Latest questions answered by experts

autocar.india

•1h

If your driving is almost entirely in the city and you don't specifically need the higher seating position of an SUV, the Honda Amaze would be our recommendation. It is refined, comfortable, easy to drive and backed by Honda's excellent reputation for reliability and low maintenance. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is another excellent choice if fuel efficiency and widespread service support are your top priorities.If you prefer an SUV, we'd narrow it down to the Skoda Kylaq and the Mahindra XUV 3XO. The Kylaq is the more enjoyable car to drive, with excellent ride and handling, while the 3XO offers more features, a roomier cabin and strong safety credentials. Both are among the best compact SUVs in the segment.For a Rs 10 lakh budget, however, we'd lean towards the Honda Amaze or Maruti Suzuki Dzire, as you'll be able to buy a higher variant with more equipment rather than stretching for an entry-level SUV.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•2h

Since you will be driving between Chennai and Coimbatore often, we recommend that you consider the upcoming 2026 Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.0 Turbo. While its launch is scheduled in the coming weeks, the turbo-petrol engine is likely to address one of the Brezza's biggest shortcomings - lack of outright punch, and bring its performance at par with rivals. The turbo will add some much-needed oomph to the Brezza, which is otherwise a spacious, practical, and comfortable family car. It will feel tough, secure and long-distance drives will be a breeze.Alternatively, you can shortlist the Skoda Kylaq and Mahindra XUV 3XO. Between the two, the former will feel a bit nicer to drive, while the latter is more spacious.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•3h

A 160cc commuter like the Bajaj Pulsar N160, Honda Unicorn/SP160 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V will fit your use case well. These bikes have spacious single-piece seats, a practical grab rail and comfortable suspension, factors which will aid comfort in the long run. These bikes have widespread service reach across the country and are known to be frugal and reliable to live with. Take test rides of these three to see which one fits you and your pillion best before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•4h

If your budget permits, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris S-CNG is a sensible choice. It is a practical mid-size SUV that offers better comfort and features for family use. Its CNG tank is positioned beneath the boot floor, so luggage space is not significantly compromised. Additionally, being a Maruti Suzuki car, it offers a hassle-free ownership experience with an extensive service network, making the transition from the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R CNG seamless. If the budget is tighter, the Tata Punch iCNG is a strong option. Its tall stance makes ingress-egress easy, while the overall driving experience feels like a significant step up from the Wagon R CNG in terms of safety and everyday comfort. Tata's twin-cylinder CNG layout keeps most of the boot usable, making it practical for family use. It also feels tough over broken roads, which adds to its everyday usability.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

autocar.india

•5h

Pick the Hyundai Verna. Coming from a City, you’ll appreciate the airy cabin, big rear seat and boot, and the way it smooths out rough patches. You said you’ll use it frequently, and the Verna feels secure and relaxed at highway speeds while still being easy in tight city gaps, so it won’t feel like a step down from your Honda on the daily grind. It's also well equipped, and you get a choice of two distinct petrol engines, a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol. The former is the better all-rounder, smoother and lighter on the pocket, with the better auto gearbox - a CVT. The latter is punchier but drinks noticeably more fuel and gets a clunkier DCT gearbox. If your usage is mostly on the highway, the turbo petrol might make sense, but in most cases, the regular 1.5 petrol is better.The Skoda and Volkswagen are also excellent choices, especially if you enjoy driving. Their turbo engines are punchy, though they are also heavy drinkers if you are not careful, and Skoda/VW service is not quite as bulletproof as Hyundai's. Moreover, both sedans are due for a facelift very soon, so we would recommend waiting to see what's in store before taking the plunge. If you're in a hurry, though, the Verna is the safer bet.

Hyundai Verna