Latest questions answered by experts

Autocar India

•1h

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Punch EV

Autocar India

•2h

Get the Tata Punch EV 40kWh Adventure. It fits closest to Rs. 12 lakh and comfortably does a 100 km daily city run with AC, leaving a buffer so you are not range-watching. It is easy to park in tight spots, and you still get fast charging for quick top-ups if plans change. Running costs are low, and Tata’s EV network is the widest today.The honest catch is that the rear seat is comfortable for two but a squeeze for three because of the narrow width.If you want a smaller footprint for city use, then the updated Tiago EV 24kWh is also a solid choice. It can now also charge at up to 30kW, so quick top-ups are possible, but total range will be significantly less than the Punch EV.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Tiago EV

Autocar India

•2h

Between the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 and Honda CB350RS models, the Scrambler is the more accomplished machine and therefore, the more logical purchase. However, we don't always buy motorcycles because they make more sense, and it would be prudent to take test rides of both and then decide which is the better one for you. If you can make your peace with the slower speeds that the Honda is capable of sustaining, there is an enjoyable and reliable machine underneath the good-looking bodywork of the CB350RS. Pillion comfort isn't great on the Honda, but it's not unusable; you'll just have to make some aftermarket provisions or live with it. The Triumph is the faster and more comfortable machine, but it feels a little anonymous to ride - like an appliance on two wheels. If you don't think this will be a problem for you (like the lakhs of other 350/400cc Triumph owners), then the Scrambler is a great option to check out. As we said at the start, take test rides of both machines to see which one tugs at both your sensible side as well as your heartstrings before you go ahead with your purchase.

Autocar India

•3h

There's no clear answer here because no product today in the scooter segment has everything you need. On the product front, it's the Hero Xoom 160 that comes closest to meeting all your requirements. It has a smooth engine capable of holding highway speeds, good seating comfort and decent ride quality. The trouble is, Hero's Premia dealer network is still not widespread across the nation, and spares availability, as well as a quick service turnaround time for Premia products (like the Xoom 160 and Xtreme 250R), will not be on par with rivals with better dealer networks. While the Ntorq's smaller 12-inch wheels won't give you as surefooted handling as other scooters with their 14-inch wheels, it is perhaps the safest bet today. Backed by TVS' widespread sales and service reach in India, the bigger Ntorq is more than what its spec sheet suggests, and we'd recommend you at least take a test ride before writing it off. Coming to the Yamaha Aerox 155, it is simply too uncomfortable to be used on bad patches of road. Meanwhile, the SR 175 is expensive to own and maintain. Add to that the fact that Aprilia's dealer network is also very small and doesn't have a reputation for frictionless service.

Autocar India

•3h

Thank you for your appreciation. We will continue to keep putting out content that resonates with the public at large.Coming to your query, it will be the Royal Enfield Classic 350, which will be the better machine than the Meteor for your usage, and it all comes down to how you sit on the bike. On the Classic, you're sitting higher and in a more upright position with your knees at an almost 90-degree bend going down to your feet. This is the sort of riding position that distributes weight evenly across your joints, which, over bad roads and on longer journeys, will feel more comfortable overall. Whereas, on the Meteor, most of your body weight is on your tailbone owing to the position of the footpegs and handlebars. This means that over road imperfections, most of the shock will be transmitted to your spine, which isn't a pleasant feeling.Take test rides of both to see if you resonate with what we are saying, and then go ahead with your purchase.