I am looking to buy a new car for my wife. She has been using a Volvo XC90 T8 Excellence for the past 6-7 years. She enjoys driving herself but also uses a chauffeur at times. Most of her travel is within the city, typically around 30-50 km per day. I currently drive a Range Rover Sport Autobiography. She prefers an SUV, so we are looking for something in that segment. Could you please suggest the best SUV options suitable for her usage?

Autocar India

•11h

As you rightly pointed out, the Kia Seltos has a superb, upmarket interior that is far nicer than the rather drab cabin of the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The Seltos diesel is also more enjoyable to drive, and as an overall package of performance, comfort and boot space, it feels like the better all-rounder.The Hyryder strong hybrid, on the other hand, is the one to pick if you prioritise efficiency and a smooth, relaxed driving experience in traffic. With your 70km-a-day mixed commute, you will see a clear running-cost advantage with the Toyota over the diesel Seltos, especially if you plan to keep the car for many years.As for a Seltos hybrid, there is a hybrid powertrain in the works, which could come as early as the second half of 2026. If you are willing to wait that long, that could indeed be the ideal middle path combining the Seltos’ feel-good factor with hybrid-like efficiency.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•12h

There’s a lot of noise around bans on petrol and diesel cars and the impact of ethanol blending, so it’s worth separating fact from speculation. Statements about moving away from petrol and diesel, often linked to Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s comments, are more directional views, largely aimed at commercial vehicles like buses and trucks. There is no confirmed plan to ban private diesel or petrol cars at all.On ethanol, India is already moving towards E20 petrol, and higher blends like E30 will come quite quickly in the coming years. This could affect older petrol cars, such as your 2018 Baleno, in two ways: slightly faster wear of components like fuel hoses and seals, and reduced fuel efficiency due to ethanol’s lower energy content. That said, any wear will be gradual and relatively inexpensive to address, especially with Maruti’s low parts costs. The efficiency drop of around 8-10% is something you’ll simply have to factor in.There is currently no widespread ethanol blending in diesel, though there is a plan to introduce a biofuel mix in diesel as well.As for your cars, both are perfectly fine to continue using. Your 2023 Innova Crysta diesel is robust, long-lasting, and highly regarded for reliability and resale. The Baleno, too, remains easy and economical to maintain. There’s no urgent need to switch to an electric car. Continue using your current cars confidently and reassess when clearer policies or stronger EV infrastructure emerge.

Autocar India

•12h

Having a diesel in Delhi is always a challenge because of the 10-year rule, which deregisters cars after that period. However, since your Mahindra Thar and Mahindra Thar Roxx are quite new and still have a long life ahead of them, we don’t think you need to panic and jump to replacing them because you can happily continue using both well into the next decade. And, since you are a hardcore Jeep and Mahindra fan, you may want to wait for the next-generation Thar, which could come out around the end of 2027 or in 2028. It won’t be a body-on-frame like your existing Thar and Thar Roxx, but could have a hybrid powertrain, which will be future-proofed against any regulations.For now, hang on to your existing Thar and Thar Roxx because, as you said, these body-on-frame diesels will be the last of a breed. Also, Hormazd Sorabjee will be happy to know you met him over 30 years ago!

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

•1d

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

•3d

With a 70 km daily mix of traffic and highway use, we would lean towards the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid. Your usage is high, and the hybrid will use far less fuel in city traffic while staying calm and smooth. It pulls away on electric power at low speeds, so stop-go driving feels quiet and easy.You like the Seltos for its cabin and stronger shove, and that is fair. The Seltos diesel feels stronger when you press the throttle for quick passes, and its cabin does look and feel richer. If most of your 70 km is open highway and you really value that strong pull and the Kia car interior, the Seltos diesel automatic is still a solid pick.On a Kia Seltos hybrid: Kia does intend to introduce a hybrid, but timing is not yet decided as they are trying to localise components. We estimate it could arrive in 2027, but that could change. For your mix of city and highway, the Hyryder strong-hybrid lines up best with what you need right now.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•5d

Mostly highway use, about 1,000 km a month, safety first, and an automatic in the Rs 12-13 lakh range, in that brief, we would suggest the Skoda Kylaq Signature. Its torque converter is much smoother than an AMT or DCT, so city driving feels easy, and performance from the 1.0 TSI makes highway overtakes effortless. The Kylaq has a 5-star crash score from Bharat NCAP and feels steady at highway speeds, which builds confidence. It also rides well over broken patches, so you are not tossed around.Two things to keep in mind: while the front seats are comfy and supportive, space in the back seat is a bit tight. It makes up for it with a large boot and a low loading lip. If you want more space, look at the Nissan Magnite Tekna Turbo CVT, which has a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP.Overall, for highway-heavy use with safety at the top, the Kylaq lines up best in your budget.

Skoda Kylaq

Nissan Magnite