From the moment I got a glimpse of the Taj Mahal, only one word came out of my mouth "Wah Taj!”

BHPian AviC93 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

'Khamma Gani!' - I guess no doubt now you know where I travelled this time. Yes, it is the "land of kings", home to the "The Great Indian Desert" , India's largest state by area, Rajasthan. After a long break, majorly due to family reasons, we were on the road again after our trip to Uttarakhand.
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...tarakhand.html

It is my wife's winter break at her work and we planned early to visit parts of Rajasthan (Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer).
Here goes the itinerary:
21st Dec- Varanasi
22nd Dec- Agra
23rd Dec- Jaipur
24th Dec to 26th Dec- Jaisalmer
27th Dec- Jodhpur
28th Dec- Jaipur
29th Dec Lucknow
30th Dec- Aurangabad,Bihar
31st Dec- Kolkata

I must admit that I was an early bird to this trip and completed all the hotel bookings by end of August. Yes, I was excited for this road trip and being a Bengali, it was one of my dream to visit Rajasthan, inspired by the internationally acclaimed Bengali movie "Sonar Kella" directed by none other than the great late Mr Satyajit Ray, who holds no introduction to any Indian film enthusiast. You can understand the inner child coming out resonating the vibes of the movie.

Now, it’s time for a 'long' wait since you have made all the plans, booked all your stays. I started gathering as much information as I can about the road conditions, basic norms of driving across the desert state, challenges that you can face and so on. It was my go to man Mr Samba Sengupta (Samba), who heard me patiently whenever I reached out to him and offered his suggestions and help to his capacity. Also, I would like to mention our fellow tbhpian Mr Arghya Pan (arghyaheart), who provided his inputs as he travelled to Rajasthan recently. And finally the day arrived to begin our journey...

Day 1
Kolkata to Varanasi
Finished my office work early and took an early dinner around 8 PM before getting a
Much needed "shut-eye" as we planned to start at the middle of night. But my excitement did not let me to sleep peacefully. We got ready by 3AM and in another 10 minutes we were on the road and bid my city adieu around 4 AM as we crossed the Dankuni toll. The road condition till Shaktigarh was moderate due to ongoing highway expansion work. Post Shaktigarh, we got a buttery stretch and in no time crossed Durgapur and Asansol. We took our first break at a roadside dhaba (Hotel Johar) near Topchanchi and refuelled our car from a nearby gas station. It was a half an hour break and we started again around 9 AM. The road condition started to worsen as we progressed towards Jharkhand- Bihar border and all through Bihar. It seems that progress of the highway expansion work in this region is less as compared to West Bengal. By the time we reached Aurangabad, it was lunch time and we decided to visit Gargee Resorts to have lunch and relax for a while. I always visit this place, either for a stay or have lunch or dinner. As soon as we finished our lunch, we started again around 1:45 PM. It was a non-stop drive from Aurangabad, till we reached Varanasi at 4:30 PM. Since I chose to book our night stay near the highway, it took us another hour to travel the next 20 kms till hotel due to traffic congestion near Varanasi entry.


Our stay for the night at newly opened Hotel Leela palace and banquet.
Even though, we were tired but it is mandatory for us to visit the ganga ghat and watch the evening arati. This time we decided to go to Assi ghat instead of Dasashawmedh ghat as it was the closest
Ganga ghat near our stay. As our stay was a bit far from the main Varanasi ghat area, we decided to look for an auto and reach the ghats to avoid driving through the busy traffic of the city and headache to park the car. We soon got our ride and reached Assi ghat in time for the evening arati, where we offered our prayers and roam around for a while.



Getting a ride back to hotel was very painful for us and we were very tired. Fortunately, we managed to book an auto to reach our hotel. We had our dinner at a restaurant next door and called it a day.

Day 2
Varanasi to Agra
We woke up early at 4AM and in next 20 minutes we were ready to start the day towards Agra. It was pitch dark outside with dense fog. I planned to take the Jaunpur, Sultanpur highway via Varanasi ring road and merge with the Purvanchal expressway. This is an approximately 180km drive and should take around three hours to cover if you start early as the road condition is ideal. But things slowed down as the visibility was less than 20 meters due to extreme fog at the time, which I expected to be normal in December. I choose to be safe than sorry by following the lane markers and driving at slow speed, 20km/h at some places. At some places the heavy duty vehicles helped me to gain some pace as I followed them by keeping a safe distance in between.

Eventually the harsh winter night made way for a scenic sunrise and I was awestruck with the sheer beauty of it.


It took me nearly 4 hours to cover the 180 km stretch. Next 165 kms across Purvanchal expressway went like a breeze and we reached Lucknow in another 2 hours without a break. We drove through the ring roads of Lucknow and crosses the city without much traffic before taking the Agra-Lucknow expressway. After entering the Agra-Lucknow expressway, it was time to refuel our car, mind and tummy. It was a much needed refreshing break post which I stepped on the gas again to cover next 231 kms in little over 2 hours to reach our stay at Agra, Hotel Karan Villas. We decided to visit Agra fort and Taj Mahal post lunch by local transport as it was nearby our hotel. I had already booked online tickets in advance for entry in both Agra fort and Taj Mahal to avoid long queues at the ticket counter. Below mentioned is the authorized Archaeological Survey of India website for online ticket booking:
https://asi.payumoney.com/quick/agf

This was our first time at Agra and we were very much excited to see the Taj Mahal. We got ready post lunch after a short nap and started around 2PM. First, we visited the Agra fort and we were not amused with the rush at the gates given that the time we choose to visit Agra is within the peak season for all the tourists across India. Agra fort is a 16th century architectural marvel which falls under the list of Unesco World Heritage Site and is a resemblance of India's rich cultural history. We explored parts of the fort and was amused with the precision and art work by the Mughals.

From one mighty architectural wonder to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, we made our way through the Mughal gardens and reached the Taj Mahal west gate entry. From the moment I got a glimpse of the Taj Mahal, only one word came out of my mouth "Wah Taj!” As usual the place was overly crowded so we had to wait a while to take pictures in turn from the various hot spots around Taj Mahal to get me, my wife and Taj in a single frame. But we managed to do so with the help of a gentleman, who was also a visiting the place with his family.





After spending more than an hour, we visited a nearby rooftop cafe, Chia Taj View Cafe, which is a 1.5 km walk from Taj Mahal. You get a clear view of the Taj Mahal from the roof top seats and enjoy a leisurely evening by having a cup of tea and simply admiring the beauty and greatness of "Roza-e-Munavvara" (initial name of Taj Mahal).

Post tea, we explored the local markets and enjoy popular delicacies , such as, Petha and finally called it a day after having a sumptuous dinner at the hotel.

Continue reading on BHPian AviC93's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

This 2-month road trip, covering more than 100 cities across 11 states, is my way of contributing to this immensely important cause - road safety in India.

BHPian Getawaymax recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hi everyone,

Final stages of preparation for my 10,000 km solo roadtrip from Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi via the Coromandel Coast in my Grand Vitara. Look forward to advocating for road safety and 2 months of experiencing the underexplored east coast of Incredible India. The journey begins in November 2024.

Also excited to have CoERS, IIT Madras as partners for #roadsafety.

In 2023 I did an 11,000 km solo Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi drive via the Malabar Coast and it was awesome. That was my inspiration for this one.

The car -

I will be driving the same car that I used for my 2023 road trip - Grand Vitara Zeta Semi Hybrid 2023 model. No alterations have been done and I'm using the same tyres. Total distance covered till now is 20,000 kms appx.

Equipment for recording the drive -

I'm using a Qubo 4K Front and Rear Dash Cam with a 1 TB Card and 2 x 5 TB hard drives to record the entire journey. The data will go to CoERS for analysis. Will also be using a GoPro 13, Samsung S24 Ultra and an old Nikon DSLR for the photographs/videos.

First Challenge -

Maruti did not have a system to service the car because not enough miles had been done since the last service. They suggested that I get it done somewhere on the way. Finally, I had to find a personal connection who helped me get the car checked at Maruti.

Broad Route -

Delhi - Lucknow - Varanasi - Nalanada - Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar - Puri - Gopalpur - Araku Valley - Visakhapatnam - Vijayawada - Suryalanka - Chennai - Kanchipuram - Tirupati - Mahabalipuram - Puducherry - Thanjuvar - Kanadukathan - Rameshwaram - Kanyakumari - Trichy - Bengaluru - Gandikota - Kurnool - Srisailum - Hyderabad - Warangal - Bidar - Nanded - Tadoba - Nagpur - Jabalpur - Khajuraho - Orchha - Gwalior - Delhi

Road Trip Highlights -

• Distance 10,000 + kms
• Nights 60 / Days 61
• States 11
• Stayover Unique Cities 46
• Unique Experiences 400+

Look forward to learning from your experiences and sharing a few of my own. Would be keen to connect and learn from those who have done this or parts of this before.

A 10,000+ kms solo drive for #RoadSafety - Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi via the Coromandel Coast

People hear that India ranks high in road deaths, with thousands of lives lost and a huge 3% impact on our GDP. But often, we look at data and news and think it happens to someone else. For me, it’s personal. I’ve lost friends and family to careless, reckless driving. My own sister survived a horrific accident.

In my last 11,000 km #solodrive from Delhi to Kanyakumari and back via the Malabar Coast—I saw both the progress and the gaps firsthand. MoRTH and NHAI are really ramping up infrastructure, but there’s still so much more that needs to be done beyond road networks, quality, and design. We need a shift in mindset and a stronger approach to enforcement. Most importantly, we, the people, need to take responsibility when we’re on the road.

That was my inspiration for this 10,000+ km Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi solo drive via the Coromandel Coast. This 2-month adventure, covering more than 100 cities across 11 states of our incredible India, is my way of contributing to this immensely important cause.

It’s a privilege to partner with CoERS at IIT Madras, which is doing phenomenal work for road safety. Grateful to them for giving me an opportunity to share my experiences. Allianz Partners has also been kind enough to provide RSA support on this solo drive.

Please do support the cause and be part of my journey.

Day 1/ 61

Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi 10k km Solo Drive - Day1 - Buland Safar

It’s D-Day—the beginning of my 10,000 km+ solo drive from Delhi to Kanyakumari and back via the Coromandel Coast.

There were enough last-minute scares. A 10-day antibiotic course for a stomach infection hadn’t even ended when severe back spasms left me wincing in pain. I was told it was stress, but I’m pretty convinced it was antibiotics. Anyway, I slept at 1 am and got up at 4. A banana breakfast, last-minute packing, and a few goodbyes later, I was off.

Vrindavan is 159 km away, but at 5 am on the Yamuna Expressway, it was a breeze. My first stop: Katyayani Shaktipeeth—a Durga temple in the land of Krishna. By the time I reached, the morning aarti was over. A large group was singing bhajans, and you could see kids scampering around with “Radhe Radhe” painted on their faces. I sat for a bit, soaking in the atmosphere, and sought much-needed blessings for the adventure ahead.

The Shaktipeeth of Vrindavan

The city has a classic old temple-town vibe, with crowded, narrow streets that can shame Chandni Chowk in Delhi.

Just another Door of Vrindavan

On top of that, the route Google recommended made me wish I was driving a Toto (tuk-tuk or e-rickshaw—what’s in a name?). After a near Abhimanyu-like experience, I finally found parking. Private parking is a big business in most temple towns these days. The guy handed me a ticket and told me to put my specs and phone in my pocket. It seems the monkeys of Banke Bihari have taken a fancy to the latest models too.

The streets were filled with people of all hues and sizes, walking barefoot and chanting away. At Banke Bihari, Krishna can be seen in his most popular pose, Tribhanga—bent in three places. His image is supposed to be so beautiful that a curtain rhythmically covers his face so that no one can see him long enough to be mesmerized. Well, I didn’t get that far. A curtain of people stonewalled me, and a near stampede convinced me that today wasn’t my day. I could have paid a tout ₹1,100 for a peep, but where’s the fun in that darshan?

Krishna Janmasthan at Mathura was just 10 km away, so I decided to try my luck there. They were way better organized, and the security was extremely tight—I guess it had to do with the mosque in the temple complex. The hot topic of conversation in the queue, however, was the ₹2 fee for storing electronic items. Hardly anyone had change, so we cursed and crawled.

The Garbh Griha, or the room where Krishna was born, is a very simple space. You’re rushed in and out through narrow corridors, Mumbai local style. To get a typical Kanhiya feel, you will need to visit the other two main temples in the complex.

Next on my list was Vishram Ghat, but it was too hot (Novembers are no longer what they used to be). So, I decided to skip it and head straight to Fatehpur Sikri.

Gulistan, a UP Tourism hotel, is bang opposite the Fort. On its best day, it’s a two-star, but it’s my two-star. Just after COVID-19, when Mom ditched me for greener pastures, I came here for a month. I was the only guest then and got used to making my own beaten coffee in their kitchen. To my pleasant surprise, the entire staff remembered their coffee-wala guest and came to catch up. It was a total home-away-from-home moment.

After quick hellos, I was off as my favorite fort beckoned. It’s not very large and neither is it as grand as others I’ve seen, but it has a super special vibe. Akbar built it to be close to the Chishti Dargah but left it soon after due to lack of water. As a result, the architecture wasn’t corrupted by war or additions by other rulers. During my last visit, I made a habit of walking the fort early in the morning. I’d sit there working on my laptop with only a few peacocks disturbing my peace. Sure, it didn’t feel very Akbar-ish, but trust me, it beats WeWork any day.

The Fort at Fatehpur Sikri - My Favourite

Every Mughal fort has a Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas, but my favorite spot at this fort is Anup Talao. I can close my eyes and imagine Tansen singing, sitting on a pedestal surrounded by water.

Next door, Buland Darwaza is equally impressive. It’s one of the largest gates in the world and towers over you, especially if you look up from the bottom of the steps.

Buland Indeed

I walked in, and a group was singing Sufi songs in front of the Dargah. But I got distracted. A group of kids from the local madrasa were keen to know the model of my GoPro. The curriculum, it seems, has changed.

The Go Pro Kids

Another twelve-year-old kid offered to be my guide. He started at ₹100 and came down to ₹10 when I showed no interest. I laughed, and we struck a deal.

First stop: the door to Anarkali tunnels that you can’t see but can imagine extending to Delhi, Agra, and Lahore. Next stop: the guy who sold me a chaddar for the dargah and gave Samir (the kid) his cut. Then I was marshalled to the white marble shrine at the center of the Jama Masjid for customary prayers. I tied the three threads and made my three wishes, just like Akbar. A few clicks later, I was packed off to my hotel. The enterprising, sweet-talking kid made sure he got his original ask. I decided to walk back to the hotel but not before taking a detour around the fort to savor an awesomely serene sunset.

Dinner at the hotel was chirpy, with the staff venting their worries about UP Tourism leasing out all its properties one by one. But they agreed the place needed a serious upgrade. I said my goodbyes with a promise to visit again soon.

It was an eventful first day, but Day 2 looks equally packed.

Hope you enjoyed the read! I promise more action tomorrow (and fewer words!).

Continue reading about Getawaymax's solo road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

The other cars in this comparison include the Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Citroen C3 Aircross and MG Astor.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Citroen Basalt

What you'll like:

• Good road presence and unique SUV Coupe styling make the Basalt stand out from the crowd
• Nice-looking cabin that's spacious & practical. Plenty of storage spaces
• Peppy 1.2L turbo-petrol mated to the 6-speed MT (great to use!) or AT is fun-to-drive
• Sorted suspension offers an excellent ride & handling package. Again, a great driver's car!
• 470-litre boot can accommodate a healthy amount of luggage
• Features like the 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, connected car tech, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, rear seats with adjustable under-thigh support, soft & bolstered headrests and more
• Safety features such as 6 airbags, ESP, hill-hold, TPMS, 3-point seatbelts + reminders for all 5 occupants, ISOFIX, etc.

What you won't:

• SUV Coupe styling can polarise opinions; this body style is not for everyone
• Missing plenty of features - sunroof, ventilated seats, keyless entry & go, 360-degree camera, cruise control, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming IRVM...
• Only petrol powertrains on offer. No Hybrid, diesel or EV options
• Quality of cabin materials doesn't feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas
• As is typical of SUV Coupes, rearward visibility is poor
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is small. Example, a metropolitan city like Mumbai has just 2 outlets in the far suburbs, while Bangalore has 1

Citroen Basalt Review Link

Hyundai Creta

2024 Facelift Review Link

First Review Link

Kia Seltos

2023 Facelift Review Link

First Review

Honda Elevate

What you'll like:

• Smart styling with the right amount of muscle and clean lines
• Reliable and proven 1.5L i-VTEC engine is rev-happy & delivers adequate performance
• Pick between a slick 6-speed MT for some engagement or a super-smooth CVT Automatic for effortless urban commuting
• Superbly tuned suspension! Comfortable ride quality with sorted handling
• Clean interior design with good cabin space. Has a big 458L boot too
• Honda's proven reliability and after-sales service should ensure a fuss-free ownership experience
• Safety features include ADAS Level 2 tech, 6 airbags, hill start assist, lane watch assist, ISOFIX and ESP

What you won't:

• 1.5L NA offers satisfactory performance, but the competition offers way more powerful turbo-petrols and faster dual-clutch automatics
• CVT is great for urban commuting but out on the open roads, it's more suited to a sedate driving style
• No diesel or hybrid powertrains on offer. Competition offers both for those with high-running. We can't figure out why the City's wonderful Hybrid system wasn't adapted for the Elevate
• Lots of missing features by current standards. You don't get auto wipers, ICE with a subwoofer, a 360-degree camera, a powered driver seat, ambient lighting and more
• Lacks the feeling of "contemporariness" or the "wow" factor, be it in styling, powertrain, features & technology
• Honda Sensing ADAS system is intrusive at times on the highway; requires the driver to adapt to it and be comfortable using it

Review Link

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

What you'll like:

• A competent hybrid car for the mass market
• 20+ km/l FE in city driving conditions makes the Grand Vitara cheaper to run than a diesel!
• Lower emissions will appeal to environmentally-conscious buyers. And those who aren’t ready for an EV yet
• Toyota’s reliability & expertise in hybrid systems is very reassuring in the Maruti
• Seamless Hybrid system that makes driving a breeze. A car you will enjoy driving in traffic
• Maruti's AWD system provides impressive soft-roading capabilities. Can get you out of tricky situations when touring
• Compliant ride quality coupled with balanced driving dynamics
• Well-equipped with features such as driving modes, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, wireless smartphone charging, connected car features, wireless Android Auto + Apple CarPlay and more
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences
• Does most things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular area (other than fuel economy)

What you won't:

• Practicality is compromised due to reduced boot space in the full-hybrid variant
• Interior quality and fit & finish are underwhelming at this price point
• AllGrip AWD is only available in a single MT trim. Missed opportunity to market a USP
• Interior is narrow and doesn't feel as roomy as some competitors. Rear seat is best for 2 adults
• Lacks the outright performance of the competition. Runs out of steam above 110 km/h
• Not as engaging to drive as the German competitors, or the Creta / Seltos turbo-petrols
• NVH levels from the drivetrain are surprisingly poor for a hybrid. Sounds from the 3-cylinder engine, electric motor and brake vacuum pump filter into the cabin
• The Honda City’s Hybrid system is smoother, more sophisticated & more refined
• Missing features such as rain-sensing wipers, premium audio + subwoofer, electric seats, electric parking brake, LED interior lighting, etc.
• Does most things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular area (other than fuel economy)

Review Link

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

What you'll like:

• Very good attempt at making a mass-market hybrid car
• 20+ kmpl FE in city driving conditions makes the Hyryder cheaper to run than a diesel!
• Seamless hybrid system that makes driving a breeze. A car you will enjoy driving in the city
• Lower emissions will appeal to environmentally-conscious buyers. And those who aren’t ready for an EV yet
• Toyota’s reliability & expertise in hybrid systems is very reassuring
• Compliant ride quality coupled with balanced driving dynamics
• Well-equipped with features such as driving modes, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, wireless smartphone charging, connected car features, wireless Android Auto + Apple Carplay and more
• Only Crossover in this segment to provide AWD capability
• Toyota’s after-sales quality is usually regarded as top-notch by owners
• Does most things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular area (other than fuel economy)

What you won't:

• Practicality is compromised due to reduced boot space in the full-hybrid variant
• Quality of interior plastics feels more “Maruti” than Toyota. Frankly, the S-Cross cabin feels better in quality
• Interior is narrow and doesn't feel as roomy as some competitors. Rear seat is best for 2 adults
• Missing features such as rain-sensing wipers, premium audio + subwoofer, electric seats, electric parking brake, LED interior lighting, etc.
• Lacks the outright performance of the competition. Runs out of steam above 110 kmph
• Not as engaging to drive as the German competitors, or the Creta / Seltos turbo-petrols
• NVH levels from the drivetrain are surprisingly poor for a hybrid. Sounds from the 3-cylinder engine, electric motor and brake vacuum pump filter into the cabin
• AWD available only on the MT (not the AT) and the mild-hybrid (not full-hybrid)
• The Honda City’s Hybrid system is smoother, more sophisticated & more refined
• Does most things well, but doesn’t excel in any particular area (other than fuel economy)

Review Link

Skoda Kushaq

What you'll like:

• A breath of fresh (European) air in a sea of Korean, Chinese & Indian SUVs
• Classy exterior & interior styling matched with solid European build quality
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
• 148 BHP engine makes the Kushaq one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
• Safety features include 6 airbags, ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all inclusive service packages available
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, audio system with a punchy subwoofer, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
• 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!

What you won't:

• No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks / litre
• DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
• Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• Lovely 1.5L TSI is only available on the top variant
• At 385 litres, boot space is lesser than its direct rivals (Creta & Seltos = 433L)
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
• Skoda’s notorious dealerships & after-sales horror stories
• Missing some now expected features such as driving modes, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera & regular USB ports
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard

Review Link

Volkswagen Taigun

What you'll like:

• Has its own fresh, European character and complements its cousin (the recently launched Skoda Kushaq) nicely in a segment dominated by Indian, Korean and Chinese SUVs
• Unmistakably VW styling matched with solid European build quality
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
• 148 BHP engine makes the Taigun one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment!
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
• Safety features include up to 6 airbags, ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
• Advantages over the Kushaq = a top AT variant with 6 airbags, design that stands out more, cabin 'feels' better, fabric seats are executed in a nicer manner...
• 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!

What you won't:

• No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks/litre
• GT customers will need to choose between the rock (potential DQ200 transmission problems) and a hard place (GT manual variant misses out on many top-end features)
• Narrow cabin width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• Interior colour scheme and quality don't feel up to traditional VW standards. Some polarising details too (chrome outside, painted plastics inside...)
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
• VW’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss. Many VW owners find it expensive too
• Missing some now-expected features such as driving modes, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric driver's seat adjustment & rear window blinds
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard
• Kushaq's 'clever' touches are missing = no spot on top of the dashboard to place a deity, no smartphone holders on the front seatbacks, no ticket clip on the windshield, no elastic band in the doorpad to keep items in place, or even something as simple as the small reflective tapes on the doorpads

Review Link

Citroen C3 Aircross

What you'll like:

• Well-sized crossover with a funky yet likeable design
• Offers the practicality of a 5+2 seater. Many families will like having that option
• Good-looking cabin that's practical too. Plenty of storage spaces
• Quick 1.2L turbo-petrol mated to the 6-speed MT or AT is fun-to-drive
• Sorted suspension offers a very good ride & handling package
• Massive 511-litre boot that can be expanded to 839 litres. Flexible cargo and seating options are available
• Features like a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, connected car features, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, indirect TPMS, and a rear parking camera with sensors
• Lots of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique

What you won't:

• Missing plenty of features = side & curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, sunroof, climate control, wireless charging, cruise control, rear AC vents, auto headlamps and more
• Single powertrain on offer. No Hybrid or diesel engine options
• Quality of cabin materials doesn't feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas
• Third row of seats is best for kids / children only
• Cabin width makes the middle row seat suitable for 2 adults, not 3
• Very sad audio. 4 speakers + 2 tweeter system feels very basic
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is tiny

Review Link

MG Astor

Review Link

Here's what BHPian Col Mehta had to say about the matter:

Voted for Seltos X-line, but the heart is still with the FL Creta (took it off our list for its underwhelming interiors with cheap plastics) and the Thar ROXX (took it off as it's not a very practical car for our daily use - old birds in the family would find it difficult).

Wouldn't consider Tata Curvv for its pathetic rear seat space management with hilariously bad headroom and under-thigh support. Plus Tata's QC and after-sales service are still a huge gamble. Beautiful design though.

Here's what BHPian Abhisheknott had to say about the matter:

Surprised to see that Creta is not leading the poll. Best overall package but somehow cant put money down for it.

My choice will be the Grand Vitara despite the weak engine. Elevate loses out on looks and interior space - should have named it Elongate.

VW twins drive well but the lack of a cylinder seems weird and peace of mind ownership is suspect.

I wish Citroen came out with decent NCAP results which will hopefully increase their sales as they have the best ride of the lot.

Here's what BHPian the.dogfather had to say about the matter:

Voted for the Basalt. It has the right mix of reliability, ride quality, features and looks. Though I am not in the market for a car, if I were to buy a crossover/SUV in this price range the main contenders for me would be the Basalt, Elevate and Jimny. The Elevate, though a great package, in terms of drivetrains and space, the ADAS is something I would avoid. The Jimny has everything, but the 4AT I drive often, sometimes makes overtaking tough.

The Basalt, with a 6AT, the 1.2T petrol is quite a great package. They have now loaded it just with the right amount of features, without going overboard, and has really nice styling. Being a sedan person in general, I am not a fan of most SUV styling, so the SUV Coupe styling is somewhat of a compromise. The basic mechanicals for the Basat are quite a good combination and the pricing makes it even more tempting. The service is the only worry, but as they are present in most major cities, and with their expansion plans I would be okay taking the risk.

Here's what BHPian antz.bin had to say about the matter:

Where is the Tata Curvv.EV?

• It has the power of the fastest ones here
• It has the cargo room of the largest ones here
• It is top of the pile in terms of style
• Its running costs are lower than anything else here
• Its features are at par with the most feature-rich ones here
• It costs at par with and sometimes lower than the market leaders for the features and power outputs
• It has more than enough highway range (55 kWh versions)

With the teeny tiny problem of rear headroom which most nuclear families will probably not need for 350/365 days of the year.

Another notable miss in this price and size range is the Thar Roxx.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Due to compromised boot space, I don't want to go for a subwoofer.

BHPian OpenRoads recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all,

I am trying to gather some information for an audio upgrade for the Toyota Hyryder. Please let me know your thoughts.

I am looking for an amplifier with an inbuilt DSP (to minimize the overall footprint). Based on my research, I found a few of them but I don't know which one would be the right one. They seem to be within budget but not sure if they would be compatible with the OEM head unit of the car which I do not wish to change:

1. Alpine PXE-R500 (does it even have a DSP?)
2. Sony XM-GS6DSP (is it too old?)
3. Kicker 47KEY200.4 (do you even get it in India?)

Is there any other model that I should consider?

Second, I would like to go for door-damping. Again, there are so many types of sheets based on brands and thickness levels. Which one should I pick? Any suggestions? Also, is a layer or two is sufficient?

Third, speaker setup. Currently, there are four speakers and two tweeters which is the default one. Hyryder does not have a subwoofer. And I don't want to disturb this setup. I love to hear music but don't want it loud. Clear vocals are good enough for me. So the question is if I can keep the speakers a little longer or should upgrade them? If yes, then what kind of speakers should I be looking for?

e.g. Focal ASE 165 or something similar.

Fourth, due to compromised boot space, I don't want to go for a subwoofer. Will that be a dealbreaker? If yes, what should be considered?

Update: I got some more updates talking to a few installers in my town. Here is an update on that.

Amplifier/DSP choice:

1. SoundMagus MP6 MAX [50W RMS/channel] quoted around 35K
2. Alpine PXE R-500 [25W RMS/channel with peak at 50W] quoted around 30K

Speakers:

1. Focal Auditor 165 ASE (front)/ACX (rear) should be max 15K
2. Focal Access 165 AS (front)/AC (rear) should be max 28K

Now both these speakers have 60W RMS with a peak of 120W. I am worried if the Alpine is even the right fit here.

Sound deadening/damping:

• 2-layer damping with Morel 2.1mm (10 sheets) is quoted around 10K.

Subwoofer:

• I am looking for one with a 4 Ohms impedance and low RMS (50W) but it is hard to find. If I go any higher I might need a separate mono block which I don't want. So I might give that a miss.

Bottomline: The Alpine seems to be a good fit if the speaker RMS is not an issue. I am searching for answers to this one. Will keep everyone posted on what I find.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Bharat NCAP is expected to announce the results of the crash tests soon.

Bharat NCAP has evaluated the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara for crash safety. We can say this with certainty as images of the crash test have surfaced online ahead of the official test results.

The Grand Vitara was subjected to multiple crash tests, as is the norm. The images reveal the SUV being tested for frontal impact and side impact protection. It also underwent the side pole impact test.

The Grand Vitara is equipped with several standard safety features. These include dual airbags, ABS with EBD, Hills Star Assist, height adjustable seat belts with a seat belt reminder, and ISOFIX. Higher variants though, get side and curtain airbags, a 360-degree camera and TPMS. 

Bharat NCAP is expected to announce the results of the crash tests soon.

Source: Prateek Singh

The Delta, Zeta and Alpha variants of the Grand Vitara get up to Rs 64,000 discount.

This month, Maruti Suzuki dealerships are offering a discount of up to Rs 1.4 lakh on the Grand Vitara.

The strong hybrid variants of the Grand Vitara are offered with maximum benefits of up to Rs 1.4 lakh. The Delta, Zeta and Alpha variants get up to Rs 64,000 discount, while the entry-level Sigma and CNG trims get a discount of Rs 34,000 and Rs 14,000, respectively.

The Grand Vitara is available with two engine options. The first is the familiar 1.5-litre mild-hybrid powertrain. It produces 102 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 136.8 Nm @ 4,400 rpm. This engine is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive variant comes with a 5-speed manual transmission.

The second engine option is the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol strong-hybrid that puts out 91 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 122 Nm @ 4,400-4,800 rpm. This petrol engine is coupled with an AC synchronous motor that puts out 79 BHP and 141 Nm. The total combined output at the wheel is 114 BHP. This engine is available with a CVT.

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara competes with the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and Honda Elevate.

The service center folks are unable to diagnose the issue & I am getting worried as it might be something major & I am scared to take my Grand Vitara out for long drives.

BHPian rishavch2104 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi everyone.

I own a 2023 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and I have been facing a very weird issue almost since buying the car.

Once every 30-40 times when the car moves from a standstill, there is a very loud single metal banging sound from the rear end of the car. It's as if two pieces of metal are banging against each other. It's almost impossible to purposely replicate the issue. It sometimes happens in reverse, sometimes while taking a U-turn. But always when the car moves from a standstill.

The service center folks are unable to diagnose the issue, partly because they aren't able to replicate it. I am getting worried as it might be something major and I am scared to take the car out for long drives.

After digging deep in the internet I found that it might be an ABS test sound but I'm not sure.

Here is the audio after dozens of tries to replicate the issue. Hope it helps. The sound can be heard at the 5th second in the audio.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here's what BHPian Latheesh had to say about the matter:

Check your boot area, especially the spare wheel well for any loose objects (tools, bottles, nuts, bolts, cans etc)

Here's what BHPian NomadSK had to say about the matter:

I'm not sure, but start by looking at:

• If your car has drum brakes at the rear - maybe the shoes are stuck with the braking surface. It can be either rusted to the hub or has a lip on the backside which is catching up on the shoes and making the noise. Put the vehicle on jack stands, remove tires and put lug nuts back on, and hammer the drum slowly.
• If your car has disc brakes at the rear - Remove the wheel and use a wide screwdriver to push the pads/pistons ALL the way back into the caliper body. Be gentle don't damage your pads with the screwdriver. Check the greasing of the spring clip. After putting the wheel back on, you will have to pump the brake lever a few times to move the pads back out to the normal position.

You can do this at any tyre mechanic shop to rule out this problem and further monitor your car if this resolves your issue.

Here's what BHPian sameerpatel90 had to say about the matter:

Based on the recording you shared, here are my suggestions:

• Please have the underbody components (subframe, anti-roll bar, gearbox mount) and bolts rechecked for torque. Loosen them first and then retorque them according to the company specifications. Also, do check the bolt threading as well for any wear on the same.
• The noise sounds like sheet metal hitting another component, possibly similar to the inner fender. If the recording was taken from the driver’s side, inspect the front right-hand side of the engine compartment and the inner fender area. This may require dismantling the fender assembly to check for any loose bolts causing the noise.

In conclusion, since this is an intermittent issue, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact component from the recording alone. A thorough inspection is needed by a dedicated team of senior technicians, including a master technician, denter, and fitter, to perform a root cause analysis.

NOTE: We need to be vigilant on what sort of analysis the team is performing and might take around 2-3 days max if worked dedicatedly. Also, please make sure the Service Manager is in communication directly with you and if possible grab the Master Technician's contact details as well to keep you posted about your vehicle concern diagnosis status (this is the best thing to do to avoid miscommunication).

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Maruti Grand Vitara or Toyota Hyryder strong hybrid variants cost almost similar to what the new Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos top variant diesel or 1.5L turbo ask for.

BHPian Carpainter recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Before I begin, NO, I’m not in the market now to buy a new car. I just want to start this discussion to understand what bhpians would prefer or suggest to someone in this dilemma. Especially after the facelift launch of the most successful car in this segment, the almighty Creta. Even the most hideous-looking design couldn’t quell its sales numbers. In fact, not just Creta but most of the recent launches like the Seltos or even the Elevate didn’t come with a hybrid. Everyone expected Honda to put the City’s hybrid powertrain in the Elevate to differentiate it from the Koreans and attain scale of production but they decided to go full electric only in the future.

In this market scenario, setting aside the rumours that the Government may offer tax exemptions to hybrids in the future, would you choose a hybrid over a similarly priced diesel/ turbo petrol? For example, MS Grand Vitara or Toyota Hyryder strong hybrid variants cost almost similar to what the new Creta or Seltos top variant diesel or 1.5L turbo ask for. Here, I’m keeping the 1.5L turbo out of the equation because the target audience of that engine is totally different from that of either diesel or hybrid.

For someone whose usage is below 1000-1200kms a month, buying an NA petrol (or turbo petrol for fun to drive) would be the best choice as has been discussed many times in this forum. Question is for someone whose usage is over 1500kms a month, what would you suggest?

Diesel had been the de facto choice for these customers but does the hybrid offer anything better today? After BS6 phase 2, even Toyota diesels are not as reliable as they were and many people are afraid to plonk big money in diesel fearing govt. regulations to hit in the coming years. Still, there are people who love the torquey diesel over boring and linear hybrids. But hybrids offer better future-proofing and greener footprint for those who care. Companies are offering 8 8-year warranty on hybrid batteries to sweeten the deal.

So was it a miss by Hyundai, Kia or Honda not to offer hybrids in their latest offerings or do we still have a long way to go before hybrids can become a mainstream choice? Also, if hybrid is the future that will bridge the gap before we go full-on EV (I like the idea of hydrogen fuel more than EV) as some industry experts say, then who are the target customers for their diesel options now?

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

Hybrids are very new in mainstream cars at accessible price points. They still have a long way to go:

• The customer mindspace is already occupied with EVs and there are so many electric cars! It's very tough for hybrids to compete with this.
• We need better pricing. Honda brought a fabulous City Hybrid, but they overpriced it. In Mumbai, the City ZX CVT is 19.xx lakhs OTR, while the ZX Hybrid is 24.xx lakhs.
• Toyota's hybrid in the Innova Hycross & Camry is damn good, but their choice of hybrid powertrain in the Grand Vitara / Hyryder is average at best. Noisy, 3-cylinder engine, runs out of steam beyond 110 kmph. In comparison, the Diesel AT crossovers are top-class.
• We need the technology in a wider range of cars and at better prices.
• Hybrid tech needs to come down to the 10-15 lakh segments. Let's start off with premium hatchbacks.
• We need more customer education on hybrids and their benefits (especially FE).

As things stand, I would pick a Hybrid or Diesel depending on the car. Among the 20-lakh crossovers, the Diesel AT of Hyundai-Kia is almost flawless. Big SUVs, the XUV700 & Safari have superb Diesel ATs. For hybrid, I'd get the City, Innova Hycross & Camry.

Here's what BHPian nutcracker had to say about the matter:

I just booked 2 diesel cars after much discussion and contemplation: the Altroz and the Jeep Compass. I am located in NCR, yet I made this decision.

My running is close to 20,000 kms per year, per car.

Yes, it was a big miss by Hyundai and Kia to not offer hybrid, I was expecting much more. And dishing about 18-22L on a 1.5L diesel engine makes no financial sense to me. (the Altroz is offering a punchy 1.5L diesel at about 10L).

I contemplated the idea of going EV, but the numbers didn't make sense.

So I guess I'm the target audience for diesel engines?

Here's what BHPian 07CR had to say about the matter:

I recently let go of a BS4 Ecosport S TDCI and purchased a Seltos GT LINE DCT. My monthly running is 1000 kms between my two turbo petrol cars (Sonet T GDI and Seltos T GDI).

Would I have purchased a hybrid Seltos if it was available?

Maybe. I had considered even a Hyryder, but was disappointed with the interior quality and NVH levels. The interior quality and NVH of Seltos, but with a hybrid would have been the ideal bet for me (even despite the performance negative). The turbo petrol of Seltos is very very powerful! I would have missed that power. But what I have seen is that Seltos is even more than adequate in Eco mode for me. So that kind of power in a hybrid would have been ideal.

Strict NO for diesel now. Not only because of the uncertainty of diesel but also because of the BS6 diesel DPF issues.

Here's what BHPian ABHI_1512 had to say about the matter:

After the BS6.1 and BS6.2 update, Diesels are almost as clean as petrols. This vilification of diesels is so unfortunate. Diesels offer more power and provide better mileage figures any day. Using diesel means you are burning less fuel than petrol and also getting more mileage which in turn means we are importing less as well. Given a choice as of today, I would steer clear of EVs and not hybrids as such but still go for a diesel car provided running is high and petrol if running is less!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Did not look at Tata/Mahindra as I am not a fan of the products they sell (my personal opinion). As for the Korean twins, having burnt my fingers with an i20, I'm very skeptical of overall reliability and quality the brand provides.

BHPian Sreesh1009 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Need a car for my parents to travel as well as daily drive. Will be driven by me occasionally.

Current Vehicles

1. 2005 Santro Xing (1,28,000 kms)

Needs to be sold due to age and safety issues

2. 2014 Honda Amaze VX AT (1,08,000 kms)

In two minds about selling or keeping it as a second car. In need of new tyres as of now.

Requirements

• Must be comfortable and spacious (we're all in the 5'8-6 feet height range)
• Must be powerful enough for both the highway and city
• Strictly automatic
• Decent to good mileage.
• Must be reliable

Budget

Between 15-20L on road BLR

Cars considered

• VW Taigun: Dad liked the 1.0 AT, I loved the 1.5 DSG. The only concern being reliability of the DSG and fuel costs.

• Grand Vitara: Dad test drove the Non-Hybrid AT. I am not quite convinced about spending soo much for an underpowered 1.5L AT

• XL6: My dad liked this one due to the captain seats and overall space. I took a short test drive of the car and was quite shocked with how poor the braking is. Also the underwhelming performance of the 1.5L + AT combo makes me wonder how the car will perform during long drives

• Honda Elevate: While I did not test drive it but I loved the amount of space on offer as well as the general feel of the interiors. Would like to test drive and see how the CVT + NA Engine combo fares in comparison to the competition

Did not look at Tata/Mahindra as I am not a fan of the products they sell (my personal opinion). As for the Korean twins, having burnt my fingers with an i20, I'm very skeptical of overall reliability and quality the brand provides.

Dilemma:

1. Sell both cars and buy one car
2. Sell the Santro and keep the Amaze as a daily driver
3. Go for one of the Japanese cars in the list
4. Go for the Taigun and buy extended warranty to keep the DSG headache at bay for the time being.

Please help me out with your suggestions!

Here's what BHPian arnav17 had to say on the matter:

Since the Amaze too has seen a lot of running, I would personally recommend selling both and getting the Taigun. You loved the engine and it is a good all rounder, barring the DSG issues which I can't comment much on. To me, this seems like the safest option of the lot, and VFM.

Good luck on your purchase

Here's what BHPian ashivas89 had to say on the matter:

The Elevate is an excellent option. It is the car the GV/Hyryder NA twins should have been.

Don't let the CVT's rubber band effect fool you. This car can make swift progress especially evident when you check the mirrors after flooring it. It is faster than the Korean twins' NA engined variants and will easily smoke all Marutis. I have test driven all cars in this segment multiple times back to back. This car gets all the fundamentals right.

The last time I checked, a 1.5 turbo variant of any car in this segment is unavailable under 20L (OTR BLR) unless one is eligible for BH plates.

Considering the fact that your folks hang on to their cars for long, it would be wise to steer clear of turbo petrols/complex gearboxes.

Here's how I skinned the cat: Convinced dad to get himself a gen 5 City ZX CVT as his retirement wagon; got myself a Slavia DSG, thinking that we can swap occasionally if he feels the need for speed. That day has NEVER come so far.

Alternative take:

While you may have "burnt your fingers" with an i20, the 19 year old Santro in your garage is a clear testament to Hyundai getting thigs right for the most part (We have owned 5 of them in the past, they had their fair share of niggles, but no nightmatres, thankfully).

The Creta and the Seltos offer a whole lot of feel good for 20L. Take the cars for a spin with your folks. See what they think.

Here's what BHPian Chetan_Rao had to say on the matter:

If your parents are going to be primary users of this car, it would be prudent to lean towards relatively fuss-free options. They'll likely neither care for the explosive 1.5 TSi motor nor the slick DSG, and it'll always be a sword hanging over the ownership experience (extended warranty doesn't mitigate being stranded or frequent ASC visits).

Buy for the primary users' use case and preferences, not yours.

Here's what BHPian Col_Mehta had to say on the matter:

I suggest avoiding turbo engines and complex gearboxes like DSG/DCT, especially if your parents will be driving the car frequently. Opting for a NA petrol engine with CVT/IVT, as recommended by others too, will be a good option.

Hyundai Creta and KIA Seltos with 1.5 NA IVT will be my first recommendations. Simple yet very efficient engine and gearbox combo. Plus they offer more than decent performance. Don’t worry about Koreans being not built to last. I drive a 2015 Creta and it has been a fuss free ownership from day 1. And it still feels as good as new when it comes to driving experience and overall quality.

As a second option, the Honda Elevate with the same configuration is worth considering, although it may lack the premium feel of the Korean models, which could be a deciding factor for you or your parents.

Here's what BHPian bijims had to say on the matter:

I have got a couple of suggestions for you:

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder S Hybrid

If you can find one that can be delivered to you soon, the Hyryder Hybrid would be a frugal and reliable choice costing around 20.65 lakh on-road.

Honda Elevate ZX CVT

The Elevate meets most of your requirements and would be a good buy considering the overall package and price point at which it is offered more than the rock-solid Honda reliability.

If you want a 6 or 7-seater, the Kia Carens would be the best choice by far in this segment, in terms of power, space or features, do take a test drive and see how it goes.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I considered the Honda Elevate as it got launched around the time when I started looking for a new car.

BHPian Gedaliah recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This write up is to provide information and updates to the esteemed members of this forum on my experience with the booking, delivery and maintenance of a Grand Vitara Mild Hybrid (Manual) edition.

Prologue:

Coming from a middle-class background, a car sometimes felt not really a necessity. However, growing up during the Knight Rider, Street Hawk era, Cars and Bikes were always a part of our childhood fantasies. My childhood car experiences were in the usual Ambassador, Maruti-800 progressing to the Maruti 1000, Zen, Esteem and a rare journey here and there in the Omni. I believe most middle-class population in that era would have experienced the same. We personally owned an Ambassador, 800 and an Esteem (over varying time-periods). These were usually for long distance travels, vacation tours and some weekend trips. For our day-to-day travel and luggage carrying purposes we had the good old Mahindra Jeep. I remember gawking at the rarely visible imported cars such as Toyota Celica, Toyota Corona, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Estima and a rare Honda Civic or Accord as I grew up and travelled to few cities for higher education.

First Car:

Once I found a job, the thoughts of buying a car somehow started. It was not a necessity that time. However, once the colleagues started talking about the new car launches the materialistic instinct pushed me into thinking about buying one. So, it was the already famous and reliable Alto-800 that was bought in 2006. It was super reliable car with the gem of an engine. The maintenance costs never crossed 5-6000 per year during the entire 11 years that I kept it. The running too was not much averaging about 6000 KM per year. The point to note is that I was never stranded anywhere with it other than few punctures that I faced. It served me well and I have only fond memories about it.

Second Car:

Even though the Alto did not show any signs of aging, and the paintwork never yellowed due to the constant pampering, the itch to buy a new card started in 2017. As a loyal Maruti person, I did not even look at the other brands. So, the Baleno it was. Very enthusiastically went to the Popular Nexa, Kozhikode and there was this premium feel all about. The vehicle too felt premium at that time compared to the other Maruti's we had experienced till then. The sales team agreed to exchange my Alto and quoted some low figure. Anyway, after some bargaining, the price offered came to a reasonable amount and the car was handed over to the dealer. The amount was accepted as the initial payment towards the Baleno. Now the waiting game started. Initially they had promised delivery in three months. Patiently waited or three months not even calling them once in between. After three months went to the dealership and the sales team started their smug behavior. Baleno was flying off the shelves at that time. They requested to wait for another month and I agreed. This happened once more and I was fed up with their attitude. I took the exchange value of my previous vehicle from them and opted for a Ford Ecosport.

The Ecosport is one of the best driver's cars I have ever driven. It is really not that great for the passengers. The back seat comfort is not that great maybe due to the hard suspension setup. However, the steering, the engine, ground clearance, body strength and overall quality were just a level above its competition at that time. If Ford had not left the shores, I would not even have thought about a replacement for it. As the second-hand market value started moving downhill, I had only two options either to keep it till it merges with nature or to sell it and go for a new car.

So, the question was whether to go for a new one or to get a used car. Unfortunately, the used car market is seeing very high demand and the prices are staying high for reliable models. I did look at some used Creta, Innova, Brezza and even Fortuner. The decision making thought process was really not that clear that time. So, you see all sort of vehicles went through the shortlisting process. Later, I sat down and thought what I really need. I loved Diesel in my EcoSport. The torque and fuel economy it provides is just too good. However, the government policies are not really clear regarding the future of Diesel. I am of the opinion that Diesel cannot be completely done away with at least for couple more decades. Moving goods via electric trucks in mountainous areas does not seem to be feasible right now. Therefore, Diesel slowly moved out of consideration. And petrol it was.

There are a lot of options currently in the Indian market for a small-SUV buyer. However, none of them are really there a 100% with respect to quality, features, engine, reliability and economy.

I considered the Honda Elevate as it got launched around the time when I started looking for a new car. I test drove it. The whole experience with the Honda dealer was fantastic. They brought the car home for test drives multiple times and kept following up. Out of all the cars I test drove, I liked the elevate engine-wise. It is absolutely a breeze to drive, and you do feel the quality of the engine and gearbox. I rejected it just because of sub-standard interiors and the question about Honda's survival in India. I didn't want to end up in a similar situation which I experienced with Ford. I would suggest the Elevate next refresh version to anyone looking for a small SUV. By the next refresh all problems would have been ironed out and you get an absolute gem of a car. That is if you are ok with Honda leaving India anytime.

I was never a fan of Hyundai with their gimmicky interiors. I did look at the Creta and I liked it. The only factors against it were that the lower trims were kind of bare bones and there were absolutely no bargaining margin and no free accessories. Compared to the lower trims of other cars, Creta had almost nothing. So, Hyundai was out.

Next was Kia Carens and Seltos. They are similar to Hyundai in terms of the interior pricing and trims. I did not opt for one due to the fact that the nearest service center was a 100KM away. I did not take a test drive of the Kia cars.

It was then that the Brezza, Grand Vitara options were looked at. Grand Vitara made more sense as it is a newer model available via Nexa. Also, there is bit more leg room and a general feeling of better ambiance. I am not sure about part sharing between the two. Friends and family gave the go ahead and it was time to book the car.

Back to Maruti for a second innings:

The Grand Vitara:

Variant : Grand Vitara Delta Manual Mild Hybrid

Booking, PDI Experience:

My booking was done via Popular Vehicles, Kozhikode. The booking experience was smooth unlike the earlier Baleno booking fiasco. This time I was given almost daily updates, pictures, receipts without me having to follow-up with the sales team. The accessories team also didn't push me much to opt for the Nexa accessories. At that time there were no cash discounts available due to the high demand for Grand Vitara. I was allotted a vehicle which was in transit on the condition that it would be accepted only after a PDI. I was allowed a PDI for which they brought the car to the dealer building. They were considerate that the rains had made the yard muddy and against their initial request to visit the yard, the car was brought to the dealership building. They also performed a wash before the PDI. I made a selection of couple of accessories to be fitted before delivery. The accessories selected were primarily the Window rain visors, side step, headlamp, tail lamp garnishes and door molding. I did not opt for the TPMS, vacuum cleaner and the air purifier.

Delivery Experience:

Since my home is around 100 KM from the dealership, I requested them to home deliver. They accepted the request without any fuss. The delivery was given on time without any unnecessary delays.

Dealer Feedback:

Overall, for someone looking for a Nexa dealer in Kozhikode, I would recommend Popular. The sales team is professional, and I didn't see any malpractices performed.

Post-Delivery First Week:

I was little apprehensive driving a Petrol car after having consistently driven a Diesel for many years. I was most worried about starting from a complete stop in the steep hilly areas. I knew that the engine didn't have enough grunt or torque for an easy pull from the slopes. However, the hill-hold-assist function provided with the car helps a lot. This is not much advertised by Suzuki and should have been given prominence as it is a real help.

I tried to keep it slow for the initial 500 or so KMs. It is not as if the car is eager to fly! Overtaking have to be planned a little and going down to at least 3rd gear is required in most circumstances. It does not provide complete confidence in overtaking maneuvers.

The lack of torque and the lethargic engine are the only negatives I felt in the first week and of course for the rest of my ownership. I also have to highlight that there were no squeaks or niggles during the first week.

Second Week and on:

This is a car for sedate drivers. As long as you drive below 70 KMs, the car is obedient to throttle input and you get instant acceleration. However, post 70, reaching 80 Kmph is a small task in itself. And above 80 is almost like kicking the horse's sides and whipping it. It might be the terrain I drive that is contributing to some of these experiences. Still no squeaks and no niggles. The fuel economy is hovering around 16 and I guess it would stay that way.

I had not opted for PPF, ceramic, graphene and not even a Teflon coat. The first things I did on getting the car was applying a coat of Nanolex nanoone and later a coat of GTechniq C2V3 liquid crystal. The water beading is perfect and lasting and no micro-scratches yet. I would advise owners who do not want to spend a lot on cermaic etc.. to go the DIY route by investing in some good microfiber clothes and decent hybrid waxes. Applying coats once in 3 months would surely keep your paint from getting faded.

The car is a bit tough to maintain. The reason being so many nooks and corners where water gets retained. This accumulated water plus dust might lead to corrosion in the longer term. I would suggest owners to keep an eye on this specifically in the back door below the glass area and around the LED setup.

First Free Service:

I completed the first free service when the vehicle had run around 800 KM. There were no issues to report except the chrome headlight garnish had slightly come off. I requested the SA to change the oil and he was apprehensive about it. The SA wanted to get advice and approval from Suzuki Engineer before doing oil change. The engineer did approve and the oil change was done. I was not charged any sort of labor. The overall bill came to 1755 Rs. I did make sure that they refilled with 0w16 oil. I opted not to get the car washed at the dealership when I saw the huge line of cars waiting to get washed.

Overall I am happy with the service at Popular and the only grouch I have is that the SA tried to get my sign on the feedback form without getting me to fill in my feedback. I think it is the usual tricks you find at any service center.

Vehicle Feedback Summary:

Some of the detail mentioned in this section might repeat in likes/dislikes section. Sorry for that.

Alternatives considered - Creta, Seltos, Carens, Elevate.

On-road price & discounts - 15,13,349 Rs. after a cash discount of 7K. Breakdown as follows:

• Ex showroom - 12,10,000
• Insurance - 31,963
• Road Tax - 1,81,700
• Registration Fee - 955
• Fastag - 500
• Accessories - 50,289
• MSR - 885 (Rewards program charge I guess)
• Extended Warranty - 20,567
• CCP - 4,460 (Customer convenience package)
• TCS - 12,030
• Extended warranties & service packages - Opted for the extended warranty 4th and 5th years. The customer convenience pack protecting against water caused issues and fuel quality issues was also taken.
• Engine type & variant - Delta variant with manual transmission
• Safety & related equipment - Two front airbags, ESP, ABS, rear camera and parking sensors (rear).
• Number of kms at the time of writing this review - 1,700
• My usage pattern - Weekly average of around 100 KMs. The drive is primarily in two-lane highways and well-paved village roads with moderate to high traffic in between.
• Wheels & tyres - 17-inch steel wheels come as standard. The tires are 215/60. The tires fill in the wheel well properly and gives a good stance to the car.
• Interior design & quality - The interior is well put together. There is an abundance of hard plastics. No soft touch premium feel here. The color choice is not that great for me personally. The mix of black and burgundy does not look good. However, when you consider the interiors overall it is ok.
• Driving position, ergonomics, controls & MID - It is easy to find a comfortable driving position due to seat height adjustment, seat fore-aft adjustment and the steering reach and rake adjustments available in this variant. The MID provided is the old school analogue type. However, it does provide all the required information in a legible and clear manner. The only grouch regarding the MID is the control stalks that jut out from the MID and definitely from couple of decades ago.
• Visibility & size of mirrors - The overall visibility is not bad. However, the A-pillar is intrusive and creates blind-spots. One should be very careful in turns. The A-pillar can cause you to miss a small vehicle or a pedestrian.
• Air conditioner cooling & effectiveness - This variant comes with ACC. No complaints about the cooling and the ACC functionality. It is a very user-friendly module. The rear AC vents also provides a decent amount of air throw. The cabin gets cooled in no time.
• Audio system & sound quality - The Delta variant comes with the 7 inch screen. Touch functionality is provided and the system is very intuitive to use. Apple CarPlay works flawlessly and map integration is awesome. The sound quality from the inbuilt speakers is above average but nothing to write home about.
• Interior storage, practicality & boot space - The bottle holders are one size too small and cannot hold one litre bottles. You will have to use half litre bottles all around. The glove box is of decent size and the under-armrest storage is also of decent capacity.
• Engine performance & driveability - The mild-hybrid 1.5 litre engine option does not provide outright performance. It is for practical everyday usage and you cannot win any races with it. The engine is ideal for city driving. In the highways it shows its weakness. The performance starts going downhill post 70 Kmph and above 80 it is a struggle.
• Gearshift & clutch - This time Suzuki has given a sure-slotting gearbox. The clutch is light and easy to use. Once is a while the reverse gear refuses to slot and you need to move to a different gear and try again to slot reverse properly.
• Overall NVH levels - It is a super-silent cabin with very low wind noise and engine noise at below 70 Kmph. Above 70, the engine noise does creep in. All who travelled with me noted the silent cabin.

Fuel efficiency:

• City - 9-12 Kmpl
• Highway - 16-17 Kmpl

Suspension & ride quality - The suspension is well tuned and this contributes to great ride quality. You dont have to slow down for small potholes and humps. Even the bigger crater sized-potholes do not negatively affect the posture of the car.

The turning radius at 5.4 meters is bit on the higher side and taking u-turns in city limits is a huge nuisance. You would be doing multiple forward-reverse maneuvers most of the time to get out of situations. Braking is satisfactory and confidence inspiring. Remember Suzuki provided all disc brakes in this car that too for all variants.

Likes:

• Design - The car has a modern design. There are no quirky or weird body areas. The front looks a bit soft compared to proper SUVs.
• Legroom - Legroom at both front and rear is just great, and I think even 6feet plus folks are not going to complain.
• Tires - Those 17-inch tires eat up the potholes, small humps and undulations. It lends to a very comfortable ride to the passengers. The Apollo tires provided is neither too soft nor too hard. Full marks to Suzuki for providing a full-size spare wheel as well.
• Hill hold assist - There is a 2 second delay before brake release on slopes. This helps in controlling backward roll and hilly area rides are comfortable and tension free.
• Electrically foldable mirrors - While it is not auto-fold/open during stops and starts, there is a button provided in Delta variant using which you can fold, open the outside rear-view mirrors.
• Paint quality - Unlike some earlier models like Swift where the paint quality was pathetic to say the least, this time it looks like Suzuki got it right. Though there is slight orange peel effect, the overall paint quality seems to be hard and lustrous.
• Seats - The seats are very comfortable and have adequate bolstering provided. They might not be that great for very heavily built people though.
• Disc brakes - All variants of the GV gets disc brakes all around. It adds to the looks for sure if an allow wheel is used.

Dislikes:

• Headlights - The Delta variant that I have is installed with the Halogen projector version and not the LED. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst headlamp setups that I have experienced. You can equate the light throw to the Ambassador, Premier era. It is so bad that driving in utter darkness is risky and dangerous. You might miss a parked vehicle or a human walking on the kerb.
• Headroom - Due to the design of the car, headroom seems to be lacking. Taller folks might find their head rubbing against the roofline fabric.
• Boot space - The designers again seem to have missed an opportunity to design the car with proper boot. The external dimensions do not translate into proper boot space internally. A design flaw I believe.
• Gear ratios - I believe that this 1.5 engine should have been mated to a 6-speed transmission. For plain-dwellers, a 6-speed might make sense.
• Body design - To make the car appear smart, a lot of nooks and corners have been introduced. These places retain water and dust. It is a pain to clean and might lead to corrosion later on.
• Horn - It is the typical Suzuki horn that is simply ignored by most in traffic-dense scenarios.
• Chrome usage - The car is bit over-chromed at the front. Even though it does not look tacky, it is not to my taste.

Am I happy with the car: Yes

Would I recommend the car to a fellow BHPian: Yes

As many reviewers suggested, the car is a typical Suzuki which would tick most of the boxes and never all the boxes. It does not give any sort of premium feel. But, being a Suzuki in India, you are assured of somewhat reasonable service, parts availability, cheaper parts, spread of service centers, good reliability, somewhat good fuel economy and a good resale value when you decide to part with it.

Some pics:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.