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•43w

I want to buy a car with a budget of Rs 16 to 17 lakh. My yearly running is around 6,000 to 7,000 km, but I am a driving enthusiast and enjoy driving. Please suggest a suitable car.

•43w

Since you are an auto enthusiast and love to drive, we would recommend you look at a sedan car like the Skoda Slavia or the Volkswagen Virtus. They are both essentially the same car, built on the same platform or near identical in terms of drive feel.

For your budget of 16-17 lakh, you will get the smaller 1.0 litre TSi engine, and you will notice turbo lag; however, past that, the performance is lively enough, and the engine is quite rev-happy.

If you can stretch your budget a bit, opt for the larger 1.5-litre TSI engine. It delivers a very sprightly drive. Beyond the engine, both cars have a superb ride and handling balance.

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Skoda

Slavia (2022-2026)

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.43 Lakh

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•1w

I currently own a Jeep Compass and want to get an additional car for my father, with good reliability, unlike the Jeep. My father still drives a 2008 Honda City, and I am torn between a few choices: the Honda City, Skoda Slavia, Nissan Tekton and Toyota Hyryder. Or should I wait for the Virtus facelift or the new-generation Creta? His usage is low, at almost 500 km per month. Please suggest.

•4d

With just 500km a month, petrol is the clear choice, and reliability and ease of ownership become the most important factors. The Honda City is the safest recommendation here. It is a proven product with a strong reliability record, a comfortable ride and a familiar ownership experience that your father will appreciate, especially coming from a 2008 City. The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are both excellent to drive, but the 1.0 TSI engine can feel a bit laggy at low speeds, and the 1.5 TSI is overkill for this kind of usage. The Nissan Tekton is a good value proposition, but engines are not responsive at low speeds and Nissan's service network is not as strong as Honda's, which matters more for a low-running, long-term ownership scenario. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a solid option if you specifically want an SUV, but the hybrid premium does not make financial sense at this running, and the naturally aspirated petrol is not as refined as the City's engine. The new-generation Hyundai Creta is worth waiting for only if your father specifically wants an SUV; otherwise, the City remains the more sensible choice. Overall, the Honda City is the most reliable, comfortable and hassle-free option for your father's usage.

Honda City

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Nissan Tekton

•2d

I saw that car loan amounts have reportedly risen quite a bit over the last few years. Are people genuinely buying better cars now?

•2d

I have a 2023 Grand Vitara AT (non-hybrid) and spend around Rs. 12-14k per month on petrol. City mileage has dropped from around 13 to 10 kmpl. I have solar at home, so EV charging will be almost free or cost a maximum of Rs 3-4 per unit. I'm confused about whether to replace the Grand Vitara with an EV or keep it and buy a Tiago EV for daily city use. Or am I overthinking the fuel savings? Should I just keep the Grand Vitara and avoid buying a second car altogether? Would like to hear from people who have been in a similar situation. What makes more sense financially in the long run?

•2d

You are not overthinking the fuel savings, but the decision is not purely about fuel cost either. At Rs 12-14k per month on petrol, your running is high enough that an electric car makes strong financial sense, especially with solar at home.The bigger question is whether to replace the Grand Vitara or add a Tiago EV. If your daily usage is mostly city driving and the Grand Vitara is not being used for regular highway trips or family duties, replacing it with an EV is the cleaner financial decision. You eliminate the petrol expense entirely and avoid the depreciation and maintenance of a second car.If the Grand Vitara is still needed for highway trips, family use, or you simply enjoy owning it, then keeping it and adding a Tiago EV for city use is a sensible approach. The Tiago EV is a cost-effective city runabout and will take the bulk of your daily running, while the Grand Vitara remains available for longer trips.Financially, the biggest savings come from replacing the Grand Vitara with an EV. Adding a second car makes sense only if you genuinely need both vehicles. If the Grand Vitara is not essential, do not keep it just for occasional use.

Tata Tiago EV

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•1w

I am a 6 ft driver who loves driving. I've driven the Swift 2013 petrol, Creta 1.6 Diesel Auto and the XUV500 the most on long trips. Now that I am planning to buy a car with a strict budget, do you think the 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol variant will be a wise decision to make, as I will be travelling once a month for short trips from Bangalore to Coorg, Pondicherry, GOA, and Mangalore? Which other car can be a perfect match for me, keeping a budget of 12 lakhs max? Also, the 3XO AX5 I'm getting from a friend who has hardly driven 6k km for 10 lakhs.

•1w

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol from your friend for Rs 10 lakh. At that price, it is a very good deal and a sensible upgrade from your Creta 1.6 diesel automatic. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin and good rear seat comfort, which will make your long drives to Coorg, Pondicherry, Goa and Mangalore more comfortable. The turbo petrol engine is smooth and is well suited to both city driving and highway cruising. At Rs 10 lakh for a car with only 6,000 km on the clock, you are getting a nearly new car at a significant discount, which makes it a far better value proposition than buying new.If you are looking for alternatives under Rs 12 lakh, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual is the best option for an enthusiast driver. The new Brezza turbo-petrol could also be a good choice. Overall, the 3XO from your friend is the most sensible choice. It offers a good balance of comfort, reliability and value, and will serve you well on your monthly road trips.

Hi, I am planning to buy a new car and am confused between the Kia Seltos HTX (A) DCT and the Tata Safari Adventure Plus. I liked the interior quality of the Seltos, while the Safari’s road presence is impressive. My annual running is around 15,000km, including both city driving and highway trips. Could you please guide me on which car would be the better choice for my needs?

•5d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX(A) DCT. At 15,000 km a year with a mix of city and highway driving, the Seltos is the more sensible choice. This Kia car is easier to drive in the city, more efficient and still comfortable on long trips. The DCT gearbox is quick but a bit jerky in traffic, but the car feels premium inside, which you already like. The Tata Safari has great road presence and more space, but this Tata car is a much bigger car to live with every day and does not feel as well-finished inside. The Seltos is the better all-rounder for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Tata Safari

•1w

I’ve almost finalised the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic, and I really like the car. However, I’m a little worried about Skoda’s long-term service and maintenance costs, especially after the warranty period. I’m planning to keep the car for around 7–8 years. Would you recommend taking the Service Maintenance Package (SMP) along with the car? Is it worth the additional cost considering regular servicing and potential maintenance expenses? Also, compared with the Brezza and Nexon, how is the Kylaq Signature Automatic in terms of long-term reliability, service costs and parts replacement? Would really appreciate your advice before I make the final purchase decision.

•4d

If you like the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic, go ahead and buy it. It is a genuinely good car and one of the best driver’s cars in the segment. The 1.0 TSI engine paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven combination, and Skoda’s reliability has improved significantly in recent years. The bigger concern is not reliability but long-term maintenance costs, which can be higher than Maruti or Tata once the car is out of warranty.This is where the Service Maintenance Package (SMP) makes sense. It locks in your service costs for the first 4-5 years, covers all scheduled maintenance and gives you peace of mind during the most expensive ownership period. If you are planning to keep the car for 7-8 years, it is worth the additional cost because it protects you from unexpected bills and helps you budget ownership costs more accurately.Compared to the Brezza and Nexon, the Kylaq is the better driver’s car with a more engaging driving experience and a stronger engine. The Brezza is the benchmark for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs, while the Nexon sits somewhere in between. The Kylaq is not unreliable, but parts and service can be more expensive once you are out of warranty.If you are buying the Kylaq, take the SMP and enjoy the car. If long-term ownership costs are your absolute priority, the Brezza is the safer financial choice.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Nexon

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