Latest questions answered by experts

•4d

Hello, this is Dilip. I’m planning to buy my first car for myself and my parents. I’m 30 years old and am looking for a car under Rs. 20 lakh, preferably with a manual transmission, that offers excellent long-term reliability, low maintenance and ownership costs as well as good safety and build quality. I need a car comfortable for my parents and family with a good driving experience in both city traffic and highways. It should offer good mileage and overall practicality. Suggest me a car that I can confidently keep for 8-10 years. Please suggest the best options based on these requirements and explain both pros and cons of each car.

•45m

Go for the Honda Elevate manual. It is the most sensible choice for your requirements. Honda’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is proven, reliable and efficient, and the manual gearbox is smooth and easy to use in both city traffic and on highways. The Elevate is also comfortable for family use, with a spacious cabin and a well-balanced ride, and Honda’s ownership experience is among the best in the segment. It is a car you can confidently keep for 8-10 years without worrying about major reliability or maintenance issues.If you want a slightly more premium feel and a bit more space, the Kia Seltos petrol manual is a good alternative. It offers a more feature-rich cabin and a more premium overall experience, but it is also more expensive and does not offer a significant reliability advantage over the Elevate. Alternatively, consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris petrol manual. Its powertrain is smooth and efficient and Maruti’s service network is unmatched. Overall, the Honda Elevate manual strikes the best balance between reliability, comfort, safety, driving experience and long-term ownership confidence.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•3d

Which automatic SUV car is best for new driver who does not have much confidence? Is CVT transmission will be good in such case and does it come with a light steering. I am planning to buy Honda elevate CVT but it is bit lengthier. Is the steering of Honda elevate light enough for traffic?

•1h

The Honda Elevate CVT is actually a very good choice for a new driver who is not very confident. The CVT automatic is extremely smooth and easy to drive, with no perceptible gear changes, which makes it very forgiving in stop-start traffic. The steering is also light at low speeds, making it easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces and heavy traffic. The only concern you have is the length, but the Elevate is not excessively long for its segment and visibility is good, so it should not be a major issue once you get used to the car.If you are still concerned about size, you could consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. It is more compact, has light steering and is very easy to drive in the city. Overall, the Elevate CVT remains a strong recommendation. It is easy to drive, reliable and confidence-inspiring. If size is a major concern, the Brezza auto is the best alternative.

Honda Elevate

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•3d

I am planning to buy a new car under a budget of around Rs. 11.5-12.5 lakh (on-road). It will be mostly used for city driving, with a few highway trips. My main requirements are automatic transmission. good safety rating, good quality interior, low maintenance costs, good driving performance and offers fun-to-drive experience. Please suggest 4-5 good cars in this price range that would suit my requirements.

•1h

Based on your requirements, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic would be our first recommendation. It is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, has a strong safety record, a wide cabin that makes it a genuinely comfortable five-seater, and the turbo petrol engine paired with the torque converter automatic delivers good performance and a fun-to-drive experience. It also offers a well-equipped interior and Mahindra's service network is strong, keeping maintenance costs reasonable.The Skoda Kylaq automatic would be our second recommendation. It is the most driver-focused car in this price range, with a strong turbo petrol engine and a well-tuned chassis that makes it genuinely enjoyable to drive. The torque converter automatic is smooth and reliable, and the Kylaq offers good safety credentials and a solid build quality. The only drawback is that the rear seat is not as spacious as the 3XO.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the sensible choice. It is reliable, has low maintenance costs, a comfortable ride and a good safety record. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the torque converter automatic is smooth and easy to live with, making it an excellent city car. It may not be as exciting to drive as the 3XO or Kylaq, but it is a very dependable ownership proposition.The Tata Nexon automatic is also worth considering. It has a strong safety record, a comfortable ride and a feature-rich interior. The turbo petrol engine paired with the DCA automatic offers good performance, but the gearbox can feel a bit hesitant at times in stop-start traffic.Overall, the XUV 3XO automatic strikes the best balance between safety, performance, interior quality and ownership costs. The Kylaq is the enthusiast's choice, while the Brezza is the most sensible long-term option.

Which is a better buy between Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi Turbo or Tata Nexon Pure Plus? I am interested in usable features. Please suggest accordingly.

•2h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.0 VXi Turbo. It is the better long-term ownership proposition. The Brezza is a proven, reliable product with Maruti's extensive service network and low maintenance costs, which makes it a hassle-free car to own over many years. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol is a refined and relatively efficient engine that delivers more than adequate performance for both city and highway use, and the Brezza is known for its comfortable ride and practical, well-built cabin.The Tata Nexon 1.2 Pure+ Turbo is the more feature-rich car on paper, and the 1.2-litre turbo petrol is the stronger engine. However, Tata's ownership experience is not as consistent as Maruti's, and the Brezza's overall reliability and ease of ownership make it the safer long-term choice.If you are specifically interested in usable features, the Brezza VXi Turbo offers all the essentials you need without overcomplicating the ownership experience.

Tata Nexon

•19h

Hi, I have been happily driving a Polo for the last 4 years and I think that it is the right time to upgrade it to a bigger vehicle because of my mom's back pain. Please suggest a car under 12 lakhs. Thanks a lot.

•3h

Given your requirements, the priority should be a car with a comfortable ride, easy ingress and egress, and supportive seats. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit here. It offers a noticeably more comfortable ride than the Polo, a higher seating position that makes getting in and out easier, and a wide rear seat that is genuinely comfortable for long journeys. It is also one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, which will make a big difference on family trips. The only real drawback is the boot, which is on the smaller side, but for your budget and requirements, the 3XO strikes the best balance between comfort, space and value. If boot space is a major priority, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a good alternative with a larger boot and a similarly comfortable ride, but overall the 3XO is the more complete and spacious package.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•4h

I purchased tata punch petrolAMT adventure variant Auguest month. Till now i drive 500k. In traffic it's ok. Interior and design looks good. Due to AMT jerk is common in this. Doors are opening at 90 degrees which is good for elder people. 360 degree camera, left and right truns cameras are useful in tight traffic. I didn't trst it on highway till now. Over all its good. Milage now giving 10 km per liter now as I am learner.

•10h

I am planning to buy a new car under a budget of Rs. 22-23 lakh. I drive a 12-year old Chevrolet Sail diesel now. I really enjoy driving this car, particularly its MultiJet engine with a good mid-range torque. I value driving dynamics and pleasure of driving more than fuel efficiency and features. I prefer sedan over an SUV. My dad owns a 2022 Skoda Slavia 1.0 MT. I really like that car but in city driving, I've felt noticeable turbo lag at low speeds. Other than that, Slavia is a very good car. So I have shortlisted 2026 Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG. But only thing that I worry about is the reliability of a DSG with its dry clutch system, because I tend to keep the car for at least next 7-8 years. Also, I have doubts about its city driving manners. But I live in a tier-2 city and encounter stop and go traffic rarely. I hit the highways often though. So, will the Slavia 1.5 satisfy my needs coming from a good torquey diesel engine? Another SUV that I am interested is the Duster/Tekton, because I have heard that they are the closest to the German twins in driving pleasure and dynamics. Can I go with the Slavia 1.5 DSG or should I go with Duster/Tekton 1.3 DCT?

Go for the Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG. You will appreciate the 1.5 TSI's strong mid-range punch and the way it pulls on the highway. Since you live in a tier 2 city with minimal stop-and-go traffic and do frequent highway runs, the DSG should not be a major concern over a 7-8 year ownership period. The 1.5 Slavia also offers a more engaging driving experience than the 1.0 TSI, with noticeably stronger performance and less turbo lag once you are on the move.The Renault Duster/Tekton twins are genuinely good to drive, with excellent ride quality and strong dynamics, but they aren't as involving to drive or as agile as the Slavia. The Slavia also benefits from a more premium cabin and a better overall ownership experience. Overall, the Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG is the car that will keep you happiest over the long term.

I owned a Verna Diesel AT for 6yrs, which had a 4 Speed Torque Converter AT and now own Seltos Diesel AT for 7yrs, which is a 6 speed TC. I enjoyed both of them and never missed the driving pleasure given the output from these cars and their pairing and the fact that they always come with a manual mode if you want, I'm sure that is the case with 7XO Diesel AT also, which is again a TC unit. Never had any problem with any of these cars in the last 13yrs. Pls go for an AT without worry (atleast with TCs or CVTs). They are time tested. Also, What's the fun in pressing the clutch if beyond a certain age, legs are more important for atleast 18hrs of usage everyday than the small driving pleasure that we get for few hrs here and there ;-)

•17h

I am planning to buy the Kia Seltos but am confused between the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and the turbo-petrol DCT. Around 80% of my driving will be in the city, with the remaining 20% being highway and hill-station trips. I will normally be travelling with five passengers. Which engine and gearbox would be better for my usage?

Go for the Kia Seltos 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol IVT. With 80% city driving, the IVT automatic is the better choice. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start traffic, and the 1.5 NA engine is refined and easy to live with. The turbo petrol DCT is the enthusiast's choice, but the DCT gearbox can feel jerky at low speeds and is not as well suited to heavy city traffic. The 1.5 NA is also more reliable and easier to maintain in the long run.For your 20% highway and hill station runs with five passengers, the 1.5 NA will do the job. It is not the most powerful engine, but it is adequate for steady cruising and occasional climbs. If you regularly drive fully loaded in the hills and want stronger performance, the turbo petrol is the better performer, but for your usage pattern, the 1.5 NA IVT is the more sensible choice.

Kia Seltos

I’d like you to let me know about Lexus es 350h

When I bought my Honda CB Hornet 160R nearly ten years ago, I fell head over heels for its looks—especially that aggressive design and massive rear tire. I spent hours watching YouTube reviews from journalists praising its linear power delivery, and the moment I saw it in the flesh, I was hooked. I bought it on impulse without ever taking a proper test ride or looking at competing options. That decision turned out to be a ten-year headache. Instead of a dependable motorcycle, ownership has been a cycle of relentless unreliability. Every time one part is fixed, another—or the exact same one—starts crying for attention. To make matters worse, the firm suspension transmits every single pothole and undulation straight into my back. A decade on this bike has completely robbed me of the joy of riding, and I’ve finally given up on it. I am now looking for a complete reset. I need a motorcycle where exceptional, plush ride quality comes first, backed by rock-solid reliability and a smooth, effortless engine. I want a true engineering gem that will bring back the excitement of being on two wheels."

Ventilated front seat as well as hybrid option is must

Driven crysta 2.4 diesel manual, clutch was easy and effortless i expected it to be like tight and tough to operate, but all my concerns vanished in front of my conscience when the first gear was slotted, it also dont stall that easily from 3rd gear to 4th gear the sweet turbo spooling is addictive and the pedal controls and steering allignment are well sorted and nice its non tiring. u wont feel like driving a big car, i have mixed feeling with hydraulic steering u may feel its heft while turning the wheel at slow speeds but its mangeable and in high speeds its gives confidence sometimes you feel that steering is not responding to your input in a swift manner like making quick maneuvers this is because we are so used to light weight electric steering of our cars so we only use neccessary toned down movements,cause eps responds really well in a sensitive way, you have to drop that habit with Crysta. There is that refinement issues when compared with that of mahindra diesels also quick downshifts aint that smooth, sure its rugged and you feel that reliablity kind of feel. Anybody who edited out crysta from list due to being a manual should test drive one to get the feeling and then decide dont go by the online narrative which makes buying a manual car a big sin.

Flash door handle don't give creta because this door handle is not good and comfortable to use. So please don't do useless and unconvince features for this....