Cuddalore

•12w

I own a Hunter 350 Dapper White for over two years. Lately, the suspension has started to bother me, and I am considering upgrading to an adventure bike. Which model would you recommend within a budget of Rs. 7 lakh? If there is an upcoming motorcycle that is worth waiting for, I am also considering upgrading the suspension on my Hunter 350 in the meantime. I was particularly interested in the Honda NX500, but the latest version seems significantly more expensive. What would you suggest?

•12w

Since you're innately familiar with Royal Enfield ownership, upgrading to the Himalayan 450 seems like a safe bet. The Himalayan's suspension can iron out pretty much any road imperfection you encounter and its performance will be a big step up over the Hunter you own too. The only caveat with going for the Himalayan is that it is a tall and heavy bike, and these attributes will make their presence felt at slower speeds inside the city.

If you want slightly higher performance levels on a lighter machine, then the KTM 390 Adventure models (whether you opt for 350cc or 399cc iterations is up to the budget you have) are worth considering. The KTM bikes have great handling, punchy top-end performance and come with features like adjustable suspension, traction control and a bidirectional quick shifter - depending on the variant.

In your Rs. 7 lakh budget, you can also get the BMW F 450 GS, although depending on your city's taxation structure, you may need to stretch your budget a little if you are eyeing the top Trophy variant. The new entry-level GS is a competent machine and will be a step up in refinement from the single-cylinder machines mentioned above and it is also lighter than them. You will, however, need to be prepared for higher running and maintenance costs expected of a machine wearing the BMW badge.

Take test rides of these machines to decide which one works best for you before you make your next purchase.

If none of these options seem enticing, you could also retrofit the latest-gen Hunter's suspension to your older model which will bring some much needed relief in terms of ride quality. Do bear in mind that this swap will likely void your warranty and we'd recommend reaching out to your nearest dealership for more clarity on the same.

Explore bikes mentioned

KTM

390 Adventure

from ₹3.28 Lakh

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Himalayan

from ₹3.55 Lakh

Royal Enfield

Hunter 350

from ₹1.60 Lakh

BMW Bikes

F 450 GS

from ₹5.45 Lakh

•11w•

For 7 lacs budget the f450gs is a very promising offering given what kinda bike ur getting that too from a premium brand....and for most users the exclusive variant is the sweet spot as its a very versatile bike both on highways and in city and within ur budget... the trophy variant is for very serious adv riders i believe... but do keep in mind the after sales and service prices is also of the level of a premium brand and on higher side... if that is something u can live with then I shall say go for it...

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•1d

Hi all, I need some suggestions. I am looking for my first car and am a new driver. I will mainly use it for weekend trips, along with one or two long road trips across India each year. I am looking for a 5-seater SUV with very good suspension, with a maximum budget of Rs 20 lakh. Low running and maintenance costs are important, as I plan to keep the car for 10-15 years. Should I go for a naturally aspirated or turbo-petrol/diesel engine? I am currently considering the Tata Sierra Adventure+ diesel automatic. Should I wait for the Creta 2027? Also, should I consider a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, diesel or petrol? I have heard about high maintenance costs, electronic glitches, rusting and paint issues with Tata cars, although their build quality is said to be very good. What would be the best option for my requirements?

•16h

Go for the Tata Sierra Adventure+ diesel automatic. It is the best fit for your requirements. You are a new driver looking for your first car, with weekend trips and occasional long India tours, and you want a 5-seater SUV with very good suspension, low running and maintenance costs, and a long ownership period of 10-15 years. The Tata Sierra diesel automatic is a genuinely comfortable and spacious SUV with a strong diesel engine, and it is well-suited to long-distance touring. The diesel engine will keep running costs in check on highway trips, and the Sierra's ride quality is genuinely impressive, which is exactly what you are looking for.On your other questions: do not wait for the Creta 2027. It is still a few months away, and there is no guarantee it will land exactly in your budget. On the fuel type, diesel makes sense for your usage pattern with long highway trips. Hybrid or plug-in hybrid only makes sense if your running is predominantly city, which is not the case here. On Tata reliability, the Sierra is a new-generation product, and Tata has made genuine improvements, but it is fair to say that Hyundai and Maruti still have a more consistent long-term ownership track record. That said, the Sierra is a genuinely good product and worth considering.If you want the absolute safest long-term ownership experience, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic or the current-generation Hyundai Creta diesel automatic are the alternatives to consider. They are not as spacious as the Sierra, but it is a very reliable, with a proven ownership track record.

I am planning to buy my first car, mainly for a 6-7 km one-way office commute in Mumbai, with occasional city and highway trips. I prefer an automatic and have a budget of around Rs 18-19 lakh with BH registration. I am avoiding diesel because of DPF concerns and EVs because my housing society does not have charging facilities. What are some good options?

•6d

Go for a petrol automatic car. Your usage is predominantly city with a short daily commute, and diesel DPF issues are most likely to occur in exactly this kind of stop-start urban driving. Electric cars are ruled out for now due to the lack of home charging, so a petrol automatic is the most sensible and hassle-free choice.Within your budget, the Kia Seltos CVT is a strong recommendation. It offers a more premium cabin, is feature-rich, and is a spacious and comfortable car. On E20, do not let it influence your decision. Modern petrol engines are engineered to handle E20, and the impact is largely limited to a small drop in fuel efficiency. There is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage, so it should not be a deciding factor.

Kia Seltos

•3d

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?

•2d

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.

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Venue

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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?

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