Hi, I am planning to buy a Kodiaq Sportline. It came to my attention that it does not have hill start assist and hill descent control. How crucial is this technology for normal hill driving? Does the Kodiaq Sportline handle hill drives easily, and does it feature any additional technology to compensate for hill hold or hill descent?

Autocar India

•3d

The Hyundai Exter you’ve booked is E20 fuel compatible from the factory, so it is designed to run on the new petrol without any issues. Hyundai has updated its entire recent petrol lineup to support E20, so you are not buying into any risk or uncertainty.Now, what actually changes with E20 in real life? The fuel itself is just petrol with 20% ethanol, and India has already moved towards making this the standard across pumps. For cars like yours that are built for it, there is no mechanical downside. The engine, fuel lines and seals are all designed to handle it.What you might notice is minor and not something to stress about. There can be a small drop in mileage because ethanol has slightly lower energy content. Performance and drivability remain largely the same in daily city driving, especially in a car like the Exter, which is tuned for ease, not outright performance.The concerns you’re hearing mostly apply to older cars that were not designed for E20.

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•5d

Kia has already launched the GTX trim on the Seltos, so you don’t have to wait for it to arrive. Originally, GTX was positioned as a sporty, higher-spec trim available with the 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT and 1.5 diesel AT powertrains. However, Kia has now extended the GTX line-up to the 1.5 petrol with the iVT automatic as well, precisely to cater to buyers like you who want the fully loaded, sportier-looking trim without opting for the turbo-petrol.In other words, if your booking is for the 1.5 iVT in GTX trim, that configuration is now part of the range, and dealers should be able to give you a clear timeline based on their current allocation. It’s worth checking with your dealership whether your existing booking has been tagged correctly to the new GTX iVT variant so that you’re in the right queue.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•5d

The Kia Carnival is already being locally assembled in India, so current pricing reflects duties applicable to semi-knocked down (SKD) kits that are assembled at Kia’s Anantapur plant. At present, the Carnival is offered with a 2.2-litre diesel engine, priced at around Rs 59.4 lakh ex-showroom (Limousine Plus variant).Looking ahead, Kia is also preparing to introduce a hybrid version of the Carnival later this year. This variant is expected to be priced under Rs 50 lakh and, importantly, will also be locally assembled. The addition of a hybrid powertrain should broaden the Carnival’s appeal, especially in a market that is gradually shifting towards electrified options while still valuing efficiency and long-distance usability.

Kia Carnival

Autocar India

•3d

Between the two, the Tata Safari does a great job of projecting toughness. It feels solid, has that reassuring heft, and its suspension setup really shines on broken roads and you can carry speed with confidence and it just shrugs off rough patches.That said, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more rounded package overall. Its 2.2-litre diesel is not just more modern, but also noticeably smoother and stronger than the older Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre unit in the Safari. It delivers better drivability in everyday conditions, which makes a difference in city use as well as on the highway.Mahindra car has also worked well on the suspension, and the improvements show. The 7XO feels more composed, offers better ride comfort over a wider range of surfaces, and is simply easier to drive. It has lighter controls, better balance, and a more user-friendly nature overall.Where the Safari still holds an edge is in the third row. It’s more usable and accommodating, whereas the 7XO’s last row is quite tight and best reserved for occasional use.So unless third-row space is a priority, the 7XO stands out as the better all-rounder. It’s more refined, easier to live with, and ultimately the more modern SUV.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•6d

Go for the Tata Sierra torque converter. The key difference lies in how these gearboxes behave in the real-world conditions. The Seltos turbo-petrol DCT is quick and exciting, but in slow, crawling traffic, it can feel hesitant and slightly jerky, as it constantly works the clutch. This is not ideal for long-term ease in heavy city conditions. The Sierra’s torque converter is the opposite. This Tata car is smoother at low speeds, more forgiving in stop-go traffic, and generally better suited to this kind of usage, making daily driving far less tiring.There is a trade-off, though. Torque converter automatics are typically less fuel efficient than DCTs, and in a large, heavy car like the Sierra, you will notice this in real-world mileage. So, you are essentially choosing smoothness and durability over outright efficiency.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•5d

If your budget allows, go for a new Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel automatic. It is the safer and easier pick. You get a fresh car with full warranty, no past accidents to worry about, and the latest software and small fixes that usually come after the first couple of years. Finance is simpler on a new car, resale later will be stronger, and Mahindra’s service network is wide, so upkeep is straightforward. The diesel automatic suits long drives and also handles city traffic well, with strong pull when you need it. Space, comfort and road presence are all there in this Mahindra car, which is why you shortlisted it in the first place.One thing to keep in mind is its size. It is a large car, so tight parking will need practice. Also, a diesel can sound a bit gruff at idle, and if your usage is only short city drives, you should take it on a longer run once in a while to keep the exhaust system in good condition.The only time the 2-year-old previous model with 19,000 km makes more sense is if you are saving good amount of money and it is a well-maintained, single-owner car. In that case, demand a full service record from a Mahindra workshop, get a dealer scan for error codes, check tyre and battery age, and confirm if any extended warranty can be transferred.

Mahindra XUV 7XO