Delhi

•6w

I am relatively beginner city driver. I am planning to get a car for senior parents and be independent. I need a car in which bonnet is visible from driver seat. I am interested in Citroen C3X. Is it wise to get the AT version considering I rarely go on highways. City commute is also relatively low, around 1000km/month.

•6w

The Citroen C3 X is a sensible choice for your requirements. It is compact, easy to drive and has a relatively upright seating position, which helps with bonnet visibility. For a beginner driver, that confidence at the wheel is important, especially when manoeuvring in the city.

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the automatic version makes sense. It will make driving far less stressful in traffic and the C3X’s automatic gearbox is smooth enough for urban use. The car’s compact dimensions also make it easy to park and navigate narrow lanes, which is a big advantage in city driving.

The C3X also offers decent rear seat comfort, which is important when you are regularly travelling with senior parents. The ride quality is one of the car’s strengths and it handles bad roads well, which adds to overall comfort. The drawback is the Citroen's service network isn't wide spread and can be inconsistent. Check your local dealers reputation before committing.

Overall, the C3X is a good fit for your needs, but the automatic is only available in top trim. If that is pushing your budget, consider the Hyundai Exter instead. Its AMT isn't as slick as the Citroen's torque convertor, but is smooth as far as AMTs go. It is also easy to drive, comfortable for family use and well suited to city commuting.

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Citroen

from ₹5.42 Lakh

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Exter

from ₹6.31 Lakh

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•1d

Hi, my usage is around 2400 km monthly which includes 95% running on highways with 2 long family trips annually. I have shortlisted Grand Vitara Zeta (O) AT Smart Hybrid, Seltos Diesel AT HTK+(O) and Carens DCT HTK+(O) {for 7 members who travel occasionally). I am looking for lesser running costs, better service quality and peace of mind as I tend to keep the vehicle for very long as I am close to retirement. I drive quite a lot. Also since I have been using Citroen C3 for 4 years, I expect the same wonderful suspension which is best on both highway and within city. I am not looking at EV as the upfront price is high and I don't see that I will be having huge savings considering the additional insurance cost and tire change frequency. Kindly advice.

•22h

Given that you're upgrading from a Citroen C3, and looking at an excellent highway cruiser while keeping running costs in check, we'd strongly recommend you to consider the Renault Duster Hybrid Evolution variant, which is priced similar to other cars that you've shorlisted. The hybrid powertrain will be very efficient, and Duster's excellent suspension tune makes it ideal for your kind of usage. Sure, cabin space is not as generous as the Kia Seltos, and Renault's service network isn't as widespread as Maruti's. If you want to pick from the cars you've shortlisted, the Kia Seltos diesel-automatic is the one to get - it feels thoroughly modern; it gives you the most premium feel of the lot; and its diesel engine is smooth, refined and efficient.

We are planning to buy a Hyundai Exter HX8, but we are confused about whether we should buy a petrol automatic or a CNG manual, as our daily running is about 38 to 42 km. And my wife also wants to drive, but she is not confident with a manual car. Also, for the daily commute, we mostly use our scooty, and we mostly use our car in the rainy season and on special occasions.

•15h

Your average daily running of 40km and a monthly running of 1200km isn't much to justify the premium you would pay for a Hyundai Exter CNG over the petrol-manual version. On the other hand, the AMT gets you the convenience of an automatic without compromising fuel efficiency significantly (compared to the manual version), so it is certainly worth paying for; even more so, since your wife isn't comfortable driving a manual. If you're open to other options and absolutely want CNG along with the convenience of an automatic, consider the Tata Punch CNG AMT or the Maruti Baleno CNG AMT.

I read a news that Maruti is launching 7-seater EV next year. But without proper charging infrastructure, will it succeed for long family trips?

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•6d

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•5d

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•5d

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•4d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

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•2d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

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