Mumbai

•3d

Hi Autocar India Team, Thanks a lot for your videos and efforts towards the Automotive industry. I am looking to purchase my first luxury car entry level with a max budget of 60 lakhs. My choices are Audi Q3/A4//GLA200/X1. My main commute is home to office & vice versa, and may be weekend family drives in the city. max of 100kms per week. I am looking for petrol and want to keep the vehicle long-term.

•16m

From your picks, the Audi A4 petrol is a solid choice. For mostly city office runs and weekend family drives, it is the quietest and most comfortable of your four, with a smoother ride and a nicer back seat than the small SUVs. Its 2.0 turbo petrol is a proven motor and feels more relaxed in the city and highway than the GLA 200’s smaller 1.3 and the X1’s 3‑cylinder 1.5.

Value also lines up. The A4 Premium Plus typically fits within Rs. 60 lakh on-road in many cities, and it still feels properly luxurious inside. If you are frequently travelling on rougher roads where extra ground clearance is needed, the Q3 is a solid choice and uses the same 2.0, but adds weight and all-wheel drive.

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More questions on similar cars

•4d

Having spent seven years with my Honda City, I am now looking to upgrade. My budget is around Rs. 45-50 lakh, and while I am inclined towards sedans, I am open to considering SUVs as well. My priorities are strong build quality, engaging driving dynamics, a high level of safety, and excellent interior comfort. I would appreciate your suggestions for a value-for-money vehicle that meets these requirements.

•9h

There aren't too many sedans left in the Rs 45-50 lakh price bracket, but the one that does remain represents superb value for money and fits most of your criteria. This is, of course, the Toyota Camry and will feel like an ideal upgrade from your Honda City. It's built around the same Japanese sensibilities of reliability, functionality, build quality and efficiency. It's incredibly well built, has a luxurious and comfortable interior with a spacious back seat, and being a strong hybrid, it's way more efficient than any other car of its size. Plus, with Toyota's famously reliable reputation, it will go on flawlessly for ages with minimal maintenance required. Its only shortcoming is that it isn't particularly fun to drive or tidy in its dynamics. For that, you'll have to stretch your budget by a few lakhs and get an Audi A4. If you want an SUV instead, there are plenty of great options like the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tayron, or again, for a small stretch of the budget, the Audi Q3.

I’m looking for a compact SUV for India. My main consideration is great driving dynamics and power. I’m looking for a petrol variant and an automatic transmission. I’ll be using it mainly on long road trips and broken road explorations. Our dream is to do all India / global trips. In about 2 years, there’s a chance we’ll travel with four people (including me) more regularly, so I don’t want the car to struggle then. I don’t need features like ADAS, and I’ll want to upgrade the sound system and camera after purchase. While I’m leaning towards Renault, Skoda, and Volkswagen, could you give me 4-5 options and the best variant? My budget on road is 23-24 lakhs max.

•46m

Pick the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG, in either Prestige or Monte Carlo. It’s the most fun-to-drive in your budget, with strong mid‑range power for four-up highway climbs, and a suspension that rides well on broken roads without feeling floaty. It stays stable at speed, and the steering feels natural on long drives. One honest caveat: the 7‑speed dual‑clutch can feel a bit jerky in stop‑go traffic, but your use is mostly highways, so it suits you fine.Close second is the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG. Same punchy engine and gearbox, and equally enjoyable on twisty hill roads. Between the two, buy the one that gets you the better deal or closer service centres in your city.From Renault, the new Duster turbo‑petrol DCT is a solid choice too. It’s also great on rough roads and enjoyable in the twisties with enough performance for quick highways. Its DCT uses a wet clutch compared to the dry clutch from VW/Skoda, which means shifts are smoother in the city. Wet clutch transmissions are also generally more robust than dry clutch units.Alternatively, consider the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT. It has a roomier cabin, which will be important when you are travelling four up. It isn't quite as sharp as the above competitors, but it is enjoyable with plenty of performance.If you are going to be travelling to remote locations, service availability can be scarce. If that is a concern, then include the Maruti Victoris or the Grand Vitara 1.5 petrol. They can also be had with AWD, which can be very useful on rough roads and in icy conditions.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

•3d

Hello, I am looking to buy a sub-4-metre car and will be a first-time car buyer. My daily running is around 40-50 km, with a 60:40 highway-to-city usage ratio. My priorities are good fuel efficiency, low running costs, low maintenance costs, and a comfortable driving experience. I would also like to know whether it is better to buy a diesel or petrol car at the moment. I am concerned about E20 fuel compatibility issues with petrol cars and DPF-related issues with diesel cars. I am quite confused and would appreciate your advice.

•1h

Consider the Maruti Suzuki Baleno petrol. With 40-50km a day and mostly highway driving, it delivers very good real-world fuel efficiency, keeps service bills low, and rides comfortably over bad patches. If you prefer a slightly higher seating position, then the Fronx is a good choice too. Both are E20-ready, and Maruti has done a good job calibrating its engines to run on E20 fuel, so efficiency remains competitive. When higher ethanol blends eventually roll out, you can still expect some drop in fuel economy, though most modern cars are already material-compatible with ethanol blends beyond E20.For your usage, petrol makes more sense. However, if you expect your running to increase significantly, particularly on the highway, then the Kia Sonet diesel or Hyundai Venue diesel would be worth considering.

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Popular discussions right now

•3d

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

•2d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

Mahindra XEV 9S

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•5d

I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•3d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

Tata Altroz

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•2d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

•2d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

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