Latest questions answered by experts

I owned a manual-transmission Maruti Dzire VDi for over 14 years and had covered just 24,500km so far. I recently sold it due to a knee problem. Now, I am planning to buy an SUV or sub-compact SUV with an automatic transmission, mainly for city driving and occasional highway trips. My monthly running may not exceed 500km for now. Please suggest the most suitable car for me. Thanks.

•54m

Within the compact and sub-compact SUV segments, there is a wide choice, and setting a budget would help in narrowing it down. However, given your requirements, a good option is the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It's a Maruti, so it's something you're familiar with, and it keeps you within the same aftersales and service ecosystem. It's a good all-rounder that feels large and spacious, giving you a sense of having made a proper upgrade while remaining compact enough to be manageable. There's sufficient ground clearance and boot space, and depending on your budget, you could get some good features too.Its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and strong enough for your occasional highway trips, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth. Plus, maintenance costs are manageable, especially given your limited usage. Do note, however, that a facelift of the Maruti Brezza is right around the corner, so if you can wait a few months, it will no doubt be worthwhile.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•2d

I am considering buying the Mahindra XEV 9S Pack Two or the Hyundai Creta Electric. My driving is 70% in the city, and my priorities are ride comfort and driving pleasure. Which would be the better choice?

•1h

Pick the Hyundai Creta Electric. For 70% city use, its performance and throttle modulation are just perfect for a relaxed city drive. Its power delivery is smooth and quick, with light, accurate steering, so darting through gaps feels easy and safe rather than startling. Hyundai’s EV tuning is very polished, with useful regen levels, so you can ease into a near one‑pedal flow in traffic. That makes daily driving calmer but still satisfying. The cabin is quiet, and the seats are supportive, which matters after a long weekday commute. The ride is also good, and it rounds off speed breakers and potholes nicely so you and your passengers won’t get tossed about. On the highway, too, you will find the ride nicely tied down, whereas the Mahindra can get a bit floaty on long undulations.The only bit is that the drive experience is more dialled down and not sporty, which is what you will get with the Mahindra. So this is non-negotiable, go with the XEV 9S. For city comfort and a relaxed driving pleasure, the Creta Electric is the better bet.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra XEV 9S

•1w

Hey Autocar. I know the Grand Vitara and Victoris are essentially the same. However, considering the naturally aspirated engine, torque-converter automatic gearbox and front-wheel-drive layout, along with their relatively high kerb weight, will there be any adverse effect on pulling power?

•2h

You won’t face issues in the NA + torque-converter Grand Vitara/Victoris in normal use, but the extra weight and the auto do blunt response, so with five on board or on steep hills it will feel lazy. The 1.5 petrol makes its torque higher up the revs, and the torque converter slips a bit at low speed, so the car needs a downshift and revs to move smartly. That is why city crawl and gentle cruising are smooth, but sudden gaps or uphill overtakes need a heavier right foot and some patience.Front-wheel drive is not a problem on tarmac. It will climb most ghats fine, but expect frequent downshifts and more engine noise when loaded or at altitude. Use the manual mode or S/L on climbs to hold a lower gear, and it feels stronger.The engine is built to take the load and will not show any abnormal signs of wear, in case that's a concern for you.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•1w

My running is 30km per day, mostly in the city, with a highway trip once a month. I am confused between the Kia Seltos petrol IVT and the Mahindra Scorpio N diesel automatic. Can you suggest which one I should buy?

•3h

Go for the Kia Seltos petrol automatic for your use. With 30 km a day in the city, it is much easier to drive and park, the gearbox is smooth in traffic, and real-world fuel costs will be lower than those of the big diesel SUV. Your pattern of short, stop-go runs also isn’t ideal for modern diesels with a DPF; one highway trip a month may not always clear it. The Seltos also costs less to buy and feels nicer to live with every day.The Mahindra Scorpio N diesel automatic only makes sense if you truly need its strengths - extra seats and space, rough-road ability, and that tall, commanding feel on long trips. In town, it is heavy, thirstier, and can feel bulky over speed breakers and while parking. So, unless you regularly carry six or drive on broken roads, the Seltos fits your routine better. The trade-off is you won’t get the Scorpio N’s bad-road toughness.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra Scorpio N

•6d

I am considering buying the Fronx AMT Delta Plus. Most of my driving will be in Bangalore city, with occasional trips to nearby destinations for sightseeing or short vacations. My budget is around 10 lakh. Could you please suggest the pros and cons, along with any alternatives?

•4h

Buy the Maruti Suzuki Fronx AMT Delta Plus for your mix of Bangalore traffic and quick getaways. It is easy to live with, fuel-efficient, and has a bigger boot than most small cars, so weekend bags fit with relative ease. The Fronx also sits a bit higher than conventional hatchbacks, and the extra ground clearance counts for a lot on speed breakers, potholes and bad patches.There are a few quirks. The AMT gets the job done in city driving, but does not offer the smoothest automatic gearbox experience. Also, Delta Plus skips a few nice-to-haves; if budget allows, the Zeta makes the cabin feel more complete.If you want a city-first alternative under Rs. 10 lakh, look at the Hyundai Exter AMT. It is smaller outside, just as easy in traffic, and generally feels smoother at low speeds while offering strong feature value at this price. You give up some rear-seat width and boot space, and it feels busier at 90-100 kph than the Fronx.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Hyundai Exter

•1d

I am a 43-year-old man with a family that includes my wife, my two 11-year-old sons, and my parents. I am planning to buy a car for my family by November 2026. My priorities are good fuel efficiency and strong safety. My usage will mainly consist of short weekend trips, along with longer journeys of 600 km or more once every 2-3 months. Considering my family size and usage pattern, which car would you recommend? Also, are there any upcoming car launches expected by November 2026 that may suit my requirements better?

•15h

Without knowing your budget, it's hard to know what to recommend, but strictly speaking, for your family of six, the best car around is the Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid. It's the most spacious car this side of Rs. 50 lakh and comes with one of the most efficient hybrid powertrains. The interior is flexible, so you can reconfigure it to suit your specific needs, and being an MPV, getting in and out will not be too difficult for your parents further down the line. It's a Toyota, so reliability is a given, and maintenance costs are reasonable too. In the city, the hybrid powertrain will run mostly on electric power, giving you a refined and relaxing experience, and on the highway, there's enough punch, even with a full load of passengers. If this is outside your budget, however, consider the Kia Carens Clavis, which offers a great mix of features, space and flexibility for the money. Plus, with a wide choice of engines and gearboxes, you should find something that suits you.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carens Clavis