Latest questions answered by experts

I have been using a Hyundai Creta Diesel since 2017 and have driven it for almost 2 lakh km. I am now planning to upgrade my vehicle. Would the Mahindra XUV 7X0 base diesel variant be a good choice for my requirements?

•8m

Yes, the XUV 7XO base diesel is a solid upgrade from your 2017 Creta if you do long highway runs. The 2.2 diesel pulls stronger, sits at cruise with less effort, and the bigger, heavier Mahindra car feels more settled at speed and over broken roads. You also get a roomier cabin and boot, which helps on long trips with family and luggage.Be ready for a few compromises. It is a big SUV, so parking in tight city spots takes getting used to, and the diesel manual’s clutch can feel heavier than your Creta’s in traffic. Expect slightly lower kpl than your old 1.6 diesel.Overall, the XUV 7XO AX is a strong choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Creta

•1d

Hi everyone, I'm a 37-year-old male and am planning to immediately replace my Renault Triber Petrol Manual and would appreciate your suggestions. My budget is between Rs. 15 and 20 lakh (on-road) for tier-2 city with monthly running of around 500 km and annual running of around 8,000 km. I take long trips of 400 to 600 km once every 2 months. I have a family of 4 including my wife and two kids. Occasionally, my parents or in-laws travel with us, so a 7-seater is preferred. I have shortlisted Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ Diesel Manual, Maruti Ertiga ZXi Petrol Automatic and Maruti Victoris VXi Petrol Automatic . I am confused about diesel car due to my relatively low annual running (~8,000 km). Will DPF issues become a major concern and whether I should go for automatic or manual, considering my age and occasional knee discomfort due to which I am interested in an automatic car. Will choosing an automatic over a diesel manual worth my money? I have another confusion between Ertiga and Invicto in terms of better long-term choice for my usage. Another concern is regarding the safety of Ertiga. Has Maruti made any improvements to its body structure or safety over the years? Its 1-star Global NCAP rating is a concern. Also, what real-world Ertiga automatic mileage can I expect in city and highway driving? Many owners have mentioned that Carens petrol has poor mileage. Is it really that bad in real-world conditions? Also, should I be worried about E20/E30 fuel compatibility and long-term ownership? I am not interested in buying an EV at the moment.

•1h

The Kia Carens Clavis Petrol Automatic would be our recommendation. While your family consists of four members, you've specifically mentioned that your parents or in-laws do join you on trips from time to time, which means a genuinely usable third row is important. The Carens Clavis offers the best balance of space, comfort and practicality for seven occupants, while also being easy to drive and comfortable on the 400-600km trips you undertake every couple of months. With an annual running of around 8,000km, we would also avoid the diesel. Although your highway trips should help keep DPF-related issues at bay, the fuel savings are unlikely to justify the higher purchase price and complexity of a modern diesel. Given your knee discomfort, an automatic is definitely worth choosing over a manual and will make day-to-day driving far more relaxing.As for the Carens petrol's fuel efficiency, it is true that some owners report lower-than-expected figures, particularly in heavy city traffic. However, with your relatively modest annual running, we wouldn't let mileage become the deciding factor. The difference in fuel costs between the Carens petrol automatic and a more efficient alternative is unlikely to be substantial enough to outweigh the benefits of the Kia's superior space, comfort and practicality.The Ertiga Automatic remains a sensible option if value, fuel efficiency and ease of ownership are your priorities, but its safety credentials continue to be a concern. The Victoris feels more premium and offers greater comfort on long journeys, but if you genuinely expect to travel with six or seven people, the Carens Clavis is simply the more practical vehicle.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•1d

I am looking to buy an EV. My monthly usage ranges from 500 km to 1,000 km, and my budget is under Rs. 15 lakh. Could you please suggest the best EV options for my requirements?

•2h

Get the Tata Punch EV 40kWh. Your 500-1000 km a month is exactly its sweet spot, and the price is comfortably under Rs. 15 lakh in most cities. One home charge a week should be enough for your normal city usage, and you'll still have room for a short weekend round-trip. It is easy to drive and park, rides well on bad roads, and Tata’s EV service reach is pretty wide now.If you plan to use it on highways, it will need some planning around chargers, and the boot is modest. If you want even more range and a larger vehicle, the Tata Nexon EV 45kWh mid-level trims are an option, but won't get as many features and will stretch your budget. For most first-time EV buyers at this budget, the Punch EV 40 is the best choice.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Nexon EV

•1d

How is the life of my Kia Carens diesel automatic purchased in 2023?

•3h

Your 2023 Kia Carens Diesel Automatic should have a long and healthy life ahead of it, provided it is maintained properly and used in a manner that suits a modern diesel.The good news is that your car is still relatively new, and the 1.5-litre diesel engine has proven to be a refined and dependable unit. If your driving includes regular highway runs or trips where the engine gets fully warmed up, there is no reason why the car cannot comfortably serve you for well over a decade. Modern diesels are capable of very high mileages when maintained correctly.The main thing to watch out for is the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). If your usage is predominantly short city trips, the DPF can clog over time. However, if you regularly drive on highways or take longer journeys, the system should regenerate naturally and remain trouble-free.

Kia Carens

•1d

Hi, I'm a Rapido rider. I'm currently using a Discover 125, which has clocked 67,200km on the odometer. My daily running is around 150km per day, with 80% of the time carrying a pillion. Around 95% of my riding is on city roads, and I cross a lot of speed breakers and potholes every day. I also carry a small bag containing a 2-litre water bottle and my wallet. Occasionally, I need to carry luggage such as a large duffel bag or a customer's wheeled suitcase. Kindly suggest a good electric two-wheeler with a minimum real-world range of 160-170km. My budget is Rs 2-2.5 lakh.

•4h

For your use case, the only option you should consider is the TVS iQube ST 5.3. The iQube ST fits inside your budget and will give you the range you desire, and with its big 32-litre boot, it will also be able to accomodate your daily essentials with ease. Since your running is quite high, going for a reputed scooter like the iQube with TVS' widespread sales and service reach is a safe bet.

TVS iQube

•2d

My current car is a 2012 Skoda Fabia Petrol 1.6 MPI. For an upgrade, I am considering the Kylaq AT, Kushaq AT or the Honda Elevate Hybrid, if it becomes available. My usage consists of limited city driving on weekends and around 10,000km of highway travel annually, including a 600km one-way trip to my hometown. My budget is Rs 15-18 lakh, although I can stretch a little if it makes sense.

•5h

Our suggestion would be to keep it in the Skoda family and pick the Kushaq. Your 600km highway runs will feel the easiest in this one, thanks to the TSI engine's strong pull and a stable, confident high-speed feel. Coming from a Fabia, you will also like the familiar solid build, but it's still compact enough for your weekend city drives. For your usage, the 1.5 TSI with the DSG gearbox is honestly the better bet, as it has the stronger yet smoother engine, snappier gearbox and almost no fuel economy penalty thanks to clever cylinder deactivation tech.However, these variants are several lakhs outside your budget, so you might have to choose the 1.0 TSI, which is also very good. The Kylaq with the 1.0 TSI is also a good bet, but it won't feel as significant an update from your Fabia in terms of size.The Honda Elevate hybrid, sadly, does not look like it will see the light of day, as Honda is focused on bringing out its midsize EV first, and other all-new models thereafter. You could look at the Elevate petrol, however, which is plenty efficient enough on its own. However, we still think the Kushaq is the best option for you.

Skoda Kushaq

Skoda Kylaq