For daily city driving of 80-100 km within Mumbai, will the Tata Sierra diesel auto be a better choice? I have heard that DPF causes regeneration issues if the new diesel cars are not driven on long highway trips in their highest gear. The car will be mainly driven in Mumbai traffic and will take around 1,000 km outstation trips once every 4-5 months. Please explain whether a diesel auto, a good combination for convenience and mileage, can be troublesome (DPF troubles) in city use. Thank you.

Autocar India

•15w

If your daily round covers 80 to 100km, the Tata Sierra diesel automatic is the one that fits your brief best. The diesel’s far more efficient than the petrol for that sort of running, and Tata’s six-speed Aisin torque-converter auto is a well-matched companion for the 1.5-litre engine. It keeps the motor in its sweet spot without feeling strained, whether you’re crawling through traffic or cruising along the coastal road.

There’s often a bit of anxiety around diesels and their particulate filters, but that’s largely a non-issue in your case. The DPF’s job is to trap soot from the exhaust and burn it off once the system gets hot enough — something that happens naturally when the engine is under load for a reasonable duration. Problems usually arise only when the car is constantly driven short distances and quits before it can complete this self-cleaning process.

Since your daily commute is fairly long, the exhaust will reach optimum temperature often enough for regeneration to go through smoothly. Even within Mumbai, stretches like the Sea Link or a run-down to south Mumbai allow the DPF to do its passive cleaning without any driver input. So with your usage, the diesel auto won’t just be easy on fuel — it should also remain hassle-free in the long run.

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Pramod Kumar

•1w

Toyota HyCross GX(O) vs Maruti Victoris ZXi(O) strong hybrid vs Tata Sierra Accomplished Plus turbo petrol. Which is best for long-term usage under ₹30 lakh?

Autocar India

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For long-term usage, the Toyota Innova HyCross GX (O) and the Maruti Victoris ZXi (O) strong hybrid are safer bets than the Tata Sierra Accomplished+ Turbo Petrol. Both come with a solid reputation for reliability and strong after-sales support, which is what really matters over 8-10 years of ownership.Between the Toyota HyCross and the Victoris, the HyCross is the more comfortable and practical choice. Its very spacious cabin, better third-row usability and comfortable ride make it a nicer long-distance family car. The 2.0-litre petrol engine is simple and proven, and its relaxed highway manners are a big plus if you do a lot of intercity trips.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid scores on efficiency and smoothness thanks to its hybrid powertrain, which is especially nice in traffic and helps keep running costs low. However, the boot is smaller, and the cabin is the least spacious of the three, so it’s not as versatile for full-family use. If you mainly drive yourself with only occasional passengers, the Victoris, which is also the most compact and city-friendly of the lot, is the easiest to live with in daily urban driving.

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Atiqueul Islam

•5d

I have read the recent comments about the Duster on your website, and I am impressed by the overall rating of the Duster. I am planning to purchase the 1L turbo manual version of Duster and seeking advice on the power delivery and torque. Is it sufficient for city drives and, very occasionally, driving on highways?

Autocar India

•1d

For your requirement, the 1.0-litre turbo petrol Renault Duster should be adequate for your usage, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Although we haven’t driven this engine in the Duster yet, we have experienced it in cars like the Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite. In those cars, the engine feels peppy and responsive, especially in city conditions.Now, the Duster is a larger and heavier car, so performance will take a slight hit compared to those smaller SUVs. However, for city driving, it should feel more than sufficient, and thanks to the turbo, it will still offer good low-end torque, making it easy to drive in traffic. On the highway, it should be able to keep up with fast-moving traffic comfortably, and overtaking should not feel stressful.That said, we strongly recommend that you test drive the 1.0-litre version before deciding. Since it is a 3-cylinder engine, you may notice some vibration at idle and hard acceleration, something we have experienced in the Kiger and Magnite.If your priority is smoothness and refinement, you can also consider options like the Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos, which offer more refined petrol engines. However, in terms of outright punch and torque feel, the turbo Duster will still feel stronger.

Ramnath

I am confused about whether to buy the Thar Roxx or the Tata Sierra. Right now, I have an Ertiga diesel VDI Smart from 2019 and a Venue diesel from 2021. By selling both, I am looking to buy one SUV, or should I wait?

Autocar India

•2d

While both cars are very attractive in their own right, they are for very different reasons. The Mahindra Thar Roxx is a tough, ladder-frame SUV with strong engines and exceptional off-road ability. It has great road presence and is well-equipped, too. However, all this comes with many compromises for everyday use, such as an unsettled ride, poor fuel economy and a high step-up for entry and exit to the vehicle.Overall, we would recommend the Tata Sierra instead. While it has its own share of flaws, such as some electronic gaffes and ergonomic issues, it is a much friendlier car to drive and live with. It's more comfortable, refined, efficient, manoeuvrable and spacious, and its interior feels more modern too.

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