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•10w

I want to buy a car with an automatic gearbox for city commuting. My budget is under Rs 3 lakh. Would a 2014 Maruti Suzuki Celerio AGS be a good choice? I am hoping I won’t face major issues, as the vehicle is more than 10 years old. If not, please suggest another automatic option under Rs 3 lakh.

•10w

For a budget under Rs 3 lakh and a requirement for an automatic gearbox for city commuting, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio AGS is actually a sensible choice. The AGS (Automated Manual Transmission) is simple and reliable, but if the actuators go wrong, they can be expensive to replace; however, this is for any automated manual transmission car. Given Maruti Suzuki’s service network, parts availability will not be a problem. The Celerio is also compact and easy to drive in traffic, which is exactly what you want for city use.

That said, at 10+ years old, the condition of the individual car becomes far more important than the model itself. The AGS system is generally reliable, but like any mechanical component, it can develop issues if the car has not been well maintained. Make sure you get a thorough inspection done, check the service history and look for any signs of gearbox hesitation or rough shifting.

If you are open to alternatives, the Hyundai Grand i10 Automatic (torque converter) is worth considering. It is smoother than the AGS and also reliable, though again you must check the condition of the actual car. It would be wise to buy from a reputed seller, as there could be some limited warranty available too.

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Maruti Suzuki

Celerio

from ₹5.10 Lakh

•10w•

@autocar.india How about reliability with Spinny cars. Should consider buying from Spinny?

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•4d

I am planning to buy a car and am confused between the Tata Nexon CNG and Kia Sonet. My running is irregular and does not exceed around 500km a month. Which would be the better choice?

•1d

With a monthly running of around 500km, a CNG car like the Tata Nexon CNG does not make financial sense. The fuel savings from CNG are only meaningful when running is significantly higher, and at your usage level, the additional cost and inconvenience of CNG ownership are not justified. The Kia Sonet is the better choice here. It is a more refined and well-rounded product, with a smoother petrol engine, better overall ownership experience and no compromises on boot space or convenience. The Nexon is a good product in its own right, but CNG only makes sense when running is high enough to offset the additional cost and inconvenience. At 500km a month, petrol is the sensible choice.

Tata Nexon

Kia Sonet

•4d

Hi Autocar team, I am planning to buy the Hyundai Creta automatic but am confused between the petrol and diesel versions. I currently own a Swift diesel and drive around 10,000km a year, with a mix of city and highway use. I usually take 300-600 km trips every one or two months, along with occasional longer drives with family or friends. My city use includes hospital visits, school pickups and drops, shopping and family occasions. I am worried about DPF issues with diesel and petrol mileage. Which should I choose?

•1d

Go for the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic. With around 10,000 km a year and a genuinely mixed usage pattern, petrol is the safer and more sensible choice. Diesel will give you better fuel economy on your longer highway runs, but with your annual running, the savings are unlikely to justify the higher upfront cost and the potential hassle of DPF-related issues, especially given your city usage. Modern diesel cars are far better than they used to be, but short city runs and stop-start traffic can still cause the DPF to clog over time if the car is not regularly driven at sustained speeds.The petrol automatic is smooth, refined and well suited to your city driving, school runs and hospital visits, while still being perfectly capable on your longer highway trips.

Hyundai Creta

•3d

Hi Autocar team, I am confused between the Hyundai Creta EX(O) and the facelifted Honda Elevate V CVT. Which offers better value for money, and which is easier to overtake in?

•1d

Go for the Honda Elevate V CVT. Between the two, the Elevate's NA engine offers a bit more performance and will make overtaking easier. In terms of value, both are great choices, but the Elevate is a bit cheaper to purchase, while the Hyundai Creta offers a few more features in the trims you are looking at. Overall, they are both very evenly matched, but if highway performance is more important to you, then the Elevate is the stronger pick.

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

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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.

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

•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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