Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

If you are keen on a hybrid and can wait for 6 to 8 months, then we would recommend you do so. MG, JSW Motor and Renault will all be launching either strong and/or plug-in hybrids this year. 

As for the driving pattern, it doesn't make much of a difference if your daily runs vary, as you have indicated, from 10 to 100 km. An important factor when considering a hybrid is simply how many kilometres you would drive in its time with you. 

If you are going to keep the car for a long time, like 4 years and would on average have a running of about 1800km per month. In the case of something like a Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, a strong hybrid over the regular engine makes sense. As for plug-in hybrids, you'll have to wait to see the pricing difference and figure out if it works for you.      

Currently, Honda has no plans to introduce an Elevate Hybrid. Instead, it is focusing on its fully electric 0 Alpha SUV, which is poised to launch next year. If a hybrid is what you want, then your current options in this segment are limited to the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara/Toyota Hyryder and the Maruti Victoris. Renault has plans to introduce a hybrid version of the upcoming Duster, which should arrive around Diwali this year.

If a hybrid is not a priority, then take a look at the new Kia Seltos. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine and CVT combination is a close match for the Elevate and works very well in the city. It is also more spacious, with comfortable seats at the front and rear, and has good NVH levels.

The Hyundai Creta King is a good choice. It is a well-rounded SUV that offers a comfortable ride, a spacious cabin, and a refined petrol engine. The IVT (automatic) is smooth and responsive. Being a popular model, you can expect good resale value in the future. 

The Grand Vitara is also a good option, but it is not as spacious as the Creta. Hence, long distance comfort could be hampered.

The top-spec Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha Plus is well-equipped, and the extremely efficient hybrid powertrain will be ideal for your usage. The asking price of Rs 16 lakh for a 2022 model with 66,000km on the odometer is on the higher side. We would recommend you negotiate the price down to around Rs 14 lakh. 

Also, you need to factor in an additional Rs 30,000-40,000 (depending on the brand you opt for) for a new set of tyres. Since your usage is primarily on the highway, we'd advise you to replace the tyres immediately after taking delivery.

Since your annual driving isn't all that high, it would be sensible to buy a petrol SUV. A diesel, or strong hybrid, makes sense if you end up driving a lot more to save on fuel cost and offset the premium you pay during purchase. 

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara would be a good option to consider since it will tick the boxes you want. It is easy to drive and comfortable over Indian roads, has a good boot, and the 1.5-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid tech is efficient too. 

In comparison to its rivals, the Grand Vitara returns better fuel efficiency. Being a Maruti, it has a good reach of service centres and spares available at an affordable cost, and if you do end up on tricky roads often, there is also the AllGrip version that gets AWD for better traction and grip. 

If not, the Alpha (O) trim is the top-spec and is generous with features and equipment. 

The Hyundai Creta IVT is the best pick of the three models on your shortlist. It's got the smoothest gearbox, and engine performance is also significantly better than the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara AT and Victoris AT. Fuel economy is decent too, and should not pinch over your 5000-6000km of annual usage.

What also strengthens the Creta's case is that it's more spacious than the Maruti Suzuki models.

However, we'd also recommend checking the Kia Seltos IVT. As you may know, the Seltos and Creta are closely related products. The recently-launched second-gen Seltos is built on the Hyundai Group's latest platform (the Creta continues on the last-gen platform). IIt comes with better tech as well as the promise of better safety. The new Seltos is also roomier than the Creta, making it better suited to family use.   

1 lakh kilometres is significant mileage and speaks volumes about the durability of the Fiat-sourced MultiJet diesel in your Maruti Suzuki S-Cross. It also reflects Maruti Suzuki’s reputation for reliability. That said, once the odometer crosses 100,000km, you are entering a phase where wear-and-tear components, suspension, clutch, injectors, turbo, etc., start demanding attention. 

Also, since the S-Cross is now discontinued and was never a high-volume model, sourcing certain parts in the long term could become more time-consuming or expensive. On balance, this is a reasonable time to consider switching.

Given your positive ownership experience, staying with Maruti makes sense. The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is a strong option. The strong-hybrid variant, around the Rs 20 lakh mark, will deliver very low running costs. It is possibly even better in city use than your current diesel, which suits your 60 per cent urban driving pattern. It should also give you the same easy ownership experience you’re used to.

If you prefer sticking with diesel for highway efficiency and torque, the Hyundai Creta diesel is a very good alternative. It offers a more spacious rear seat than the Grand Vitara and a more usable boot, since the Grand Vitara's hybrid battery slightly eats into luggage space. For a family of four with a mix of city and highway use, both are sensible upgrades within your Rs 20 lakh budget.