Autocar India
•4d

I have a budget of Rs.10 lakh and want an automatic car. My usage will be around 70-80% in the city and 20% on highways in Bangalore. I have shortlisted Hyundai i20 Asta IVT, Honda Amaze ZX CVT, Tata Nexon AMT Pure Plus and Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT. I want a decent city fuel efficiency of around 10-12 kmpl. I also want a car that will not feel boring after 5-6 years and has a youthful appeal with a bit of style. Please help me choose the right one.

Verified
•9m

Pick the Hyundai i20 Asta IVT. For mostly Bangalore city use, it feels light and easy to drive and its clean, sporty look will still feel young in five years. It's very efficient too, though some others might be better. The automatic is the smoothest to drive and the most polished in traffic, but that trim will likely go past your Rs 10 lakh budget; settle for the Sportz (O) instead. A quick word on the rest. The Honda Amaze CVT is smooth, friendly and efficient, but as a compact sedan it might not deliver the style statement or road presence you want. The Baleno will be the most efficient; in real-world traffic you can expect around 11-13kpl if you are judicious with the throttle, and the cabin is airy and comfy for the daily grind. However, the AMT is not as smooth as the i20’s automatic. Tata Nexon AMT gives you SUV stance and presence, but the AMT is clunky in stop-go and city economy is weaker, so your 10-12kpl requirement is a stretch.

VehicleHyundai i20
VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleTata Nexon
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
Hyundai i20
Hyundai i20
•4d

I am 49 years old and have sciatica-related back pain. I want to choose between the Honda Unicorn and the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. I plan to use the bike for the next 7 years. Please help me choose the right one.

Verified
•50m

The Honda Unicorn is a proven and reliable machine, and for someone like yourself that values comfort over performance, it makes sense. The Unicorn's flat, single-piece seat, neutral ergonomics and comfortable suspension will ensure that over bad roads, you're shielded from the jolts to a good degree. Its not as if the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V isn't a comfortable machine but it has a sportier riding position which will not be as comfortable as the Unicorn's upright and neutral one. In the same vein, you should also look at the Bajaj Pulsar N160, especially the variants with a single-piece seat. Overall, the Pulsar and Apache are more feature-rich and sportier than the Unicorn which is a straightforward, no-frills commuter and a test ride will help you decide which one is the better choice for you.

Honda Bikes Unicorn
TVS Apache RTR 160 4V
Bajaj Pulsar N160
•2d

I travel 100 km daily through the city during peak hours. My budget is Rs. 10-15 lakh. What is your review of, or recommendation for, the Mahindra XUV 3XO EV?

Verified
•1h

The Mahindra XUV 3XO EV is a good pick if you can charge at home, because it handles a 100km peak-hour city commute with ease and still leaves a healthy buffer. In real-world city traffic with the AC on, expect roughly 220-250km on a full charge, so an overnight top-up from a 15A socket every second day keeps life simple. The smooth drive, instant torque and strong regenerative braking make stop-go traffic far less tiring.Pricing sits at the upper end of your budget for the base AX5 trim. If you do not want to spend quite that much, you could save a few lakh and get the Punch EV instead. Range from its 40kWh battery will be comparable to the XUV 3XO EV’s 39.4kWh unit. The Punch is also smaller overall, making it easier to squeeze into tight spaces, though the trade-off is a less roomy cabin.Be honest about charging first. If you do not have a fixed parking spot and access to a plug, relying on public fast chargers during peak hours will soon become frustrating, and those charging sessions cost more. If home charging is sorted and your driving is mostly in the city, the XUV 3XO EV is a good choice. If your budget is tight, the Punch EV is the better bet.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO EV
VehicleTata Punch EV
•1w

I’m currently driving a 2017 Maruti Baleno and looking to upgrade to an MPV for more space and comfort. The XL6 Automatic is on top of my list because of Maruti’s low running costs, reliability, and servicing. Which variant is suited for Bangalore usage at a reasonable price? I want the best balance of features vs value. What are other options - I’m specifically looking for an AT MPV/7-seater with low maintenance, good cabin quality, and strong after-sales. Does anything beat Maruti here, or is XL6 still the best bet? What is your opinion on second-hand? My budget is 15 lakhs. What is also your take on a second hand?

Verified
•2h

Go for a lightly used 2022-on Maruti XL6 Zeta Automatic, and you’ll get the best mix of comfort, features and Maruti peace-of-mind while staying near your Rs. 15 lakh cap in Bengaluru. The 6-speed auto is smooth in traffic, captain seats make second-row comfort a big step up from your Baleno, and running costs stay friendly. New-for-new, the Zeta is the value pick; the Alpha mainly adds nice-to-haves. The catch is that the XL6 is a 6-seater, and with all rows up, the boot is small. Also, with a full load it feels just okay on highways, not brisk.If you want seven seats, look at the Maruti Ertiga Automatic or Toyota Rumion Automatic. Same proven hardware, low upkeep, wide service network, and better third-row access. Cabin quality is simpler than XL6, but perfectly usable. In Bengaluru, both autos usually creep over Rs. 15 lakh on-road, so used makes sense here too.If you must buy a new car under Rs. 15 lakh, the Renault Triber automatic is the only realistic seven-seater, but it feels a size smaller, and the engine feels weak with seven onboard. After-sales is also patchy and not as strong as Maruti-Toyota.So yes, XL6 still fits your brief best. Buy a good used, low km, 2022-on Zeta AT, and you’re sorted.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki XL6
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Ertiga
VehicleToyota Rumion
VehicleRenault Triber
Maruti Suzuki XL6
Maruti Suzuki XL6
•3d

Should I use petrol additives like IFTEX®Clean System on my 2017 TVS Jupiter since it is not e20 compliant, or is there any other thing to protect its engine?

Verified
•2h

Additives aren't guaranteed to safeguard your older vehicle against newer, ethanol-blended fuel. Cleaners like IFTEX only help remove fuel deposits. They don’t protect old rubber hoses, seals or the carb from the extra ethanol content in the fuel. Your best bet would be to keep the tank topped up, ride it often and don’t leave fuel sitting for months. If parked over 3-4 weeks, add a small fuel stabiliser and run the engine for a few minutes.A practical safeguard is to replace the fuel hose and carburettor's O-rings with ethanol-grade parts every few years, and clean the carb annually. Use a cleaner additive only when it feels rough or hard to start, and only once in a while.

•2d

Is buying the Tata Tiago Petrol AMT or the Tata Tiago CNG + Petrol AMT a good decision, considering that I do not drive much? My monthly running is around 500 km.

Verified
•3h

Go for the Tiago petrol automatic. With only 500 km a month, the money you save on CNG won’t recover the higher upfront price and the compromises for a long time. The petrol feels smoother and livelier in traffic, the gearbox works better with it, and you keep your full boot for luggage. CNG adds weight, cuts boot space, and performance drops when you switch to gas, which you’ll feel on flyovers and quick overtakes.If your city has patchy CNG supply or long queues, the convenience gap gets wider. Petrol also needs less planning on highway runs, and service is simpler.One honest catch: your running cost per km will be higher on petrol. If fuel prices worry you, or your usage could jump to 1,000+ km a month and you plan to keep the car 7-8 years, the Tiago CNG automatic can make financial sense. For your current 500 km pattern though, petrol automatic is the cleaner, easier choice.

VehicleTata Tiago