Latest questions answered by experts

Viren

We have a Baleno and now want to buy an EV SUV. Which would be the best option for daily city driving?

Autocar India

For daily city use and moving up from a Baleno, you should consider the Tata Punch EV Long Range. It is small on the outside, so you can park and squeeze through traffic easily, but the seat is higher and the ground clearance is better than your Baleno, so speed breakers and broken roads are less of a worry. The drive is smooth and quiet at low speeds, which makes stop-go traffic far less tiring, and a home overnight charge will comfortably cover multiple city commutes.Do note, the rear seat and boot are not very big, so long trips with lots of luggage will require you to plan.If you want more cabin space and a stronger performance while still staying city friendly, look at the Tata Nexon EV. Overall, for daily city duty, the Punch EV LR lines up best.

Jai Datta

I have a budget of Rs. 25-30 lakh. I currently own a 2025 MG Windsor EV and a 2022 Kia Seltos GTX+ Diesel AT. Since getting the EV, my running with the Seltos has reduced significantly. Its extended warranty will expire in August 2027. I am now planning to replace the Seltos with either the new Kia Seltos Turbo Petrol or the Hyundai Alcazar Turbo Petrol. We are a family of four, and whichever car I buy will be the top-end variant only.

Autocar India

•31m

The biggest advantage of Hyundai Alcazar in your use case is the captain seat configuration. Since you are a family of four, it can actually work beautifully as a comfortable four seater, with the second row offering noticeably better individual comfort than the Seltos. With the third row folded down, you also get a genuinely large boot, which makes it a very practical long distance family car.That said, the new Seltos feels like the more premium and more contemporary product overall. It is larger and more spacious than the Seltos you currently own, the cabin feels richer, the ride is comfortable and because it is the newer product, it will naturally feel fresher for longer. Importantly, both the Alcazar and the Seltos use the same 1.5 turbo petrol engine paired to a DCT, so outright performance and drivetrain character are broadly similar.The real question is what role this second ICE car will play. If it is primarily a comfortable family tourer and rear seat comfort matters most, the Alcazar makes a very strong case. But if you want something that feels like more premium, modern without stepping into a larger three row SUV format, the new Seltos is the better fit.

Hyundai Alcazar

Kia Seltos

Dhruv

•21h

Hi Autocar, I have a budget of ₹15 lakh and am confused between the Victoris (vxi), Hyryder (base model) and Grand Vitara (base model), all in petrol + CNG form. I do like the Victoris, but, I am not sure whether it has been able to capture the market well enough, which makes me concerned about its resale value and spare parts availability in the future. Please assist. Kindly note that I am looking for a car that will be used mostly for long-distance travel, with limited city usage.

Autocar India

•1h

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXI CNG suits your needs the best. It suits your highway use better than the Grand Vitara and Hyryder CNGs because unlike those two, the Victoris CNG gets underbody mounted CNG tanks which frees up boot space which is essential on road trips. Also worth noting, all three SUVs are mechanically identical. Furthermore, Maruti’s service reach is the widest and if resale is a worry, the Maruti badge is known to have one of the best resale values on the market.Do note, you'll have to plan your highway trips according to the availability of CNG pumps on your route and you'll also have to wait in the queues that are generally there at CNG pumps.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Srujanansh Das

•21h

Hello Autocar India Team, I am planning to buy a new family car with a maximum on-road budget of ₹13-14.5 lakh and would love your recommendation. My requirements include strong engine performance, good features, ample cabin space, 5-star safety, good fuel efficiency, comfortable ride quality, and solid build quality. I currently own a Renault Kwid and am looking for a car that would be a significant upgrade in every aspect, including performance, comfort, safety, and overall driving experience. My usage will be approximately 65% on rural roads and 35% in city driving, so ride comfort, ground clearance, and durability are especially important to me. I am particularly interested in the new Renault Duster Techno 1.0 variant and would like to know whether it would be a suitable choice for my needs. If not, please suggest other cars within this budget that you believe offer a better overall package. Thank you for your guidance.

Autocar India

•1h

If strong performance is high on your priority list, we would be cautious about the Renault Duster 1.0 Techno. While we have experienced this 1.0 turbo petrol engine in the Magnite, where it feels punchy and capable, the Duster is a significantly larger and heavier SUV, so we do not expect it to feel particularly quick or effortless, especially if you are looking for a meaningful upgrade from a Kwid in outright performance.If your heart is set on the Duster, the smarter move would be to stretch slightly for the 1.3 turbo petrol, which sits only a little above your budget and will feel substantially stronger and more satisfying to drive, especially on rural roads where effortless overtaking and usable performance matter.If you are open to alternatives, the Skoda Kushaq Classic+ 1.0 TSI is a very strong option. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy, the Kushaq is genuinely nice to drive, has good rear seat space, solid build and safety credentials that you are looking for.If fuel efficiency matters more than outright performance, then the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol HTE(O) is worth considering as well. It will not feel as punchy as the turbo petrol options, but it is the most premium feeling of the lot, more efficient in everyday use and a very sorted family SUV overall.

Saran s

I currently own a 2019 Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi Plus, which has covered 85,000 km. I have received an exchange valuation of Rs 4.85 lakh against a new Hyundai Venue or Maruti Brezza. Considering my monthly usage has now decreased to just 600 km, would it be financially prudent to proceed with the exchange, or would it be wiser to retain my current car for another few years?

Autocar India

•2h

Since your usage has reduced, it makes sense to retain your Maruti Suzuki Dzire if it is serving you without any issues. Even if you have a major service coming up which involves changing its suspension, tyres, brakes, clutch, etc., the total cost to keep your car in top shape will only be a fraction of what you'll otherwise have to spend to purchase an all-new car.And being a Maruti car, it is likely to hold its value, and even if you decide to sell a few years down the line, its resale price is not likely to drop too sharply.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Akshay

•8h

Asking on behalf of a colleague. He plans to buy an EV for regular use, which includes weekly office work (3-4 days), weekend trips with his small family, all within the Bangalore city area. He has booked the Mahindra XEV 9S. Should we wait for the launch of Sierra EV, as it is a bit smaller in size, which may be useful for his city usage? Also, since the Sierra petrol and diesel are still not visible on Bangalore roads as of mid-May 2026, despite having a huge hype during launch, would waiting for the Sierra EV be a wise decision or just a waste of time? Can the increasing petrol price lead to an increase in the cost of EVs? The Bangalore government has already removed the road tax discount on EVs.

Autocar India

•2h

The Mahindra XEV 9S is the more sensible choice rather than waiting for the Tata Sierra EV. With no firm launch date for the Sierra EV and uncertain delivery timelines, it makes more sense to opt for the XEV 9S, which is already on sale.Yes, the XEV 9S is a bit larger than the Tata; however, its light steering, tight turning radius, good visibility and driving aids make it surprisingly easy to drive and live with.Coming to the second part of your question, Karnataka has introduced new slabs for EV road tax from May 1, 2026, so on-road prices are higher than before, but still running costs remain much lower than petrol. Since your colleague is buying the car now, it will save him from any potential price hikes due to the higher battery import cost or any new taxes.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Sierra EV