Autocar India
•5h

Hi Autocar India Team, I am planning to buy first car for my family and would really appreciate your guidance. Our budget for a used car is up to Rs. 8 lakh, although we are open to stretching it if there is a significantly better long-term option. We are a family of five members, including my elderly grandmother. Both my brother and I are over 6 ft 2 in and lean, so front and rear seat space is a very important consideration. My grandmother should be able to get in and out of the car comfortably, so a higher seating position would be preferable. The car will be used primarily for city driving, with one or two trips every month to our village, which is around 200 km one way. We are looking for a car that is safe, reliable, easy to maintain, comfortable on highways, and inexpensive to own over the long term. Since this will be our family's first car, hassle-free ownership is very important to us. We would prefer an automatic transmission, but we are open to a manual if it is a much better overall choice. So far, we have shortlisted the first-generation Hyundai Creta petrol, as it seems to meet most of our requirements. However, we are completely open to other suggestions if there are better options in the used car market. Could you please recommend the best used cars for our requirements and explain why you would choose them over the Creta? Also, considering the current E20 mandate, would you advise stretching our budget and buying a new car instead? If yes, which new cars would you recommend that offer the best value, comfort, safety, and long-term ownership experience for a family like ours?

Verified
•5m

Given your requirements, the first-generation Hyundai Creta petrol is actually a very sensible choice. It offers a comfortable ride, a higher seating position for your grandmother, good reliability and a proven ownership experience. In that context, a 2020-2021 Maruti Suzuki Brezza or Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol automatic is also worth serious consideration. Both these offer meet all your requirements, and will also be reliable and inexpensive cars to own over the long term, with excellent service reach and low maintenance costs. Additionally, they're likely to be newer than a Creta petrol-automatic available at this price point.As far as E20 goes, most pre-2023 cars are not compatible with this fuel type, however the impact of using E20 in these older cars is not likely to be immediate. But if you can stretch your budget sligthly, for peace of mind, get a new car instead. You could consider a base Mahindra XUV 3XO Turbo-Petrol AT, which will cost you around Rs. 11.50 lakh (on-road). It is safe, spacious, and it meets all your requirments.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleHyundai Creta
Mahindra XUV 3XO
Mahindra XUV 3XO
•4h

I'm 6'3" tall and have never owned a car before. I learned to drive at a driving school several years ago, but haven't driven on public roads since then. As a first-time car buyer, would it be better to buy a second-hand automatic car to learn and gain confidence, or should I invest in a brand-new automatic car from the start? Also, which cars would you recommend that offer excellent front and rear legroom and headroom (comfortable for someone my height), a spacious boot, modern features and technology, strong safety ratings, good fuel efficiency (mileage), easy-to-drive automatic transmission in a budget of 8-12 lakhs.

Verified
•2h

Get a pre-owned car from a reputed platform or dealer, preferably backed by a warranty for added peace of mind.You could consider a 5-year old petrol-automatic Maruti Suzuki Brezza or Toyota Urban Cruiser, which is adequately spacious given your height as well as boot requirement. Its elevated seating, good visibility, responsive engine and smooth transmission make it very easy-to-drive, something as a new driver, you will appreciate. Also, these cars are reliable and are quite easy to maintain.Once you gain confidence driving the pre-owned car, you could move on to a brand new one, pehaps from a segment-above.

•6h

I'm planning to buy a new car with a budget of Rs. 8-10 lakh. I currently own a Hyundai Santro Xing and am looking to upgrade. I have shortlisted the Hyundai i20 Magna and the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi Turbo. We are a family of five, and my average monthly running is around 1,500 km. My priorities are comfort and good fuel efficiency. Which of these would you recommend, or is there a better option within my budget?

Verified
•3h

For a family of five with 1,500km a month, comfort and good mileage are key. The Hyundai i20 Magna is a good hatchback, but it won't feel like a big upgrade from your Santro Xing in terms of space. The Maruti Brezza LXI Turbo is the better choice here. It offers a more spacious cabin, a higher seating position and better comfort for five occupants. The turbo petrol engine should also be relatively efficient and well suited to your running. The Brezza is also a practical, reliable and comfortable SUV that will serve you well for years. Go for the Brezza LXI Turbo.

VehicleHyundai i20
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
Hyundai i20
Hyundai i20
•10h

I want to buy my first car, and I have a strict budget of Rs. 10 lakh. I live in Bengaluru, and I will not be using the car daily-it will be driven only occasionally. I prefer an automatic transmission and am not interested in a manual. Could you please suggest the best options within my budget?

Verified
•3h

Given your budget of Rs 10 lakh, occasional usage and preference for an automatic, the Maruti Suzuki Swift AMT is the most sensible recommendation. It is a compact hatchback with a reliable and fuel-efficient petrol engine, and the AMT gearbox makes city driving effortless without adding significant cost. For occasional use, you do not need a larger or more expensive car, and the Swift keeps running costs low while still offering a comfortable and easy ownership experience. If you want something with a slightly higher seating position and a more SUV-like feel, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx AMT is also worth considering, but it will stretch your budget closer to the limit. Overall, the Swift AMT is the most practical and cost-effective choice for your requirements.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
•1d

I currently own a 2022 Kia Seltos that has covered 35,000 km. My wife and I are the primary occupants, and we usually take one or two road trips every six months, covering up to 300 km in a day on highways. We are both 66 years old. I plan to continue driving myself for the next five years, after which I expect to hire a chauffeur. I have been considering replacing the Seltos with the MG Hector Savvy CVT 6-seater. Given my usage and future plans, would it be better to make the change now or wait?

Verified
•4h

Based on your usage and priorities, there is no compelling reason to change your Kia Seltos right now. Your 2022 Seltos with 35,000 km is still relatively new and well within its prime ownership period. Since you and your wife are usually the only occupants, and your travel is limited to one or two highway trips every six months with a maximum of 300 km a day, moving to a larger 6-seater like the MG Hector Savvy CVT does not offer any meaningful advantage. While the Hector is a comfortable SUV, its larger dimensions and third row are unlikely to be fully utilised based on your current needs. The Seltos is already a comfortable and capable highway car, and it will continue to serve you well for the next five years until you transition to a chauffeur-driven setup. At that point, you can reassess your requirements and choose a more comfort-focused upgrade if needed. For now, keeping the Seltos is the more practical and sensible decision.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMG Hector
•3d

Is it considered normal for a premium 900cc adventure motorcycle to require a complete cylinder head and valve assembly replacement at around 18,000 km, followed by another major repair or replacement of the valve or cylinder head assembly just 6,500 km later, with the motorcycle having covered only 24,500 km in total? If this is not considered normal, what are the most likely technical reasons for such a recurring failure? From an engineering perspective, would it be advisable to continue with another component-level repair, or does a case like this warrant a more comprehensive solution, such as a complete engine replacement?

Verified
•5h

No, this is not normal at all for a premium 900cc adventure motorcycle. Modern engines are designed to last well beyond the odometer crossing 6 figures and requiring another major repair just 6,500 km later strongly points to an underlying issue that has not been properly addressed.The most likely technical reasons for such a recurrence are either a fundamental manufacturing defect in the cylinder head or valve train, improper repair or assembly during the first replacement, or an underlying issue such as oil starvation, cooling problems or incorrect valve clearance adjustment that is causing repeated failure. It could also be related to poor fuel quality, detonation or lubrication issues, but on a premium motorcycle this is far less likely if the bike has been maintained properly.From an engineering perspective, continuing with repeated component-level repairs is not the right approach. If the same failure has occurred twice in such a short mileage, it points to a systemic issue rather than a one-off component failure. At this stage, a complete engine replacement is the more comprehensive and sensible solution, as it eliminates the risk of hidden damage elsewhere in the engine and ensures long-term reliability.Alternatively, we'd also recommend you visit another authorised service centre and get your machine inspected by a trained mechanic. A fresh set of eyes can perhaps provide you with a solution you didn't know was available.

•3d

I own a 2018 Maruti Suzuki Ignis Delta petrol and am considering installing an aftermarket CNG kit. Is it a safe and worthy option? Also, what is the approximate cost of fitting an aftermarket CNG kit?

Verified
•6h

If the car is a 2018 Maruti Suzuki Ignis Delta petrol, fitting an aftermarket CNG kit can be a sensible decision if the monthly running is high enough to recover the installation cost. The Ignis' naturally aspirated petrol engine is generally compatible with a high-quality sequential CNG kit, and when installed by a reputed installer, it can be both safe and reliable. A good-quality sequential CNG kit with RTO endorsement typically costs around Rs. 50,000-60,000.The bigger question is whether it is the right decision for you. CNG makes sense only if your running is high enough to recover the cost within a reasonable period. You will also lose almost the entire boot space to the cylinder, and there will be a slight drop in performance. If the car is driven only moderately, continuing with petrol may be the more practical option.

•4d

My monthly running is approximately 1,200 km, mostly within the Delhi-NCR region. My family includes my wife, my 11-year-old son, and my mother. I had to sell my beautifully maintained third-generation Honda City V MT because of the 15-year NGT rule in Delhi. In October 2024, I bought a Tata Punch EV S Long Range, which has proven to be tech-loaded, extremely economical to run, comfortable, and very convenient for navigating Delhi's congested roads. However, I still miss having an all-rounder with the character of the third-generation City, especially on highway drives. I have shortlisted two options: the Maruti Suzuki Swift MT and the Maruti Suzuki Jimny AT. I enjoy driving briskly, while staying within legal limits, on highways, which is why the Swift appeals to me. At the same time, my heart is set on Jimny for its classic looks and abilities. I plan to undertake long road trips to destinations such as Keran in Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, and other parts of the country. Considering my current usage, I may keep just one car in the garage, although I am also open to owning both an EV for city driving and an ICE car for highway trips. With this in mind, I would appreciate your expert advice on the best long-term choice.

Verified
•18h

Given your usage and aspirations, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny AT is the better fit. Your monthly running of 1,200 km in Delhi-NCR is well within petrol territory, and your intent to do long road trips to places like Leh and Arunachal points towards a car with capability rather than outright speed. The Swift is a fantastic highway car, but it is ultimately a hatchback and will not give you the sense of adventure or the ability to tackle rough terrain that the Jimny offers. The Jimny, on the other hand, is a purpose-built off-roader with a classic appeal, and it will allow you to explore the kind of destinations you have in mind with confidence. It is not the fastest car on the highway, nor is it spacious, but it is comfortable enough and excels when the going gets tough. Since you already have the Tata Punch EV for city duties, the Jimny can be your dedicated adventure vehicle, and you do not need to compromise by keeping only one car. This combination gives you the best of both worlds: an efficient city runabout and a characterful, capable highway explorer.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Jimny
VehicleTata Punch EV
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift
Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Maruti Suzuki Jimny
•3d

Hi Autocar India, I recently booked the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi Turbo. With a budget of ₹Rs 8–9 lakh, I chose the base variant and plan to add a music system and rear camera later. This is my first new car, and my monthly running will be around 1,000–1,200 km, mostly highway commuting. I chose the Brezza Turbo over the Hyundai Exter HX4 because it offers better value, is a segment above, and suits my highway usage and preference for a higher seating position. I have two questions: First, should I be concerned about the turbo engine with increasing ethanol blending, as some reviewers advise against it? Second, I prefer a simple, low-maintenance car and only need a music system and rear camera apart from the standard LXi features. Can these be installed after a few months in the aftermarket without affecting the warranty, assuming the factory wiring and connectors are already provided? I am open to any other car suggestions that suit my needs if Brezza is not advisable.

Verified
•19h

You have made a sensible choice with the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi Turbo given your budget and usage. The Brezza will offer you the low maintenance motoring that you want, and since your commute is mostly on highways, the extra power from the turbo will come in handy. Turbo petrols are sensitive to driving style and can very easily be fuel inefficient, especially in the city, but again with your driving mostly on the highway, this should not be that nig of a worry. As for your concerns on E20, all engines today are engineered to handle E20 fuel and most manufacturers including Maruti, have stated that there is a material compatibility tolerance level built in for a slightly higher blend too.As for the music system and rear camera, yes, these can be installed in the aftermarket and generally dealers do not create a warranty issue around this; however, strictly speaking, it can be viewed as grounds for voiding a warranty, especially if the component affected is related to the accessory installed. Thus, if you are worried, then Maruti Suzuki car dealers can also fit these accessories later, which is the safest route from a warranty perspective.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
•3d

I’m planning to buy the Kia Seltos GTXO and am confused between the Turbo Petrol Automatic and the Diesel Automatic. My driving is a mix of city commutes and highway trips, although the majority of it is in the city. My annual running is around 10,000 km. I currently drive a diesel-manual Maruti Dzire, so I’m accustomed to the strong mileage of a diesel car. Initially, I was inclined towards the petrol Seltos, but I’m concerned about its lower fuel mileage compared to the diesel. At the same time, while the diesel offers better mileage, it comes with a DPF system that may require additional attention, especially with predominantly city driving. Considering my driving pattern, annual running, and the mix of city and highway usage, which would be the better choice for me: the Kia Seltos GTXO Turbo Petrol Automatic or the Diesel Automatic?

Verified
•20h

Go for the Kia Seltos GTXO Turbo Petrol Automatic. With your annual running of around 10,000 km and a majority of city driving, the diesel’s fuel savings will take a long time to offset the higher purchase price. More importantly, the diesel’s DPF system is not ideal for predominantly city usage, as it relies on regular highway runs to regenerate properly. The turbo petrol, paired with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, is a strong performer and well suited to your mix of city and highway driving. It is responsive, refined and does not come with the DPF-related concerns of the diesel. Yes, the turbo petrol is not as fuel efficient as the diesel, but given your usage pattern, it is the more sensible and hassle-free choice. If you were doing significantly higher annual mileage with more highway driving, the diesel would make sense, but in your case, the turbo petrol is the better fit.

VehicleKia Seltos