Latest questions answered by experts

autocar.india

•42m

The Kia Seltos IVT would be our recommendation. While the Honda Elevate undoubtedly offers the best value for money at current prices, there are two factors working against it in your case. First, you don't have a Honda showroom in your city, which could make routine servicing and warranty-related work less convenient. Second, the Elevate facelift is expected in the not-too-distant future, which could impact resale values of the current model.Between the Seltos and Creta, we'd pick the Seltos. It feels a little more premium inside, has a richer feature set and remains one of the best-looking SUVs in the segment. It is also newer than the Creta and therefore likely to remain fresh for longer. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT automatic is smooth, refined and perfectly suited to your low daily running and occasional 400km trips.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•1h

Yes, get it checked at the service centre soon. P30000 on many scanners is actually P3000:00, which means the hybrid battery control system has logged a fault. If you ignore it, the car can cut power, refuse to go ready, or you could worsen a battery issue.It isn’t always a dead HV battery. The system throws this when it sees anything odd around the battery pack or its ECU - cell voltage imbalance, high temperature, cooling fan problem, a loose connector, or even a weak 12V battery that confuses the hybrid electronics. That’s why you need a proper scan that also reads the sub-codes.If the Hybrid System warning is on, the car won’t go ready, or it limits power, don’t drive it. Call for a tow. If it starts and drives normally with only the code stored, you can drive gently to the SC the same day. Keep speeds moderate, avoid hard acceleration, heavy loads, and stop-start traffic in strong heat. Make sure the rear seat area vents are not blocked so the battery can cool.One honest heads-up: sometimes workshops just clear the code. Ask them to check the battery fan, module voltages and the 12V battery before sending you off.

autocar.india

•1h

Yes, but not by converting your car. The safe and sensible route is to trade in your 2023 Magnite XE for a Magnite automatic. Given your knee surgery and low running, go for the turbo automatic version because it is much smoother in traffic and takes the stress off your left leg completely. Be aware that the turbo automatic will sip a bit more fuel than your current manual. If you are on a tight budget, then the naturally aspirated Magnite can be had with an AMT, though it isn't the smoothest-shifting AMT out there. If you are looking for alternatives, then the Hyundai Exter AMT or the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R AMT could be good choices. They are both easy to get in and out of, compact for city use and fuel-efficient.

Nissan Magnite

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

autocar.india

•2h

Typically in this segment, an AWD model will account for a very tiny percentage of overall sales, that is usually single digit. Thus most brands and dealers will not stock the AWD model for a test drive. Yes, given that Nexa is the premium outlet, the dealers should have a car or at least, they should be able to arrange for one from a central pool, but this isn't the case and not just with Maruti but with all brands in this space. The low sales mean the staff too seemed ill informed and uninterested. We do have a review of the car on our website and also a review using the AWD as a long termer but if you must drive one, your best bet would be to call dealers in your neighboring area and also check if someone knows an owner in your friend circle or other groups like work, ex-schoolmates, etc.

autocar.india

•4h

In terms of price to features ratio, the sweet spot is almost always the mid variant rather than top variants. You’ll miss out on only a little but save a chunk as high-end features tend to be priced more based on their perceived value rather than their actual value. However, since you are enthusiastic about cars, choose a variant as high end as you can afford and enjoy the experience. Features that you will appreciate regularly are, all‑row AC vents, auto climate control, LED headlamps, TPMS, auto‑dimming inside mirror, wireless phone integration and plenty of USB‑C ports. In a big SUV, a 360° camera and front sensors are gold in tight city spots. Ventilated seats matter a whole lot in our summers. Adaptive cruise is handy on long expressways, but other ADAS nudges can feel fussy and many owners turn off parts of it in the city. However, what amazes at delivery but fades later, are things like panoramic sunroof that stays shut most of the time during the year and also adds heat. Another one is the connected app feature which most people typically use for a month and then forgot about it. Third such feature is the 'passenger' screen, which is also all the rage these days, but after a while, most owners do not use it. Watching a movie or playing games on the go aren't something you do often and not even pleasant over rough city roads while your are hunched forward in your seat. In your Rs. 25-27 lakh budget, we would suggest Tata Safari or the Mahindra XUV 7XO as they are great for highway comfort. The Mahindra car has an edge on performance but the Safari has the better third row. The Kia Carens Clavis is another good car if you are comfortable with its MPV image as it is the more sensible buy.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•5h

Use only your right foot and keep it smooth. Your left foot now lives on the dead pedal, because the biggest mistake ex-manual drivers make is stabbing the brake with the old clutch foot. In fact, to avoid this, it's a good idea to tuck your left foot towards the seat. Start with your foot on the brake, fire up the engine, select D, then ease off the brake and let the car creep. Feed in throttle gently and hold a steady pedal. A CVT likes smooth inputs and will keep the engine in the sweet spot.At signals, stay in D with the brake held for short stops. For longer halts, pull the handbrake first, then shift to N or P so the drivetrain isn’t loaded. Come to a complete stop before selecting R or D. Never coast in N while moving.On hills, don’t balance throttle and brake. Use hill-hold if you have it, or handbrake, then drive off normally. For long descents, use L or the manual steps to add engine braking instead of riding the brakes.Expect a spike in revs under hard throttle and some drone. That’s normal, but if you mash it often, the engine feels noisy and wastes fuel. Smooth, progressive inputs make a CVT feel natural.