Latest questions answered by experts

I have Ciaz AT (2023 model) that has clocked 60,000 km. Last week, we met an accident with Slavia and my car right side quarter got hit but Slavia didn't have a scratch. For safety purpose, I am planning to change the car for 14.5 lakh but now they are offering Rs. 6.5 lakh. Can I keep the car or move in to new vehicle?

Tap if an answer actually helped you decide.

•4m

A crash in which the Ciaz suffered damage while the Slavia apparently came away without a visible mark can understandably make you question the car’s safety, but the extent of visible damage alone does not tell you which car is safer. More importantly, your 2023 Ciaz has already covered 60,000km, so the decision should be based on its structural condition, repair quality and your future usage rather than the accident itself.There is one reason to take the safety concern seriously. The Ciaz is an old design and a recent Global NCAP test gave it one star for adult occupant protection, with the bodyshell rated unstable. So if improved crash protection is your primary reason for changing cars, moving to a newer, independently crash tested model would be justified.

Skoda Slavia

•7h

I already have 2 cars including Celerio automatic and i20 diesel. My family needs a six-seater car and budget is not a problem but we want a car for driving within the city and in this case, parking is the problem. I drive less than 10,000 kilometer annually. I drive with all family members mostly within the city and my entire family is shorter than 5 feet 3 inches. I am thinking of having an i20 for highway riding as four of us usually go out. I am planning to buy Triber turbo for 6 family members within the city and for occasional highway trips rather than buying costly cars like Clavis or HyCross.

•34m

Your thinking is absolutely on the right track. Given your usage of less than 10,000 km a year, predominantly city driving with all six on board, and the fact that your family is on the shorter side, the Renault Triber Turbo is actually a very sensible choice. It is compact, easy to park and manoeuvre in the city, and the turbo petrol engine gives it enough punch for occasional highway runs. The sliding second row and flexible seating make it genuinely usable as a six-seater for shorter adults, and it will be far easier to live with in tight parking situations than something like a Clavis or HyCross.The Clavis and HyCross are excellent cars, but they are significantly larger and more expensive, and given your usage pattern, you are unlikely to see the value in that extra spend. Keeping the i20 diesel for highway runs with four people is also a smart move, as it is more comfortable and efficient for longer journeys.

Renault Triber

Kia Carens Clavis

Toyota Innova HyCross

Hyundai i20

•5h

Hello, I want to upgrade from my current Dzire diesel (2009 model). My running is nearly 7 thousand which is very low. My budget is 10 lakh mostly within city driven but with few highway trips every quarter. So please suggest some reliable comfortable car. I have taken the test drive of Maruti Suzuki Fronx AGS but space in the back is also an issue. I have also taken the test drive of Brezza Turbo and I found it smooth and easy . Anything else I should go for ?

•1h

With just around 7,000km a year, mostly in the city, a simple petrol car makes much more sense than a diesel. Since you have already driven the Brezza and found it smooth and easy to drive, it would be my first choice. The new 1.0 litre Booster jet is refined, has good low speed tractability and is more than adequate for your occasional highway trips. We also found it impressively efficient, with the onboard computer showing 11 to 14kpl even during hard driving.One important point, though: the new Brezza 1.0 Turbo is manual only. If you are looking for an automatic, the 1.5 litre petrol is still the only Brezza powertrain with an automatic, and that pushes the price beyond your Rs. 10 lakh budget.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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•3h

Hi, I was planning to buy a Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L Diesel AT 4WD this month, but have recently seen posts that mention that Thar Roxx facelift is being tested and expected to launch soon. Should I wait for the upgrade or proceed with the current one? When can I expect the updated Thar Roxx launch?

•1h

There is an important clarification here. The test mules and recent reports doing the rounds are for the three door Thar, now called Thar OG, not a facelift of the Thar Roxx. We have not seen credible evidence from Mahindra or from our sources pointing to an imminent Thar Roxx facelift. The recently updated Thar OG has borrowed several elements from the Roxx, which may be the reason for some of the confusion.The Thar OG was actually launched in September 2026 with substantial changes, including a new platform, revised suspension, electric power steering, terrain modes and other features. So the current Roxx remains the larger five door model in Mahindra's range, and there is currently no confirmed launch timeline for a Roxx facelift.For an AX7L 4WD buyer, there is therefore little reason to postpone the purchase purely because of these spy shots. If you need the car now and have already decided that the Roxx's combination of space, comfort and 4WD capability suits you, the current model is a safe purchase.

Mahindra Thar OG

Mahindra Thar Roxx

•3h

I am planning to buy Mahindra XUV 7XO Petrol AX7-T Model. I live in Bangalore and my driving would be around 8000-10,000 km annually, 70% city, 30% highway. I want to understand how has been its owner feedback for it, as it has been on sale for 9 months. I need to know the feedback specifically about driving dynamics, build quality, reliability, electronics and driver aids, and fuel efficiency.

•1h

The Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol AX7-T is a very good fit for your usage in Bangalore with 8,000-10,000 km a year and a 70% city, 30% highway split. Owner feedback over the past nine months has been largely positive. The petrol engine is smooth, refined and well suited to city driving, while the car feels stable and confident on the highway. Build quality is solid and the car feels robust, with good crash test results and a strong safety package. Reliability has been generally good, with no widespread issues reported, though some owners have mentioned minor niggles with electronics and driver aids, which Mahindra has been addressing through software updates. Fuel efficiency is reasonable for a car of this size and performance, but do not expect it to be particularly frugal in heavy city traffic. Overall, the XUV 7XO petrol is a well-rounded SUV that offers a good balance of comfort, performance and features, and should serve you well for your intended usage.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•3h

Tiago owner · 25,000 km

I just read that Slavia facelift is coming with new 8-speed automatic. Between the new Slavia and Virtus, which one would you pick if buying a sedan now?

•4h

Almost every new car is coming as an SUV now. Do you feel Indian buyers are getting tired of SUVs and sedans are going to make a come back?

•4h

LC always stands for Luxury & it’s ruggedness, even LC-FJ won’t let it’s badge go down

•1d

I am Sagar and am planning to purchase Kia Seltos in Pune. I drive 20 km every day and around 30 km every weekend. I currently own a Honda Jazz. In a typical year, I undertake around 2-3 round trips under 500 km. I need your help to make decisions. First, is ADAS worth for my usage? I am unsure how useful ADAS would be. Should I go with turbo or naturally aspirated engine? Should I choose HTX or GTX without ADAS?

•5h

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. With your usage of 20km a day, 30km on weekends and only 2-3 round trips below 500km a year, the naturally aspirated petrol with the IVT automatic is the best fit. It is smooth, refined and perfectly suited to city driving, and you will not miss the extra performance of the turbo given your driving pattern. The HTX is also the sweet spot in the Seltos range, offering a strong feature set without pushing the price up unnecessarily.On ADAS, it is not essential for your usage. Most of your driving is in the city and on short highway runs, and while ADAS can be useful, it is not something you will rely on daily. The GTX line is tempting, but it is more expensive and the turbo petrol is not justified by your usage. The HTX IVT gives you the best balance of comfort, features and long-term ownership satisfaction.

Kia Seltos

•6h

Liked the feature edition especially the ventilated seats at the front and rear. Didn't like what they pasted on top of the grill, made a classy look loose its charm. Was looking forward to its hybridisation and more work on controlling its NVH levels. Which disappointedly didt happend. Though still feels that it is now closer to the competition than ever before.

•6h

Hyundai Bayon could generate an entirely new segment of SUVs in india. It is positioned between the sub-compact Hyundai Venue and the midsize Hyundai Creta in Hyundai's Indian SUV lineup with 4.2-meter long and powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated (NA) petrol engine. Thus generating an entirely new segment holds true when looking at how the market is shifting: • Creating a New "Sub-Creta" Space: Rather than squeezing under the 4-meter tax bracket to fight for marketshare, Hyundai is intentionally building a new sub-midsize space. It sits directly between the sub-4-meter Venue and the Creta. • The Creta's Upward Move: To make physical room for this 4.2-meter vehicle, Hyundai is expected to lengthen the next-generation Creta closer to the 4.4 to 4.5-meter mark. This leaves the Bayon occupying the footprint that the original midsize SUVs used to hold. • Powertrain Capabilities: The 1.5L MPi petrol engine produces 114 bhp and 144 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual or a CVT (IVT) automatic. • Absent competition of similar products: all the other competitors has either sub 4 m SUVs and creta competitors. Victoris is bigger and Curvy is of a different style. Since this 4.2m footprint changes the competition completely, would like to see how its cabin space and features stack up against the base variants of traditional midsize SUVs and top spec sub-4 meter SUVs. Please share your thoughts on this being the Start of an in between sub segment forcing other brands also to introduce such cars.

•6h

IVT is best for city bumper-to-bumper traffic. I have been driving the Hyundai Creta S(O) IVT for the last 3 months, and before that, I was using a manual car. I have also driven a DCT, but in traffic it tends to accelerate and brake abruptly, which can feel jerky and tiring in stop-go conditions. Creta IVT, on the other hand, is smooth, refined, and much more comfortable for daily city commutes.

•6h

Tiago owner

Driving Tata tiago xt 2021 from last 5 years. Good car in terms of stability on highways. Better than Swift, wagonr and celerio in this segment. However, pickup and acceleration seems sluggish on highways during overtake.

•6h

i20 owner · 85,000 km

Elevate facelift looks better equipped now. With these added features, do you think it can give Creta and Seltos a tougher fight?

•1d

Hi, I'm planning to buy a Thar but I'm in a dilemma choosing between the newly launched Thar OG and Thar Roxx, both diesel 4x4 MT. The car will be mainly used for long trips. I'm the kind of a person who prefers less congested village roads over a neat highway with heavy traffic. My monthly running is approximately 1,500-1,800 km. The value-for-money factor pushes me towards the Thar Roxx MX5 over the ZXT variant of the Thar OG but one major factor holding me back from choosing the Roxx is the colour of interior. I don't like white in cars and the Mocha interior didn't impress me either. So which car should I choose? And if you suggest the Roxx, is Mahindra planning to introduce a full black/Ebony edition?

•6h

For your 1,500 to 1,800km monthly running and preference for long trips on village roads, the Roxx is the better choice. Compared with the Thar OG, it is considerably more comfortable and stable at highway speeds, has a much more usable cabin and rear seat, and offers better ride comfort without giving up the 4x4 capability you want. The 2.2 litre diesel 4x4 manual is also well suited to your usage, particularly when you are likely to encounter rough or poorly surfaced roads.The MX5 makes more sense than stretching to the ZXT if the additional features are not essential. The Roxx is already the more complete vehicle, so spending more for equipment you may not use does not add much value. The OG's biggest advantage is its compact size and more traditional Thar character, which can be appealing on narrow village roads, but that advantage is outweighed by the Roxx's superior touring ability for your usage.The interior colour is the one reason to hold off. The Roxx Star Edition does have a darker interior, but, it is not available with 4x4. There is currently no confirmed announcement of an all black or Ebony interior being introduced on a 4x4 Roxx.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra Thar OG

•1d

Regarding the Crysta option, I have found a 2024 Innova Crysta ZX manual with only 10,000 km on the odometer, available for sale at an authorised showroom. Is it wise to prefer this sparingly used Crysta over a brand-new GX or GX Plus variant? I find the deal quite attractive.

•7h

If the 2024 Crysta ZX manual is genuinely a 10,000 km car from an authorised showroom with a clean service history, it is a very attractive proposition. The ZX is the top-spec variant, so you are getting a far richer feature set than the GX or GX Plus, and the Crysta’s diesel engine and manual gearbox are both known for their long-term durability. The key here is that the Crysta is a proven workhorse with a reputation for running well past 2-3 lakh km with proper maintenance, so 10,000 km is barely run-in.The only caveat is price. If the asking price is close to a new GX or GX Plus, it is still worth considering because you are getting the top variant with all the additional features and a car that is essentially still new. Just make sure the price premium over a new GX is not excessive, and that the car comes with a full service record and any remaining warranty transferred to you.

Toyota Innova Crysta

•1w

I am a first-time motorcycle buyer looking for a bike in the Rs 2.0-2.5 lakh range. I am 5ft 3in, so I need something with a lower seat height and manageable weight for comfortable use. My usage will be around 80% in the city, with occasional 300-400 km highway trips. I have shortlisted the TVS Ronin, Yamaha XSR 155 and Royal Enfield Hunter 350. Which would be the most suitable option for me, and are there any other bikes I should consider at my height?

•7h

Your research is absolutely spot on, and the three options you have shortlisted will surely serve your intended purpose quite well. However, which one is right for you is a decision only you can make because all three are quite different to ride.The Yamaha XSR155 is the lightest and sportiest of this trio and will be faster than the other two. What it will not be is as comfortable as the relaxed Hunter and Ronin, which score quite highly in terms of overall comfort. These two have mellow, torque-rich engines which will make for an altogether different, more laid-back riding experience.Given the magnitude of difference between all three, deciding between them warrants a test ride.

Yamaha XSR155

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

TVS Ronin

•1w

I am 48 years old and want to buy a reliable electric scooter for short city commutes. My key requirements are excellent ride comfort over rough roads, good ergonomics and seating, and a setup that will not cause back pain. I also want good reliability and serviceability in South India. My daily commute will be a maximum of 10km. Fast charging would be a bonus. Which electric scooter would you recommend?

•8h

Given your requirements, we'd recommend you choose between the Ather Konarc, River Indie, and the TVS Orbiter. The Konarc and Indie are quite a bit more expensive than the Orbiter but also offer a more polished overall experience. A test ride of all three should help you decide which is the best fit for your needs.

I am a new learner and am planning to buy a two-wheeler in Pune. With so many options available, I am quite confused. I want something that is not too heavy and is smooth to ride, as I will be commuting 30-40 km every day. I also want a reliable engine that does not require frequent maintenance or servicing, as I plan to keep the vehicle for as long as possible. I am 5ft 7in, so it should also be suitable for my height. I would prefer an ethanol-compatible petrol two-wheeler that will not give me trouble. Which bike or scooter would be suitable for me?

•9h

You haven't specified whether or not you want a geared motorcycle or a CVT scooter, so we'll suggest reputable options from both brackets.If you are looking to get your first bike as a tool to learn how to operate the clutch and gears, then you should consider the Honda Shine 125 / SP125 / CB125 Hornet, TVS Raider, Hero Super Splendor / Xtreme 125R. These are all well-priced, smooth, fuel-efficient and comfortable machines which should last you a long time and keep you comfortable over your 40km commute.If a scooter is what you prefer, then pick from reputed options like the Honda Activa 110 / 125, TVS Jupiter 110 / 125, Suzuki Access and Yamaha Fascino / RayZR.You should choose based on two things: first, which bike/scooter you gel with most on your test ride and whichever one has a service centre not too far from your residence / office for hassle-free ownership in the long run.

Honda Bikes Shine 125

Honda Bikes SP 125

Honda Bikes CB125 Hornet

TVS Raider

Hero MotoCorp Splendor+ Xtec

Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 125R

Honda Bikes Activa 110

Honda Bikes Activa 125

TVS Jupiter

TVS Jupiter 125

Suzuki Access 125

Yamaha Fascino 125 Fi

Yamaha RayZR Street Rally 125 Fi

•27w

I have a budget of Rs 6 lakh. My family previously used a Tata Manza and had a great experience with it. We currently have a 2007 Honda Civic, but our family has grown, and I now need a seven-seater. I am considering a used Tata Hexa, around a 2017-2018 model, with one owner and about 80,000km on the odometer, which I can get within my budget. Should I consider buying it? Can I expect it to be reliable up to 150,000-160,000 km?

•9h

The Tata Hexa is a genuinely good family car. It has a comfortable cabin, excellent ride quality, a powerful 2.2-litre diesel and plenty of space for seven. However, a 2017 or 2018 car with 80,000km has already done a significant portion of its life, and you are looking at another 70,000 to 80,000km of ownership. This is where we would be cautious. The Hexa has been discontinued for several years, and parts availability might become an issue.At Rs 6 lakh, the car can make sense only if it is exceptionally well maintained and you are prepared for occasional large repair bills. Before buying, get an independent inspection covering the turbo, clutch or automatic gearbox, injectors, suspension, steering, cooling system, AC, electricals and underbody. Insist on complete service records and check whether major wear items have already been replaced.If reliability until 150,000 to 160,000km is the primary objective, we would rather look for a newer and simpler seven-seater like a used Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, even if that means giving up some of the Hexa's size and performance.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

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