The Mahindra XUV700 , now to be called the Mahindra XUV 7XO , is launching on 5th January. So if you’re not in a hurry, it’s better to wait and check it out before deciding. It is expected to get new features and an exterior look. The Toyota Innova Hycross update is still some time away, so if you are not in a hurry, in our opinion, you should wait for XUV 7XO. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts Latest questions Asked by: Ram I am a first-time driver planning to buy my own car. I really like the Skoda brand, so I am considering the Skoda Kushaq Signature Automatic. My city usage will be very minimal, and I need a suggestion on whether I am choosing the right car. I am 43 years old and want to know what is better for a first-time driver: a manual car or an automatic transmission. I am more concerned about safety and reliability, and my budget is ₹12 lakh. What is the best car, as per expert suggestion? The Skoda Kylaq is one of the better compact SUVs in the market, so if you are inclined towards it is certainly worth buying. Being an SUV, the elevated seating position, which gives you good visibility of the road, is useful for first-time car buyers like yourself. We would advise you to opt for an automatic transmission because it will make your life behind the wheel a lot easier. The Kylaq’s 6-speed automatic is quite smooth and responsive, and paired to the 1.0 litre TSI engine, performance is effortless too. In terms of reliability, the Skoda doesn’t have the best reputation for service, but we don’t think that should be a deal breaker. With its 5-star crash rating, the Kylaq is very safe and known for its tough build. Asked by: Saravanan I have been driving a Zest diesel for the past 9 years, and earlier drove a Vista diesel and an Indica diesel. I now want to buy the Sierra. My usage is around 1,500-2,000 km per month, both in the city and on highways. Should I opt for a petrol or diesel version, given my usage? Kindly advise. Since you have been using diesels for a long time, you are obviously happy with a diesel car’s characteristics of good efficiency, strong torque and are used to the higher noise levels as well. It would be logical for you to buy the diesel version of the Tata Sierra, which, though a touch noisy by class standards, has enough performance to make city and highway driving easy. We would suggest you opt for the smooth-shifting automatic transmission if your budget allows. Asked by: Sarthak My budget is ₹10 lakh. I want a petrol (preferably automatic) car with good mileage, strong safety, and a comfortable ride - excluding Maruti. My daily commute is 100-150 km, with occasional long trips once every 2–3 months. Please suggest suitable options. With your Rs 10 lakh budget, a strong choice is the Honda Amaze VX MT.It fits well within budget, offers good comfort, and carries a 5-star Bharat NCAP adult safety rating. The petrol engine is tried and tested, and it has a comfortable ride quality. With the manual, you can expect real-world mileage of around 14 to 15 kpl.If you want an automatic, consider the Amaze CVT in the lower V variant, which fits within your budget. The CVT gives you a premium automatic experience, unlike cars in this price bracket that offer basic AMTs, and for a long daily commute. It will make a noticeable difference in smoothness and ease of driving. Asked by: Krishna Sharma I currently drive a 2014 WagonR for a daily office commute of about 30 km and plan to upgrade. My budget is ₹10-11 lakh on-road. My priorities are driving comfort, fuel efficiency, and hassle-free ownership, similar to Maruti; I’m also open to EVs. Please suggest some suitable options. If you want good mileage, comfort and hassle-free ownership, two options that you can consider are - Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor S+ or Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+. Taisor is the rebadged version of Fronx. Both options should comfortably fit in your Rs 11 lakh on-road budget, depending on your city. You can expect roughly 13 kpl in the city, and around 18.8 kpl on the highway with the AMT and about 20 kpl with the manual in real-world highway use (Autocar India tested figures). Both cars offer comfortable seats and a comfortable ride, well-tuned for Indian roads and city usage, making them ideal for daily commuting. Maruti has already proven its hassle-free ownership experience to you, while Toyota is also known for reliability and smooth ownership.Between the two, you can pick based on which design, brand and feature mix you prefer, but either will tick your key boxes of comfort, mileage and peace of mind. View all questions Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts
