Maruti Suzuki Victoris

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•3h

The Tata Sierra AT will not fit your Rs. 15 lakh budget. Automatic versions of the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Kia Seltos are just out of your budget but you can haggle so that you don't need to extend too much. Of the two, the Kia Seltos is the superior product. It's got a better engine and gearbox combo, packs in more feel good features (such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen and leatherette upholstery) and is significantly more spacious too. The Seltos IVT also delivers reasonable fuel economy. Maruti has a wider sales and service network but on most other fronts, the Kia comes across as the more wholesome choice.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

autocar.india

•4h

It makes sense to choose EV for your use. With 100-300 km a month and mostly city runs in Noida, you’ll top up once every 3-4 weeks at home, enjoy a quiet, effort-free drive, and spend very little on upkeep as there’s no engine, clutch or oil changes to worry about. For a “last car”, the easy driving and fewer visits to workshops matter more than squeezing every rupee of fuel saving.One honest watch-out: if your RWA won’t allow a dedicated socket, skip an EV. Public chargers are improving but still patchy, and you’ll hate planning around them. In that case, a strong hybrid like the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Maruti Suzuki Victoris or Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara gives you smooth automatic convenience and low fuel use without any charging fuss.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

autocar.india

•16m

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid automatic. In your 95% stop-go city use it returns real 20-plus kpl, glides on electric at low speeds so the drive feels smooth, and the high seat with over 200 mm clearance gives far better visibility and confidence than your Ciaz. The hybrid system is Toyota-sourced and proven; with Maruti’s wide service network, running and upkeep stay low.For a family of five, the rear bench will handle two adults and a kid in comfort most days, and the ride soaks up rough roads and speed breakers well. One honest drawback is boot space on the strong hybrid, which is smaller than the non-hybrid; on the rare highway trip, you will need to pack accordingly.If you are looking for a slightly more modern interior, then the Victoris is also a strong choice with essentially the same powertrain. There are no three-row hybrids in your price range, so a diesel is your best bet for lower running costs. Here, the Kia Carens Clavis diesel auto is a good choice, but remember you will need to make a highway trip every couple of weeks to keep the DPF healthy.Overall, if a third row is not essential, the strong hybrid Grand Vitara is the best fit.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•3d

While hybrids are a great option and do deliver maximum mileage, in your budget of Rs 20 lakh, you will only get a base model variant of the three hybrids in this price range, namely the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Grand Vitara, and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Hence, we would recommend going with a diesel, of which there are many options within your budget.If you want a larger vehicle, we would recommend the Kia Seltos diesel, which you will get in the mid-spec HTK (O) and HTX variants within your budget. It's a modern SUV with great space and comfort, and a lot of the latest features and tech. Its diesel engine is not the strongest, but it is very smooth and efficient, and can be had with a stutter-free torque converter automatic gearbox.If you don't mind a smaller car, go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO, whose diesel engine is even more powerful than the one in the Seltos. It will feel stronger out on the highway, helped by its smaller size and lighter weight. It's got a spacious cabin and a comfortable and stable ride that feels like an SUV from a segment above. Do note, however, that its boot is not that large, in case you travel with luggage frequently, and it uses an AMT-type automatic, which isn't very smooth. Best of all, however, you can get a fully loaded version within your budget.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•2d

The Kia Carens Clavis Petrol Automatic would be our recommendation. While your family consists of four members, you've specifically mentioned that your parents or in-laws do join you on trips from time to time, which means a genuinely usable third row is important. The Carens Clavis offers the best balance of space, comfort and practicality for seven occupants, while also being easy to drive and comfortable on the 400-600km trips you undertake every couple of months. With an annual running of around 8,000km, we would also avoid the diesel. Although your highway trips should help keep DPF-related issues at bay, the fuel savings are unlikely to justify the higher purchase price and complexity of a modern diesel. Given your knee discomfort, an automatic is definitely worth choosing over a manual and will make day-to-day driving far more relaxing.As for the Carens petrol's fuel efficiency, it is true that some owners report lower-than-expected figures, particularly in heavy city traffic. However, with your relatively modest annual running, we wouldn't let mileage become the deciding factor. The difference in fuel costs between the Carens petrol automatic and a more efficient alternative is unlikely to be substantial enough to outweigh the benefits of the Kia's superior space, comfort and practicality.The Ertiga Automatic remains a sensible option if value, fuel efficiency and ease of ownership are your priorities, but its safety credentials continue to be a concern. The Victoris feels more premium and offers greater comfort on long journeys, but if you genuinely expect to travel with six or seven people, the Carens Clavis is simply the more practical vehicle.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

autocar.india

•4d

Without knowing your exact requirements, it'll be hard to suggest the best one for you. Go for the Maruti Victoris strong hybrid if your driving is mostly in city traffic. It will cost far less to run than the Kia Seltos turbo petrol, and it feels calmer and smoother in stop-and-go traffic. You also get that quiet, refined drive in pure EV mode at low speeds that takes the stress out of jams.The Seltos 1.5 turbo is the better driver’s car. It feels quicker, has a stronger mid-range shove for fast overtakes, and its cabin is more high-tech and polished. But in heavy traffic, its dual-clutch automatic can feel a bit jerky, and real-world mileage won't be nearly as much as the strong hybrid.If your daily run is short-to-medium and mostly urban, pick the Victoris hybrid and don’t look back. If you do long highway trips often and enjoy a spirited drive, only then is the Seltos turbo worth choosing.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•2d

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

autocar.india

•4d

Pick the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG, in either Prestige or Monte Carlo. It’s the most fun-to-drive in your budget, with strong mid‑range power for four-up highway climbs, and a suspension that rides well on broken roads without feeling floaty. It stays stable at speed, and the steering feels natural on long drives. One honest caveat: the 7‑speed dual‑clutch can feel a bit jerky in stop‑go traffic, but your use is mostly highways, so it suits you fine.Close second is the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG. Same punchy engine and gearbox, and equally enjoyable on twisty hill roads. Between the two, buy the one that gets you the better deal or closer service centres in your city.From Renault, the new Duster turbo‑petrol DCT is a solid choice too. It’s also great on rough roads and enjoyable in the twisties with enough performance for quick highways. Its DCT uses a wet clutch compared to the dry clutch from VW/Skoda, which means shifts are smoother in the city. Wet clutch transmissions are also generally more robust than dry clutch units.Alternatively, consider the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT. It has a roomier cabin, which will be important when you are travelling four up. It isn't quite as sharp as the above competitors, but it is enjoyable with plenty of performance.If you are going to be travelling to remote locations, service availability can be scarce. If that is a concern, then include the Maruti Victoris or the Grand Vitara 1.5 petrol. They can also be had with AWD, which can be very useful on rough roads and in icy conditions.

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

autocar.india

•9h

Go with the Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXi. It is the easier, roomier family car for life with a newborn. The upright cabin, wide rear doors and higher seats make lifting the baby in and out and strapping a rear‑facing seat far simpler. The boot is larger too, so a pram and diaper bag fit easier. It also rides well over broken roads and tall speed breakers.Brezza ZXi is a bit smaller and easier to drive in the city, but it won't be as spacious on the inside.One honest catch with the Victoris is that the petrol is tuned for smoothness, not thrills, so highway performance will be adequate but not punchy.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•2d

You won’t face issues in the NA + torque-converter Grand Vitara/Victoris in normal use, but the extra weight and the auto do blunt response, so with five on board or on steep hills it will feel lazy. The 1.5 petrol makes its torque higher up the revs, and the torque converter slips a bit at low speed, so the car needs a downshift and revs to move smartly. That is why city crawl and gentle cruising are smooth, but sudden gaps or uphill overtakes need a heavier right foot and some patience.Front-wheel drive is not a problem on tarmac. It will climb most ghats fine, but expect frequent downshifts and more engine noise when loaded or at altitude. Use the manual mode or S/L on climbs to hold a lower gear, and it feels stronger.The engine is built to take the load and will not show any abnormal signs of wear, in case that's a concern for you.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris