate V. However, its engines, while stronger, aren't as smooth or hassle free as the Honda's 1.5, and will cost more in maintenance over time. Plus, its suspension and ride quality are quite firm, which will be bothersome over time.The Fronx and Amaze are excellent vehicles in their own right, but for a family of four, they just don't offer as much space and practicality as the others, and thus we'd skip them. All things considered, the Honda Elevate V MT suits your needs best.

Honda Elevate

Honda Amaze

Kia Syros

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

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Consider the Hyundai Venue HX5+ with the 1.2 petrol manual. It fits comfortably in your budget, has a spacious and comfortable back seat and gets features like rear AC vents and a rear window sunshade. If you'd like, and even a roomier rear seat, the Kia Syros is a great choice, but it only comes with the turbo petrol, which will be slightly less fuel efficient.Stretching your budget to Rs 14 lakh gets you options from the midsize SUV segment. Among these, the Kia Seltos and the Honda Elevate 1.5 petrol manuals are strong choices. The will be roomier than the Venue, with more comfortable rear seats, and will be relatively fuel efficient in the city. However, your budget will get you the lower-end trims, which may lack some features. Alternatively, you could consider the Honda City.Overall, for your budget, the Venue is a great fit.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

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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

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Pick the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT. In Delhi traffic, it feels easy and calm, the automatic is smooth, the steering is light, and the ride takes broken patches and speed breakers without fuss. For the odd family highway trip, it has a roomy back seat and a large boot, and it feels stable at speed, so everyone stays comfortable.Your running is low, so petrol makes sense, and you avoid the complications that can come with diesel ownership. The 1.5-litre petrol with the IVT suits stop-go use better than the quicker turbo options, and it fits your budget comfortably, depending on the variant. Expect about 10-11kpl in the city and 14kpl on the highway.One thing to know: this automatic feels relaxed rather than fast when you press on, and the engine can sound a bit vocal if you really floor it. If you want something with a touch more performance, then the Honda Elevate CVT is also worth a look, but the Seltos is the nicer all-rounder for family use.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

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The Kia Seltos HTK(O) 1.5 Petrol CVT would be the pick here. It feels more premium than the Elevate, offers a comfortable ride and the smooth CVT suits everyday driving extremely well.As for performance, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol is essentially the same engine that powers your Creta. If you are happy with your current car's performance, there is no reason to worry about the Seltos feeling underpowered. It may not be the quickest SUV in the segment, but it is smooth, refined and well-suited to relaxed driving.The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 AT feels punchier in the mid-range and is more enjoyable to drive, but the Seltos is the more rounded package overall. The Honda Elevate CVT is comfortable and practical, though it does not feel as premium inside.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq