Mumbai

•1d

My daily running is around 50 km, and I take one long trip every month. I currently drive a Honda Amaze Diesel, but I am now planning to replace it. I am confused about whether I should choose an EV, a petrol car, or a diesel car under Rs. 15 lakh. My key requirements are a smooth transmission, excellent fuel efficiency, and strong safety. Considering my usage pattern and priorities, which type of car would be the best choice for me?

•11m

The Honda Amaze Diesel has served you well, but given your current usage pattern, a diesel would not be our first choice today.

With a daily running of around 50km and just one long trip a month, both petrol and EV options make more sense. If you have access to home charging, an EV can significantly reduce your running costs. In that case, the Tata Punch EV Long Range would be a strong contender. It offers good safety credentials, smooth performance and more than enough range for your daily commute and occasional longer journeys.

If you'd rather stick with an ICE vehicle, the Skoda Kylaq Automatic would be our recommendation. Its torque-converter automatic gearbox is smooth and reliable, the turbo-petrol engine offers strong performance and it has solid safety credentials. However, it won't match an EV for running costs.

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More questions on similar cars

•1d

Hello! I have a manual Ertiga and am planning to buy a secondary automatic car in the Rs 10-12 lakh range for long-term ownership. I intend to opt for the maximum extended warranty and service packages. Usage will be mostly city driving in Delhi NCR, with a few short vacation trips, and a monthly running of around 600-700km. I want a delightful ownership experience with good build quality, fit and finish. I am not willing to go with an AMT transmission. Please suggest the best option. Also, please suggest more options if I increase my budget by Rs 1-2 lakh.

•8h

The Honda Amaze CVT would be the recommendation here. Since this will be a secondary car primarily for city use in Delhi NCR, with monthly running of just 600-700km and a focus on long-term ownership, the Amaze makes a lot of sense. The CVT automatic is among the smoothest gearboxes in this price range, the petrol engine is refined and proven, and Honda's reputation for reliability and hassle-free ownership is hard to ignore. If you're planning to take the maximum warranty and service packages, it should be an extremely easy car to live with for many years.The Hyundai i20 IVT would be the second choice. It feels more premium inside than the Amaze, offers excellent fit and finish, and its IVT automatic is just as smooth in city traffic. It is also compact and easy to drive, making it a great urban runabout.If you're willing to stretch your budget slightly, the Skoda Kylaq Classic+ AT is worth considering. It brings the benefits of an SUV body style, a solid feel and a smooth torque-converter automatic. However, for your specific use case, the Honda and Hyundai edge it out thanks to their smoother powertrains and stronger reputation for long-term ownership peace of mind.

For a family of three that will soon become four, along with two elderly family members over the age of 60, I am considering the following petrol cars for long-term ownership. This includes Honda Amaze ZX/VX CVT, Honda Elevate V Manual, Kia Syros HTK Plus MT and Maruti Suzuki Fronx Alpha MT. Keeping long-term ownership, comfort, practicality, reliability, and overall ownership experience in mind, which of these would be the best choice for my requirements?

•2d

From your shortlist, we would pick the Honda Elevate V manual. For a growing family with two elders, its higher seat, wide door opening and upright rear bench make getting in and out easy, and it has good interior space and a big boot for luggage on trips. The smooth, reliable and strong 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol and manual are proven, and should be relatively hassle free for 8-10 years, and it has good ground clearance too.The next best option is the Syros, whose space efficient design gives it surprising room for a sub-four-metre vehicle. Ingress and egress are good too, which will be helpful for your elder passengers, and the HTK+ variant will get you more features than the Elevate V. However, its engines, while stronger, aren't as smooth or hassle free as the Honda's 1.5, and will cost more in maintenance over time. Plus, its suspension and ride quality are quite firm, which will be bothersome over time.The Fronx and Amaze are excellent vehicles in their own right, but for a family of four, they just don't offer as much space and practicality as the others, and thus we'd skip them. All things considered, the Honda Elevate V MT suits your needs best.

I am looking to buy an EV. My monthly usage ranges from 500 km to 1,000 km, and my budget is under Rs. 15 lakh. Could you please suggest the best EV options for my requirements?

•3h

Get the Tata Punch EV 40kWh. Your 500-1000 km a month is exactly its sweet spot, and the price is comfortably under Rs. 15 lakh in most cities. One home charge a week should be enough for your normal city usage, and you'll still have room for a short weekend round-trip. It is easy to drive and park, rides well on bad roads, and Tata’s EV service reach is pretty wide now.If you plan to use it on highways, it will need some planning around chargers, and the boot is modest. If you want even more range and a larger vehicle, the Tata Nexon EV 45kWh mid-level trims are an option, but won't get as many features and will stretch your budget. For most first-time EV buyers at this budget, the Punch EV 40 is the best choice.

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

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?

•5d

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.

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•1w

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?

•6d

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.

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•1w

Which would be the better choice among the BYD Sealion 7, Mahindra XEV 9e, and Vinfast VF7? I currently own a Skoda Superb, which is 6 years old, and my ownership experience has been good so far. However, I am considering switching to an EV as a replacement, mainly because I am concerned about potential mechatronics-related repairs and higher maintenance costs as the car ages, even though I have not faced any issues yet. My heart says the BYD Sealion 7 would be the ideal replacement or upgrade for the Superb because of its build quality, premium cabin, and overall feel. However, my mind wonders whether it truly offers good value for money considering its premium price tag, although budget is not a major constraint for me. My daily driving is around 20-30 km, mostly within the city, with only occasional outstation trips. Considering my usage pattern and expectations, which of these EVs would you recommend?

•1d

Pick the BYD Sealion 7. It comes closest to your Superb in the way it feels inside and the calm, premium way it goes down the road, and BYD’s EV tech is well proven here. For 20-30km city usage it is smooth, very efficient, and the cabin quality, quietness and ride will feel like a real upgrade that's on par with luxury cars in the same price range.The Mahindra XEV 9e and Vinfast VF7 do sound like good value with the amount of performance and features they offer, but they both belong a size and segment down on the BYD, and that's reflected in the price too. Plus, though feature laden, their cabins will not give you the same plushness you enjoyed in your Skoda Superb. One catch with the Sealion 7 is BYD’s smaller network as compared to Mahindra. But with budget not being a big worry and your usage being mostly in the city, the peace-of-mind of mature EV hardware and genuine upmarket feel makes the BYD the right call for you. Charge at home and you will need to top up just once every few days.

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