Latest questions answered by experts

abhishek sharma

I bought a Honda City V MT about two years ago and absolutely love the car. At the time, it was the perfect choice for my usage. However, my circumstances have changed significantly since then-I now have two large dogs (a Labrador and a German Shepherd), and the City is no longer practical for transporting both dogs comfortably, especially on longer highway trips. I am trying to decide between keeping the City and buying a second EV primarily for dog transport and city use, or replacing the City altogether with a single-car solution. The vehicles I am considering include the Kia Carens Clavis EV, Mahindra XEV 9S, Mahindra XEV 9e, BYD eMAX 7, and Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid. My priorities are: Comfortable transport for two large dogs Highway touring ability Ease of parking and city usability Long-term ownership (8–10 years) Good ride comfort Reasonable running costs Would you recommend: 1. Keeping the Honda City and adding a practical EV (such as the Clavis EV), or 2. Moving to a single-car garage and choosing something like the XEV 9S, eMAX 7, or Hycross? Also, is there a midsize SUV (EV, hybrid, petrol or diesel) that offers: A low boot loading lip, Rear seats that fold nearly flat, Enough cargo length and width for two large dogs to comfortably lie down on highway trips, While still being manageable in city traffic and parking? Which vehicle would you choose for this specific use case and why?

Autocar India

•1h

Pick a single-car solution and buy the Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid. Your dogs get a low loading lip and a long, near-flat space with the third row folded, so they can actually lie side by side on highway runs. The hybrid makes touring simple with no charging hassles, calm cruising and a comfy ride, and Toyota’s durability fits an 8-10 year plan with sensible running costs.EV MPVs like the Kia Carens Clavis EV and BYD eMax 7 are great for city runs and dog space, but long trips with two dogs mean 30-40 minute fast-charge halts and patchy chargers once you leave big corridors. That’s a hassle you do not need. Mahindra XEV 9S and 9e are good choices, but their higher boot floors make them poorer dog haulers.You will wrestle with the Innova's size in tight parking, and it costs more upfront than adding a small EV, but day to day, it is still easy enough with light steering and cameras.If you must go smaller, the Kia Carens Clavis turbo petrol DCT is a solid choice, but fuel efficiency in the city won't be as good as the Hycross hybrid.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Mohammed

My daily travel is around 300 km, mostly on highways. Which 7-seater EV would be the better choice for my usage?

Autocar India

•2h

Go for the Mahindra XEV 9S 79kWh. It comfortably clears a 300km highway run on a single charge in real-world use and, when you do need a top-up, the fast charging is quick enough to add sufficient range during a coffee stop. In our real-world testing, we recorded a highway range of 477km on a single charge, though this will drop noticeably with a full load.Also note that while it seats seven, the third row is tight for adults, and boot space is very limited with all rows up. Alternatively, you can consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV, which has a better third row, but its 51.4kWh battery will only deliver about 345km of highway range as per our real-world tests.Whichever you choose, map out the public fast chargers on your route at least once so you are not hunting for a plug at the wrong time.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Vijay kumar

•3d

Hi Autocar India, We are planning to buy an EV car for our family. Can you suggest which type of EV car we should buy for intercity travel? Actually, my home is in Odisha, and my father's service is in Jamshedpur. We are planning to buy the Tata Punch EV 2.O. Is it a good choice for Jamshedpur to Odisha, and also for a city ride? I am a little bit confused.

Autocar India

•3h

Go for the Tata Punch EV 40kWh, because your Jamshedpur - Odisha runs will be far easier with the bigger battery, and it still stays super handy in the city. In the real world, you can expect roughly 220-230km on the highway if you cruise sensibly, so most Odisha destinations will need two fast-charge stops depending on where you’re headed. In town, its small size, light steering and strong regen make daily driving simple, and the ground clearance handles broken roads and village links without drama.Be a bit honest about the highway bit. Charging on that corridor is improving but not perfect, so plan stops on the main highways and keep a 15-20 percent buffer. The Punch EV charges at a max of 50kW, so a 20-80 percent top-up can take around 30-35 minutes on a good DC charger.If you often do 400 km plus with four adults and luggage, it will feel small, and the total trip time will stretch. If those long runs are only occasional, the Punch EV 40kWh is a sensible, lower-cost way to go electric.

Tata Punch EV

Parth Sachdev

•3d

I currently own a 2015 model Honda Mobilio (diesel variant). Please suggest to me if it would be better to buy a sedan or a hatchback for mostly city rides and 4/5 times a road trip in a year. Budget is around 10-12 lakhs. Please suggest to me some good cars for the same.

Autocar India

•4h

Go for the Honda Amaze sedan. For mostly city use, it is easy to drive and park, yet the 420 litre boot makes those 4-5 road trips far simpler than a hatchback. Coming from a Mobilio, you will also like the comfy ride and the familiar Honda smoothness. Pick the automatic, which will be friendly and easy to use in the city where you spend most of your time.One honest catch is power. It is fine in the city and steady at 90-100 km/h, but quick highway overtakes with a full load will need some planning.If you are set on a hatchback, the Maruti Baleno or Fronx are the most sensible city choices thanks to light controls, good space and very good mileage, and they are calmer on highways than most small hatches. If safety and rough-road stability matter more than mileage, the Tata Altroz is the sturdier hatch, though its petrol feels just okay.Overall, for your usage mix and past MPV ownership, the Amaze fits best.

Sufiyan

Hyundai Verna 2026 top model vs Honda City 2026 top model - which is the more practical and value-for-money car? Also, what would be Autocar India’s recommendation between the two?

Autocar India

•4h

Considering the naturally aspirated engines in both, the Honda City is the better pick. It rides and handles better, has a nicer back seat, and performance is livelier. Add Honda’s typically higher resale value and lower running costs, and it becomes the better long-term proposition.Where the Hyundai Verna fights back is with more features and the option of a turbo-petrol engine. If you want the faster, flashier sedan at this price, then the Verna turbo-petrol is the one to have.For a practical, value-for-money buy over the years of ownership, the City is the smarter pick. Choose the Verna only if performance and extra features matter more than everyday ease of use and efficiency.

Honda City

Hyundai Verna

Siba Prasad Dash

•3d

I am planning to buy either the Mahindra XUV700 AX7 AT Petrol or the Tata Harrier Pure X Petrol AT, but I am confused between the two. The XUV700 costs around Rs. 3 lakh more. My driving will be around 70% city and 30% highway, and there will usually be four people travelling in the car. Could you please suggest which would be the better option for my needs?

Autocar India

•5h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 petrol automatic; with 70% city use and four people on board most of the time, it is smoother and more powerful. Space and seat comfort are also slightly better in the XUV, and it gives you a third row as well. While the Harrier is more affordable, it misses out on a few features like leatherette seats, a powered driver's seat and dual-zone climate control. The XUV also has a larger infotainment screen, a front passenger display and that extra third row.If you do not see the value in these features, then the Tata Harrier is a good choice. Performance from its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is stronger than the displacement suggests, and while it does not have the outright performance of the XUV, it is more than adequate in day-to-day driving. Test drive both and see if the extra space, performance and features on the XUV 7XO feel worth the premium to you.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier