I am 58 years old and 5′5″ tall, and I have been riding motorcycles for the last 35 years, all of which were 100–125 cc. I want to continue riding just for the fun of it. Which bike should I select? I am looking for something in the 350 cc range.

Autocar India

•1d

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and the TVS Apache RTX 300 are two very different motorcycles. The Meteor is a relaxed cruiser, while the RTX is an adventure bike, a sporty streetfighter.Objectively speaking, the RTX will be more comfortable and capable in just about every situation you'll find yourself in. However, it is quite a tall machine, so if you are a shorter rider, this could be something to look out for, especially at slower speeds in city traffic. Instead of the Meteor, we'd actually recommend considering the Classic / Bullet 350 because they have a more comfortable and upright seating position, which will be more conducive to comfort over your long daily commute. A test ride of these bikes will help you figure out which one is best for your needs.

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Autocar India

•1h

The Mahindra XEV 9S is, in many ways, is a clean and logical upgrade from your Maruti Suzuki Brezza diesel. For a family of five, the flexibility of three-row seating is genuinely useful, even if you don’t use the third row daily.As you rightly pointed out, the Pack Three variant of the Mahindra XEV 9S is very well equipped and, in fact, offers more features than the 9E Pack Three, like the co-passenger electric seat adjustment, rear ventilated seats and the added practicality of seven seats. Given that it’s also a couple of lakhs cheaper than the comparable Mahindra XEV 9e variant, from a pure value perspective, the 9S Pack Three does look more compelling.On the suspension, yes, the 9S is tuned on the softer side, but it's not a deal-breaker. You do feel a bit of vertical movement, especially at highway speeds over undulations, and that’s probably what you sensed during the test drive. However, in daily city use (which is the bulk of your 500), a softer setup at low speeds can actually work in your favour, better absorbing potholes and broken patches.Importantly, Mahindra has responded to feedback by introducing a ‘Custom’ drive mode, which lets you choose a sportier or stiffer suspension setting while keeping steering and power delivery in Comfort. That flexibility helps tailor the car to your preference.Since your usage is just around 500 km a month and mostly in the city, an electric car makes strong sense. Just ensure you have convenient home charging, that’s key to a stress-free EV ownership experience.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9e

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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Autocar India

•2h

If you do not want to wait any longer, going ahead with the Maruti Suzuki Ignis Zeta AGS is a perfectly sensible decision for your usage. For mostly city driving with an occasional highway run once every few months, the Ignis fits the bill well. Its 1.2 litre four cylinder petrol engine is smoother and more responsive than the Punch’s motor, and the AMT calibration feels easy to live with in traffic. It has good space on the inside, has a comfortable ride quality and, being a Maruti Suzuki, offers a hassle-free ownership experience with low maintenance costs and wide service support.One important point to keep in mind with the Ignis is safety. When tested by Global NCAP in 2022, it scored a one-star rating, so this is something you should be fully aware of before making a final decision.If timely delivery, the Ignis Zeta AGS is a good buy. If safety rating and a more rugged feel are higher priorities and you are willing to wait, then sticking with the Tata Punch makes sense.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Tata Punch

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