Latest questions answered by experts

Autocar India

•2h

Go ahead and buy the Kia Sonet HTX diesel automatic now. Your Pune-Goa runs need an effortless, efficient cruiser, and this 1.5 diesel with the automatic sits relaxed on the highway, pulls cleanly for overtakes, and will save fuel on those 12,000-18,000 km you’ll rack up in six months. Waiting till 2027 for the new Sonet is a gamble, as there may be unforeseen delays. As you mentioned, leasing/subscription is expensive, and a used car might not be as reliable as you'd want on these longer journeys.The current Sonet is also easy to live with in a new city - compact to park, has cruise control and enough features in HTX to keep long drives calm. One honest catch: the rear seat is not great for three adults on very long stints, and the ride can feel a bit firm on broken patches.Given you like diesels and have real highway use coming up, this is exactly the kind of usage modern diesels are happy with. Buy it now and enjoy the trips.

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

•3h

The Grand Vitara and Victoris are essentially the same car - they share the same platform, powertrain options, feature-set, and several other components. What differentiates them is their styling, both inside and out. The Victoris gets lighter interiors, while the Grand Vitara petrol gets a relatively darker cabin. Also, while the Grand Vitara is sold through the Nexa sales network, the Victoris is sold via the more widespread Arena channel. At the end of the day, pick the car whose design and interior colour appeals to you more. You could also consider the better deal and choose the one that's giving you more value for money. Whichever option you pick, you won't go wrong.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•3h

Opting for an EV seems like a better bet, as that safeguards you from the uncertainties around higher ethanol-blended fuel in the future. With an Rs 11 lakh budget, you can pick the Tata Punch EV. It is an excellent, well-rounded option. However, go for an EV only if you can arrange for home charging. Relying solely on public charging for an EV isn't ideal.If you can't account for home charging, you could consider a Hyundai i20 IVT instead. It is a smooth, refined, and spacious car.

Tata Punch EV

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•3h

Pick the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT. It feels thoroughly modern, is feature-packed, spacious, and it also falls within your Rs 15-20 lakh budget, while having a panoramic sunroof. The 1.5 with the automatic is smoother than the turbo, easier to live with in traffic, and far less fussy long term. With regular service, there is no five-year engine worry; these motors routinely do big mileage without drama. As far as mileage goes, expect 10-11kpl in the city and 14-15kpl on the highway, which is fair for a car of this size.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•4h

Take the Hyundai i20 Magna at Rs. 7.25 lakh on-road – at that price, it’s the nicest, most grown-up first car you can buy. It’s easy to drive in traffic, the clutch and steering are light, and the cabin feels a size bigger than rivals, so family and luggage won’t be a squeeze. Hyundai’s network and resale help keep ownership stress-free, and since your deal includes infotainment, the basics are covered.Just know the 1.2 petrol is calm, not quick. For highway runs, you’ll wish the engine had stronger performance, but in the city, it does reasonably well.

Hyundai i20