I’m interested in the Citroen Aircross but am worried about the 3-cylinder engine for long-distance driving. Is this engine ethanol-safe and capable of handling fully loaded long trips?

Autocar India

•6w

There are many misconceptions about three-cylinder engines due to misinformation spread on social media and online forums. The fact is that a three-cylinder engine is theoretically more reliable than a four-cylinder engine because with one cylinder less, you have 25% fewer moving parts. Three-cylinder engines are also theoretically more efficient than four-cylinder engines.

The Citroen Aircross’ 1.2 turbo-petrol engine is the best 1.2-litre engine in our view, offering strong performance and good efficiency. All engines today are compatible with E20 ethanol, and manufacturers have built in greater protection for materials affected by ethanol to future-proof themselves against higher ethanol blends. The bigger worry is Citroen’s service network. Otherwise, the Aircross is a good vehicle, and you can go ahead and buy it.

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Citroen

Aircross

from ₹9.62 Lakh

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Tarangkumar Patel

•1d

Hi, I currently own a Honda Amaze diesel 2014 model. Now, after using it for so long, I want to upgrade to a 7-seater. I shortlisted the Hyundai Alcazar and Kia Carens Clavis and have done test drives for both vehicles. My daily usage in the city is 25 km, and I occasionally do long family trips. Now I am super confused between both cars, as one has premiumness and the other has space. Please suggest the best vehicle for me. Is the turbo petrol good? Now I am super confused.

Autocar India

•15m

Both cars are quite closely matched on premium feel, though one aesthetic seems to have worked better for you than the other. It's more a contest of road presence versus space, as the tall, SUV body style of the Hyundai Alcazar makes a strong impression on the road. It is boxy and upright and has the edge on ground clearance, as well as larger wheels.The price you pay is in the third row, where the Kia Carens Clavis' practical MPV shape liberates more space, and there's better ease of access too. Both cars have the same powertrain options, except that the Carens Clavis offers an additional engine option - the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol. It also gets an iMT automated manual gearbox with the Turbo Petrol engine instead of a conventional manual, which the Alcazar gets.Yes, the Turbo Petrol is a good option, as given your relatively low usage, a diesel doesn't feel necessary. The 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo feels strong enough to haul 7 people and is quite enjoyable to drive too.As for which of the two you wish to buy, if you simply must have an SUV for its visual appeal and ground clearance, that is the only reason to choose the Alcazar. If that is not a bother, then the lighter, more spacious, more practical Kia Carens Clavis is the one we recommend.

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Bumba

•22h

I want to upgrade from Baleno. Please suggest a safe, reliable and compact SUV. Budget is ₹15 lakh. Running will be 1000 km per month. Transmission should be automatic. I want to keep it for 8-10 years.

Autocar India

•1h

Given your requirements, you should consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It's a compact SUV that's powered by a refined 103hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine. It comes with a smooth, 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox and has a claimed mileage of 19.8kpl.Being a Maruti car, it will be reliable for you for 8-10 years, and it's backed up by the brand's widespread service network, which should give you added peace of mind. The Brezza also has a comfy and spacious cabin, and it comes well-equipped with features.As for safety, the Brezza has not been crash-tested yet, but it does come with 6 airbags, traction control and more. Maruti Brezza petrol-AT prices range from Rs 10.60 lakh to Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom).

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Ajinkya Sonar

•21h

I am looking for a 7-seater manual car which is easy to maintain. My budget is around ₹15 lakh. My annual running is 80% on the highway and 20% in the city. I am confused between two options: Carens or Clavis. Please advise which one I should pick and whether to go for a petrol manual or a diesel manual.

Autocar India

•1h

With your budget of Rs 15 lakh, you can move past the Kia Carens and up to the Carens Clavis, which is essentially a facelift of the Carens, with more features and an additional engine option. The trickier choice is which engine to choose, between the 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel, both of which are available with a manual.The diesel is the more obvious choice, given that your usage is 80% on the highway, where the additional torque will be beneficial, not to mention the better mileage. However, in your budget, you'll only get it in the base HTE spec. If that's fine with you, then you should go ahead with that; otherwise, note that the Carens 1.5 petrol MT is available in the higher HTE (EX) trim, with more features.You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, which comes in petrol and CNG guises, has lower maintenance costs, and is far more affordable than the Kia.

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