Upcoming Honda cars in India (4)

Autocar India

•18h

For a family of five under Rs. 16 lakh, the Honda Elevate is one of the strongest value for money options right now. It is well priced, offers a spacious cabin, a genuinely usable rear seat for three and Honda’s reliability reputation makes it an easy family car recommendation. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and dependable, though it is not the most exciting if outright performance matters.If you want something that feels more premium and more refined overall, the Hyundai Creta is a great option. It has a richer cabin, better feature set and feels more polished as an everyday family car. It is one of the most rounded choices in this segment.The new Kia Seltos is another strong contender and in some ways feels even more premium than the Creta. It has a spacious cabin, good comfort and a strong overall package, making it a very easy recommendation if you want something that feels a bit more upmarket.

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•19h

The new City facelift does make a stronger case now because Honda has added genuinely useful features like a larger infotainment screen and ventilated front seats, while pricing has remained fairly sensible. But fundamentally, the character of the car has not changed.Against the VW Virtus, the choice still comes down to personality. The Virtus is the more fun to drive option, especially with the turbo petrol engines, because it feels stronger, more eager and more engaging from behind the wheel. The City, on the other hand, is the more balanced sedan. The 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol is smooth, refined and easy to live with, but if outright performance is your priority, it will not feel as quick as the turbo Virtus. The City hybrid changes that equation because it is genuinely quick and can match the 1.5 TSI for straight line pace, but it is still not what you would call an enthusiast’s car.On the fuel front, yes, it is safe to buy a petrol car in Delhi NCR. Current mainstream petrol cars are already E20 compatible, and even if India eventually pushes toward higher ethanol blends, that transition will be gradual rather than an overnight switch. Beyond a certain point, if the country were to move meaningfully toward very high blends like E85, manufacturers would need proper flex fuel engines engineered for that fuel, and the government would also need to continue offering lower blend fuel options during any transition.

Volkswagen Virtus

Honda City

Autocar India

•1d

Based on your priorities, the Hyundai i20 IVT would be our first recommendation. The IVT automatic is one of the smoothest gearboxes in this price range and is exactly the kind of transmission you should be looking at if you want a completely jerk-free city driving experience. The i20 also feels genuinely premium inside, with good cabin quality, solid feature content and in your budget, you can stretch to a well-equipped Asta variant with features like the Bose audio system and a nicely finished interior. Hyundai’s reliability and ownership experience also make it an easy long-term recommendation.If by build quality you specifically mean a stronger crash test safety proposition, then the Honda Amaze CVT is also worth serious consideration. Its CVT is equally smooth, Honda’s long-term reliability is excellent, and it feels like a sensible 10-year ownership choice. It may not feel as premium inside as the i20, but from a pure, dependable ownership perspective, it is a very strong alternative.

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

Autocar India

•2d

Short answer: there is no official plan to bring the CR-V back to India right now, CBU or otherwise. Honda has not announced a relaunch, and dealers aren’t taking bookings.About the ZR-V, Honda is importing a few units under the 2,500-car rule to gauge interest in out market, and it's set to be unveiled today. A CBU ZR-V would be niche and pricey due to taxes, likely in the Rs 40-50 lakh range.Honda’s current focus in India is on higher volume mass market models and its first EV that's set to arrive next year.

Honda ZR-V

Autocar India

•3d

With a Rs. 20 lakh budget and your usage pattern, the Volkswagen Virtus GT 1.5 DSG automatic suits you better. The strong 1.5 turbo engine pulls cleanly for quick overtakes which makes highway drives fun. It stays steady at speed, and the comfy front seats as well as spacious boot work well for long trips. In the city, the automatic gearbox helps make driving in traffic easy and the car does not feel big to place or park either.Two things to note. The dual‑clutch automatic doesn't feel as smooth in slow speed traffic as a torque‑converter or a CVT. Also, the rear seat is not as spacious as the Elevate, so the Virtus is best for four adults.If long-term peace of mind is your priority over fun-to-drive, the Honda Elevate automatic is the safer pick. It is easy to drive in town, rides well on bad roads, and Honda ownership is simple, but the engine feels more sedate in comparison.

Honda Elevate

Volkswagen Virtus

Autocar India

•3d

For your usage, we would recommend an automatic, and specifically the Skoda Kylaq Classic+ torque converter automatic, if you want a compact SUV.Its 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine paired with a proper 6-speed torque converter automatic offers a far smoother and more natural driving experience than AMT-based rivals. Plus, as a first-time buyer with mostly city driving, that smoothness and ease will matter far more than chasing a manual. The Skoda Kylaq is also priced to fit within your budget in this trim and carries a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze CVT remains a superb option. Its CVT is exceptionally smooth in traffic; it is easy to drive, comfortable, and very beginner-friendly.We would avoid manuals here unless you specifically enjoy driving one, because with low monthly running and city-heavy use, the convenience of an automatic will make ownership much easier.

Skoda Kylaq

Honda Amaze

Autocar India

•3d

Given your specific requirements and budget, you should consider the Honda Elevate V MT. It comes with a simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with four cylinders. It feels smooth and easy to drive in traffic and has enough punch for those rare highway runs. The higher seat offers a good view out, and the good ground clearance makes dealing with bad roads easy, while its size is still friendly for city parking. Rear space is good, the backrest angle is comfortable, and the entry to the cabin isn't very high, all of which your parents will appreciate.However, if your parents’ comfort takes top priority, the Kia Carens Premium 1.5 petrol is the alternative to consider for its reclining and sliding second row and softer ride. It’s easier for elders to get in and out, but it's harder to park.

Honda Elevate

Kia Carens

Autocar India

•3d

Being a Fiat Punto Evo owner, you're likely to lean towards the Citroen Aircross for its outstanding ride-handling balance, overall comfort, and its strong turbo-petrol powertrain. Fundamentally, it is excellent, and with the new interiors and feature set, it does make you feel like you've spent your money well. The only downside and perhaps the biggest deal-breaker for many is that its sales and support network is limited, compared to other brands. But if you have a Citroen touchpoint close to you, this is a car you must surely consider.In comparison, the Honda Elevate will be a more conventional option. What's nice is that its ride quality and long-distance comfort are quite good too, and its 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol engine delivers strong performance.

Citroen Aircross

Honda Elevate

Autocar India

•2d

Mostly city use with 400km weekend runs and a Rs. 17 lakh cap - the Honda Elevate automatic is the best fit. It uses a simple, non-turbo petrol engine and a seamless CVT automatic, which keeps long-term reliability and upkeep closer to your Swift. In town, it is easy and quiet, and on highways, it holds speed well and gives you steady, safe overtakes. The high seating position, ground clearance and space mean your family will not feel like it’s a step down from the Volkswagen Virtus.Trade-offs: It won’t feel as quick as a turbo car when fully loaded, and the cabin is more functional than fancy.For a bit more size and brand trust, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder automatic is a good pick, though your budget will limit you to one of the lower trims, which might not feel as premium on the inside. If you prefer a more modern interior, also consider the Kia Seltos IVT.Overall, the Elevate is a good fit for your needs.

Honda Elevate

Volkswagen Virtus

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•5d

Go for the new Maruti Suzuki Dzire. It is the most well-rounded choice in this budget with a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating, a comfortable ride, spacious cabin, genuinely usable boot and very easy city manners thanks to its light clutch and effortless controls. It also feels premium enough inside for the price.The one trade-off is the new 3-cylinder petrol engine. It is impressively efficient, but if refinement and outright performance matter to you, it is not as smooth or punchy as a good 4-cylinder petrol.If that matters, the Honda Amaze is the alternative worth considering. Its 4-cylinder petrol engine feels smoother and more refined, though the Dzire is the more comfortable and better-rounded package overall.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Honda Amaze