Used 2017 Hyundai Elantra or used 2021 Honda City

Should have great highway manners. If the car is dynamically neutral its fine, but the high and low speed ride quality should be good.

BHPian 07CR recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I would be on the lookout for a second car by January next year. I have decided to go with the pre-owned route, as I recently tasted great success buying a pre-owned EcoSport S TDCI for my dad.

Requirements:

• Should be comfortable for 5 people (1 large adult, 2 medium size and 2 short size).
• Should have great highway manners. If the car is dynamically neutral its fine, but the high and low speed ride quality (yes need both!) should be good.
• Should be an automatic. Will avoid the DSG and AMTs though.
• NVH should be good to very good. This includes the wind and road noise at speeds 100-120 km/h. Looking for a great cruiser, rather than a fantastic corner carver.
• Should not be Spartan in features department. Don't require air purifier, wireless charger, wireless Android Auto and stuff, but would be happy with good features like remote start of City, and ventilated seats of Elantra.
• Budget- Comfortable till Rs 12 lakh. But can stretch till Rs 15 lakh, if the package is compelling.
• Build quality should be good. I am not expecting EcoSport levels of solid build, but don't even want the Seltos like build.
• Should be niggle-free and reliability should be top notch.

Shortlisted:

Assuming both cars in great condition-

1. 2021 Honda City ZX CVT- Quoted price is 15.7L. I hope to get it down to 13.5-14L. Running 5K km.
2. 2017 Hyundai Elantra SX (O) AT 2.0- Quoted price is 11.25L, I hope to get it down to 9.5L. Running 40K km.

Dilemma:

• I am confused if the Rs 13.5 lakh - Rs 14 lakh for a 1-year-old City is good enough? Also, does it justify the nearly Rs 5 lakh premium over the Elantra?
• If I go with the Elantra, will I face too high maintenance bills over the City? Since the car has already completed 40K kms, are its best years behind it? I am under the assumption that the D Segment sedans are made for at least 1.5L km of driving.
• Anything particular to worry about both these cars? Like are the recently prevalent brake failure issues of Creta/Seltos, also a recurring factor in the Elantra?
• Would be keeping this car at least for the next 7 years. My yearly running would be around 10K km. While the City is barely a year old model, is it worth to invest close to 10 lakhs on a 5-year-old (it will be 5 in 2022), Elantra?

Awaiting your guidance here, please do chip in in case you have any inputs.

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

2015 Camry Hybrid might fall within your budget, this will blow everything else out of water as a reliable and comfortable highway car. They are usually maintained well and kept in great condition. D segment cars truly shine on the highways. C segment cars from Japan are the least impressive on highways.

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

Having decent experience with both, this is a tough choice.

1. Not really if it is a well maintained car. But also that's around the threshold when cars if they want to show gremlins start showing if present. The first 30-40k is honeymoon period, after that if sex is enjoyable depends on the couple - both the car and you.
2. Nothing overtly known or that I am aware of.
3. I wouldn't think in terms of money saved between the two - If I were buying I would think of it as the insurance in case something goes off in the older car between the two.

What would I choose between the two options if I was forced to pick one - the car which made me feel better happier with current condition while conditioning my mind that the old one might:

• Potentially stay a few days extra for repairs (especially considering Elantra parts may not be shared readily available)
• The money saved today between two is not money saved but more cash in hand today for tomorrow's possible repairs. Though I doubt repairs will reach that amount in an Elantra, but that's how I would condition myself.
• Might not keep the vehicle for 7 years but possibly a couple of years lesser (though not sure if there is a huge difference between a 75k 8 year old City vs 110k 11 year old Elantra, not from a mechanical standpoint but possible from aesthetic/ niggles/ rattles standpoint).

If I were to choose between the two models only, I would save/ earn a bit more (via investment) and go for a more recent Elantra budget permitting. It feels very different from the City in a much better way.

And finally if I had to generally choose, I would go not go for the City because I have experienced that segment (good experiences). Will explore something else and bide my time and money (considering it has to be kept for 7 years) to match as new a sedan possible in the higher segment in Civic/ Elantra/ Altis (two out of which are discontinued should work in your favour)

This might be a very difficult find, a regular Camry will easily fit though. If the Hybrid is that old, will need to cater for a couple of lakhs for battery replacement as with normal usage, this is about the time 2014-15 ones are needing replacements.

This is a very good budget for sedans, you should have good options. All the best.

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

From my experience as a city owner - Avoid the city.

The parts quality and build has gone down the drain and people at Honda ASS themselves are telling people to buy something else. Took my amaze for service and had a lengthy discussion with the employees.

Too many tiny niggles that will irritate you and eventually make your car feel old and problematic. I can't stand it. But I can't afford to repair every small bit and bob either. So carrying on. The Elantra is a good option. But the city won't make sense unless there's low running.

Also a rust magnet Honda cars are. My city is parked in a dry covered and closed parking. No leaves, no dust, no water. Yet it rusts where the roof meets the A pillar.

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