Autocar India

•19h

While the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 that you have shortlisted is a good place to start, we'd actually recommend its retro siblings, the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350. That's because the Meteor's more feet-forward and relaxed - lazier, if you will - riding position will put some stress on your tailbone after a while and more of the road bumps will filter through to your back. Instead, the Bullet and Classic with their neutral, upright ergonomics and spacious seats will be a better fit.In the Honda stable, we'd recommend you choose between the base CB350 and the CB350 H'ness because the CB350RS's seat isn't as spacious as its siblings.A test ride of these bikes with your preferred pillion will help you make an informed decision.

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Autocar India

•44m

The problem with strong performance is that it usually comes at the cost of mileage. However, the Mahindra XUV 300 - and Mahindras in general - is that they have been tuned to prioritise performance over fuel economy; hence, they are all very powerful. If you want strong performance and a fun-to-drive character, check out the Skoda Kylaq. Its 1.0 TSI engine makes 115hp, which is less than what the Mahindra offers. But as is often the case with Volkswagen Group's famous TSI turbo-petrol engines, it feels a lot stronger than the numbers suggest. The good bit is that it comes with a smooth 6-speed AT option, in case that is what you want, but the 6-speed MT is a fun and easy gearbox as well. As for fuel economy, it will definitely be better than the XUV 300's 1.2-litre turbo petrol, but you will still have to be careful with the throttle to achieve good real-world economy numbers.

Skoda Kylaq

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Autocar India

•1h

If you're uncertain about buying another diesel car, that's okay, as there are plenty of great petrol options available these days. The Tata Harrier is certainly big on presence and visibility, and its new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is smooth with more than enough performance. However, fuel economy won't be great as this is a big and heavy car, and while 12-14kpl might be possible on the highway, in the city, expect that to drop to single digits. You could consider the Tata Sierra, which uses the same turbo petrol engine but is a slightly smaller and lighter SUV. The fuel efficiency gains may be marginal, but you will see some improvement, and the Sierra is big on road presence, too. You could also consider the new Kia Seltos or even the Hyundai Alcazar, both of which have potent yet relatively efficient 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines, and good road presence.

Tata Sierra

Kia New Seltos

Hyundai Alcazar

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