Delhi

Latest questions answered by experts

Kunal Garg

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a new SUV in 2026 within a budget of ₹30-40 lakh. I want a proper off-road capable vehicle that also works well as a family car. Can we expect the Toyota RAV4 to launch in India in 2026? Please advise.

Autocar India

•9h

As of now, Toyota has no concrete plans to bring the Toyota RAV4 to India in 2026 or anytime soon. The challenge is cost. The RAV4 would have to be imported or assembled in small numbers, which would push its price well beyond what most buyers in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket expect. Also, by Indian standards, it’s not a particularly large SUV, and at that price, buyers here tend to want more size and presence.Sadly, there’s a bit of a vacuum in the Rs 30-40 lakh space, and in this range, your more practical choices are SUVs like the Mahindra XUV7XO and the Tata Harrier. Both are spacious, comfortable for family use, and capable on bad roads. If you can stretch closer to Rs 50 lakh, options like the Skoda Kodiaq and the upcoming Volkswagen Tayron (a more affordable version below the R-Line is expected) are very strong all-rounders with a more premium feel.Another SUV worth waiting for is the Kia Sorento, which we understand could arrive around the festive season at roughly Rs 40 lakh. That might come closest to what you’re looking for, a proper global SUV with family practicality and some genuine all-road ability.

Abhinav Ankur

Hi, I’m looking to purchase a new 7-seater car. My usage will be 30 % city and 70 % highway. I need a car with a 5-star safety rating (for both adults and kids), and it should be comfortable to drive as well as fun to drive. Reliability is very important to me. My budget is ₹29 lakh on-road. Please suggest a car that fits these criteria. Thank you.

Autocar India

•11h

The Mahindra XUV7XO is a very comfortable and fun-to-drive car and will prove to be quite reliable too. However, since you are particularly looking for a 5-star rated car, do note that the XUV7XO is yet to be tested, and so far, Mahindra only states that it is 'designed for BNCAP 5 star'. Given, the brand's past track record and the fact that the XUV700 - on which the 7XO is based - has secured a 5-star GNCAP rating for adult and 4-star for child protection. It is likely the 7XO too would secure a similar rating. However, if you are very particular about the rating, then opt for the Tata Safari instead, which has secured a 5-star rating in both adult and child protection in the GNCAP as well as BNCAP tests. Do remember, though, these ratings are only valid if you are always belted up and children securely seated in the specified child seats, and of course, always drive safely.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Gokul Subramanian

•1w

I currently own two cars: a 2025 XUV700 and a 2012 Tata Vista. The Vista is now having AC issues and brake failures, so it’s time to replace it with a 5-seater. While searching for cars under ₹10 lakh, I found many petrol options, but both my dad and I are diesel engine lovers, so we decided to increase our budget to ₹12 lakh. In that range, we considered: Tata Nexon - high-end model (but we’ve had customer and service issues with Tata before) Mahindra XUV 3X0 - MX2 Pro variant or base variant Hyundai Venue - 1.5 MT diesel variant Kia Sonet - base diesel variant Finally, my dad and I had a dramatic idea to get a Mahindra Thar RWD. Is that okay for comfortable city use and short-range driving, or should I consider other diesel cars under ₹12 lakh? Please suggest.

Autocar India

•11h

Yes, you are correct, there are very few diesel options in the lower segment today. From your shortlist, we would recommend the Hyundai Venue. The diesel engine is refined and smooth, and is coupled to a torque convertor gearbox, which is the smoothest type of autobox to have, thus you will appreciate this in the city traffic. The powertrain also delivers a good balance of performance and efficiency. As for the Mahindra Thar, we would not recommend this for you, as you are primarily looking for a comfortable city car, and the Thar ride is far too bumpy over bad city streets, and refinement levels will also not be as good as the Venue.

Hyundai Venue

Dr Ankit Mehra

•1d

Hi, I am a doctor by profession. I currently own an MG Windsor, a Maruti WagonR, and a Hyundai Creta (2018). I am planning to sell the Creta and upgrade to a premium SUV from brands like BMW, Mercedes, or Audi. I love driving, though I rarely get the chance due to my work. I do not want a sedan - I want an SUV that is bigger and better than the Creta. Please suggest suitable options in this segment.

Autocar India

•12h

Since you are looking for a bigger SUV than the Hyundai Creta, you can consider the BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Since you mentioned you do not often get a chance to drive, we would recommend the Mercedes-Benz GLC over the BMW X3. It has a more comfortable back seat, the interior feels more plush, and it has a better ride quality than the others. That said, whenever you do get a chance to take the wheel, it is very enjoyable to drive, with strong performance from both the petrol and diesel engines.

BMW X3

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Nikhil Renuse

•3d

Hello, I have booked the Mahindra Thar Roxx Star Edition Diesel, but I am concerned about the way Mahindra is portrayed on social media. Many videos are complaining about service quality, lack of responsiveness, and product issues, which is making me apprehensive. I currently own a Volkswagen Vento, which I have driven for the past 11 years. It has had its own issues with suspension, steering rack, slow service, and expensive spare parts. However, when you love a car, you tend to live with some shortcomings. I understand that no brand is perfect, and I am prepared for a reasonable margin of error in both product and service. However, the sheer number of negative videos about Mahindra is making me uneasy. While some online content may be exaggerated, there must be underlying reasons behind such strong reactions. Could you please provide an informed and balanced perspective on whether these concerns are valid or amplified by social media? Thank you.

Autocar India

•13h

Indeed, Mahindra & Mahindra doesn’t have the best reputation for service and reliability like Toyota has. But quite honestly, the Mahindra Thar and Mahindra Thar Roxx are sturdy and fairly reliable vehicles underpinned by proven mechanicals.There are isolated cases of Thars facing problems and service issues that haven’t been resolved to the owners' satisfaction, and that often forces them to highlight them on social media, making it sound like the norm. Social media tends to amplify negative experiences far more than positive ones. Also, there are influencers in the north of the country actively working to tarnish Mahindra’s reputation.As you said, if you are prepared for some service issues, you can go right ahead and buy the Thar Roxx.

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Harsh Jain

•1w

Hello Autocar, My budget is around ₹13 lakh, and I want to own an automatic car. My daily running will be less than 10 km because I travel to the office by bike. The car will be used mostly on weekends and for intercity travel. Please suggest a suitable car for me. How about purchasing the Honda City CVT in 2026? Should I go ahead now or wait for its facelift?

Autocar India

•13h

The Honda City CVT is a good car; however, even the base version would be over the Rs 13 lakh mark. You could thus consider the Honda Amaze CVT instead. The top-end version will come in under your budget, and you will get a well-equipped car with features like an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless phone connectivity. It also has in cabin air purifier, automatic climate control with rear AC vents and even an ADAS system, which can come in handy on your highway drives. The Amaze is also quite spacious inside, and the boot, too, is large and should accommodate any weekend luggage you may have.

Honda City

Honda Amaze