I am looking to purchase a new car for my wife’s office commute, and driver use with a budget of ₹5 lakh, focusing on reliability and decent safety features, without any fancy extras since our Kia Syros is already fully loaded; which car should I choose?

If you want to buy a new car, you can buy the Maruti Suzuki Alto VXi. It is a reliable car- called Lord Alto for a reason, and now it gets 6 airbags for safety. You can also look at pre-loved cars, which will increase your options in terms of price. Also, now there are many organised players in the used car segment, which give great service and peace of mind.

If ₹15 lakh is a strict budget and a sunroof is a must, we suggest you consider either the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder or the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. With year-end offers currently available, you can negotiate and secure a good deal.The new Kia Seltos is an attractive option as well, but at this price point, the variant you get may not include a sunroof, and the Seltos is not particularly known for fuel efficiency. That said, if you are keen on the updated Seltos, it may be worth waiting for the price announcement on 2nd January.

Since you own a KTM 390 Duke and have spoken about its performance, we'll put that parameter at the forefront when recommending some options. The Kawasaki Z650, while a quick, light and premium machine, can feel a little dull if you're stepping up from the fast KTM. While the Honda CB / CBR 650 models are now knocking on the door of 100hp, they are also quite heavy machines, and the engine is rather peaky, which means that you'll really have to work for the performance. In the Honda lineup, we suggest you look at the CB750 Hornet, as that is a punchy and lightweight machine that will feel like a good step up from the 390 Duke. You can also take a look at the Suzuki GSX-8R because even though its spec sheet is quite modest, in the real world, this is a very fun machine that doesn't sacrifice practicality too much. Another option in the same segment is the Triumph Daytona 660, which is also a relaxed, real-world usable sportbike with engaging performance. If you want to break the 100hp barrier well and truly, bikes like the Triumph Street Triple R and Kawasaki Z900 are the most affordable options. The former is an accomplished track machine, while the latter will be a sublime road bike owing to its creamy smooth engine and plush suspension.We recommend a thorough test ride of all bikes before you choose to go ahead.

Unfortunately, your worry about the resale value of an electric car is correct. The battery is the biggest cost in EVs, and there is no effective way for second-hand car buyers to judge the battery health; hence, they sell at a discount.Instead, you can go for Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid, it will give you good mileage and will be in your budget too.