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•21h

We’re first-time car buyers, a couple aged 40 and 35 with two kids (aged10 and 5), and we’re currently learning to drive at a Maruti driving school. Our budget is up to Rs 13.5 lakh on-road, and our usage will be about 40 percent city and 60 percent highway. We’re torn between the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5 petrol (manual or automatic), which I prefer, and the Hyundai Venue 1.2 petrol, which my wife prefers because it feels smaller and more stylish. Between the Brezza and the Venue 1.2, which is better for new drivers with mixed city and highway use? Should first-time drivers choose a manual or an automatic, considering the extra cost, fuel efficiency and maintenance? Some people suggest an automatic, while others recommend a manual for better control and lower long-term maintenance. I’m also concerned about reports of the Venue 1.0 turbo DCT gearbox overheating. Please advise.

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•4h

Since you are learning to drive, doing so on a manual would be better as then driving an automatic is much simpler to do, however if you learn on an automatic, then driving a manual is very difficult. Thus, learning on a manual gives you better flexibility in terms of the types of vehicles you can drive. As for the choice between the Brezza and the Venue, both are good options, and you can't go wrong with either. If it's an automatic, however, we would lean towards the 1.5 NA Brezza, as this comes with a torque converter gearbox, which is the smoothest type of automatic gearbox and is also more robust in heavy and constant start-stop traffic.

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•1w

I’m looking to buy a seven-seater with a budget of Rs 23 lakh. The car will mainly be driven by my parents, mostly in the city, but we also take highway trips at least twice a month. Given this mix of city driving and regular highway runs, should we choose petrol or diesel? We’re considering the base variants of the Toyota Innova Hycross and wondering whether they offer better value, space and reliability than the feature-loaded mid and higher variants of rivals. How do the entry and mid variants of the Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari compare with the base Hycross within our budget? We also considered the Kia Carens, but we have concerns about its build quality and reliability. Please advise us on what to do.

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•5h

The Innova Hycross is a solid choice for your parents' needs. At your budget, you are likely looking at the GX (O) trim, which covers all the feature basics, including a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. One drawback is that it lacks cruise control, which you might find handy on highway trips.It isn't as feature-loaded as some rivals, but in everyday use, your parents might find the Innova more user-friendly. The petrol engine also suits your needs well. It is smooth and refined, and the CVT is seamless in operation. It also offers sufficient performance for your monthly highway trips.Modern diesel engines have DPF filters that require sustained highway driving for around 20 - 30 minutes every couple of weeks, at a minimum. If the majority of your running is on the highway, it might be worth considering the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. It has a strong yet refined engine, with good performance and decent efficiency. It is also very comfortable, thanks to its superb suspension setup.The XUV 7XO is feature-packed, but its infotainment UI can be a little confusing at times, with many functions integrated into the touchscreen. Take your parents to the showroom to see if they can get used to the interface. Mahindra's reliability and after-sales service have also improved significantly in recent years, although they aren't quite at Toyota's level yet.Overall, though, the Hycross is a better long-term fit for your needs.

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•1w

I’m planning to buy the Mahindra Thar Roxx Star Edition with the 2.2-litre diesel automatic and 4x2 drivetrain. I’ll use it for my daily college commute and weekend outings. I won’t be taking it on serious off-road trails, but will I miss 4x4 when it comes to small river crossings, bad and uneven roads, and beach sand? Can the 4x2 handle these conditions? Should I cancel my booking and get the AX5L 4x4 instead, even though it costs Rs 3 lakh more and misses out on some features? Or is there another car I should consider for Rs 24 lakh on-road?

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•6h

The Thar Roxx Star Edition 4x2 should be fine for the light trails you are describing. However, if these excursions give you the off-roading bug, you will be limited by the lack of four-wheel drive. If you are certain that you have no intention of doing any serious off-roading, the Roxx Star Edition is a solid choice. It offers some of the features from the higher trims but omits ADAS and a few other features to keep the price down.If you think you might want to explore more serious off-roading in the future, then go with the AX5. The 4x4 system makes it very capable off-road and unlocks the full potential of the Thar Roxx. It misses out on a few features, such as a panoramic sunroof and a 360-degree camera, but gets ADAS instead.Overall, the Star Edition 4x2 is a solid value-for-money proposition, but if serious off-roading is on the cards, go with the 4x4.

Mahindra Thar Roxx
Mahindra Thar Roxx

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