I own a 2024 Creta. The company provided led strip headlights that are very poor. The illumination on highways is not at all enough. Since it has an LED strip, there is no option to increase watt by changing the LED bulb. Are aftermarket modifications to fit LED projectors or any such solution safe and advisable? What can I do?

Autocar India

•19h

For your needs, pick the Toyota Innova Hycross VX(O) Hybrid if worry‑free ownership is your top goal. Also, for your 1,000 km a month in and around Bangalore, it is the most reliable and easiest to live with in this class. The hybrid’s smooth automatic makes city traffic simple, the cabin is roomy, the third row is usable for adults on short trips, and Toyota’s service network and track record are the best in India, which matters over many years. Quality is excellent, though it misses out on the premium look and road presence of the Jeep.About the Jeep Meridian you’re eyeing: the diesel manual drives well on highways and feels solid, but for daily Bangalore traffic, the clutch is on the heavier side, and the gears need more effort, so it can tire you out. Jeep’s service network is also much smaller than Toyota’s, and ownership stories are mixed - the core engine is proven, but parts can be pricey, and some owners report delays and niggles with electronics. Resale is weaker too, and fuel economy, especially around town, will be nowhere near as good as the Hycross, which will run on battery power most of the time.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Jeep Meridian

Autocar India

•38m

The Kia Sonet 1.0 DCT is a well-rounded car which delivers on several fronts, including driving comfort, interior quality, features and its real-world fuel efficiency will be respectable too. It has all the safety features too, including ADAS, which prevent an accident in the first place.Do keep in mind that the current version of the Sonet is towards the end of its lifecycle, and a new model will be introduced next year. Alternatively, you could consider a Hyundai Venue 1.0 DCT instead, which is thoroughly modern, and besides all the safety kit, like the Sonet. It has also been crash tested and awarded 5 stars by Bharat NCAP for adult and child protection.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•3d

Go for the Kia Clavis diesel you’ve chosen - with your 40 km daily run in Trichy and regular highway drives on alternate weekends, it fits your use and the DPF should stay healthy. Modern diesels clean the DPF on their own while you drive by heating the exhaust. To help it along, give the car a clear run once every week or two for 15-20 minutes at 60-80 km/h, and keep the engine around 2000 rpm. If a DPF or “regen” message shows, don’t switch off; keep driving in the same way until the light clears. Try to avoid many very short 1-2 km trips from cold back-to-back. Fill diesel from a trusted pump, keep at least a quarter tank because some cars won’t start a regen on low fuel, and use the exact engine oil grade in the manual, which is a low-ash type. Don’t idle the car to clean the DPF; it works better while driving. If a warning doesn’t clear, visit the dealer for a quick forced clean.One thing to be aware of: diesel can feel a bit noisier in the city, and you will AdBlue top-ups which is part of your routine maintenance Yes, you can fit a roof carrier, but some RTOs in certain states do not allow this so check on this first. Use a brand-approved rack and stay within the roof load limitBefore delivery, ask the service advisor to show you how the DPF message looks on the screen and how to trigger a manual regen. That one tip will make ownership stress-free.

Kia Carens Clavis