Honda cars in India (8)

Autocar India

•3h

Pick Honda Amaze VX MT. For your parents’ age and your low monthly running with a driver, it is the most comfortable choice from your shortlist within this budget and will feel like a nice upgrade from the Tiago.Compared to your Tata Tiago, the Amaze will feel roomier in the back, the seat is wider, and the ride is calmer over bumps. The door opening is large, and the seat height is friendly, so getting in and out is easy for 60-year-olds. The petrol engine is smooth and quiet in the city, and since a driver will handle the gears, a manual transmission works fine. It also offers great build quality and a large boot, and Honda cars are reliable and long-lasting.Pick the Maruti Suzuki Baleno if a longer features list matters more, as you'll get a higher variant at this price. Maruti’s service network is the widest, which helps for long-term ownership and easy parts availability almost anywhere.When you test drive, let your parents sit in the back, do a few speed breakers and rough patches, and check how easy it is for them to step in and out. That will make the choice clear.

Honda Amaze

Tata Tiago

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Autocar India

•5h

You should consider the Honda Elevate ZX CVT. Coming from your Honda City, you'll appreciate the familiarity when it comes to the drive experience and after-sales service. It gets a peppy 1.5-litre petrol engine that's paired to a smooth CVT automatic gearbox, which makes it easy and stress-free to drive. The Elevate also has a comfy rear seat, and getting in/out of the cabin is easy, which your parents will appreciate. The Honda also feels composed going over broken roads and at highway speeds. Alternatively, you can even consider the Hyundai Creta SX IVT, which offers a smoother drive and a more refined cabin.

Honda Elevate

Honda City

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•1h

The Skoda Kushaq 1.0-litre turbo-petrol with the 8-speed automatic transmission is a fun-to-drive mid-size SUV that you can replace your Maruti S-Cross with. Its compact size makes it ideal for 2 adults and 2 kids, and the Classic+ variant will fall within your Rs 16 lakh budget, and it has most of the features listed, except a rear parking camera. You can also consider a Honda Elevate V CVT, which will be very easy to maintain and is fun to drive.With your Rs 6 lakh budget, though, you will only be able to get entry-level variants of the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios or mid variants of a Maruti Celerio and Tata Tiago. Between the three, the Nios has the nicest interior, while the Celerio's engine will be more efficient. Do keep in mind that neither of the three cars will be as fun to drive as your Brio. So, if your car is in good condition, you should retain it.

Skoda Kushaq

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Tata Tiago

Honda Elevate

Autocar India

•2d

If dependability and fuss-free ownership are your top priorities, the Honda Elevate CVT remains the safer choice, backed by Honda’s strong reputation for reliability and longevity. It’s a simple, well-sorted SUV that’s easy to live with, especially for largely urban usage.That said, given your focus on long highway trips, the Renault Duster might actually serve you better on the open road. Its 1.3‑litre turbo‑petrol engine is punchy and well‑suited to highway cruising, and the ride quality is distinctly more mature and composed at higher speeds. Compared to the Elevate, the Duster feels more planted, and cabin insulation is noticeably better, while the Elevate’s CVT can get noisy when driven hard.Your concerns about Renault’s patchy service network and the long‑term reliability of its DCT are valid, but they may not be deal‑breakers if the new Duster delivers on its promise. If Renault manages to reinvigorate its dealer ecosystem, ownership experience could see a marked improvement.

Honda Elevate

Renault Duster

Autocar India

•7h

Go ahead with the Honda Amaze VX CVT; it is a very good choice for your needs. The CVT is seamless in operation, very user-friendly, and the cabin is quite spacious for its class. The steering is light, the controls are easy, and visibility is good, so low-speed traffic and parking are simple. The ride is comfortable on most roads, and the boot is large enough for luggage on the occasional highway trip. With only about 500km a month, a petrol automatic like this makes the most sense, and Honda’s service reach and long-term reliability add peace of mind.One thing to be aware of: fuel efficiency isn’t as good as its main rival, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. In our real-world testing, the Amaze managed 13.28kpl (combined), while the Dzire delivered 15.41kpl (combined). If that is a priority, then consider the Dzire instead, but do note you will be getting an AMT, which is inferior to the Amaze’s CVT.Overall, the Amaze VX CVT fits your brief best. On the test drive, focus on seat comfort, how easy it is to get in and out, and how smoothly it moves at very low speeds.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Autocar India

•4d

Pick the Honda City CVT, given how happy you are with your 2012 City. The CVT is smooth and makes city drives convenient and effortless and on the highway the City feels calm and comfy, and its large boot makes long trips easy. Service is familiar and reliable, and Honda’s 1.5 petrol is proven for reliability, so it should give you the same fuss-free experience as your old City. One thing to be aware of: when you press the accelerator hard for a quick overtake, you will feel the CVT's 'rubber band effect'. If you want a higher seating position and easier entry to the cabin, look at the Honda Elevate CVT instead. It rides over bad roads better and the view out is great, but the boot is smaller. It's not advisable to wait for the next‑gen City unless you’re okay waiting without a clear date. If you’re curious about a hybrid today, check the City e:HEV.

Honda City

Autocar India

•6d

Go for the Honda Elevate V CVT - for 3,000 km a month in city traffic and a Rs 15 lakh budget, it will be the smoothest and least-stress upgrade from your Amaze. You’ll feel right at home with the familiar Honda driving manners, light steering and clear view out. The CVT is seamless in operation and will make your daily commutes easier. Given how well your Amaze has served you, Honda’s long-life engines and simple ownership should appeal for the next few years, too.One thing to be aware of: the CVT does have that typical rubber band effect when you push the engine hard, and the cabin isn't quite as premium as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Pick the Kia Seltos HTE instead if you can stretch a bit for a plusher cabin, extra features and a slightly quieter, more cushioned city drive.On the test drive, drive in heavy traffic for 10 minutes and do a few tight parking moves - that will show you which one feels easier day to day.

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•5d

Go for the Kia Sonet HTX diesel manual for your 50-70 km a day with mostly city use, as it keeps fuel bills low like your Honda Amaze diesel. But feels like a clear step up in terms of comfort, features and safety.In stop-go traffic, the Sonet diesel pulls cleanly from low speeds, so you do not need to shift gears as often, and the clutch is light, which makes daily driving fairly easy. The higher seating position gives a better view out, and getting in and out is also easy. It is still small enough to park without stress, but the cabin feels nicer and more solid, and highway runs are relaxed thanks to the strong mid-range of the diesel engine. Kia’s network is wide now in most cities, and upkeep has been reasonable for owners in this price range.A couple of things to be aware of. The back seat is not very wide, so three adults will feel tight on longer trips. Also, like all new diesels, it has a particulate filter, which requires you to run a regeneration cycle periodically.If you prefer Hyundai’s aftersales and a slightly softer ride, the Hyundai Venue diesel manual is a good alternative. If your priority is the lowest running cost, look at the Maruti Victoris CNG.

Kia Sonet

Honda Amaze

Hyundai Venue

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•1w

The Honda Amaze CVT is a great option for you for several reasons. For one, it's got a powerful AC unit as well as rear AC vents, which together do a great job of cooling the relatively compact cabin quickly. It's got a 416-litre boot that's well shaped and can accommodate quite a lot of luggage. While it doesn't have a surround camera like its rival, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, it does have a pretty crisp rear-view camera and rear parking sensors. Also, its compact dimensions, large mirrors, and good general outward visibility mean parking is not a chore.It's uncertain what may have caused the wobbling you've experienced while overtaking at high speeds, or in which car, but that won't be an issue here. The Amaze's 1.2-litre petrol is smooth, as is its CVT automatic, which is a highlight in this segment. The chassis and suspension are robust and work well both in the city and out on the highway. You could also consider the Maruti Dzire, which has good space and features, but its AMT gearbox is nowhere near as smooth as the Honda's CVT.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Autocar India

•5d

Go for the Honda Elevate VX CVT - for your needs, it is the easiest upgrade from your Maruti Suzuki WagonR and the most practical for daily use. The seat is higher than a regular car but not too high, so it is easier to get in and out without climbing. The rear seat is spacious and comfortable, the doors open wide, and the floor is relatively flat, which helps. The boot is big and square, so a folded wheelchair fits cleanly. The CVT is also seamless in operation and will feel like a big upgrade over the AMT in your Wagon R.One thing to be aware of: the boot lip will be a bit higher than your WagonR's, so you lift the wheelchair a little more while loading.If you often carry more people or want a lower loading height for the wheelchair, look at the Maruti XL6. It has very easy step-in and comfy captain seats in the middle row. But you will likely need the third row folded to keep the wheelchair in the boot.When you test drive, carry the folded wheelchair and try loading it, and have your mother step in and out of the rear seat to check the height and support.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki XL6