The Mahindra XUV 3XO is the better option for several reasons. The pairing of the 1.2 TGDI engine and the 6-speed Aisin gearbox in the 3XO is superior to the 1.2 turbo-petrol and dual-clutch automatic transmission in the Nexon, which is slow to shift and not very responsive.The 3XO also has the better-appointed cabin and is easy to drive. The Nexon has its strengths of good ride and handling, and a bigger boot, but overall it's not as nice to drive as the 3XO.

The Mahindra XEV 9S is an excellent electric car, but if your one-way work distance is 225km, a round trip on a single charge could be stressful. The real-world highway range of the XEV 9S is 477km as per our tests, so theoretically you could do the 450km round trip, but it's best to have a buffer of at least 30-40km to avoid any range anxiety, which can otherwise make your drives very stressful.The other option is to find a DC fast charger for a quick top-up, but if you are on a day trip, this is not very convenient. Also, fast chargers on the highway are not always reliable. In view of this, go for the diesel Mahindra XUV 7XO, which is an excellent cruiser and features a new suspension that delivers fantastic high-speed stability and a comfortable ride.

Given the limited running you are doing, most of it on the highway, the Tata Sierra with the 1.5 TGDI and 6-speed AT is a better option than the Seltos 1.5 NA with the IVT or CVT transmission.The Seltos is a good car, no doubt, and more soundly engineered than the Sierra, but what we like about the Sierra is the powertrain, which is punchy, refined and has smooth gear shifts. Whilst the Seltos 1.5 with the CVT would be great in the city and in stop-and-go traffic, the CVT’s ‘rubber band’ effect would make the engine sound a bit loud or strained at high speeds.

There are many misconceptions about three-cylinder engines due to misinformation spread on social media and online forums. The fact is that a three-cylinder engine is theoretically more reliable than a four-cylinder engine because with one cylinder less, you have 25% fewer moving parts. Three-cylinder engines are also theoretically more efficient than four-cylinder engines.The Citroen Aircross’ 1.2 turbo-petrol engine is the best 1.2-litre engine in our view, offering strong performance and good efficiency. All engines today are compatible with E20 ethanol, and manufacturers have built in greater protection for materials affected by ethanol to future-proof themselves against higher ethanol blends. The bigger worry is Citroen’s service network. Otherwise, the Aircross is a good vehicle, and you can go ahead and buy it.