Latest questions answered by experts

Ravinder Pal Singh

I am looking to buy a car for around Rs. 1 crore by the end of this year. I love sedans, but I am horrified about ground clearance, as my current C-Class scrapes over speed breakers quite often in my city. I am only considering hybrid or electric vehicles. I do not see diesel as a viable long-term option, as I typically keep my cars for around 10 years. Petrol is also not ideal for me because my monthly running is around 2,000 km, making it less economical. Could you please suggest suitable options?

Autocar India

•6h

For the moment, there's no hybrid sedan that fits your requirements. The Lexus ES 350h hybrid is due for launch, though.The Lexus ES is already on sale in a full electric Lexus ES 500e avatar. It packs in crisp styling, a lot of features and the promise of a reasonable range. However, we have yet to drive one and cannot comment on ground clearance at this time.Since you are open to buying electric, an enticing option is in the works. BMW is readying a long wheelbase version of the all-electric i5, and a key engineering job on the project is to ensure ample ground clearance for Indian conditions. The BMW i5 M60, sold in short wheelbase form, was notorious for scraping its belly on speedbreakers and bad roads, and the promise is that this won't be an issue on the i5 LWB. The model is expected to go on sale in the coming months and could be an exciting option to look for.

Lexus ES

BMW i5

Raj

•1w

Need suggestions on buying a new car. Currently driving a Maruti Swift (2018). Need a bigger car as I am 6.4 feet tall. Driving will be 80% city traffic and 20% highway. Once every 4-5 months will take a trip around 300-500 km. Looking for front and back seat comfort seating ( 5 persons including 3 in rear seat), effortless driving and fuel efficient. Need automatic transmission only. Budget is around 12-15 lakhs. Open to electric vehicles also. Please give 3 options to choose from.

Autocar India

•7h

You should check the Kia Syros, which excels in space despite being a compact SUV. The high roofline means you'll be very comfortable in the cabin, and the fantastic packaging opens up space for 5 passengers to sit in comfort. The Syros is easy to drive, and the diesel-auto version is refined, smooth and fuel efficient. You could also look at the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (or its twin from Toyota - Rumion). Its high roof will put you at ease, the middle row seat can be slid back to maximise space for passengers, while the third row adds in seating flexibility. The Ertiga is easy to drive and reasonably efficient, but the petrol engine and auto gearbox are unexciting.

Kia Syros

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Skd

•1w

I have a budget of Rs. 30 lakh on-road, which I can stretch to Rs. 32 lakh if needed. I am looking for an automatic car with good build quality, comfort, and decent fuel efficiency of around 10–12 km/l. My shortlisted options are the XUV700, Alcazar, and Toyota Hycross. Please advise which one would be the best choice.

Autocar India

•8h

Considering your priorities, the Toyota Innova HyCross strong hybrid automatic fits you best. It rides very comfortably over bad roads, the cabin feels quiet and smooth, and the seats (even the third row) are spacious enough for family trips. In daily city traffic, the hybrid uses less fuel than your other two options, so meeting your 10-12kpl target is easy, and Toyota’s solid build and hassle-free service add long-term peace of mind. Do note, the nicer features are mostly on higher trims, and prices vary by city, so check which hybrid variant lands inside your Rs. 32 lakh cap.If you want a stronger highway punch and the most features for the money, pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO automatic from your list. It feels very solid and packs a lot of safety tech, but it will use more fuel in town, and its third row is not as comfy.Overall, for family comfort and easy running costs, the Innova HyCross hybrid lines up best with what you want.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Ankit Sagwekar

•6d

We are a family of four, and my budget is a maximum of Rs 10 lakh. I am looking for a petrol manual car. My requirements are that the car should be fun to drive, comfortable for three passengers at the rear, have a good sound system, strong air conditioning, and sufficient boot space. Mileage and service network are also important. My usage will be around 60% city and 40% rural driving. Is there an ideal family car that meets all these requirements, or will I have to compromise because of my budget? Also, if I stretch my budget by Rs 1-2 lakh, would there be a better option? I am also open to second-hand cars.

Autocar India

•9h

With 60% city and 40% rougher rural runs, a petrol manual under Rs 10 lakh that covers space, comfort, AC and running costs best is the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2 manual in a mid variant. It rides higher than a regular small car, so bad roads and speed breakers are easy. The back seat is wide enough for three for most trips, the AC is strong, the boot is decent for a family of four, and you get Maruti’s big service network and easy mileage. It is light and easy to drive in traffic, yet steady at highway speeds.The trade-offs: the engine is smooth but not very exciting when fully loaded, and the audio system in lower trims is just okay.If you can stretch by Rs 1-2 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual fits your brief even better with a roomier back seat, tougher ride for rural roads, and strong AC.In the used market, you should be able to find a 5-6 year old Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos with the 1.5 NA petrol manual combo from a trusted source like Spinny. Overall, the Fronx meets your needs without big compromises; the Brezza is the nicer step-up if you stretch.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Fionna Joanne Sturgeon

•3d

I want to buy my Royal Enfield in India and bring it back home to Australia. Is there any motorcycle travel company in India that helps with everything: airport pickup, accommodation, bike purchase, negotiating a good cash price, and arranging paperwork to take the bike back to Australia?

Autocar India

•11h

No mainstream tour company in India will buy you a Royal Enfield bike and ship it to Australia end-to-end, and doing it is far messier and costlier than it sounds. Australia needs import approval before the bike leaves India, and unless you have owned and used it overseas for around 12 months, you usually cannot bring it in under the personal import route. Even when allowed, sea freight, insurance, port charges, quarantine cleaning and asbestos testing can wipe out any price saving on the bike that you bought in India.Buying a bike locally itself will be quite challenging, too. Registering a new bike in your name needs local address proof and tax ID, which you will have to jump through big hurdles to procure, if at all.It is our professional recommendation that you buy the bike in your home country and avoid this logistical nightmare in the quest to save a little bit of money.

Ankit Sagwekar

•1w

We are a family of four. I am looking for a car that is fun to drive, fuel-efficient, has a good service experience, a strong sound system, effective air conditioning, good boot space, and enough comfort for three people in the rear seat. My budget is up to Rs 10 lakh. I am also open to second-hand options. Running will be 70% city and 30% highway. Is there an ideal family car in the market that fulfils all these requirements, or will I need to compromise somewhere? The car should be petrol and manual.

Autocar India

•12h

With 70% city use, 30% highway and a Rs. 10 lakh cap, the Tata Altroz petrol manual in a high variant fits your brief best. It is easy to drive in traffic, feels steady on the highway, and its Harman sound system is among the nicest you will get at this price. The AC is strong, the rear seat is wide enough for three adults, and the boot is big enough for a family trip.Two caveats for your mix. With four on board and luggage, you will need to shift gears more on hills and quick passes. Also, Tata service is decent in big cities, but Maruti still has a smoother, wider network.If mileage and hassle-free service are top priority, pick the Maruti Suzuki Baleno petrol manual. It uses less fuel in the city, rides comfortably, has a big boot, a back seat that works for three, and service reach is the best. It is more relaxed than sporty, and the sound system is good, but not as rich as the Altroz.Open to use? A well-kept Honda City petrol manual brings the biggest rear space and boot, strong AC and solid service, while still being nice to drive.

Tata Altroz

Maruti Suzuki Baleno