I own a May 2014 Mercedes E250 CDI, which has covered just over 63,000 km. It still runs well, but the annual servicing costs are high, and one part or another needs replacement. I don't feel Mercedes cars are as bulletproof as they once were. I was thinking of replacing this with an SUV - which would you recommend between the GLE, the BMW X5 and the Lexus RX and which model? My usage is mainly city driving a couple of days a week, along with occasional long-distance trips.

autocar.india

•11h

Go ahead with the Kia Seltos HTK IVT. The Seltos is a very well-rounded product, and the HTK IVT is a sweet spot in the range with a good balance of features and value. The bigger point is that the Seltos and Creta are fundamentally very similar cars underneath, sharing the same platform, engines and gearboxes. The ownership experience between Hyundai and Kia is also broadly similar in terms of maintenance costs, service reach, reliability and resale value. There is no clear advantage to waiting for the new Creta from that perspective.The only reason to wait would be if you are specifically interested in the new Creta’s design, interior or feature set. But that is an unknown at this stage, and there is no guarantee it will be meaningfully better than the Seltos. In fact, the Seltos is already one of the most complete cars in the segment, and the IVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving.Given you are planning to keep the car for 8-10 years, it makes more sense to buy a proven product now rather than wait for an unknown. The Seltos will serve you well over the long term, and you are unlikely to regret the decision.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•20m

For a budget under Rs 3 lakh and a requirement for an automatic gearbox for city commuting, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio AGS is actually a sensible choice. The AGS (Automated Manual Transmission) is simple and reliable, but if the actuators go wrong, they can be expensive to replace; however, this is for any automated manual transmission car. Given Maruti Suzuki’s service network, parts availability will not be a problem. The Celerio is also compact and easy to drive in traffic, which is exactly what you want for city use.That said, at 10+ years old, the condition of the individual car becomes far more important than the model itself. The AGS system is generally reliable, but like any mechanical component, it can develop issues if the car has not been well maintained. Make sure you get a thorough inspection done, check the service history and look for any signs of gearbox hesitation or rough shifting.If you are open to alternatives, the Hyundai Grand i10 Automatic (torque converter) is worth considering. It is smoother than the AGS and also reliable, though again you must check the condition of the actual car. It would be wise to buy from a reputed seller, as there could be some limited warranty available too.

autocar.india

•10h

You should definitely go for the Brezza ZXi+ AT if you are used to Maruti's hassle-free ownership experience and running costs as no other car in the segment comes close on that front. It is not more expensive than top variants of the Nexon or XUV 3XO, which in fact cost around Rs. 1 lakh more, on road, and instead it is one of the more reasonably priced cars in the segment, despite not qualifying for small-car tax benefits with the 1.5-litre engine. With the latest version, you get a few more features too, like ventilated seats and some driver assist features, but overall, it is not as well equipped as others in the segment. Despite having a larger engine and a torque-converter automatic gearbox, the Brezza AT is more fuel efficient than most other cars in the segment, especially the turbo-petrols, which drink a lot when you drive them eagerly. We would recommend checking the prices again on our website or with your local dealers, as all things considered, the Brezza does seem like the best deal for you.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO