Bankura

•5w

I m planning to buy 7 seater petrol car. Yearly running 6K to 7K. Confused between carens premium o, xl6 Zeta, clavis HTE EX and Safari PureX. I love safari but concern about city maneuver and if worth to spend 19 lakhs when I m getting carens petrol at 12.7 lakhs, xl6 cng 13.7 lakhs and Clavis at 15 lakhs

•5w

@sourabh_nanaware With your 6-7k km yearly running, pls stick to a petrol and skip CNG unless fuel savings are your top priority. Between your options, Kia Carens Premium(O) fits best and offers excellent value, is easy to drive in the city, and gives you a spacious, comfortable 7-seater experience.

•5w

Can anyone comment from @autocar.india

•5w

@sourabh_nanaware My opinion, don't buy any car bcz your monthly running below 600km. You can rent benz 🙏

•5w

If you're mainly driving in the city and have a budget concern, the Kia Carens is a fantastic choice for its value and spaciousness. The XL6 is also practical, especially with CNG for better mileage. The Safari is great for its style and comfort, but it can be tough to maneuver in tight spaces, and the price is quite high for occasional use.

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•5d

I want to buy a 6/7-seater car under Rs. 17 lakh. Which one should I buy?

•2d

Go for the Kia Carens. It is the most well-rounded 6/7 seater under Rs 17 lakh, offering a genuinely spacious third row, a comfortable ride and petrol and diesel engine options. This Kia car also feels more premium inside than most rivals in this price bracket, and Kia's service network is strong. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is the most sensible alternative, with low running costs and proven reliability, but the Carens is the better all-round family car.

Kia Carens

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

•5d

I’m looking for a car in the Rs 22-24 lakh budget. My daily usage is around 30km, with about 75 percent of the driving in the city. My priorities are safety, driving comfort, mileage and an automatic gearbox. I was initially looking for a 5-seater and liked the Harrier Petrol Automatic, but I am now also considering a 7-seater. Should I choose between the Harrier, Safari and XUV 7XO, and would petrol or diesel be more suitable for my usage? I’m also open to other suggestions that fit these requirements.

•2d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. With your 30km daily running and 75% city usage, diesel still makes sense because the 7XO’s diesel engine is efficient, refined and well suited to both city and highway driving. The XUV 7XO also offers a more modern cabin, better tech and a more premium feel than the Harrier and Safari. It is also a genuinely comfortable 7 seater with a usable third row, which gives you added flexibility. The Tata Harrier petrol automatic is a good car, but the petrol engine is not as efficient and the overall package feels a bit older compared to the 7XO. The Tata Safari is essentially a 7 seater version of the Harrier, so the same comments apply. The 7XO diesel automatic is the best fit for your priorities of safety, driving comfort, mileage and automatic transmission.

For Bangalore, I am considering the Lexus ES 350h, Mercedes-Benz E 200, or GLC 300. The car will mostly be chauffeur-driven. Which one would be the better choice?

•5h

For a mostly chauffeur-driven owner in Bangalore, the sedans you've shortlisted make the most sense. Between the two, while the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is undoubtedly the most popular car in its class, and for good reason, in your case, we think the Lexus ES 350h might be a better bet. The ES 350h is a hybrid, which makes it particularly well-suited to Bangalore's traffic conditions, offering excellent fuel efficiency and a very refined, quiet driving experience. The rear seat is spacious and comfortable, and Lexus' reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs adds to the long-term ownership appeal. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class 200 is also a strong contender, offering a slightly more luxurious and spacious cabin and, crucially, superb back seats that recline quite far, but it does not offer the same efficiency or refinement in stop-and-go traffic, and this will add up in the long run. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, while a good SUV, is not the best fit for a chauffeur-driven owner as the rear seat is not as comfortable as the ES or E-Class, and the ride is firmer. The ES 350h strikes the best balance of comfort, efficiency and long-term peace of mind.

Lexus ES

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

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•6d

I am getting the Venue HX8 Turbo automatic for Rs. 15.40 lakh on-road, the Creta SX(O) automatic for Rs. 18.14 lakh on-road, with a discount of more than Rs. 1 lakh, and the Seltos HTK(O) IVT for Rs. 18.50 lakh on-road. My budget is Rs. 19 lakh. Which one should I buy for driving in Bangalore and occasional trips?

•5d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTK (O) IVT at Rs 18.14 lakh on-road. Your budget of Rs 19 lakh gives you enough room to get a large, spacious and well-equipped midsize SUV, and the Seltos is the sweet spot. The IVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to Bangalore traffic, while the 1.5 petrol is refined and reliable. The HTK (O) trim is feature-rich, so you are not compromising on equipment. The Seltos also offers better rear seat space and comfort than the others, making it a better choice for occasional family trips. The Creta SX (O) might sound like better value with a few more features, but the Seltos's larger size, better quality and new-age tech push it ahead overall. The Venue HX8 turbo automatic at Rs 15.4 lakh is a good deal, but it is a segment below, and you would be compromising on space and comfort.

Hello, given the DPF concerns and upcoming CAFE III regulations, with my driving pattern being 60% highway and 40% city and covering around 15,000 km annually, would a 1.5L diesel (automatic or manual) still be a worthwhile choice?

•4d

Yes, a 1.5-litre diesel is still a worthwhile choice for your usage. At 15,000 km a year with 60% highway driving, you are well within the sweet spot for diesel ownership. The DPF concerns are often overstated - modern diesels are designed to regenerate the filter during sustained highway runs, and your usage pattern is ideal for that. CAFE III regulations are pushing manufacturers towards cleaner engines, but they are not making diesels obsolete; they are simply making them more efficient and cleaner. The bigger question is whether diesel still makes financial sense. With the narrowing price gap between petrol and diesel, the payback period is longer than it used to be, but at your mileage and highway bias, it still adds up. If you are keeping the car for 5-7 years, you will see the benefit. As for automatic versus manual, go automatic if you want ease of use in city traffic; modern torque converter automatics on diesels are smooth and reliable in cars like the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta. Overall, diesel is still the right choice for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

•6d

I am a driving enthusiast and am looking to buy my first car. I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI MT Signature and the Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI MT Highline Plus. Which one should I choose?

•6d

Both the Kushaq and Taigun are mechanically identical and offer the same 1.0 TSI engine paired with a manual gearbox, so the driving experience is essentially the same. The two are also similar in price, and the main features offered are the same too. Thus, base your decision on your personal preference in terms of the styling - outside and inside - and on the deal that you are getting from the respective dealerships. Also look into the dealer reputation in your area and factor this into your purchase decision too. From a driving pleasure point of view, the two cars are essentially the same. If you are looking for an alternative, consider the Renault Duster, which also offers an entertaining driving experience.

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Renault Duster

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