Latest questions answered by experts

Hi, I am planning to buy an EV scooter with a budget of max 100K. My daily ride would be approx 30 Km per day, and it may go up to 50 km in the coming months. Which one is better between TVS Orbiter and Ampier Magnus Neo? Thanks.

•16m

The Orbiter is a sensible electric scooter that focuses on maximising range and practicality, and of the two options, the Orbiter will be the safer bet in the long run. Do bear in mind that the Orbiter's performance is quite mellow, especially in Eco mode, and if your daily commute involves a lot of flyovers or riding in hilly regions, then you will have to use the scooter in City mode as well as keep the throttle pinned. The Ampere Magnus will likely be a bit more affordable, but in the real world, small quality-related niggles are more common than they should be, and after-sales can be patchy depending on your city.One thing to watch with the Orbiter is that the top 3.1kWh variant's price will be over Rs. 1 lakh on-road in your city, so you may have to stretch your budget by a small amount.If stretching your budget is simply not an option and you must have an EV from a reputed brand, choose the Hero Vida VX2 Go 3.4, which should give you enough range and performance.Try to take test rides of the Orbiter and VX2 before you make your decision.

TVS Orbiter

Ampere Magnus

•1d

Which middleweight bike should I go for: the GSX-R 800, Daytona 660, or the CBR650R? I understand that the CBR is currently discontinued and has a very long waiting period. My main priorities are engine sound and after-sales service. Which one would you recommend?

•1h

Between the two available bikes in India currently, the Suzuki GSX-8R and Triumph Daytona 660, we'd recommend the Suzuki. It has a superb, torquey engine, good handling without sacrificing comfort, is built well, and Suzuki's big bike after-sales experience is quite straightforward and not terribly expensive either. The one area where the GSX-8R doesn't score very highly is that it has a rather mellow exhaust note. That's exactly where the Daytona 660 comes in with its wonderful triple howl and intake sound. If a wailing exhaust note is a non-negotiable factor for you, then it's hard to beat the Daytona at this price point. Do bear in mind that the 660cc Daytona doesn't have the same chassis poise or high-quality factor as the GSX-8R, and of the two, feels like the more budget-friendly option. Triumph's aftersales service has also become quite expensive of late.That leaves you with the Honda CBR650R. If you want to buy a CBR, you'll have to wait until Honda brings the next batch of allotted units to India, which is an uncertain and rather long timeline. In general, Honda big bikes are pretty reasonable to maintain and are very reliable too, so from an ownership standpoint, you are making a safe bet. The CBR650R is a mellow sportbike with an inline-four engine, and of all three, it will have the best exhaust note. Do bear in mind that to initially purchase, the CBR650R will actually be the most expensive.Try getting a test ride of all three bikes before you make your decision.

Suzuki GSX-8R

Triumph Daytona 660

•20h

I am considering the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, Honda CB350C, and TVS Apache RTX for my next motorcycle purchase. I really like the styling of the Meteor 350, but the features offered by the TVS Apache RTX are very appealing. Considering all aspects, which of these motorcycles would you recommend as the better overall choice?

•1h

The TVS Apache RTX 300 may be in the same price and displacement bracket as the RE Meteor 350 and Honda CB350C but it is a completely different sort of bike. It has a more powerful, rev-happy, liquid-cooled engine, better suspension and seating comfort and sportier handling than the two laidback neo-retro machines you've shortlisted. On the other hand, the air-cooled 350s will have a more torque-rich and laidback riding experience. While these bikes will be slower, they're sure to have more of an emotional connect with you. Since these are such drastically different machines, only a test ride will help you decide which is the best one for you.

TVS Apache RTX

Royal Enfield Meteor 350

Honda Bikes CB350C

•16h

I’m looking to buy a car for my father, who does not have extensive experience driving in city traffic. My priority is a smooth and easy-to-drive automatic car with good visibility, light steering, and comfortable driving dynamics. My budget is around Rs. 10-15 lakh on-road. So far, I have shortlisted the Hyundai Venue HX5/HX8 DCT and the Skoda Kylaq Automatic. Are these good options, or are there any other cars in this price range that I should consider?

•2h

The Skoda Kylaq Automatic would be the recommendation here. For an older driver who is relatively inexperienced in city traffic, the Kylaq's torque-converter automatic is a major advantage. It is smoother and more predictable than a dual-clutch transmission in stop-start conditions, while the light steering, good visibility and compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre. The higher seating position also inspires confidence and makes getting in and out easier.The Hyundai Venue DCT is a good SUV, but if ease of use is the priority, the Kylaq's torque-converter automatic is the better fit. DCTs work best when driven smoothly and can occasionally feel less natural in heavy traffic than a conventional automatic.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai Venue

•9h

Hi, I currently drive a Hyundai Elite i20, but I have found it quite tiring on long journeys. On trips exceeding 300 km in a day, I often experience body aches and severe fatigue. I am now looking to buy a new car with a budget of up to Rs. 50 lakh. My goal is to travel extensively and cover the entire country within a year, so long-distance comfort is my top priority. Could you please suggest the most comfortable car for a family of four within this budget?

•2h

For your requirements, the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid ZX(O) would be the recommendation. If the goal is to comfortably cover thousands of kilometres across the country with a family of four, few cars can match the HyCross. The hybrid powertrain is smooth, quiet and extremely fuel efficient on long journeys, while the ride quality is excellent. The standout feature for your use case is the ottoman second-row seats, which allow rear passengers to travel in near business-class comfort. It is also spacious, easy to drive and backed by Toyota's vast service network, which is a major advantage when travelling across India.The Skoda Kodiaq would be the alternative if you enjoy driving and want a more premium, European feel. It offers excellent ride comfort, strong performance and a beautifully finished cabin. However, it cannot match the HyCross for second-row comfort, fuel efficiency or nationwide service support.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Skoda Kodiaq

•6h

I currently own a Hyundai Verna (2019, manual transmission). My wife would prefer an automatic vehicle, and it will be her first car. I am also planning to upgrade to a luxury vehicle in the future. However, instead of purchasing two vehicles immediately, I am considering buying one car for my wife first, allowing her to get comfortable with it for about a year, and then purchasing another vehicle later. My plan is to sell the Verna, buy a new car for her, and share the same vehicle for some time. I am considering Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Renault Duster, Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet. Among these, I am looking at the automatic variants. My budget is up to Rs. 20 lakh, although I can stretch it to Rs. 25 lakh if the car is particularly compelling. The primary use case will be daily office commutes of around 8-15 km, including dropping off my son on the way, so ISOFIX child-seat mounts are essential. We also take occasional highway trips, typically once every three months. Considering these requirements, which option would you recommend?

•3h

The Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol IVT would be the recommendation here. Since this will be your wife's first automatic car and you'll both be sharing it for some time, ease of driving should be a key consideration. The Seltos' naturally aspirated petrol engine and IVT automatic combination is exceptionally smooth in city traffic, making it very beginner-friendly. It is also spacious, comfortable on long drives, comes with ISOFIX mounts and feels premium enough that you won't feel the need to upgrade immediately.The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Mild Hybrid Automatic is another strong option. Its naturally aspirated petrol engine and torque-converter automatic are smooth and dependable, while Toyota's ownership experience is among the best in the business. However, it doesn't feel quite as premium or feature-rich as the Seltos.The Renault Duster Turbo DCT is appealing if you enjoy driving. It offers strong performance, a solid feel and excellent road manners. However, the DCT transmission is not as smooth in stop-start city traffic as the Seltos' IVT, which is an important consideration for a first-time automatic driver. It is also likely to be less fuel efficient than the Seltos in everyday use.The Volkswagen Taigun remains a great driver's car, but for your specific use case, the Seltos is the more rounded family package. The Sonet is a good SUV, but it feels a size smaller than the others on your shortlist.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder