Will using E20 blended petrol cause any damage to the engine of a pre-2023 model SUV?

Autocar India

•3h

We expect Toyota to expand its strong hybrid lineup modestly till end of 2026 rather than a big wave of all-new models. Apart from the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, the most likely additions are a lower-cost variant of the Toyota Innova Hycross, which is expected to retain the same strong hybrid system. But be positioned more accessibly to widen appeal, and a three-row version of the Hyryder, which is expected to carry forward the same strong hybrid setup in a more family-friendly package. The key point is that Toyota’s near-term strategy for India is to scale its existing strong hybrid systems across more body styles and price points rather than introduce completely new hybrid engines.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•10h

You are right about the Supreme Court order. Any film stuck on the glass is not allowed, even if it is clear or claims 70 percent light. So the legal way to cut heat and UV is to use glass that comes from the car company itself with UV or infrared protection built in, and to use simple parking aids. If you are buying a new car, pick trims that offer UV-cut or solar-control glass, or at least an IR-cut front windscreen. Many brands sell this from the factory on higher trims. If you already own the car, ask the authorised dealer if the same model has an optional UV/IR windscreen or green-tinted windows as a genuine spare part. You can legally replace your current glass with that, as long as it meets the law on light passing through the glass. The rule is minimum 70 percent for the front and rear windscreens and 50 percent for the side windows. This route costs more than normal glass and may not be in stock for every door or model, but it is the clean, legal fix. Everything else stuck on the glass, including “transparent” or “nano-ceramic” films or sprays, can still get you fined. Removable sunshades and curtains are okay only when parked; do not use them while driving. To cut heat further without breaking rules, use a good folding sunshade on the windscreen when parked, keep the sunroof shade shut, and choose lighter seat and floor colours. In short, skip films. Go for company UV/IR glass where available, and use parking shades. That keeps you legal and still helps with heat.

Autocar India

•1d

There’s a lot of noise around bans on petrol and diesel cars and the impact of ethanol blending, so it’s worth separating fact from speculation. Statements about moving away from petrol and diesel, often linked to Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s comments, are more directional views, largely aimed at commercial vehicles like buses and trucks. There is no confirmed plan to ban private diesel or petrol cars at all.On ethanol, India is already moving towards E20 petrol, and higher blends like E30 will come quite quickly in the coming years. This could affect older petrol cars, such as your 2018 Baleno, in two ways: slightly faster wear of components like fuel hoses and seals, and reduced fuel efficiency due to ethanol’s lower energy content. That said, any wear will be gradual and relatively inexpensive to address, especially with Maruti’s low parts costs. The efficiency drop of around 8-10% is something you’ll simply have to factor in.There is currently no widespread ethanol blending in diesel, though there is a plan to introduce a biofuel mix in diesel as well.As for your cars, both are perfectly fine to continue using. Your 2023 Innova Crysta diesel is robust, long-lasting, and highly regarded for reliability and resale. The Baleno, too, remains easy and economical to maintain. There’s no urgent need to switch to an electric car. Continue using your current cars confidently and reassess when clearer policies or stronger EV infrastructure emerge.

Autocar India

•2d

You want a car that is comfortable in the city, easy to drive and capable of doing long trips for the next 10 years. The Toyota Innova Hycross fits this very well. The hybrid system makes it very smooth and quiet in city driving, and the automatic gearbox is effortless, which becomes more important with age. On highways, it is stable, comfortable and built for long-distance travel, which is what the Innova name has always stood for.What really works in your favour is long-term ownership. Toyota’s reliability, strong service network and resale value make it one of the safest bets if you plan to keep the car for many years. The Hycross also offers excellent space, easy ingress and egress and a comfortable ride, which are important for everyday use and for passengers as you grow older.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

•4d

With a 70 km daily mix of traffic and highway use, we would lean towards the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid. Your usage is high, and the hybrid will use far less fuel in city traffic while staying calm and smooth. It pulls away on electric power at low speeds, so stop-go driving feels quiet and easy.You like the Seltos for its cabin and stronger shove, and that is fair. The Seltos diesel feels stronger when you press the throttle for quick passes, and its cabin does look and feel richer. If most of your 70 km is open highway and you really value that strong pull and the Kia car interior, the Seltos diesel automatic is still a solid pick.On a Kia Seltos hybrid: Kia does intend to introduce a hybrid, but timing is not yet decided as they are trying to localise components. We estimate it could arrive in 2027, but that could change. For your mix of city and highway, the Hyryder strong-hybrid lines up best with what you need right now.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•6d

Mostly highway use, about 1,000 km a month, safety first, and an automatic in the Rs 12-13 lakh range, in that brief, we would suggest the Skoda Kylaq Signature. Its torque converter is much smoother than an AMT or DCT, so city driving feels easy, and performance from the 1.0 TSI makes highway overtakes effortless. The Kylaq has a 5-star crash score from Bharat NCAP and feels steady at highway speeds, which builds confidence. It also rides well over broken patches, so you are not tossed around.Two things to keep in mind: while the front seats are comfy and supportive, space in the back seat is a bit tight. It makes up for it with a large boot and a low loading lip. If you want more space, look at the Nissan Magnite Tekna Turbo CVT, which has a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP.Overall, for highway-heavy use with safety at the top, the Kylaq lines up best in your budget.

Skoda Kylaq

Nissan Magnite