Hoshangabad

•6w

Hi Autocar team, I am a mechanical enginer as well as car and bike enthusiast for last 3 decades. I have been following Autocar for many years. I currently drive XUV 500 & Ford Ecosport. In the past, I owned Yamaha FZ150 & FZ 250 as weekend bikes and I liked them. Now, I am planning to upgrade to a 350cc bike for city use in a budget of 2-2.5 lakh. I am 5'6" and 53 years old. I am looking for a powerful, bike with comfortable suspension for fun to drive city biking experience. I have no highway usage and I am not a fan of heavy bikes (less than 180kg is suitable for me). I am seeking value for money bike but dont mind paying a bit of premium for a bike with superior fun to drive biking experience. It should be reliable since I plan to keep it for 7-10 years. I have taken the test drive of RE Hunter 350 and liked it. Triumph does not have a showroom/service centre in my tier 2 city (Bhopal, MP) in central India (feeling bad to skip T4). I am evaluating Honda CB 350 models (tall gear and has less torque) and NS400Z (40PS at value) also. I have heard about Hero Xpulse/ Xtreme250 availability and reliability issues. Are there any other options and what are your recommendation?

•5w

For your location and usage, we'd recommend choosing between the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and Honda CB350 models. The Hunter is more affordable, more compact and quite comfortable. It is also a very popular bike which sells by the bucketload every month and given how many are on the road today, you're likely to have a pleasant ownership experience without teething troubles.

Meanwhile, the Honda CB350 models are larger machines in terms of their bodywork and spacious ergonomics but are almost on par with the Hunter when it comes to weight. The H'ness and RS, in particular, also have a more standout design and if you want a bike that's not very common, one of these is a good buy.

Finally, the 350cc Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z is a completely different ballgame to these air-cooled 350s and will offer much superior performance and handling but will be a little compromised on the comfort front in comparison.

To make an informed decision, take a test ride of all three before you go ahead with your purchase.

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•21h

Thank you for considering my query. I am a Central Government employee and am eligible to register a car under the BH series, which reduces my initial ownership costs. My budget is around Rs 15-16 lakh. Within this budget, I am considering the Hyundai Venue HX10 and the Hyundai Creta S(O). The Venue is the top-end, feature-rich option, while the Creta is a larger and more comfortable car but offers fewer features in the variant that fits my budget. I am confused between choosing a fully loaded smaller SUV and a lower variant of a larger SUV. Which one would you recommend?

•1h

Go for the Creta S(O). The Venue HX10 is a well-equipped car, but the Hyundai Creta is a larger, more comfortable and more premium product overall. It offers better ride quality, more rear-seat space and a more relaxed driving experience, which will matter far more over years of ownership than a few extra features. The S(O) variant may not be the most feature-rich, but it still covers all the essentials and gives you the benefit of the Creta's superior comfort and refinement.The Hyundai Venue HX10 is a good car, but it is still a segment below the Creta in terms of overall size and comfort. The Creta S(O) is the car you will be happier with after five years.

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•5d

Hello, I work in industrial product sales and am looking to buy a bike that will help reduce back pain. My daily travel is around 80 km. I am comparing the Honda CB350 and Royal Enfield Meteor 350, but I am also open to other suggestions.

•4d

The Honda CB350 will be more comfortable between the two bikes you've shortlisted purely because the Meteor's feet-forward seating posture puts more weight on your tailbone and will send shocks directly to your spine. Instead, we'd recommend you take a look at the Bullet 350 from RE's stable at a similar price. If you are open to looking at other segments, then the Hero Xpulse 210 and TVS Apache RTX 300 will offer you even more comfort and practicality (owing to their well-thought-out luggage racks), especially if you mount your wares on the bike.Take test rides of these bikes and then make your decision.

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•3d

I am looking to buy my first car and am confused between the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L and Honda Elevate V CVT. I would appreciate some advice. I am 6 ft 2 in tall, while my wife is 5 ft 3 in. Neither of us has much driving experience apart from driving school and occasional driving, so a 360-degree camera would be very useful. My budget is Rs 14.5 lakh on-road under the BH series, which is already stretched by around Rs 2 lakh. I am looking for an automatic with good safety, a reliable engine and reasonable service costs. I do not want a sunroof, as the additional headroom would be more useful. My annual running will be around 3,000-5,000 km, with 60% city and 40% highway use. I plan to keep the car for around 15 years. My main considerations are: Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L * I need to keep the seat almost at its lowest setting, although it slides back sufficiently. * The 360-degree camera is a major advantage. * My main concern is long-term reliability. How well will the turbo-petrol engine and torque converter automatic combination age over 15 years? Honda Elevate V CVT * I also need to keep the seat almost at its lowest setting, but it does not slide back as much as the 3XO's. * The 360-degree camera will be dealer-installed. * The naturally aspirated engine and CVT combination give me more confidence regarding long-term reliability. As I have limited driving experience, it is difficult for me to judge from a short test drive whether either seating position could cause fatigue during occasional 300-400 km journeys. For my usage, which would you choose: the XUV 3XO AX5L or the Elevate V CVT?

•23h

Go for the Honda Elevate V CVT. Your usage is low (3,000–5,000km a year), with a 60% city bias and a 15-year ownership plan, so reliability and ease of ownership matter more than outright performance. The Elevate’s naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the CVT is a proven, simple and dependable combination that should age well over a long ownership period. It is also smoother in stop-start city traffic, which is where you will spend most of your time.The XUV 3XO AX5L is the better value package on paper, with more features and a stronger turbo-petrol engine paired with a torque converter automatic. However, turbocharged engines are inherently more complex, and the Honda still feels like the safer long-term bet for a 15-year ownership horizon.On the seating position, the Elevate’s cabin is slightly more accommodating for taller drivers, as it is a larger car than the Mahindra XUV 3XO. Even though the seat does not slide back as much as the 3XO’s, you will find more room inside the Elevate. The only way of really knowing if either car will cause fatigue on longer journeys is to take an extended test drive. Perhaps even rent one for the weekend if you must.The Elevate's dealer-installed 360-degree camera will not have the highest resolution, but it will do the job. Overall, the Honda car is the more sensible and confidence-inspiring choice for your use case.

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•1w

I am buying my first car and want a petrol manual hatchback. I have no daily running, my budget is around Rs 7 lakh, and I have to park the car on a crowded road where space is limited. Which car should I consider?

•6d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. With no daily running and a tight budget, you want a car that is easy to park, reliable and cheap to maintain. The Wagon R is compact, which makes it much easier to squeeze into tight parking spots in crowded areas. It is also very easy to drive, has a light clutch and is extremely affordable to run and maintain. Maruti’s service network is the best in the country, so you will not have to worry about finding a service centre nearby. The engine is peppy enough for city driving, and the car is simple and fuss-free, which is exactly what you want for your first car. At around Rs 7 lakh, it fits your budget comfortably and leaves room for a higher variant.If you want something slightly bigger, the Hyundai Exter is a solid choice, but you will be looking at the base variant within your budget. The Maruti Suzuki car mentioned above is the more rounded package for your needs.

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•1w

I am a first-time driver with an annual running of no more than 6,000 km and need an automatic car. I am confused between the Tata Nexon 1.2 AMT Creative+ at around Rs. 13 lakh, which offers features such as a 360-degree camera and panoramic sunroof, and the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT at a similar price. Should I choose the Brezza VXi AT or stretch my budget to around Rs. 14.5 lakh for the ZXi variant with a reverse camera? I liked the Nexon's comfort and spacious cabin. Will the AMT gearbox be suitable for 75% city driving and 25% hill driving around Pune?

•2d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi automatic. The torque converter automatic is far smoother and more predictable in stop-start traffic and on hilly terrain compared to the Tata Nexon AMT, which can feel jerky at low speeds and on the hills. This Maruti Suzuki car is a more reliable and hassle-free car to own, with Maruti's strong service network and lower maintenance costs. If you can stretch your budget, the ZXi variant is worth considering for the added features, but the VXi itself is a solid, no-nonsense choice. You can also consider the Mahindra XUV 3XO, which gets a turbo-petrol engine and a torque converter. It will deliver punchier performance and is better value than the Brezza

I used to own a Honda Unicorn 150, eight years ago. Since then, I have only ridden scooters in the city and haven't ridden a motorcycle in 8 years. I am looking for a bike for 50 km of daily commute with a mix of city traffic and highway. I am looking for a smooth and reasonably powerful bike that is capable of comfortably cruising at 80-90 kph on highways. I needs a bike that offers a relaxed, comfortable riding posture and easy handling for city traffic. I have a maximum budget of Rs. 2 lakh. Which motorcycle would be the best fit for my transition back to riding? Should I shortlist SP160, Yamaha FZ-X Hybrid, and NX200?

•4d

Since you've had a Unicorn in the past, the Honda SP160 will offer a smooth transition back to motorcycling after a long break. Do bear in mind that all the bikes you've shortlisted will feel a little strained at 80-90kph owing to their small displacement and relatively modest outputs. You should also look at the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Bajaj Pulsar N160 models because they marry everyday usability with that added step of performance that your humdrum commuters don't offer. Take test rides of these bikes to see which one works best for you.

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