Hey Autocar, I have a daily running of around 40-45 km, with a mix of city and highway use. Can you suggest whether I should go for an electric car or a diesel for my daily needs? I also consider two family trips a year. My budget is around ₹15 lakh on-road, and safety is the biggest factor I am considering.

Autocar India

•2d

Mostly city use with a 350 km round trip every couple of months, and an XUV700 already in the garage for longer highway runs, makes the Tata Nexon EV with the 45 kWh battery a good fit for you. In daily city traffic, it is quiet and smooth, so you will feel less stress than in the Creta you’re used to. You can charge at home overnight and skip fuel stops, which suits a second car that does lots of short trips. For your 350 km round trip, it can do the job with one quick fast-charge halt on the way if needed, and the XUV700 is there for the odd trip where charging is tricky.A couple of things to keep in mind. You need a fixed parking spot to install the home charger. On fast highway runs, you will plan one charging stop and check chargers on your exact route in advance. Also, the Nexon EV is a size down from your Creta, so rear seat and boot space are a bit less.If you want a similar size and a more premium feel, consider the Hyundai Creta Electric, though it costs more.Given your usage and that the XUV700 already covers long trips, the Nexon EV makes a lot of sense.

Tata Nexon EV

Hyundai Creta Electric

Autocar India

•2d

The new Hyundai Ioniq 5 has just been launched and is available for Rs 55.7 lakh (ex-showroom). The big change is a larger battery 84kWh battery (up from 72.6kWh ) with a corresponding increase in range to 690km on a full charge, which is quite substantial. Other changes are mainly cosmetic with styling enhancements to the front and rear bumpers, a new set of alloy wheels and a redesigned rear spoiler. The interiors are largely unchanged and continue with the same airy and spacious cabin, connected cockpit, and in-car payment support for charging.Hyundai has also added a few safety and convenience features like rear parking collision-avoidance assist and enhanced parking distance warnings.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Autocar India

•3d

Cars made before April 2023 were generally designed for lower ethanol blends, so while they will run on E20 without any immediate issues, they are not optimised for it. In real-world testing, older petrol cars have shown a noticeable drop in fuel efficiency of around 8-12 per cent, simply because ethanol has lower energy content.From a durability perspective, there is no evidence of sudden engine damage or failures. Industry testing and government-backed studies have shown that even older vehicles can run on E20 without abnormal wear or performance issues in the short to medium term.However, over the long term, there can be minor effects. Ethanol can be slightly more corrosive, so components like rubber seals, hoses or fuel system parts may wear a bit faster in some older cars. These are typically small, inexpensive replacements and not major engine issues.

Autocar India

•5d

You want a car that is comfortable in the city, easy to drive and capable of doing long trips for the next 10 years. The Toyota Innova Hycross fits this very well. The hybrid system makes it very smooth and quiet in city driving, and the automatic gearbox is effortless, which becomes more important with age. On highways, it is stable, comfortable and built for long-distance travel, which is what the Innova name has always stood for.What really works in your favour is long-term ownership. Toyota’s reliability, strong service network and resale value make it one of the safest bets if you plan to keep the car for many years. The Hycross also offers excellent space, easy ingress and egress and a comfortable ride, which are important for everyday use and for passengers as you grow older.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

•5d

For your usage, a naturally aspirated petrol with a CVT or IVT is the best fit. These setups are smoother, easier to drive in traffic and more predictable, which matters far more in city conditions than outright performance. So yes, in your case, NA engines are better suited than turbo petrol.The Hyundai Verna IVT stands out as the most well-rounded option for city driving. The engine is smooth, the IVT gearbox is very intuitive in stop-and-go traffic, and the overall driving experience is effortless. It feels refined and easy to live with daily.The Honda City Hybrid is worth considering if your running is high. It offers excellent fuel efficiency, strong performance and is very easy to drive in the city thanks to its hybrid system. However, it comes with a higher upfront cost, and the battery placement results in a higher boot floor, which slightly affects practicality.Compared to the Verna, the standard Honda City CVT is also an option, but the engine feels a bit noisier, and the gearbox is not as intuitive as the Verna’s IVT in everyday use.

Hyundai Verna

Honda City

Autocar India

•22h

Going by your shortlist, you want a bigger family car on a tight budget and are looking at base trims. If you need the car in the next couple of months for mostly city use with some weekend trips, pick the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT. It is well equipped and, compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, gives you more back-seat space and boot room.The Brezza update will be relatively minor, though we expect the 1.5 NA engine to make way for the 1.0 turbo-petrol from the Fronx. Waiting for it only makes sense if you mainly drive in tight city areas and want an easier-to-park car.Overall, for a near-term purchase and everyday comfort, the Seltos lines up best with what you’re considering.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx