I am planning to buy the Scorpio N Z4 4x4 version, because I believe this is a genuine 7 seater with good off-road abilities. Now my question is, the dealers are saying the lead time is anywhere between 4 weeks and 4 months. Is it because the facelift is just around the corner, or is Mahindra pushing buyers to opt for a higher variant that is readily available? I do not prefer the higher variant because of the additional electronics and the sunroof.

autocar.india

•17h

Buy the Seltos petrol. Kia’s current petrol engines are E20-ready, so the ethanol noise should not worry you, and the real-world hit is usually a small drop in mileage, not reliability. For mostly city use, the petrol is smoother, quieter and simpler to live with, and you avoid diesel’s soot filter quirks that show up on short trips. You also save on the higher upfront price of the diesel and sidestep longer-term policy risk around diesels in big cities.Go diesel only if your running is high and largely highway. The diesel will give you noticeably better mileage and relaxed cruising, so if you do something like 1,200-1,500 km a month at steady speeds, the maths can work in its favour. Just keep in mind it needs occasional longer drives to keep the DPF happy.If you are buying before year-end and plan regular mixed city use, the petrol Seltos is the safer, easier choice. The only real trade-off is fuel cost on long trips, where the diesel will sip less.

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•1h

We don't think you should replace your 2025 Creta because of concerns around ethanol blending. Your car is E20 compliant, and while there has been plenty of discussion around E25, E27 and even E30 fuels, there is currently no official roadmap confirming such a transition. Even if higher ethanol blends are introduced in the future, the impact on a modern E20-compliant car is expected to be limited. Manufacturers typically engineer a degree of tolerance into their E20-compatible engines, so occasional exposure to slightly higher ethanol blends is unlikely to cause any immediate issues. Over a very long period, the most likely effects would be a small drop in fuel efficiency and slightly accelerated wear of certain fuel-system components, not a major reliability concern.With an annual running of just 4,000-5,000km, neither an EV nor a CNG car makes much financial sense. It would take a very long time to recover the additional cost through lower running costs. Similarly, a diesel isn't the right fit for your predominantly city usage.

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•2h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual, because it fits your Rs. 12 lakh cap and will give you the best mix of city mileage and space in this price. Your running is low, so a simple petrol works well here, and the Brezza’s smooth, unstressed engine is easy in traffic yet does fine for occasional highway trips. Coming from an Xcent, you will like the higher seat, better road view and the comfy ride on broken roads, without feeling too big to park.It is also one of the roomier compact SUVs, with a useful boot, and cheap-to-run service across the country. The lower manual trims should fit under Rs. 12 lakh on-road in many cities; the automatic will likely overshoot your budget.Consider waiting for a month or two, as a new Brezza is due. If by “mid-sized” you meant Creta-class, be ready to stretch well past Rs. 12 lakh; at this budget, the Brezza is the sweet spot.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza