Latest questions answered by experts

Rishab

I am looking for a car under 40L(on-road price) and my use is 75% highway drives and 25% city. The car should have a great ride quality and comfort for 12 hr+ journeys. I dont need a 7-seater but 3rd folded works fine. I have done test drives of Jeep Meridian(thorough test drive) and 7xo(test drive not on highway) and both are strong contenders in my list. Looking for advice to pick one of these or any other option to consider ( no Innova Hycross for me).

Autocar India

•29m

With your 75% highway driving and long 12+ hour journeys, you need a car that is comfortable, stable and easy to live with over long distances. The Mahindra XUV 7XO delivers this very well. It has a well-balanced ride that absorbs bad roads without feeling soft, strong performance for effortless cruising and overtakes, and a spacious cabin that keeps occupants comfortable over long hours. It also feels more modern overall, with a richer feature set and widely available ADAS, which adds real value for highway driving.The Jeep Meridian is a strong alternative, but for a different reason. Its biggest strength is the premium feel and solid build, especially inside the cabin. It feels more upmarket and has that typical Jeep character of solidity and composure.However, when you look at the overall package, the XUV 7XO matches or exceeds the Meridian in ride comfort, space, performance and features, while also offering better value and a more up-to-date experience.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Jeep Meridian

Manoj Chellan

•3d

I am planning to buy the Kia Seltos IVT automatic. My usage will be primarily city driving in Bangalore, along with occasional highway trips that include ghat sections. I would like to understand whether the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT gearbox will be sufficient when the car is fully loaded (5 passengers plus luggage).

Autocar India

•1h

Considering your requirements, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is a good fit and will do the job. The IVT is Kia’s smooth automatic that feels very easy to drive in stop-and-go traffic, which is what you face most days. On hills, it will climb cleanly if you don’t rush it. With a full load, you will need to press the throttle a bit more, but it will hold speed fine on steady inclines.A few things to set expectations. When you ask for quick bursts, like an overtake uphill with five on board, the engine will need a moment to build speed, and it will sound louder when you push it hard. On the highway with a full car, you will find it happier at a calm, steady pace.If you see yourself doing those sections very often with all five seats filled and lots of luggage, and you want stronger performance, the Seltos turbo-petrol automatic or the diesel automatic will feel noticeably stronger on climbs and during quick overtakes. But for mostly city use with occasional trips, the Seltos IVT keeps life simple and stress-free, which suits your routine best.

Kia Seltos

Prem Dass

•1d

I have to choose between the Amaze ZX 1.2 Petrol CVT and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi Plus. The car will be for my old parents. It will be used in the city and for a few long trips as well. The choice depends on which automatic transmission is smoother and more hassle-free: the Honda CVT or the Maruti AMT. Please guide.

Autocar India

•1h

For mostly city use for your parents with a few highway trips, pick the Honda Amaze ZX 1.2 Petrol CVT. It's smooth, automatic, and suits elderly drivers better than the Dzire's AMT. The Honda uses a CVT, which is an automatic that does not shift through fixed gears, so it pulls away smoothly and keeps moving without the small pauses you would feel in the Maruti's AMT. This makes it calmer and easier to drive in comparison. The range-topping Amaze also comes with ADAS safety features, which the Dzire misses out on.Trade-offs to note with the Amaze: if you press hard on the accelerator, the engine gets loud and boomy, and the cabin isn't very well insulated. If maximum fuel saving and Maruti’s very wide service network matter more than shift smoothness, the Dzire still makes sense. But for your brief, the Amaze CVT is the smoother, hassle-free choice.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Manoj Sharma

•1d

Looking for my first car. My driving is up to 500 km a month, with occasional highway trips. I have shortlisted the Tata Punch AMT, Honda Amaze 3rd generation CVT, and Maruti Fronx Delta AGS. My budget is Rs 10 lakh, and all cars feel comfortable. Which one should I buy? I like the looks of the Amaze, the safety of the Punch, and the size of the Fronx.

Autocar India

•1h

With 500 km a month, mostly city and some highway, and a Rs. 10 lakh budget, the Honda Amaze V CVT is a good option. Its CVT automatic feels very smooth in traffic and when parking, making it very easy to drive and live with.You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, which is more comfortable as far as seats and ride quality goes. Its engine is more efficient too, with the only downside being that its gearbox isn't as smooth as Honda's. The Dzire has got a 5-star safety rating, and as far as size goes, its length is similar to the Fronx, and the Dzire is narrower, making it more compact, thus easier to park than the Fronx.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Sandeep

•1d

Which diesel automatic should I go for? My daily driving is around 80 km, including city, highway, and rural roads. My budget is Rs 15-20 lakh.

Autocar India

•2h

Go for a strong hybrid like the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder or Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. For your 80 km daily mixed driving, this is now the smartest and most efficient choice.The reason is simple. With newer emission norms, diesel cars are no longer as efficient as they used to be, especially in mixed city conditions. Strong hybrids, on the other hand, deliver consistently high real-world efficiency not just in the city but even on highways, while also being extremely smooth and effortless to drive. In daily traffic, they feel almost like electric cars, and on highways, they cruise comfortably without feeling strained.This makes a big difference for your usage. Covering long distances every day means fuel costs add up quickly, and a hybrid will significantly reduce that over time. At the same time, the driving experience is very relaxed, with no gear shifts and seamless power delivery, which reduces fatigue in both city and highway driving.Diesel automatics like the Mahindra XUV 3XO still have their strengths. They feel stronger when pushed hard and are well-suited to highway-heavy use, but in your kind of mixed usage, they no longer offer the same efficiency advantage they once did.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Abhishek

•1d

I own a 2018 Maruti Swift ZXi petrol manual. We are a family of four, with a 20 km daily city drive and occasional highway trips every 3-4 months. I have no issues with my current car. Should I upgrade to a mid-size SUV now or wait? Also, should I sell the Swift or keep it? My budget for a new car is Rs 15-20 lakh.

Autocar India

•2h

Your daily 20 km city drive and occasional highway trips are exactly what the Maruti Suzuki Swift does well. It is easy, efficient and already familiar to you, and since you are not facing any real limitation, moving to a mid-size SUV right now will feel more like a lifestyle upgrade than a necessity. You will gain space, comfort and a higher driving position with options like the Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos, but in your current usage, the difference in day-to-day practicality will not be dramatic.Waiting also works in your favour. Your car still has useful life left, and upgrading later means you extract better value from it while also stepping into a newer generation of cars, when the upgrade will feel more meaningful.On the question of selling versus retaining, the approach is simple. If you upgrade later, sell the Swift while it still holds good value. If you upgrade now, keep it only if you genuinely need a second car.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Hyundai Creta