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Hello Experts, We are looking to replace our Suzuki Ciaz and are considering the new Seltos. Although mileage is not a major concern, could you please suggest whether going for the IVT would be a better option than the DCT? I have personally driven the IVT, and it does feel a bit underpowered for the weight of the new Seltos. Also, please suggest other cars that we should consider. We are upgrading from a sedan and are open to other options as well. Thank you.

•2h

Go for the Seltos 1.5 turbo petrol DCT. Coming from a Ciaz, you will appreciate the stronger performance and the DCT’s quick shifts, especially on highways and during overtakes. The IVT is smooth and reliable, but it does feel a bit flat in a car of this size, and since mileage is not a big concern for you, the turbo petrol is the more satisfying choice. The DCT is not as seamless in stop-start traffic as the IVT, but it is a well-sorted unit and should not be a deal-breaker.If you are open to alternatives, the Tata Sierra is worth a look. It offers a more premium cabin, excellent ride comfort and a genuinely spacious rear seat, which makes it a great upgrade from a sedan. The turbo petrol is mated to a torque converter auto that is smoother than the Seltos' DCT in stop-and-go traffic.Another option is the new Honda Elevate. It has a naturally aspirated CVT engine like the Seltos IVT but it offers a bit more performance.Overall, the Seltos turbo petrol DCT is the best fit for your requirements. It offers the right balance of performance, refinement and features, and it will feel like a genuine step up from your Ciaz.

Hello, I want to buy a Kia Seltos. My daily running is around 40 km in the city, with occasional 200-400 km highway trips a month. I’m confused between the HTX A Petrol IVT and HTX A Diesel Manual. I’m not a fan of automatic variants, but I’m considering the automatic because the HTX A petrol manual comes with 16-inch steel wheels. Please suggest which variant I should go for.

•2h

Go for the Seltos HTX(A) diesel manual. With about 40km of city driving a day plus a few highway runs, you'll cover roughly 17,000- 19,000 km a year. At that mileage, the diesel's better fuel efficiency adds up to a real saving, enough to recover its price premium over the petrol IVT within a few years. It also lets you keep the manual gearbox you prefer.Be aware that the diesel is relaxed rather than punchy, and its clutch is heavier than the petrol's, so daily city traffic will take a bit more effort. Your regular highway trips will also help keep the diesel particulate filter healthy.If you'd rather not spend extra on the diesel, there's another option. Buy the HTX(A) petrol manual and fit good aftermarket alloys for a fraction of the price difference. You keep the manual and save around Rs 2 lakh upfront, but at your mileage, the diesel will win on running costs over the long term.

Kia Seltos

I am confused between the Brezza ZXi Automatic and ZXi+ Automatic. Which option would be better for long-term ownership? I took quotations from the Pune Suzuki Arena showroom, and the ZXi Automatic is coming at Rs. 14,21,598, while the ZXi+ Automatic comes at Rs. 16,21,955. So, there is a difference of almost Rs. 2 lakh. Should I go for the ZXi Automatic or the ZXi+ Automatic? Most of my driving is in the city, with occasional highway trips. The major features missing on the ZXi are cruise control and a rear wiper, which I cannot get installed as genuine accessories. If I choose the ZXi, I can add fog lamps, a front armrest, and all four diamond-cut alloy wheels for a more premium feel. Is it okay to buy and add genuine accessories separately, or should I avoid doing so?

•3h

Since you are planning to keep the car long term, go with the Brezza ZXi+ Automatic. There is a Rs 2 lakh-plus difference, but it does offer a significant upgrade in terms of features. It adds ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera, a larger infotainment screen, cruise control, a rear wiper and a day/night mirror. While some of these can be added as accessories, as you mentioned, factory fitment will just be a lot cleaner. Adding diamond-cut wheels will also add about Rs 40,000 to the ZXi, significantly reducing the Rs 2 lakh delta between the two variants anyway.The only reason to opt for the lower ZXi is if you are having to stretch your budget too far for the higher trim. Since your use is primarily in the city, the lack of cruise control is not a deal-breaker. However, you will find the rest of the additional features on the ZXi+ quite useful even in urban use. Overall, the ZXi+ is the better choice long term, but if you are on a tight budget and don’t see the point of the additional features, the ZXi will also serve you well.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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.

•3h

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.

Hi, I’m confused about buying a car. My budget is below Rs. 11 lakh on-road. I’m looking for an automatic car, primarily for city driving in Chennai and its suburbs, with occasional highway trips. Reliability, safety, and fuel economy are also priorities.

•4h

At your budget, the automatics available are mostly the AMTs (automated manual transmission), which are cost-effective and efficient but a bit jerky during the shifts. This can be a bother in traffic, and given that most of your driving is in the city, we would recommend that you avoid these. A good option would be the Honda Amaze; it comes with a CVT transmission, which is smoother than AMTs, and the car meets your other criteria of reliability, safety and mileage very well. You could consider the XUV 3XO too, which has a torque converter gearbox and is the smoothest type of autobox around. It's also a very safe car; however, the mileage would not be very high.

Honda Amaze

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•11h

Is driving a turbo-petrol car preferable for the health and longevity of the turbo, especially in the case of a 2022 Skoda Superb? My daily commute is only 6-10 km. Would it be better to switch to an NA engine?

With a daily commute of just 6-10 km, the concern is not the turbo itself, but could be for the engine not reaching optimal operating temperature, so your fuel efficiency may not be good. Beyond that, there is no major concern for the health of the turbo itself. However, a downside of the turbo DI engine - like in the Superb - is that they are sensitive to throttle inputs, so during constant short drives with traffic, your efficiency is likely to drop further unless you are very precise with your throttle inputs. For this reason, you could consider an NA engine; otherwise, the turbocharged engine will be fine. A good general habit with a turbo is to avoid revving the engine just before shutting it down, as this raises the turbo's turbine RPM and it then spins free with less lubrication. So arrive at your stop at a sensible speed, leave the car for just a few seconds and then shut it down.

Skoda Superb

What is the real-world mileage of the Hyundai Creta in city and highway driving?

How expensive is the Honda Amaze to maintain and service?

What are the biggest things you like and dislike about the Kia Seltos?

How reliable is the Honda Amaze for daily use?

What is the real-world mileage of the Hyundai Verna in city ?

•6h

XUV 3XO is reportedly getting a CNG option. Do you think this could be a good choice for someone looking for an SUV with lower running costs?

•21h

I am confused between the Tata Punch AMT iCNG, Tata Aeris AMT iCNG and Honda Amaze automatic with CNG. Which would be better for a family of four with a mix of city and highway driving?

•6h

For a family of four doing a mix of city and highway driving, the Tata Aeris iCNG AMT is the best all-rounder of the three. Being a sedan, it gives you more rear-seat room and better highway stability than the Tata Punch. Its twin-cylinder CNG setup also leaves you a usable 227-litre boot, so weekend luggage isn't a problem.The Punch iCNG AMT uses the same twin-cylinder layout and gets a 210-litre boot. Its higher ground clearance and compact size make it easier to live with in tight city traffic and on bad roads. However, it's a smaller car overall, and four adults will feel more cramped on long drives.The Honda Amaze is the most refined car here, and its CVT is far smoother than the AMTs in both Tata cars. Keep in mind, though, that Honda doesn't sell a factory-fitted CNG Amaze. CNG comes as a dealer-fitted kit, so check with your dealer that it's offered on the CVT. That kit uses a single large cylinder, which takes up most of the Amaze's 416-litre boot.

I am 73 years old and want to upgrade from my Ford Aspire Titanium AM. I am considering the Honda Elevate and Hyundai Creta. An automatic gearbox is important, and front-seat comfort is my main priority. Which one would you recommend?

•7h

Go for the Hyundai Creta automatic. At 73, your priorities are clear: ease of use, comfort and a stress-free ownership experience. The Creta’s automatic gearbox is smoother and more refined than the Honda Elevate’s CVT, especially in stop-start traffic, and the overall ride quality is softer and more comfortable, which makes a real difference on longer journeys. The front seats are comfy, and the cabin feels more premium and better insulated from road noise.The Honda Elevate is a good car, but its CVT can feel strained under hard acceleration, and the ride is a bit firmer. Do note, however, that there is a completely new-generation Creta due in about 4 to 5 months' time, so we would recommend you wait for that if you can, or bargain hard for a good deal on the current car.

Hyundai Creta

Honda Elevate

•7h

A lot of brands are pushing big discounts and offers this festive season. Has anyone actually got a good deal from a dealer yet, or are the discounts mostly on paper?

•8h

Why hero company not counter balancer provided in bike engine like super splender xtech

I’m planning to buy a car with a budget of around Rs. 15 lakh. I’m 183 cm tall and weigh 140 kg. Please suggest the best car for me, considering fuel economy and driving comfort.