Latest questions answered by experts

autocar.india

•10m

Based on your usage and priorities, there is no compelling reason to change your Kia Seltos right now. Your 2022 Seltos with 35,000 km is still relatively new and well within its prime ownership period. Since you and your wife are usually the only occupants, and your travel is limited to one or two highway trips every six months with a maximum of 300 km a day, moving to a larger 6-seater like the MG Hector Savvy CVT does not offer any meaningful advantage. While the Hector is a comfortable SUV, its larger dimensions and third row are unlikely to be fully utilised based on your current needs. The Seltos is already a comfortable and capable highway car, and it will continue to serve you well for the next five years until you transition to a chauffeur-driven setup. At that point, you can reassess your requirements and choose a more comfort-focused upgrade if needed. For now, keeping the Seltos is the more practical and sensible decision.

Kia Seltos

MG Hector

autocar.india

•50m

No, this is not normal at all for a premium 900cc adventure motorcycle. Modern engines are designed to last well beyond the odometer crossing 6 figures and requiring another major repair just 6,500 km later strongly points to an underlying issue that has not been properly addressed.The most likely technical reasons for such a recurrence are either a fundamental manufacturing defect in the cylinder head or valve train, improper repair or assembly during the first replacement, or an underlying issue such as oil starvation, cooling problems or incorrect valve clearance adjustment that is causing repeated failure. It could also be related to poor fuel quality, detonation or lubrication issues, but on a premium motorcycle this is far less likely if the bike has been maintained properly.From an engineering perspective, continuing with repeated component-level repairs is not the right approach. If the same failure has occurred twice in such a short mileage, it points to a systemic issue rather than a one-off component failure. At this stage, a complete engine replacement is the more comprehensive and sensible solution, as it eliminates the risk of hidden damage elsewhere in the engine and ensures long-term reliability.Alternatively, we'd also recommend you visit another authorised service centre and get your machine inspected by a trained mechanic. A fresh set of eyes can perhaps provide you with a solution you didn't know was available.

autocar.india

•2h

If the car is a 2018 Maruti Suzuki Ignis Delta petrol, fitting an aftermarket CNG kit can be a sensible decision if the monthly running is high enough to recover the installation cost. The Ignis' naturally aspirated petrol engine is generally compatible with a high-quality sequential CNG kit, and when installed by a reputed installer, it can be both safe and reliable. A good-quality sequential CNG kit with RTO endorsement typically costs around Rs. 50,000-60,000.The bigger question is whether it is the right decision for you. CNG makes sense only if your running is high enough to recover the cost within a reasonable period. You will also lose almost the entire boot space to the cylinder, and there will be a slight drop in performance. If the car is driven only moderately, continuing with petrol may be the more practical option.

autocar.india

•12h

With a 20 km daily city commute and a budget of under Rs. 12 lakh, the Tata Tiago EV is the most sensible choice. It is compact, easy to drive in traffic and has a proven track record as one of the most popular entry-level EVs in India. The battery options are well suited to your usage, and the car is backed by Tata’s strong EV service network. The MG Comet is also worth considering if you are looking for something even more compact and city-focused, but the Tiago EV offers a better balance of practicality and value. At this price point, it is the most complete and dependable EV for daily city use.

Tata Tiago EV

MG Comet

autocar.india

•14h

Given your usage and aspirations, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny AT is the better fit. Your monthly running of 1,200 km in Delhi-NCR is well within petrol territory, and your intent to do long road trips to places like Leh and Arunachal points towards a car with capability rather than outright speed. The Swift is a fantastic highway car, but it is ultimately a hatchback and will not give you the sense of adventure or the ability to tackle rough terrain that the Jimny offers. The Jimny, on the other hand, is a purpose-built off-roader with a classic appeal, and it will allow you to explore the kind of destinations you have in mind with confidence. It is not the fastest car on the highway, nor is it spacious, but it is comfortable enough and excels when the going gets tough. Since you already have the Tata Punch EV for city duties, the Jimny can be your dedicated adventure vehicle, and you do not need to compromise by keeping only one car. This combination gives you the best of both worlds: an efficient city runabout and a characterful, capable highway explorer.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Tata Punch EV

Maruti Suzuki Swift

autocar.india

•15h

You have made a sensible choice with the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi Turbo given your budget and usage. The Brezza will offer you the low maintenance motoring that you want, and since your commute is mostly on highways, the extra power from the turbo will come in handy. Turbo petrols are sensitive to driving style and can very easily be fuel inefficient, especially in the city, but again with your driving mostly on the highway, this should not be that nig of a worry. As for your concerns on E20, all engines today are engineered to handle E20 fuel and most manufacturers including Maruti, have stated that there is a material compatibility tolerance level built in for a slightly higher blend too.As for the music system and rear camera, yes, these can be installed in the aftermarket and generally dealers do not create a warranty issue around this; however, strictly speaking, it can be viewed as grounds for voiding a warranty, especially if the component affected is related to the accessory installed. Thus, if you are worried, then Maruti Suzuki car dealers can also fit these accessories later, which is the safest route from a warranty perspective.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•16h

Go for the Kia Seltos GTXO Turbo Petrol Automatic. With your annual running of around 10,000 km and a majority of city driving, the diesel’s fuel savings will take a long time to offset the higher purchase price. More importantly, the diesel’s DPF system is not ideal for predominantly city usage, as it relies on regular highway runs to regenerate properly. The turbo petrol, paired with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, is a strong performer and well suited to your mix of city and highway driving. It is responsive, refined and does not come with the DPF-related concerns of the diesel. Yes, the turbo petrol is not as fuel efficient as the diesel, but given your usage pattern, it is the more sensible and hassle-free choice. If you were doing significantly higher annual mileage with more highway driving, the diesel would make sense, but in your case, the turbo petrol is the better fit.

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•17h

With your usage of just 20-30 km a month plus a few long trips a year, an EV is actually a very sensible choice. You have home charging, which is the biggest hurdle for most buyers, and your low monthly running means you will not be burning fuel idling in the garage. The occasional long trips are manageable with planning, and modern EVs like the Sierra EV or XEV 9s offer enough range for most intercity runs with a single charging stop. The key advantage here is that you avoid the E20 question altogether. Modern petrol engines are E20 compliant, but higher ethanol blends do reduce fuel efficiency slightly, and with your low usage, the fuel savings of a petrol car are negligible anyway.If you are set on a D-segment SUV, the Mahindra XEV 9s is the most practical choice. It offers a spacious cabin, good performance and despite its size is easy to drive in the city as well.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Sierra EV

autocar.india

•17h

Since you already own a Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI manual, you are already enjoying a strong turbo petrol engine and a genuinely engaging driving experience. The Creta IVT is a naturally aspirated petrol with a CVT, which is smooth and easy in traffic but will feel like a step down in performance and driving enjoyment compared to your Kushaq. The Seltos turbo petrol DCT is the better fit here. It gives you the performance you are used to, a more premium cabin, and a genuinely enjoyable driving experience. The DCT is not as smooth as the IVT in stop-start traffic, but it is the more engaging car overall and will feel like a proper upgrade rather than a compromise. The Seltos also feels more premium inside and is the more satisfying car to own alongside your Kushaq.

Skoda Kushaq

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•18h

If you want to go for car under 15 lakhs, we would recommend going new rather than pre-owned. You are already driving a well-maintained, enthusiast-friendly car, so the upgrade should be about peace of mind and a clear step forward in ownership experience. If you're open to the hatchback body style, we'd recommend the Hyundai i20 N Line DCT. It is a fun-to-drive characterful car. The turbo-petrol-DCT combination is smooth and performance feels more than adequate for daily use. The Fronx or Taisor Turbo AT are cross-hatchbacks with a similar character as your Freestyle.The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI is another excellent option. It is a genuinely engaging car to drive, with a punchy turbo petrol engine and a well-sorted chassis. It will not match the diesel for running costs, but it is a worthy successor to the Freestyle in terms of driving enjoyment.

Hyundai i20

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Skoda Kylaq