Latest questions answered by experts

I own a 2017 Datsun Redi-GO, which has been driven only 12,000 km so far. Since Datsun has exited the Indian market, would it be better to sell it and buy a new car? I am considering the Baleno and the Grand i10 Nios. Which one would you recommend?

•1h

With just 12,000 km on your 2017 Datsun Redigo, the car is still relatively fresh mechanically, but the bigger issue is Datsun’s exit from India. While basic servicing and spares are still available through Nissan, long-term parts availability and resale value will only get tougher with time. If you plan to keep the car for another 5-7 years, it is still usable, but if you are already considering an upgrade, now is a sensible time to move on before resale value drops further.Between the Maruti Baleno and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the Baleno is the better upgrade. It offers a more spacious cabin, a larger boot, a more comfortable ride and a stronger resale value. The Grand i10 Nios is a good city car, but the Baleno feels like a more substantial step up from the Redigo. Go for the Baleno petrol manual or AMT, depending on your budget and driving preference.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

•16h

My budget is around 14 lakhs, and I am confused between the MG Windsor exclusive, the Tata Nexon Empowered 45 and the Tata Punch Empowered S40. Please Suggest.

•2h

Go for the MG Windsor Exclusive. At Rs 14 lakh, it offers the best ownership experience of the three. The Windsor is a genuinely spacious family car with a comfortable ride, a premium cabin and a strong feature set. It feels like a proper step up from your 2018 Nexon, with a more mature driving experience and a much more spacious rear seat. The Nexon Empowered 45 is a good car, but it is essentially an evolution of what you already own, and the Windsor simply feels like a bigger upgrade for the money. The Punch Empowered S40 is a solid value proposition, but it is a smaller car and does not feel as premium or as spacious as the Windsor. The only real drawback with the Windsor is that MG's service network is not as extensive as Tata's, but it is still a well-supported product in most major cities. Overall, the Windsor Exclusive is the best fit for your budget and your upgrade expectations.

I travel around 70km every day. Is the Tata Tiago EV Smart 19 a good choice?

•2h

The main compromise is that the 19.2kWh battery is best suited to urban use. If frequent outstation trips are part of the ownership plan, the limited range will require more charging stops, making longer journeys less convenient than in the larger battery version.For a buyer covering around 70km every day, mostly in the city, the Tata Tiago EV Smart 19 is a sensible and economical choice. If the budget allows and occasional highway trips are expected, stretching to the Long Range variant is worth considering for the added range and flexibility.

Tata Tiago EV

•6d

Is the Toyota Innova HyCross compatible with E20 fuel?

•3h

Yes, the Toyota Innova HyCross is E20 compatible. Toyota has engineered the 2.0-litre petrol engine used in both the petrol and strong hybrid versions of the HyCross to run on E20 petrol (20% ethanol blend), in line with the latest government norms. There are no special maintenance requirements or fuel additives needed when using E20.There is also no reason to worry about resale value or long-term reliability purely because of E20. Modern E20-compatible engines are designed with appropriate materials and calibrations to handle this fuel. The main real-world effect is a marginal reduction in fuel efficiency compared to lower ethanol blends.

Toyota Innova HyCross

•5d

I have a budget of 13 lakh. Please suggest the best petrol SUV I can buy within this budget.

•3h

The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI is the best petrol SUV to buy with a budget of Rs 13 lakh, provided driving experience is a priority. If long-term reliability, low maintenance and a wide service network matter more, the Maruti Brezza is the better choice.At this budget, the Skoda Kylaq stands out for its excellent steering, confident handling and proven 1.0 TSI engine paired with a well-sorted chassis. It also undercuts many rivals while offering a premium feel and remains the enthusiast's choice in this segment. The only compromise is that the rear seat is better suited to two adults than three, and it misses out on a few convenience features offered by rivals.For buyers who simply want hassle-free ownership, the Brezza deserves serious consideration. Its naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth, reliable and inexpensive to maintain, while Maruti Suzuki's service network and strong resale value make it one of the easiest compact SUVs to own over the long term.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•3d

I currently own a Hyundai i10 and am planning to buy a second car for my son. He drives around 75km every day between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, with a monthly running of around 2,200-2,400km. On weekends, I'll also use the car for occasional highway trips of around 200km. My budget is around 10 lakh. Should I consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG LXi, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx CNG, or would a petrol car be a better option? Please suggest.

•4h

Pick the Maruti Fronx CNG Delta. It fits your Rs. 10 lakh budget better than Brezza CNG, and you will save a lot on fuel costs given your high running. It is light and easy to drive in city traffic, yet still has good ground clearance for broken patches, and Maruti’s service network makes maintaining it easy.For your once-a-month 200 km highway trip, the Fronx CNG cruises calmly if you keep a steady pace, and the cabin is comfortable enough for family use. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG is roomier and feels tougher, but the LXi CNG typically crosses Rs. 10 lakh on-road.Do note, though, the performance with CNG is not great, and the boot is small. You'll also have to plan trips around CNG refills and contend with CNG station queues. If you want to avoid all that, go for the Baleno 1.2 petrol manual instead. It stays within budget and still returns good real-world mileage.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Baleno