Vineel Deshpande

•20h

Can a flex-fuel car run on E20 without any drawbacks? As the article suggests, and considering the current reality, flex-fuel cars will be launched on a larger scale in the coming years, but E85/E100 fuel stations are currently available only in metro cities. My concern is that if we take an E85/E100-compatible car on long drives to remote places where only E20 fuel is available, will it be practical to refuel there? Also, since C2H4O is one of the exhaust by-products, are there any changes made to the catalytic converter to reduce such emissions?

Autocar India

•1h

Yes, a flex‑fuel car will run on E20 safely, and it is the sensible choice outside metros, but it has “no cons.” You’ll see a small change in behaviour and mileage when you switch blends. The ECU and ethanol sensor adjust fueling and timing in minutes, so filling E20 on a long trip is absolutely viable. In fact, you’ll get a better range on E20 than on E85 because ethanol carries less energy per litre. The trade-off is power: if the engine is tuned to exploit E85’s high octane, it will pull timing on E20, so you won’t get its best output, just normal petrol-like performance.

One caution: this all applies only to a car certified as flex fuel, usually E0/E20 to E85 or even E100. A dedicated E85-only tune or cheap conversion kit is a different story and shouldn’t be fed E20.

About C2H4O, that is acetaldehyde. Ethanol blends can raise aldehydes, especially at cold start. Modern three‑way catalysts with beefed‑up oxidation coatings, smarter warm‑up, and BS6 Phase 2 calibrations cut most of it. You don’t need to do anything extra as an owner.

More questions on similar cars

Sagar Kailash Agarwall

•2w

Hi, I am planning to buy an EV in the 15-17 lakh range. This will be my daily drive to the office, which is approximately 40-50 kms a day. I have driven the Nexon EV, Windsor EV, and the Curvv EV. I haven't driven the VF6 yet, as it is a little over my budget, but it seems a better car in terms of build quality and driving, as per reviews. Should I settle for one of the obvious or splurge a bit for the VinFast?

Autocar India

•45m

For a 40-50 km daily city run and a budget of Rs. 15-17 lakh, go with the Nexon EV 45kWh version in a mid trim. It suits your use and budget better than stretching for the Vinfast VF6. You’ll get more than enough range for the week with a healthy buffer; it is easy to drive and park, rides comfortably over bad patches. Also, Tata’s service reach is fairly wide. The Nexon EV has also proven to be a safe car.Do note, the Nexon EV’s cabin does not feel as premium as the VF6. But for office runs, traffic and the odd weekend trip, it works well.If you want a fresher shape and a bit more road presence from your shortlist, the Tata Curvv EV is worth a look.

Upendra

Hi, My budget is 20 lakh, and I need a SUV-type manual car with a 5-star NCAP safety rating, CNG driven and having good mileage to cover a daily distance of 40km in city traffic. Can you please suggest some good options?

Autocar India

•12h

Given your requirements, your best bet is the Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXI CNG. It falls well within your budget and has received 5-star crash test ratings from both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP. It's one of the very few midsize SUVs to be available with CNG, and thanks to an under-floor dual-cylinder CNG tank layout, you don't sacrifice too much boot space and practicality as you do in most CNG cars. Being a Maruti, you can expect great mileage and low running costs as well, and its controls are light, making city driving quite effortless. The only downsides are that it is not available in a higher trim than the mid-range VXI, so you miss out on some features from the petrol car, and though power from the 1.5-litre engine is adequate when running on petrol, it will feel a bit underpowered running on CNG.If you don't mind a slightly smaller car, the Tata Nexon i-CNG is another great option within your budget. It also uses an under-floor dual-cylinder setup and has a 5-star crash test rating. However, its turbo-petrol engine is a lot punchier, whether running on petrol or CNG, and the CNG version is available in many more variants - all within your budget - going up to a well-loaded Fearless + PS Red Dark. It is, of course, not quite as spacious as the Victoris, but it comes quite close.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Tata Nexon

Jesu Alfred K J

•1d

Hey Autocar, hope you're doing great. I am planning to buy my first car, but I am confused about which one to choose. My budget is Rs. 15-16 lakh, and we are a family of three. My priorities are a proper automatic transmission and a fuss-free ownership experience. Mileage and maintenance costs are not major concerns. My usage will be split equally between city driving and highway travel (50:50). A feature-rich cabin or a premium interior would be a bonus, but it is not mandatory. Please guide me. Thank you in advance.

Autocar India

•16h

The Mahindra XUV 3XO with the 1.2 litre MPFi engine would be a good option for you. The car comes with a torque convertor automatic, which is the smoothest type of autobox to have. The powertrain is very refined, reliable and delivers good performance, though mileage is not as much as some rivals, but you have indicated this is not much of a concern for you. For your mixed city and highway use the 3XO will also do well as the ride and handling balance is good. You’ll feel a hint of firmness over potholes but there’s a very reassuring feeling to it like the car can take some abuse. On highways, the Mahindra car cruises with the stability of a larger vehicle and that’s a very good thing. If you can wait for three to four months, there is an updated Maruti Suzuki Brezza which would also serve your requirements well with a torque convertor automatic and a fuss free ownership thanks to a well setup and reliable dealer network.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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Popular discussions right now

Saransh Parnami

•4d

I am confused between the Nexon, XUV 3XO, and Venue as my first car. My running is expected to be 1,000-1,200 km per month. My priorities are: 1) Performance, 2) Mileage and ownership cost, 3) Features, and 4) Rear-seat and boot space. Please advise and suggest the best-value variant as well. I am inclined towards a manual.

Autocar India

•2d

Our first recommendation would be the new Venue Turbo Petrol Manual. It strikes the best balance for your priorities. The turbo petrol engine is punchy and enjoyable to drive, fuel efficiency is respectable, and Hyundai's ownership experience is generally hassle-free. The latest Hyundai Venue is also more spacious than before, particularly in the rear seat, and feels like a very well-rounded first car. For value, we would look at the SX Turbo Manual, which gets a good mix of features without stretching the budget too much.Our second choice would be the Mahindra XUV 3XO. If outright performance and rear seat space are your priorities, it is arguably the strongest car here. The turbo petrol engine is lively, the rear bench is among the widest in the segment, and it feels more substantial than the Venue. The downside is that fuel efficiency is not as strong, and the boot is one of the smallest in the class. The MX2 Pro or AX5 Manual would be the variants to consider, depending on your budget.The Tata Nexon would be our third choice. It remains a good all-round package with decent space, a strong feature list and good road presence. However, compared to the newer Venue and 3XO, it does not feel quite as polished, and neither the driving experience nor the ownership proposition is as compelling.

Abhishek Das

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car and am confused between the Honda Amaze ZX CVT and the Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT. My usage will be around 90% city driving, primarily for office commuting between Dwarka, Delhi and my office near IFFCO Chowk, Gurugram (approximately 25 km one way). However, I will not be driving daily, as I often use the Metro as well. The car will also be driven by my 69-year-old father, so ease of driving, comfort, visibility, ingress/egress, and reliability are important considerations. Our previous car was an Alto K10 Manual, so this will be our first automatic car and a significant upgrade. Considering my usage pattern, family profile and the fact that we intend to keep the car for a long period for around 10 years, which of these two would you recommend?

Autocar India

•3d

Based on your requirement, we would recommend the Honda Amaze ZX CVT over the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The reason is that your priorities are not outright performance or driving excitement. You are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its life in city traffic, will also be driven by your 69-year-old father, and is expected to stay with the family for around 10 years. In that context, Amaze's strengths line up perfectly with your requirements. The CVT is smoother than the Kylaq's torque converter automatic in stop-and-go traffic, visibility is excellent, the car is easy to place on the road, ingress and egress are straightforward, and Honda's long-term reliability record is hard to fault. Coming from an Alto K10, it will already feel like a substantial upgrade in comfort, refinement and features.The Kylaq Signature Plus AT is the more desirable car from an enthusiast's perspective. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol has more punch, the higher seating position is nice, and the overall package feels more substantial. However, it is also a larger vehicle to manoeuvre, and while the automatic is good, it is not quite as seamless in everyday traffic as Honda's CVT.Another point in Amaze's favour is that the ZX variant gets Honda Sensing ADAS, which adds useful safety features without making the car complicated to operate. Since your father will also be driving it, that extra layer of safety is a nice bonus.

Honda Amaze

Skoda Kylaq

Mihir Vora

•6d

I am looking to replace my Toyota Innova Crysta GX and am considering either the Toyota Innova HyCross ZX Hybrid or the Mahindra XEV 9S or 9e, but I am unsure which would be the better choice. My usage includes a daily city commute of around 60 km and a highway trip of approximately 500 km once every month. I need a 5-seater car. Based on these requirements, which option would you recommend?

Autocar India

•6d

For your usage, we would suggest the Innova HyCross Hybrid rather than the XEV 9e or XEV 9s. The reason is that you are replacing a Crysta, and once you have lived with an Innova, you tend to appreciate things like space, practicality and long distance comfort more than headline technology. The HyCross feels like a natural evolution of what you already have. It is significantly more fuel efficient than the Crysta, the hybrid system is exceptionally well suited to a 60 km daily city commute, and for your monthly 500 km highway trips, it remains one of the most effortless cars you can buy.The XEV 9e and 9s are impressive EVs with strong performance, big batteries and low running costs. If your driving was almost entirely city based, they would be easier to recommend. However, for a family that regularly does longer highway trips, the HyCross still offers a level of convenience that is hard to beat.Between the two Mahindra cars, the 9e is the better choice. It has a more balanced ride and handling setup, feels more premium inside and out, and is the more complete product overall. The 9s feels noticeably softer, which can make it feel slightly bouncy over undulating roads.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova HyCross

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