Latest questions answered by experts

Soumil

I’m on the hunt for a car with a budget of around ₹20 lakh ex-showroom. I’m open to stretching the budget a bit if I find a truly amazing car or one with cutting-edge tech. Right now, I hold a R-Pass booking for the Duster Hybrid. I took the Duster 1.3L DCT for a spin and absolutely loved the driving feel and the engine. The front cabin was also quite nice. However, my family felt the rear was very cramped and congested. I don’t want people sitting in the rear complaining about my car space. It’s usually just my wife and me travelling; my family rarely joins us for long trips. So, we’re still deciding whether to stick with the hybrid or explore other options because of the cramped space at the rear. Also, if they launch it at ₹ 24-25 L, starting it would be overpriced for the quality it offers. I also test-drove a Seltos Diesel Automatic. Everyone enjoyed it equally. The only thing it didn’t quite have was the performance of the VW or Duster 1.3. But overall, it’s a good, stable car with good comfort and a smooth drive, the best overall. I’m a bit worried about the ethanol blending updates without proper planning by the government, and how it will affect our petrol cars, as the maximum supported blending is E20. Diesel feels safer, especially since staying in Mumbai, I can do weekly or bi-weekly highway trips through the Atal-Setu/Palm Beach Road to get the right amount of highway running to avoid DPF issues. I don’t have a home charger for an EV for at least a year until I shift into our new apartment, so I’m not sure if I should consider them. Also, there aren’t any reliable EVs within my budget except for the Hyundai Creta EV. It’s a nice car, but it feels a bit outdated and isn’t rated as safe as a 5-star vehicle. Staying away from Tata cars. Any suggestions welcome

Autocar India

•51m

Coming to the first part of your question, you mentioned that you loved the driving experience of the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT, you are planning to skip it because your family wasn't happy with the space at the back. We would strongly advise you to reconsider.Yes, space is tighter than most rivals in this class, and ingress/egress (for rear passengers) is a bit difficult, but if you're rarely going to have passengers at the back, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker for you. If you really enjoyed the drive experience, it is certainly worth going for. The turbo-DCT isn't very fuel efficient, but keep in mind that the hybrid is likely to command a significant premium over it, so unless your usage is over 1500km per month, it is worth opting for the turbo-petrol DCT.The Kia Seltos is an excellent all-rounder, when it comes to space, comfort, interior quality and it is one that checks all the right boxes, however unlike the Duster, it lacks that emotional appeal, so it won't tug at your heartstrings. If you go for it, you won't go wrong with it.Your concern of whether the petrol engine will be capable of handling higher Ethanol blend is valid, so opting for an EV could be an option, but be prepared to pay a premium for an electric powertrain. As far as the Hyundai Creta Electric goes, yes, it does feel a bit old compared to the modern offerings, however it is an excellent car - one that we easily recommend.

Kalpesh dalia

Hi, I am planning to buy a diesel automatic SUV and am currently confused between the Tata Nexon Fearless Plus PS, Hyundai Creta, and Kia Seltos. My budget is around ₹17 lakh, and my weekly running is approximately 50 km.

Autocar India

•51m

With just 50 km a week, we would strongly advise against a diesel automatic. Your running is simply too low for a modern diesel to make sense, and repeated low usage can create DPF-related headaches over time.Between your options, the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic or Kia Seltos petrol automatic are the much smarter choices. If we had to pick one, we would lean toward the Seltos IVT because it feels slightly more premium inside, and the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in daily use. The Creta IVT is equally good mechanically and rides a touch softer, so if comfort is your absolute top priority, it remains a very strong option too.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Kiran G

•4h

I am a new driver planning to buy my first car with a budget of around ₹10 lakh. My usage will mainly involve highway driving. Could you please suggest the best options considering safety, stability at highway speeds, comfort, fuel efficiency, reliability, ease of driving for a beginner, and long-term ownership experience?

Autocar India

•1h

For your needs, you should consider the Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXI. It comes with a refined 1.2 petrol engine paired with a slick 5-speed manual gearbox, and combined with its light controls, makes it very easy to drive in city traffic. The Dzire is also an efficient car, with Maruti claiming it'll do 24.79kpl with the manual and 25.71kpl with the AMT automatic. The cabin is comfy, the ride quality is absorbent, and it also has a reasonably sized boot, all of which you'll appreciate on your long drives. The sedan has also proven to be safe, as it has a 5-star crash safety rating from Bharat NCAP. And to round it off, it's backed by Maruti's widespread service network, which will give you peace of mind, especially since this will be your first car.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Franklin R

•11h

I currently own a 2015 Maruti Suzuki Celerio AMT that has covered around 57,000 km, mostly in moderate city traffic. I am now considering replacing it, mainly because the car is over 10 years old and also due to concerns around increasing ethanol blending in petrol. My usage is quite limited - around 10-20 km daily in city traffic, amounting to roughly 5,000–6,000 km annually. I am confused between buying an EV like the Tata Punch EV Long Range or going for another petrol automatic such as the Maruti Taisor 1.2 NA AMT. With the EV option, I am also concerned whether my low running could negatively affect battery health over time. At the same time, I wonder if I would ever recover the higher purchase cost of an EV, given my limited annual usage. Could you please advise which option would make more practical sense for my requirements?

Autocar India

•1h

Given your limited usage, most of it being in the city, an EV sounds like a great idea. Even though lowered running costs aren't your concern, you will appreciate the savings as time goes by, and yes, you get to wait out the ethanol uncertainty and see how it pans out. The Tata Punch EV is an excellent choice for a first EV, being compact, yet feature-packed and powerful. It will also feel like an appreciable upgrade to your 11-year-old Celerio. As for battery health, low usage isn't an issue, but instead how you handle it. Don't charge the car too often just because it is sitting idle; instead, wait for the SOC to get low, and plug in as infrequently as comfortably possible. Conversely, don't let the SOC reach 0, as that's not good for battery health either. And of course, make sure you have a charger installed at home, as relying on the public charging network isn't ideal at this point.

Tata Punch EV

Sourabh Nanaware

•4d

I have shortlisted the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX3, Tata Safari Pure(X), Mahindra Scorpio N Z4, and Kia Carens Clavis HTK+. My priorities are safety, mileage, easy city driving and parking. My yearly running is around 6,000km. Please suggest the top two options and whether I should choose petrol or diesel.

Autocar India

•3h

City-first use, low yearly running and a focus on safety and easy parking point to two picks from your list: Mahindra XUV 7XO AX3 and Kia Carens Clavis HTK+.The Mahindra XUV 7XO suits you if you want a strong safety focus and a calm, smooth drive. It feels steady on bad roads, gives a clear view out, and the light steering at low speeds helps in traffic and tight lanes. Parking aids available on the 7XO help slot a big car into small spaces.The Kia Carens Clavis is the easiest to live with in the city. It has light controls, a relaxed petrol engine, and it sips less fuel in stop-go use. The low floor also makes getting in and out very easy for the family, and the third row is better than the 7XO's.With 6,000 km a year, pick petrol. Diesel costs more, and short city runs don’t suit it. Only choose diesel if you do frequent long highway trips.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

Samarth Shukla

•1d

I currently own a 2025 Kia Seltos petrol and a 2012 Wagon R LPG. I want to replace the Wagon R with an EV. My budget is up to Rs 12 lakh, and I am open to battery subscription options. Usage includes city, rural and highway roads with daily running of around 60-65km. I am confused between the Tata Punch EV and the MG Windsor. Also, is there any news about a Kia Syros EV or a sub-4m Hyundai EV?

Autocar India

•3h

The Tata Punch EV is an excellent option. It feels solid on broken roads, has good ground clearance, and its small size makes tight city lanes and parking easy. The range is more than enough for your 60-65 km daily run with a safe buffer.The MG Windsor you mentioned is significantly larger in size, so unless you need that extra cabin and boot space, we'd recommend opting for the more compact Punch EV instead.The Kia Syros EV is likely to be launched in August. If you can, wait for it. It could be worth considering.

Tata Punch EV

MG Windsor