Honda Elevate Petrol VX CVT

autocar.india

•5h

The Honda Elevate is still a very good choice for your requirements. It is a simple, reliable and easy-to-own car with a comfortable ride and a proven naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a smooth CVT automatic. For your father's usage pattern - rural town commuting, occasional city drives and airport runs - the Elevate's fuss-free ownership experience, good ground clearance and comfortable seating make it a strong contender. It is, however, a bit on the noisy side.That said, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder mild hybrid is also worth serious consideration. This Toyota car offers better fuel efficiency, a comfortable ride and Toyota's strong reputation for reliability and low maintenance. The mild hybrid system provides a noticeable efficiency advantage in mixed driving conditions, and the car is well-suited to long-term ownership. However, its back seat and boot space aren't as good as the Honda's.Between the two, the decision comes down to priorities. If you value hassle-free simplicity and a proven ownership experience, the Elevate is the safer bet. If fuel efficiency and Toyota's ownership reputation are more important, the Hyryder mild hybrid is the better choice. Both cars are well-suited to your father's needs, and you cannot go wrong with either.

Honda Elevate

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

autocar.india

•4h

Given your usage pattern of high daily running and frequent highway trips, the Honda Elevate has clearly done its job as a dependable and comfortable workhorse. That said, your need for a meaningful performance upgrade is understandable. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with the CVT is smooth and efficient, but it does start to feel underwhelming once you begin to prioritise performance and responsiveness.A logical step up on the ICE side would be the Mahindra XUV 7X0 petrol. Its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 200hp delivers a strong jump in performance, and the 6-speed automatic is far more engaging than a CVT. Overtakes are effortless, and it brings a sense of urgency that the Elevate simply cannot match. The trade-offs, however, are worth noting. It is a larger car, so it won’t feel as nimble or easy to manoeuvre in tight urban conditions, and fuel efficiency can drop into the mid-single digits, especially with enthusiastic driving.If you are open to going electric, the upgrade in performance becomes even more pronounced. The Tata Sierra EV stands out as a compelling option. Like the Elevate, it sits in the mid-size SUV space but offers significantly more performance and space. With a 0 - 100kph time of under 6 seconds, it delivers instant torque and strong, seamless acceleration, which will feel like a dramatic leap, particularly in city driving and quick overtakes. It is also shaping up to be a well-rounded EV with a usable real-world range and a ride quality suited to long highway runs.In both cases, you are looking at a clear step up in performance, but the choice really comes down to whether you want the familiarity and refuelling ease of petrol, or the instant performance and lower running costs of an electric car.

Honda Elevate

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Sierra EV

autocar.india

•7h

Yes, the Honda Elevate is a very sensible long-term ownership choice. Honda’s biggest strength is its reputation for reliability and durability, and the Elevate follows that philosophy. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is simple, proven and free from the complexity of turbocharging or hybrid systems, which makes it a low-stress ownership proposition over 8-10 years. The CVT automatic is also a reliable and smooth unit, well-suited to city driving.The Elevate is not the most feature-rich or the most exciting car in the segment, but it is a genuinely well-rounded SUV. It has a comfortable ride, good ground clearance and a spacious cabin, and Honda’s service network is strong in most major cities. The only real drawback is that the engine of this Honda car is not as punchy as some turbocharged rivals, so highway overtakes require a bit more planning, and cabin refinement is not as good as rivals.Overall, if your priority is a dependable, fuss-free car that you can keep for a long time, the Elevate is one of the best choices in the segment. It may not grab headlines, but it is exactly the kind of car that keeps owners happy for years.

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•2h

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.

Honda Elevate

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•4d

Pick the Kia Seltos IVT. Its refined 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine and the smooth CVT automatic makes it ideal for Bangalore traffic. It has enough power for your outstation drives on ghats. The Seltos also has a more premium and quieter cabin compared to the Elevate, it has more features and its a larger SUV too, so it's better suited for families. The Kia's ride is also comfortable, be it in the city or out on the highway. The Elevate CVT will be more affordable to buy and you'll also appreciate the peace of mind associated with Honda ownership. But as a package, it isn't as rounded as the Seltos. So for your use case, the Seltos IVT is the one to go for.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•6d

The biggest reason isn't the Rs 35,000 price increase, but the fact that you won't be able to take delivery for another two months and that your experience with the dealership has already left a bad impression. Buying a new car should be an exciting experience, and if the ownership journey has started on the wrong note, there's little reason to rush into it.By the time you're ready to buy again, you'll have more options to consider. The Honda Elevate facelift is expected to arrive soon, while the recently launched Nissan Tekton also looks promising. Diwali is traditionally a period when manufacturers and dealers offer attractive discounts and schemes, so you may be able to offset some or even all of the recent price increase.

Honda Elevate

Nissan Tekton

autocar.india

•1w

We'd recommend the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ Automatic. For a first-time buyer who will mostly use the car for weekend drives, occasional long road trips and relatively little weekday running, the Kylaq is the most rounded choice. It offers excellent ride and handling, feels secure at highway speeds and is enjoyable to drive without compromising on comfort.We wouldn't be overly concerned about the 1.0 TSI turbo-petrol engine. It is now a well-proven powertrain, and the 6-speed Aisin torque-converter automatic has a strong reputation for smoothness and reliability. As for maintenance, Skoda's ownership costs have become much more competitive in recent years, especially if you opt for one of its service packages.The Honda Elevate is a strong alternative if you value long-term simplicity and reliability above all else. Its naturally aspirated petrol engine and CVT are proven, easy to live with and should offer complete peace of mind, though it isn't as engaging to drive as the Kylaq.

Skoda Kylaq

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•1w

The Honda Elevate's engine is stronger, and the dynamics are slightly better. If you enjoy driving, go for the Honda. But do keep in mind that fuel efficiency won't be as strong as the Maruti, the CNG kit is fitted at the dealer level, unlike Maruti's factory-fitted unit, and boot space (like in the Grand Vitara CNG) will be compromised.If you want an efficient CNG powertrain without sacrificing boot space, then we'd recommend you opt for the Victoris CNG instead. Thanks to its tank placement beneath the boot floor, you don't sacrifice practicality, and you also get the peace of mind of a factory-fitted CNG kit.

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•1w

Pick the Hyundai Venue diesel. Your driving is mostly on the highway and hills, and the diesel pulls strongly at low revs, making climbs easier. It will also save you money on long runs thanks to far better fuel economy than a petrol car. Your highway use will also keep the DPF or diesel particulate filter running at its best. The flip side is size. The downside is that the Venue is smaller than the Elevate. The rear seat is not as spacious, and the boot capacity is also lower.If you want a more relaxed highway feel and a roomier cabin, the Honda Elevate is the comfier mile‑eater. It's simple petrol is fuss‑free to own for years, but you will downshift more on steep climbs, and your fuel bills will be higher. The automatic also feels busy uphill.Other options worth checking are the Skoda Kylaq (strong engine and fun to drive, but a touch small for rear seat occupants) and the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel. If cabin space is a key requirement, consider the Kia Syros diesel, which offers a very roomy interior.

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Skoda Kylaq

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•1w

The Hyundai i20 N Line N6 manual is a good highway car. Its tall sixth gear allows it to cruise comfortably at highway speeds while returning respectable fuel efficiency. The engine has a strong mid-range, making overtakes easy, and it feels stable at high speeds. For your use case, performance will feel noticeably dulled with four people on board, and pushing the engine harder will reduce fuel efficiency. It also suffers from a weak bottom end, so performance below 2,000rpm is not particularly strong. A full load can also leave ground clearance marginal over taller speed breakers, and the ride is on the firmer side, which passengers may find uncomfortable. While cabin space is generally good for the segment, the boot may feel tight when carrying luggage for four.The Honda Elevate has a definite advantage when it comes to space. While your family of four, all under 170cm tall, will fit comfortably in the i20, the Elevate gives them more room to stretch out, which matters on longer journeys. Its shorter gearing means performance is actually quite good for a naturally aspirated engine, but as you pointed out, it does not feel particularly relaxed at highway speeds.If you can live with the i20 N Line’s shortcomings, it is a good fit for your needs and significantly cheaper than the Elevate. Before making a decision, take your family on an extended highway test drive to see how they feel in the rear seat. As a family car, though, the Elevate is the better choice.Alternatively, consider the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI manual. It offers better highway performance than the Elevate, more space than the i20, and is one of the best-handling SUVs in its class, which you are likely to enjoy.

Hyundai i20

Honda Elevate

Skoda Kushaq