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Citroen Basalt vs Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos vs Honda Elevate & others
23rd August 2024, 12:10 by Utkarsh Chaudhary
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
Hyundai Creta
Kia Seltos
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
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)
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)
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
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
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
MG Astor
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.
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