Delhi

•34w

Hi Autocar Team, I am a first-time car buyer and am considering the Citroen C3. My daily running is less than 50 km and I will use the car for both daily driving and occasional long trips. However, I am confused between the Citroen C3 and the Nissan Magnite and am also unsure about the Citroen brand in India. Is Citroen a reliable brand, and how does the C3 perform in terms of maintenance and mileage? Which car would you recommend?

•33w

As a first-time buyer, it’s good that you’re looking at both sides carefully.

The Citroen C3 is a solid and very likeable car. Its biggest strength is ride comfort; it handles bad roads better than most cars in this segment and feels mature for its size. The 1.2-litre turbo petrol, in particular, is a gem. It’s strong, smooth and easily one of the nicest small-capacity turbo-petrol engines around today. If you enjoy driving and want something that feels a bit different from the usual crowd, this Citroen car stands out. For your daily run of under 50km and occasional long drives, this petrol car will be perfectly comfortable. Mileage is reasonable, especially with the naturally aspirated engine, though the turbo will be slightly lower.

The Nissan Magnite has other strengths. It has better road presence with its SUV styling, a more practical cabin, a bigger boot and a feature list that feels more complete. Nissan, as a brand, has built a reputation for reliability, and its dealership and service network is currently more established than Citroen’s in most cities. That adds peace of mind, especially for a first-time buyer.

So if you like to drive and value comfort and engine performance, the C3 is the more enjoyable car. But if you want a safer, more practical and lower-risk ownership experience, the Magnite is the wiser choice. The Nissan Magnite price starts at 5.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

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Citroen

from ₹5.42 Lakh

Nissan

Magnite

from ₹6.14 Lakh

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•2d

Hi, my usage is around 2400 km monthly which includes 95% running on highways with 2 long family trips annually. I have shortlisted Grand Vitara Zeta (O) AT Smart Hybrid, Seltos Diesel AT HTK+(O) and Carens DCT HTK+(O) {for 7 members who travel occasionally). I am looking for lesser running costs, better service quality and peace of mind as I tend to keep the vehicle for very long as I am close to retirement. I drive quite a lot. Also since I have been using Citroen C3 for 4 years, I expect the same wonderful suspension which is best on both highway and within city. I am not looking at EV as the upfront price is high and I don't see that I will be having huge savings considering the additional insurance cost and tire change frequency. Kindly advice.

•1d

Given that you're upgrading from a Citroen C3, and looking at an excellent highway cruiser while keeping running costs in check, we'd strongly recommend you to consider the Renault Duster Hybrid Evolution variant, which is priced similar to other cars that you've shorlisted. The hybrid powertrain will be very efficient, and Duster's excellent suspension tune makes it ideal for your kind of usage. Sure, cabin space is not as generous as the Kia Seltos, and Renault's service network isn't as widespread as Maruti's. If you want to pick from the cars you've shortlisted, the Kia Seltos diesel-automatic is the one to get - it feels thoroughly modern; it gives you the most premium feel of the lot; and its diesel engine is smooth, refined and efficient.

I am planning to buy a new car and am considering the Honda Elevate VX manual. The colour I want may be available in a month or two. In the meantime, I am wondering whether I should consider the diesel Kia Seltos HTE (O) instead. I don't commute daily and mainly use my car on weekends, sometimes with my family, for city drives and occasional picnics. However, given the rising fuel costs, I'm considering the Kia diesel. What would you suggest?

•2h

Given your limited driving, a diesel car does not make financial sense. Since you primarily use your car at weekends for family outings, city drives and occasional highway trips, the additional upfront cost of a diesel is unlikely to be offset by fuel savings.If you prefer the Kia Seltos, we would recommend the naturally aspirated petrol version instead. It is smooth and easy to drive in the city and has enough performance for occasional highway runs, while saving you a healthy amount upfront compared to the diesel.The Honda Elevate VX MT is an excellent alternative too, with its spacious cabin, comfortable ride and straightforward petrol powertrain. Our recommendation would be to choose between the Elevate and the Seltos petrol based on your preferences for driving experience, features and comfort, rather than buying a diesel purely to save on fuel costs.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

•14h

Hi Autocar, I’m unable to decide between the Renault Duster 1.3 petrol DCT Iconic and the Duster Hybrid Emotion. While I like what the hybrid has to offer, the current discounts on the petrol variant put the on-road price difference at close to Rs 3 lakh, which makes me question whether the hybrid’s additional upfront cost will ever pay off. My usage would be around 60 percent highway and 40 percent city, and I expect to drive about 7,000 km a year. Beyond the pure price equation, is there anything about the hybrid that should make me consider it?

•1h

With your annual running of just 7,000km, the Duster Hybrid's extra Rs 3 lakh is unlikely to be recovered through fuel savings alone. However, the hybrid does have a significant advantage in city driving: based on our tests, the real-world fuel efficiency difference between the 1.3 turbo petrol DCT and the hybrid can be around 10kpl in the city. That is a substantial gap, especially if a third to two-fifths of your driving is in town.The hybrid also has advantages beyond economy. Its 160hp powertrain is more powerful and refined, delivering strong acceleration while keeping the ride and handling excellent. It's also a good highway cruiser, so you're not sacrificing performance for better mileage.However, because you cover 60 per cent of your distance on highways, the fuel saving will be smaller than it would be for someone who drives mainly in the city. The petrol DCT is also significantly more efficient on the highway than in town, returning 13.47kpl in our test, but its overall tested average was 10.47kpl.If you value the hybrid's refinement, performance and city efficiency, it is worth considering. But at just 7,000km a year, the Rs 3 lakh premium is difficult to justify on fuel savings alone.

Renault Duster

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•1w

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•6d

Since your choice is between these two exact models, go for the Tata Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kWh at Rs 22 lakh on-road. It is a much better value proposition given the Rs. 5-6 lakh savings over the Mahindra XEV 9S. The Harrier EV is a solidly-built, hardy SUV that's comfy for 5 adults and their luggage.Sure, the XEV 9S gives you the flexibility of three-rows of seating; a lighter steering with a tighter turning radius; and with a larger battery and a more efficient electric powertrain, real-world range will be better. But since you don't specifically need a three-row SUV, the Harrier EV's lower price makes it the more sensible buy.

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra XEV 9S

•6d

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•5d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

Honda Amaze

•3d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•2d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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