Nandurbar

•5m

Captain seats in the middle row of MPVs like the Carens look premium but take away the flexibility of fitting a third person when needed.

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•12h

We are planning to buy a petrol car but are unable to make a concrete decision due to the ongoing ethanol blending crisis. I belong to a middle class family and I wish to own the car for long term but there is an uncertaininty due to the government policies regarding Indian oil market in the near future. There is no in-built garage in our house and no CNG refilling pump is available in our locality at the moment. Therefore, petrol car is the only option left. What can be the fate of the E20 compliant petrol engines in a situation when fuels with more than 20% ethanol blending will be the norm. According to that, suggest me which car should I buy and when should I buy it?

•1h

Do not let the ethanol blending policy delay your purchase. India is currently at E20, and there is no official roadmap or timeline for blends beyond that. Modern E20-compliant petrol engines are engineered with sufficient tolerance for E20, and the impact is largely limited to a small drop in fuel efficiency. There is no evidence to suggest that E20-compliant engines will suddenly become unreliable or unusable if the government were to increase the blend in the future.Your situation is clear: no home charging, no CNG pumps nearby, and a desire for long-term ownership. Petrol is the right choice. If you are concerned about running costs, consider a hybrid like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid or Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid. These cars deliver significantly better fuel efficiency in city driving and reduce your dependence on fuel price fluctuations.Buy the car that best suits your needs today. Do not wait for hypothetical policy changes. The current E20-compliant petrol cars are designed for long-term ownership, and there is no reason to believe they will become obsolete in the near future.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•6h

I currently drive a Grand i10 Manual petrol and am now planning to buy a new compact SUV that is comfortable, fuel efficient and has low maintenance. My usage is 35km of daily office commute in Delhi-NCR traffic. Please advice which option is best fit amongst Hyundai Venue HX 6T, SONET HTK+O and XUV 3XO.

•1h

Go for the Hyundai Venue. With your daily 35km commute in Delhi NCR traffic, comfort and low maintenance are key, and the Venue delivers on both. The 1.2 NA petrol is smooth, refined and easy to drive in stop-start conditions, while Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The HX6T variant also gives you a good balance of features without pushing the budget too far.The Sonet HTK+O is mechanically very similar, but the Venue is a newer model and offers a more spacious cabin. The XUV 3XO is also a good option, but its turbo petrol engine won't be as efficient as the Hyundai’s.Overall, the Venue is the most sensible upgrade from your Grand i10 for daily city use.

I am currently driving a 2022 Jeep Compass manual petrol and have been using it for four years. I am experiencing side hip and lower-back pain due to the manual clutch, especially with city and highway driving. In the future, I will be driving around 120km per day for work. Please suggest a premium SUV with good back support and high fuel efficiency.

•3h

Since your budget is over Rs 30 lakhs, we'd suggest waiting for the Kia Sorento. It is a three-row SUV that's likely to be launched with hybrid and diesel-automatic powertrain options. As expected from a Kia, the Sorento is likely to be feature-rich too, with a high-quality interior and comfy seats. This one could be a good upgrade from your petrol manual Jeep Compass.Alternatively, you could consider the top-spec Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel-automatic. It has comfy seats, an excellent suspension tune, and a spacious cabin. Also, the diesel-auto will be quite efficient.

Kia Sorento

Jeep Compass

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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Popular discussions right now

•3d

I am planning to buy a new car under 20-25 lakh for the next ten years. I have considered two cars Seltos DCT GTX(A) and Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo DSG but am afraid of the mileage and if I go with an EV, I am afraid that infrastructure will not be that good. I drive daily for 10-15 km and take 2-3 trips in a year on highway. Should I buy the car now or wait for Seltos Hybrid? Will it cost an additional 2-3 lakh or will it be value for money for my driving. Should I consider another car?

•2d

With a daily running of just 10-15 km and only a few highway trips a year, fuel efficiency and long-term reliability should be your top priorities. The Seltos DCT GTX+ and Kushaq 1.5 DSG Monte Carlo are both excellent cars, but their turbo-petrol engines and dual-clutch gearboxes are not the most efficient or the most stress-free choices for predominantly short city runs. The DCT/DSG gearboxes are at their best on open roads, and in stop-start city traffic they can feel a bit jerky and are not as smooth or as durable as a torque converter automatic over the long term.The Seltos hybrid is worth waiting for if you are not in a hurry. It is expected to be priced roughly Rs. 2-3 lakh above the equivalent petrol variant, and for your usage pattern it will make more sense than the turbo-petrol DCT. Hybrids deliver their biggest efficiency gains in city driving, and over a 10-year ownership period the fuel savings and smoother driving experience will more than justify the premium.If you want to buy now, the Kia Seltos IVT (naturally aspirated petrol with CVT) is the better choice for your usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to city driving, and you will not be paying a premium for performance you will rarely use. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the torque converter automatic is another good option if you prefer a more engaging driving experience, but the Seltos IVT is the more refined and hassle-free choice.EVs are not the right fit for you at the moment given your concerns about charging infrastructure and your low daily running. The savings are not significant enough to justify the compromises.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

•4d

I’m planning to buy my first car and would appreciate some suggestions. My budget is around Rs. 13-15 lakh ex-showroom, and I’m planning to register the car under the BH series. Safety is my top priority, so I strongly prefer a car with a 5-star safety rating, preferably from Global NCAP. An automatic transmission is a must. The car will mainly be used for weekend family trips and highway drives rather than daily commuting. Since it will be a family car, I’d prefer something that looks classy and elegant while offering good comfort. A premium-looking interior would be a plus, and features such as leather/leatherette upholstery and ventilated seats would be nice to have, but they aren't deal-breakers. At the same time, I don’t want a car that is purely comfort-oriented. I enjoy driving, so I’d like something with a good engine, enjoyable handling, and a fun-to-drive character. Good rear-seat comfort and reasonable luggage space for family trips would also be appreciated.

•2d

Based on your requirements, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the recommendation. It strikes the right balance between safety, driving enjoyment and family usability. The 1.0 TSI engine is strong, the handling is engaging, and the car feels solid and confidence-inspiring on the highway. The interior feels premium, and while it may not be the largest in its segment, overall comfort is quite good. If you prefer the look of the VW Taigun, it offers largely the same experience as the Kushaq. The Renault Duster 1.3 DCT is also a strong alternative, offering excellent driving dynamics and a larger cabin. Overall, though, the Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the car that best aligns with your requirements.

Hi Experts! I am a first-time car buyer and a new driver. I want to buy a sub-4-meter SUV. My daily usage will be between 25- 30 km. It is mostly for city driving in Delhi NCR. I intend to buy an automatic and like the Kylaq as an option. But my understanding is that it is expensive to maintain. Among other options that I am considering are the Venue and the 3XO. However, Venue has DCT, which I understand is not great for city driving. Could you give me some more guidance on maintenance of the Kylaq and, generally, if I have to choose among these 3, what should be the best option? To clarify, my budget is 12-15 lakhs. I have already looked at the Brezza as an option but did not like the feel of it. Sonet has been disregarded because there is a new Sonet coming next year. Thank you for your input!

•6d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic. This Skoda car is the best fit for your usage and budget. The Kylaq uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start traffic. It is not a DCT, so you do not have to worry about overheating or jerkiness in city conditions. The 1.0 TSI engine is proven and has a good ownership track record. Skoda's maintenance costs are not significantly higher than Hyundai or Mahindra, especially with service packages available. The Kylaq is also one of the best driver's cars in the segment, with a solid, planted feel and good ride quality.The Hyundai Venue DCT is a good choice but not ideal for your usage, as DCT gearboxes are not ideal for heavy city traffic. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is a strong alternative. It is spacious, feature-rich and has a good torque converter automatic gearbox, but it does not feel as engaging to drive as the Kylaq. Since you have already ruled out the Brezza and Sonet, the Kylaq is the clear recommendation. It will give you the best ownership experience and driving enjoyment over the next 5-10 years.

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Posted on: 3 Sept 2026

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Captain seats in the middle row of MPVs like the Carens look premium but take away the flexibility of fitting a third person when needed.

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