u/Delicious-Check9591

I am planning to buy creta S(O) Summer edition 1.5L NA petrol car.

Everything is good about this car except the mileage which is definitely going to take a hit on pocket, and I knew it before buying the car.

Based on my research and asking from owners of creta, they are really frustrated from fuel cost. (7-8kmpl in bumper-to-bumber, 10-12kmpl in city and ~15kmpl on highway)

So, I want to understand perspective of some experts and guide how one should proceed in this case?

Shall I drive the car on petrol for 2-3 years, understand the need, enjoy warranty time of it, etc and then install retrofitted CNG kit?

I am very very hesitant to my car to retromarket, that's why I choose Creta S(O) Summer edition which is considered as VFM variant.

So, any suggestions are welcome.

Forecast of monthly running - 1000-1200km (30%city , 70% highway).

My Scenario:

• Upgrading from a very old, small hatchback second hand Maruti Zen 2000 model which we bought in ~2009-10. Now, it is having heating issues and not been on family trips for last 15 years due to this. And this car is becoming bottleneck for us. As I live in a town which is not so developed in Punjab, so car is a must have in my case. So it's time to scrape the car.
• Primary Goal: Give my aging parents the undeniable comfort, enjoy with them the life they have left and pride of a premium SUV (arriving at family weddings/events/family trips/taking mom dad to trips where they could have only dreamt of, is a major psychological factor here).
• Usage: ~1,000 -1500km/month. Mostly 60–70 km weekend local drives, plus occasional 600-700 km radius family trips, family events, hospital visits, relatives visits. Thats all for now I can think of.
• Average height of family - 5ft10in, highest(6ft2in), lowest(5ft6in).

My Requirements (Budget: <=₹17L On-Road):

• Nothing specific, the car features should justify the ex-showroom price and it should at least have all the minimum features that are required.
• Good interior quality and should look premium side.
• I don't want to take my new car to aftermarket. I can go for exterior additions like door visor or garnish etc. But not major change where they rip soul of the car( and mine) out of body.
• Manual transmission Car.

Cars I have already rejected (Please don't suggest these):

• Diesels: My 1,000-1500km/month running and short weekend trips will definitely cause DPF clogging issues. (But still open for discussion here).
• Sub-4m SUVs (3XO, Sonet, Nexon, Venue, Maruti Baleno, Fronx etc): Too small, doesn't provide the massive generational upgrade in space/status we are looking for.
• Honda Elevate: We simply do not like the exterior front-end design. And based on my research, it lags behind the technology it should have based on current competitors.
• Skoda Kushaq / VW Taigun: Zero showrooms or service centers within a 150 km radius of my house.
• MG Astor / Tata Curvv: Astor’s mileage is too low (9-10 km/l); Tata’s after-sales service is too much of a gamble for a peaceful 5-year ownership.

Now comes the important part
The Shortlist (My Need vs. Want Dilemma):

I shortlisted Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Zeta CNG, Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXI CNG or Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha Petrol MT.
Reasons

• Decent features
• Good ride quality
• As I have not been on trips, I want to take my parents and travel around the north india with them, so low fuel cost as high mileage of Maruti cars.
• Service centre networks.
• Satisfies all our needs.
• Compromising on premium interior. Very very poor interior and doesn't provide feel good experience during test drive.

BUT BUT BUT,

My mom doesn't like interior of Maruti and hate it. She immediately rejected. She loves Creta/Kia interiors which provide feel good experience. She got emotional with my choice and started mentioning about the years of life spent in hope, waiting for good times and years of life left on this planet. I have seen my mom in tough situations since childhood, so I want to do everything for her I could do. Based on this, I explored Creta S(O) petrol MT and Kia HTK(O) petrol MT should be a good variants around my budget.

The only problem is mileage. Very very poor mileage I have heard of them online.

I calculated the difference in cost of ownership of Maruti vs Kia/creta over 5 years - It comes out to be 4.5-5.5L, which is huge I guess. I am OK with paying 2-4L more on Creta that Maruti but I am not getting that mileage in Creta/Kia, overall making high cost of ownership. I tried to explain maths to parents, but I guess, I didn't work. I don't know what to do.

I have a house to built.

Get my sister married.

My salary(IT job, WFH) - 1L/month (saving money for car for past 3 years).

Around 1 plot left in generational wealth whose market value last year was 5cr, now ~2cr because of overhead pull constructed.

The only thing that outweighs everything to choose Creta/Kia is emotional aspect of my parents. Thats it.

I don't know if I am overthinking.

I am really worried of more ethanol blending in future too and my car becoming non-compliant with that. Currently all new cars sold are E20 compatible.

I really need some expert advice on this. How should I think and proceed ahead?