Mumbai

•40w

I drive 20-30km on weekends within the city with my family of four. My budget is ₹20-50 lakh. I want a smooth, reliable, self-driven car with luxurious interiors and a wow factor for my teenage kids. I prefer petrol vehicles and am slightly averse to EVs due to reports of battery issues and fire hazards. Suggest to me which SUV or car I should go for, considering there’s less innovation in the latter segment?

•40w

The Skoda Kodiaq is a great choice given your budget and requirements. It is a luxury SUV with a high-quality interior and all the features you would expect in a luxury car.

The petrol engine is smooth, and it offers excellent performance in the city and on the highways. The cabin is spacious, the ride is comfy, and as a package, this Skoda car is extremely appealing.

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Kodiaq

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•1w

I have a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI Highline. I’ve tried two cars since then, but I still haven’t found a suitable replacement that matches it in terms of driving dynamics. So, I’m continuing to hold on to the Jetta for now. Could you suggest a suitable replacement that offers a similar driving experience?

•2d

If you are still holding on to your 2012 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI Highline, it is clear that driving enjoyment is a top priority. The Jetta diesel’s strong torque, solid build and planted highway manners are difficult to replace, especially in today’s market, where diesel-powered mass-market sedans are no longer available.The closest modern alternatives in terms of driving feel would be the Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus with the 1.5 TSI engine. Both offer strong performance, good handling and a solid, confidence-inspiring feel on the highway. The 1.5 TSI engine is genuinely punchy, and the overall driving experience is among the better options in the segment.If moving up a segment is an option and an SUV body style is acceptable, the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tayron are also worth considering. Both offer a more premium experience, excellent highway manners and a strong 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. However, they are considerably larger and more expensive than the Jetta.

I am looking for a petrol car under Rs. 10 lakh. My requirements are rear AC vents, a good infotainment system, and safety features. My usage is around 50-60 km per week, with occasional highway driving. Is the Altroz Creative a good choice, or would you suggest any other options?

•3h

Yes, the Tata Altroz Creative is a good choice for your requirements. With a weekly running of 50-60km and only occasional highway use, a petrol hatchback is the right segment to be looking at. The Altroz Creative offers rear AC vents, a good infotainment system and a strong safety rating, which directly matches your priorities. It also has a comfortable ride and a solid, premium feel for the price.The only thing to be aware of is that the naturally aspirated petrol engine is adequate for city driving but can feel a bit underpowered on the highway, especially during overtakes. Given your usage pattern, this is unlikely to be a major issue.The Maruti Baleno/Toyota Glanza are other options, offering a spacious cabin, smoother petrol engines, stronger performance, and better fuel efficiency.

I am a first-time car buyer with a budget of Rs. 24 lakh. I really like the Kia Seltos X-Line (A) CVT petrol variant. Around 80% of my driving will be in the city, with the remaining 20% on highways. However, I am quite confused about whether I should buy a petrol vehicle or consider an electric car, especially given the increasing ethanol blending in petrol. I am planning to keep the car for at least 10 years, so long-term reliability and running costs are important to me. What would you recommend in my situation? Should I go ahead with the Seltos petrol, or would an EV be a better choice for the next 10 years and which EV?

•5h

Go ahead with the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol CVT (IVT). Your usage is 80% city and 20% highway, and you plan to keep the car for 10 years. In this scenario, a petrol automatic is the most sensible choice. The Seltos CVT is smooth, easy to drive in traffic and well suited to your usage pattern. It is also a proven product with a strong ownership track record.On ethanol blending, there is no need to worry. Modern petrol engines are engineered to handle E20, with a higher threshold for future blends. The impact is mainly a slight reduction in fuel economy, not a major long-term reliability concern.An EV only makes sense if you have home charging. If you were to consider an EV, the Hyundai Creta Electric would be our recommendation.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta Electric

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I want to buy a new car for a family of five, and I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature and the Kia New Seltos HTK naturally aspirated petrol.

•6d

Go for the Seltos HTK NA petrol. With a family of five, the Kia Seltos is the more sensible choice because it is simply the bigger and more comfortable car. The rear seat is wider, the cabin feels more spacious, and the boot is larger, which makes a difference on family trips. The naturally aspirated petrol engine of this Kia car is smooth and reliable, and the overall ownership experience is easy and stress-free.The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature is the better driver's car with a more engaging turbocharged engine, but it is a smaller SUV, and the rear seat is not as accommodating for three adults. For a family of five, comfort and space matter more than driving dynamics, and that is where the Seltos has a clear advantage.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

•1w

Hi, I have been using Honda City CVT for the past 10 years and now, I am looking for an SUV with similar comfort but with the latest technology. My monthly running is approximately between 700-800 km mostly within Delhi.

•6d

Given your usage of 700-800 km a month in Delhi and a 10-year ownership of a Honda City CVT, the Honda Elevate CVT is the most natural upgrade. It retains the same Honda ownership experience, offers a comfortable ride and the CVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving. The Elevate also sits at a sensible price point and is backed by Honda’s strong reliability record, making it a stress-free long-term ownership proposition.If you want a more premium experience with a richer feature set, the Kia Seltos IVT is a good option. The IVT gearbox is smoother in traffic, the cabin feels more upmarket and the Seltos offers a wider range of modern features. However, it does come at a higher price point. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is worth considering if you enjoy driving, as it offers a more engaging experience and the torque convertor gearbox is also the smoothest around. The ride is a bit firmer and the ownership experience is not as straightforward as Honda or Kia, so make sure the dealer in your area is well reputed.

I want to buy a car for 40% city use and 60% long trips. I own a 2015 model of Celerio AGS. Should I buy Baleno AGS considering E20 fuel in the future.

•6d

Given your usage pattern of 40% city and 60% long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AGS is actually a sensible upgrade from your 2015 Celerio AGS. The Baleno offers a more comfortable cabin, better highway stability and a more refined driving experience, which will make those long trips far more enjoyable. The AGS gearbox is also well suited to your occasional city use, keeping things simple and efficient.On the E20 front, there is no reason to worry. The Baleno is E20 compliant, and modern engines are engineered to handle this blend without any long-term reliability concerns. Maruti has also stated that their E20 engines are built for a material tolerance of slightly more than E20, so on the material front the car should be good for something like E22 for example. The main impact of a higher blend would be a reduction in fuel efficiency.The only thing to consider is whether you want to stick with AGS or move to a more conventional automatic. If you are happy with how AGS behaves, the Baleno is a solid choice. If you want a smoother and more premium automatic experience, you could look at something like the Hyundai i20 IVT or the Honda Amaze CVT instead. Both offer a more refined automatic gearbox, which can make a difference on long highway drives.Overall, the Baleno AGS is a good fit for your usage and there is no E20-related reason to avoid it. The decision really comes down to whether you are happy with AGS or want to move to a more conventional automatic.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

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