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-   -   Used XL6 vs Honda WR-V vs Maruti S-Cross as my first car? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/suvs-muvs-4x4s/257179-used-xl6-vs-honda-wr-v-vs-maruti-s-cross-my-first-car.html)

Hi all!
Respected members of the Team-BHP community, I am new here and new to cars in general as well. Please forgive my ignorance as I'm seeking your valuable opinion here.

After working for a little over a year, I felt that it was time to get my first car. I am looking at used (read pre-worshipped) cars and am definitely into SUVs/MPVs for the GC and aggressive looks more than anything else. My experience with cars is limited to driving my father's Wagon-R AMT and a few manual hatchbacks that belong to my friends.
My criteria are as follows:
SUV type GC with minimal body roll, hence leaning towards MPVs/Crossovers.
Plush suspension and comfort, esp in front row
Peppy engine for overtakes, petrol only though.
Effortless cruising at 100-120.
Usage: mostly city, weekend highway tours.
Good FE when light-pedalled.
Good storage and boot space.

After lots of searching, I narrowed down to two options:

1. 2020 MS XL6 Smart Hybrid Alpha Petrol Manual
9.6L quoted price
29k kms done, registered in the name of the company that operates the MS TrueValue Showroom (where this car is listed).
My father checked out the car and was really impressed.

2. 2018 Honda WR-V VX i-VTEC Petrol Manual
6.8L quoted price, Spinny
61k kms done
Has some very minor scratches as listed by Spinny with pics

3. (BONUS) 2020 S Cross Zeta 1.5 Petrol Manual
8.2L quoted price, Spinny
24k kms done
Has some very minor scratches as listed by Spinny with pics

My perspective:
1. Mostly I will be driving solo, incl highway trips.
2. I am aware that the XL 6 engine might be a bit of a let down.
3. I have to stretch my budget (7L) to get the XL6 at 9.6L.
4. The XL6 has captain seats in the second row, which will be way comfier for my parents. The catch, however, is that they'll rarely get to use it.
5. XL6 being hybrid will give better FE.
6. Honda engine seems underpowered on paper.
7. The WR-V has a sunroof, which definitely adds a lot (for me) to the feel and overall experience.
8. The third row on the XL6 will never see use; will remain folded down to accommodate luggage.
9. Looks-wise, the XL 6 wins, even though the rear is a dead giveaway that it is no SUV.
10. Looked a lot for decent Ecosports and Dusters (even Creta-Seltos twins) but it didn't work out. Hence these two.
11. In so far as the S-Cross is concerned, I feel that it's only disadvantage is the rear-seat comfort compared to the XL6. Even though it'll be under-utilised, a car being a one-time purchase, I want to ensure I get the best possible.
12. Will the smaller S-Cross provide so much better manoeuvreability in traffic so as to make a big difference?
13. Myself being out of town for work, Mr father is going to get the vehicles inspected and deal with the process. So no way for me to test drive the cars personally. (I know it'll sound unbelievable to most of you to buy a car without even seeing it first-hand.)

Need expert opinions on how to go about this. Which car will be better? What is the fair price for the same? Your valuable opinions matter a lot as I'm just starting out in the universe of motoring.

Regards.

No point getting the XL6 as the 2nd row will be rarely used by you, and the 3rd row will never. I would go for the 2020 S-Cross Zeta 1.5 Petrol Manual as it's an almost-new car, has the lowest running, will offer the best build quality & suspension of the options listed here and I prefer Maruti's 1.5L over Honda's 1.2L. The S-Cross feels more European than Japanese in terms of build & highway manners.

Here's something you missed out- the S-Cross is built MUCH better than the XL6 or WR-V. It is more durable than both those other cars and having driven one myself, I was blown away by how easy to drive it is. The glass area around you is perfectly situated to provide good visibility and makes driving this car a breeze no matter what its footprint might suggest (larger than a WR-V same as XL6 whatever it is, it feels easier to drive for sure). Also has the best chassis setup for mile munching on the highway. So overall I'd recommend this out of the bunch for its tougher build, better ride and handling dynamics and easy-to-drive nature :thumbs up

Thanks GTO and IshaanIan.
What will you recommend is a fair price for the S-Cross? Spinny refuses to negotiate, but still, I don't want to get ripped off or anything like that.
Also, a link to the checklist for buying used cars (how to do PDI) would be immensely helpful _/\_
Thanks again for the valuable advice.

I would personally go with S-Cross for:

-MSIL's reliability
-S-Cross build quality and complaint suspension
-Proven engine

WRV is too boring now, Infotainment system is crap, 1.2L Engine is average on that big car.
XL6 is too old to own now. Do not provide any snob value.

S Cross without doubt. You mentioned XL6 has advantage of being hybrid, but 2020 S Cross also has the SHVS system.

Do not even consider the WR-V petrol. That engine is boring to say the least. Cabin design & quality is also nothing to write home about.

S-Cross eyes closed but do keep them peeled open when buying used :D

Since you're paying 8.2 lakhs for a used vehicle I would suggest to give a call to dealers in a 50-100km area to check if they have any remaining stocks and if available decide between the two.

Unfortunately for you, the petrol S-Cross was only launched in 2020 and a 2 year old Maruti is a 2 year old Maruti :p As a car it makes perfect sense but as a used-car-buy it may not be the financially apt one; considering it was launched in 2020 and discontinued within 2 years, you can expect the car to take a massive hit on depreciation in the coming years and when it is priced so high in the used market right now, that might not feel right or may leave you wondering what if down the line. Perhaps in that regard you might find more value in buying a petrol Brezza used instead of a petrol S-Cross as you will find one for a more fair price. (the Honda WR-V is also a fair option in the used market) :thumbs up
+1 You will get chunky discounts on old stock cars. Back in November of last year, the neighborhood dealer was willing to give me a 1.15lac cash discount on any variant and any colour of the car that too just on my first visit to check it out. But it might be tough to find one now. Still, do try as it will no doubt be better value than buying one used.

To sum up while the S-Cross is the best car of the bunch, I am not sure buying a petrol one used right now, is the best choice to make.

WRV is no match as far as S cross is concerned. XL6 is a excellent choice if you will be using captain seat more often and your drive is primarily city. On highway it runs out of breath very easily. My neighbour owns xl6 and brezza. He is very frequent to dehradun and Manali for work. He avoid taking xl6 due to the engine. His daily drive is xl6 as he uses driver for city travels and captain seat is a boon for him.

Go for Scross as build quality is way above any of the two cars shortlisted. Spinny doens't negotiate much that is what my experience dealing with them has been. Though never bought any car from them

Voted used S-Cross.
Would again stress on exploring the option of looking for any unsold units in nearby areas/cities as well, before going ahead with the used option.

S-Cross eyes closed. The Hybrid system used in Maruti would give marginal improvement in mileage if I am not wrong and changing your decision on the base of this is not worth it according to me. You can consider this as a bonus. It offers amazing ride quality and handling and is one of a kind ever offered by Maruti Suzuki in India. It's a solid and utilitarian build both inside out.

Go for Honda if and only if you want a 1.5L i-VTEC City. The 1.2L engines from Honda are underpowered in the cars they are being used and won't exactly meet your requirement of a peppy performer.

Now, going by your forum ID, it seems like you are a hardcore Petrol SUV fan lol:. But I would still like to add some miscellaneous points/suggestions (might be a bit irrelevant)

• If higher ground clearance is being preferred for looks or for style rather than utility or due to bad roads, I would suggest you to have a look at cars like Polo 1.0tsi or i20 N-line too. These cars are superb, with great handling, power and would give 10+kmpl mileage in almost all conditions. You can also have a look at City if again, ground clearance or Sedan isn't an issue.
• If you are open to diesels, I would recommend you to look at S-Cross 1.6 DDIS. It was the best engine ever offered in a Maruti at an affordable price in India. It is efficient and powerful at the same time and being a Fiat sourced engine, it is highly reliable as well.
• If you love to drive, you'll enjoy more in a car with lower ground clearance for obvious reasons. Moreover, as per my experience, plush ride on the driver's seat robs away the confidence at higher speeds though it feels very comfortable to the passengers whereas a balanced ride with a hint of stiffness wouldn't exactly bother the passengers much or be uncomfortable and would rather give loads of fun and confidence to the driver. S-Cross too has a hint of stiffness in the ride.
• Sedans are the best all-rounder with space, handling, performance and comfort. Hatchbacks with hint of stiffness are best for city maneuverability and crisp handling due to smaller size.
• If you want peppy performance, you should avoid Maruti S-Cross petrol, or rather any heavy Maruti vehicle. Cars like Wagon-R with a 1.2L engine would feel peppy because of the lighter weight. This where power/torque to weight ratio comes in. S-Cross has got performance, not exactly peppy though. Just enough I would say for daily routine. Peppy performance would be offered by Turbo Petrol/Diesel cars or high capacity free revving NA Petrol like the 1.5 iVTEC from Honda.

If you have time and not in an urgency to purchase a vehicle, I would highly recommend you to try different cars, engines, gearboxes(if ATs are being considered too) and segments. You might find something much better than the cars already shortlisted :).

The WR-V gets my vote for the following: it's compact footprint and crossover raised height and an engine that likes to be revved.

My vote goes for the S Cross - it's a segment above the WRV.
Had the WRV come with the City's 1.5 motor, it would have been my first choice. The Honda 1.2 petrol mill is just too lethargic.
XL 6 only if you're driven around.

I suggest you consider exploring the all new Brezza (base variant), if you can stretch your budget a bit (as also in case of the used S-Cross which features on your list). Nothing like a new BS6 car which features a peppy petrol engine (same power output as the BS4 S-Cross), 198 mm GC and that is loaded to the brim with new age features and tech.