Hyundai cars in India (13)

autocar.india

•4h

With a daily commute of just 6 km and a budget of up to Rs 20 lakh, you are in a very comfortable position. Your usage is low, so fuel savings from a hybrid or EV will take a very long time to justify the premium. A petrol car is the most sensible choice for your usage pattern, especially since you plan to use it as a family car. In cars under 20 Lakh, you will get a midsize petrol SUV, but only a compact EV - and only a few base-model hybrids.There is no major reason to wait. The current crop of cars offers a vast and varied choice, and there are no imminent launches in your budget that would fundamentally change your options. In terms of what to buy, we would recommend looking at the Kia Seltos or the Hyundai Creta. Both are excellent all-rounders with strong petrol engines, comfortable cabins and a good balance of features and value. The Seltos is larger and slightly more premium, and is the one we would lean towards. You can get a high-ish variant comfortably within your budget.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

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Go for a new Nissan Magnite, at your Rs. 10 lakh budget, you will get a decently equipped variant. As a sub-4 meter SUV, you will find the car easy to manage within the city and on the highway. The suspension delivers a stable ride, making it a confident cruiser. This is something you will appreciate on your twice-a-year long drive. You can also consider the Hyundai Exter. This Hyundai car is smaller in size, but that would make it a bit easier to park, and it's also more refined and within your budget, you will get a variant with all the basic features.

Nissan Magnite

Hyundai Exter

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Since you're open to electric cars, get the Hyundai Creta Electric. It is a fantastic, well-rounded EV that'll easily fall into your budget. Performance is very smooth and effortless, and there's ample power on tap. Coming from an i20, the Creta Electric will feel like a natural upgrade within the Hyundai family.In case you're keen on diesels, you could opt for the new Kia Seltos, which feels thoroughly modern, spacious, and its engine delivers impressive fuel efficiency. For outright performance, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel remains unmatched - power delivery feels strong, and even though it won't be as efficient as the Kia, it will still return decent fuel efficiency given its size and power.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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An ideal upgrade from your Santro is the Hyundai i20 IVT, which is powered by a refined 1.2-litre petrol engine that's mated to a smooth and seamless automatic transmission. This Hyundai car is spacious, feature-rich and feels like a huge step up over your outgoing car. And it will easily fit your Rs 10-12 lakh budget.However, since you've mentioned that you want a car of a similar size to the Santro, we'd advise you to opt for the Grand i10 Nios instead. It is more compact in size than an i20, which makes it easier to drive and manage. It is powered by the same engine as the i20, although it's mated to an AMT, which gets you the convenience of an automatic, but is not as smooth as the i20's transmission. Also, the Grand i10 is much more affordable than the i20, and even though it has fewer features, it has almost all the features that you'd use daily.In summary, the Nios is a sophisticated, compact replacement for the Santro that'll cost you between Rs 8-9.5 lakhs, but if you're looking to upgrade, then the i20 IVT is the one to go for, that's priced between Rs 10-12 lakh (on-road).

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

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•5h

For mostly city driving with a budget of around Rs 10 lakh on-road, the Hyundai i20 1.2 IVT is the best upgrade from your current i10. It is easy to manoeuvre in traffic, the smooth CVT auto keeps running costs reasonable, and Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. Though a mid-spec variant is what you'll get on your budget, the car is also decently equipped for the price, and the 1.2 petrol engine is smooth and reliable for daily city use.The other CVT available at this price is the Honda Amaze CVT, and here, too, you will get a mid-spec variant that is decently equipped. The sedan body style will feel like an upgrade from your i10, and offers more interior space and a bigger boot. The engine is more powerful and fun to drive than Hyundai's 1.2 petrol, and is also incredibly fuel-efficient.If you want an SUV body style, check out the Nissan Magnite, though, at your budget, you might have to settle for the naturally aspirated petrol with the AMT gearbox, and not the turbocharged engine with the CVT gearbox. Overall, however, we think the Hyundai car is the best upgrade for you.

Honda Amaze

Hyundai i20

Nissan Magnite

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You could consider the Hyundai Venue Turbo-Petrol DCT, which is a well-rounded car. The powertrain is smooth, performance is adequate, and with light controls and good visibility, it is rather easy to drive. Additionally, it is spacious and feature-rich, with the sunroof you're looking for. The real-world Hyundai Venue mileage in the city goes up to 11.5kpl and 16kpl on the highways. These fuel efficiency figures are quite decent for this segment.If you want a car with a bigger sunroof, look at the Kia Syros. It has the largest panoramic sunroof in the compact SUV segment. It is surprisingly spacious, and it shares its turbo-petrol DCT powertrain with the Venue.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

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The width of your parking space is 8ft, which is about 2.44 metres. That is quite tight for most modern cars, especially with the mirrors open. For example, a typical midsize SUV like the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta is around 1.8 metres wide without mirrors, and with mirrors open, the width can go up to around 2.1 metres. With an 8ft width, you'll have very little clearance on either side, especially if you need to open the doors, so you'll need to park close to the passenger-side wall to have enough space for the driver to open the door and enter/exit. The good news is that most modern cars have electrically folding mirrors, so you can fold them in before entering the parking space. With mirrors folded, the width drops back to the body width, which is usually around 1.8 metres for most SUVs and 1.7 metres for smaller hatchbacks and sedans. If you want a car that is genuinely easy to park in an 8ft space, you should look at smaller hatchbacks like the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios or Tata Tiago. These are around 1.7 metres wide with mirrors folded and will give you more breathing room. The key is to make sure the car you choose has electrically folding mirrors and to get into the habit of folding them before entering the parking space.

Kia Seltos

Tata Tiago

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Maruti Suzuki Swift

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•1h

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

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•2d

Based on your usage, the Hyundai Creta petrol IVT is the most sensible upgrade from your Swift. Your daily running is low, and your highway trips are occasional, so a petrol engine is the most cost-effective and hassle-free option. The IVT automatic is smooth in city traffic and reliable over the long term, which aligns well with your low-maintenance priority. The Creta also offers a generous boot, making it a practical choice for your outstation trips.A hybrid does not make financial sense in your case. Your running is not high enough to justify the additional cost, and the fuel savings would take a long time to recover. The Creta petrol IVT strikes the right balance between comfort, practicality and ownership costs, making it the best fit for your requirements.

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Swift

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You have bought the right car for your original usage, and you do not need to worry about the DCT in the Venue N6. Modern DCTs are far more robust than older units, and Hyundai cars have significantly improved over years. Even in Bangalore traffic, the transmission is designed to handle stop-and-go conditions without overheating under normal use. As a preventive measure though, shift to neutral and hold the brake when the vehicle is at a standstill for a long while, rather than leaving it in 'D'. Also, on an incline, use the brakes to hold the car rather than letting it inch forward. These small steps should ensure good health for your transmission, and chances of overheating will minimize.A CVT would have been the better choice if your usage was almost entirely city traffic, as it is smoother at low speeds. But for your mix of highway and city driving, the DCT is the better all-rounder. You have made a good choice, and there is no need to second-guess it.

Hyundai Venue