I am planning to buy a new car and have narrowed it down to the Tata Sierra TGDI top model (approx ₹24.5 lakh on road) and the Mahindra XUV 7XO; my monthly run is up to 1000 km and fuel efficiency is not a big issue, and I am looking for a tech-powered car with good road presence - which one should I choose?

The Tata Sierra stands out for its design. Its new 1.5 TGDI and 6-speed automatic gearbox combination is smooth, refined and delivers strong performance. Also, this Tata car is packed to the gills with tech and features, and you'll be happy to know that fit-finish and quality levels are the best compared to any other Tata vehicle on sale.The Mahindra XUV7XO, on the other hand, will continue to be equipped with the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, which will certainly feel stronger and punchier than the Tata's unit. Both are likely to have a similar features list, and both are likely to rank similarly in terms of their ride comfort and driving dynamics. The Mahindra car, though, has an edge over the Sierra in terms of a third row of seating. It gives you the flexibility to ferry 6 or 7 passengers occasionally.So ask yourself this: Is having a third row of seats something that matters to you, in which case, the XUV7XO is the one to get. If not, go for the Sierra - it scores higher on emotional appeal.

All new cars sold after April 2025 are engineered to run on E20, so you do not need to worry about long‑term reliability on that front. With that concern out of the way, you can confidently go ahead with the BMW M340i. It is a fantastic everyday performance sedan and will put a big smile on your face every time you drive it.

Considering your long daily commuting distance, we will keep comfort and fuel economy as the highest priorities. Since you haven't specified whether you want to stay in the same performance spectrum or not, we'll give you options from both sectors. The Hero Xpulse 210 will give you great comfort and fuel economy while giving you similiar sort of performance as your TVS Apache RTR 200 and is well within your budget. If you want something a little more retro, you could take a look at the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 models, as both have a comfortable ride and will deliver decent fuel economy if ridden sensibly. In a similar vein, the Honda CB350 trio can also be considered for the same reason. Last but not least, you could also opt for the TVS Apache RTX 300, which will give you the most performance and a very spacious and comfortable riding position. Given its displacement, you should see decent fuel efficiency if ridden sensibly, although we haven't been able to test it for ourselves just yet. We recommend a thorough test ride of all the options you shortlist before you decide to put your money down.

Both cars you selected have 1.5 naturally aspirated (NA) engines, and the Honda car engine mated to a CVT is clearly the better option for several reasons. Firstly, Honda makes the best small-capacity naturally aspirated engines, and for Mumbai traffic, the CVT is a much smoother automatic than the twin-clutch DCA in the Tata. Also, the Tata engine, which develops a mere 106hp, is nowhere near as powerful as the Honda engine (121hp). Hence, Honda Elevate is better than the Tata Sierra DCA, which comes with this 1.5 NA engine.