I own a Grand Vitara Sigma (March 2024), which has run 22,000 km. While I like its ride quality and handling, I’m disappointed with the sheet metal strength, as it gets dented even by small stones and pebbles. My usage is 70% city and 30% highway. Please suggest a petrol car within a ₹12-lakh on-road budget that offers a high driving position, strong build quality, good steering feedback, and solid driving dynamics.

Asked by: Bharath B Nair

In your budget, a strong option to consider is the Skoda Kyliaq Signature+ Manual. It is expected to be priced at around Rs 12 lakh on-road.

It has a 5-star BNCAP safety rating and feels solidly built. It is also among the best to drive in the segment, with good handling and a comfortable ride. You also get a height-adjustable driver seat in the base variant, so at its highest setting, you’ll have a clear and commanding view ahead, regardless of your height.
Just keep in mind the size difference. Compared to your Grand Vitara midsize SUV, the Kyliaq is a sub-4-metre SUV, so it will feel smaller in overall footprint and cabin width.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Kylaq

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Autocar India Team

Dec 09, 2025

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Asked by: Sarthak My budget is ₹10 lakh. I want a petrol (preferably automatic) car with good mileage, strong safety, and a comfortable ride - excluding Maruti. My daily commute is 100-150 km, with occasional long trips once every 2–3 months. Please suggest suitable options. With your Rs 10 lakh budget, a strong choice is the Honda Amaze VX MT.It fits well within budget, offers good comfort, and carries a 5-star Bharat NCAP adult safety rating. The petrol engine is tried and tested, and it has a comfortable ride quality. With the manual, you can expect real-world mileage of around 14 to 15 kpl.If you want an automatic, consider the Amaze CVT in the lower V variant, which fits within your budget. The CVT gives you a premium automatic experience, unlike cars in this price bracket that offer basic AMTs, and for a long daily commute. It will make a noticeable difference in smoothness and ease of driving.

Autocar India Team

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Asked by: Krishna Sharma I currently drive a 2014 WagonR for a daily office commute of about 30 km and plan to upgrade. My budget is ₹10-11 lakh on-road. My priorities are driving comfort, fuel efficiency, and hassle-free ownership, similar to Maruti; I’m also open to EVs. Please suggest some suitable options. If you want good mileage, comfort and hassle-free ownership, two options that you can consider are - Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor S+ or Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+. Taisor is the rebadged version of Fronx. Both options should comfortably fit in your Rs 11 lakh on-road budget, depending on your city. You can expect roughly 13 kpl in the city, and around 18.8 kpl on the highway with the AMT and about 20 kpl with the manual in real-world highway use (Autocar India tested figures). Both cars offer comfortable seats and a comfortable ride, well-tuned for Indian roads and city usage, making them ideal for daily commuting. Maruti has already proven its hassle-free ownership experience to you, while Toyota is also known for reliability and smooth ownership.Between the two, you can pick based on which design, brand and feature mix you prefer, but either will tick your key boxes of comfort, mileage and peace of mind.

Autocar India Team

Dec 09, 2025

Asked by: Umamaheswar Hi team, I am planning to buy a new car before March 2026. My budget is Rs 25 lakh. I have a family of four, and my monthly driving will be around 1,500km. The cars I currently have in mind are listed below. Please suggest the best option from these, or recommend an alternative if required. 1. Hyundai Creta Diesel AT (top-end) 2. Kia Seltos (should I wait for the facelift?) 3. Volkswagen Taigun (wait for facelift) 4. BYD Atto 3 (top model or wait for facelift) 5. Tata Sierra Given your high usage of 1,500km per month, an electric car is not advisable, and thus we would rule out the BYD Atto 3, which, while an excellent vehicle, is also priced considerably higher than the others you have listed.Of the remaining cars, we would recommend a diesel, given your usage. That would also rule out the Volkswagen Taigun facelift, which will continue with petrol engines only.The Tata Sierra has a strong enough diesel engine, which comes with a smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic, but it's quite loud and lacks a strong punch.While not enough is known about the new-generation Seltos yet, between it and the Hyundai Creta, the former is probably the better bet. It will likely use the same smooth, refined 1.5-litre diesel and 6-speed automatic gearbox, but on the whole, the Kia Seltos is expected to be larger and packed with even more tech. We think it is the one you should hold out for.

Autocar India Team

Dec 09, 2025

Asked by: Malhar Inamdar I am quite impressed with the new Sierra, but am confused about the variant and engine options. My annual running may not exceed 7,000km, as I do not stay in India, and my family will hardly use such a big car. However, whenever I visit India (once a quarter), I would like to take the car out on road drives and enjoy a pleasant driving experience. I am currently considering the Accomplished or Accomplished+1.5 Turbo Hyperion AT. Could you please advise if this is a good choice based on the details I have shared? Given your low running, yes, a petrol Tata Sierra would make perfect sense. We have yet to drive the naturally aspirated petrol; however, given that you do take pleasure in driving, the 1.5 L turbo engine would be just right for you.The unit is refined and delivers power in a strong and linear fashion. To know more, you can check our full review, which is live now on our website.

Autocar India Team

Dec 09, 2025

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