Mumbai

•5d

I have been driving a Maruti Suzuki Swift for the past six years and have covered long distances across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The car has performed exceptionally well so far. However, during my most recent trip to Arunachal Pradesh, I felt that a more powerful engine would be better for such journeys. I am now considering the Mahindra XUV 3XO and the Kia Sonet, but I am a bit confused about the pros and cons of each. Could you please help me understand which of the two would be the better choice for my requirements?

•7m

Both are excellent choices, but given your penchant for performance, we would lean towards the XUV 3XO. The Mahindra has a lot going for it - the most powerful engines (petrol or diesel) in the segment, a long wheelbase and well tuned chassis that delivers a great blend of ride quality, stability and fun dynamics, a weighty steering with decent feedback, and a very spacious cabin. While all the engines are strong, since you do a lot of outstation travel, perhaps the diesel is the better choice - but test drive both and take your pick.

The Sonet is the better all-rounder, with greater refinement, flashier features, better fuel economy and arguably stronger reliability and aftersales service quality. Spec for spec, it could even be better value for money, too. However, its back seat is nowhere near as spacious and the ride quality is very firm and choppy, which could become an issue on longer drives. Plus, it isn't quite as engaging to drive as the Mahindra car, and thus we would recommend the XUV 3XO for your upgrade from the Swift.

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•2d

Hi, Many thanks for your time and effort in answering the question. I want to buy an automatic car between Rs 11-12 lakh. The car should be comfortable for five adults. Running would be 70% in the city (Delhi), with 3-4 occasional intercity vacation trips annually, and my average monthly running is around 500 Kms. I am considering the Hyundai i20 Asta (o) ivtech, Kia Sonet HTK+(O) DCT and Sonet HTX DCT. If you have any better suggestions, then please give them.

•2d

The Hyundai i20 Asta (O) IVT would be the recommendation here. Your priorities are comfort for five adults, predominantly city driving and a smooth automatic gearbox. The i20 delivers very well on all three counts. Its rear seat is among the roomiest in the premium hatchback segment, the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in Delhi's stop-start traffic, and the overall driving experience is relaxed and refined. It is also easier to drive and park than an SUV in crowded urban conditions.The Kia Sonet HTK+(O) DCT and HTX DCT offer a more powerful turbo-petrol engine and a higher seating position, but the rear seat isn't as accommodating for three adults, and the DCT transmission isn't as seamless in heavy traffic as Hyundai's IVT.If you want an SUV, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza AT and Mahindra 3XO AT are the alternatives worth considering. Both have wider cabins and are among the best five-seaters in this price bracket. Importantly, both use conventional automatic gearboxes that feel smoother and more natural in everyday city driving than the Sonet's DCT. The Brezza scores well on refinement, efficiency and ease of ownership, while the 3XO offers a more premium cabin and stronger performance.

My daily ride is 120 to 150km, mostly on Highway 90%, suggest a good car within 20 lakh. Should I buy a diesel or a hybrid petrol?

•1d

While hybrids are a great option and do deliver maximum mileage, in your budget of Rs 20 lakh, you will only get a base model variant of the three hybrids in this price range, namely the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Grand Vitara, and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Hence, we would recommend going with a diesel, of which there are many options within your budget.If you want a larger vehicle, we would recommend the Kia Seltos diesel, which you will get in the mid-spec HTK (O) and HTX variants within your budget. It's a modern SUV with great space and comfort, and a lot of the latest features and tech. Its diesel engine is not the strongest, but it is very smooth and efficient, and can be had with a stutter-free torque converter automatic gearbox.If you don't mind a smaller car, go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO, whose diesel engine is even more powerful than the one in the Seltos. It will feel stronger out on the highway, helped by its smaller size and lighter weight. It's got a spacious cabin and a comfortable and stable ride that feels like an SUV from a segment above. Do note, however, that its boot is not that large, in case you travel with luggage frequently, and it uses an AMT-type automatic, which isn't very smooth. Best of all, however, you can get a fully loaded version within your budget.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•3d

I currently own a Hyundai Verna (2019, manual transmission). My wife would prefer an automatic vehicle, and it will be her first car. I am also planning to upgrade to a luxury vehicle in the future. However, instead of purchasing two vehicles immediately, I am considering buying one car for my wife first, allowing her to get comfortable with it for about a year, and then purchasing another vehicle later. My plan is to sell the Verna, buy a new car for her, and share the same vehicle for some time. I am considering Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Renault Duster, Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet. Among these, I am looking at the automatic variants. My budget is up to Rs. 20 lakh, although I can stretch it to Rs. 25 lakh if the car is particularly compelling. The primary use case will be daily office commutes of around 8-15 km, including dropping off my son on the way, so ISOFIX child-seat mounts are essential. We also take occasional highway trips, typically once every three months. Considering these requirements, which option would you recommend?

•3d

The Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol IVT would be the recommendation here. Since this will be your wife's first automatic car and you'll both be sharing it for some time, ease of driving should be a key consideration. The Seltos' naturally aspirated petrol engine and IVT automatic combination is exceptionally smooth in city traffic, making it very beginner-friendly. It is also spacious, comfortable on long drives, comes with ISOFIX mounts and feels premium enough that you won't feel the need to upgrade immediately.The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Mild Hybrid Automatic is another strong option. Its naturally aspirated petrol engine and torque-converter automatic are smooth and dependable, while Toyota's ownership experience is among the best in the business. However, it doesn't feel quite as premium or feature-rich as the Seltos.The Renault Duster Turbo DCT is appealing if you enjoy driving. It offers strong performance, a solid feel and excellent road manners. However, the DCT transmission is not as smooth in stop-start city traffic as the Seltos' IVT, which is an important consideration for a first-time automatic driver. It is also likely to be less fuel efficient than the Seltos in everyday use.The Volkswagen Taigun remains a great driver's car, but for your specific use case, the Seltos is the more rounded family package. The Sonet is a good SUV, but it feels a size smaller than the others on your shortlist.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

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•1w

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

•5d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

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•1w

I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•6d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

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•1w

Which would be the better choice among the BYD Sealion 7, Mahindra XEV 9e, and Vinfast VF7? I currently own a Skoda Superb, which is 6 years old, and my ownership experience has been good so far. However, I am considering switching to an EV as a replacement, mainly because I am concerned about potential mechatronics-related repairs and higher maintenance costs as the car ages, even though I have not faced any issues yet. My heart says the BYD Sealion 7 would be the ideal replacement or upgrade for the Superb because of its build quality, premium cabin, and overall feel. However, my mind wonders whether it truly offers good value for money considering its premium price tag, although budget is not a major constraint for me. My daily driving is around 20-30 km, mostly within the city, with only occasional outstation trips. Considering my usage pattern and expectations, which of these EVs would you recommend?

•1d

Pick the BYD Sealion 7. It comes closest to your Superb in the way it feels inside and the calm, premium way it goes down the road, and BYD’s EV tech is well proven here. For 20-30km city usage it is smooth, very efficient, and the cabin quality, quietness and ride will feel like a real upgrade that's on par with luxury cars in the same price range.The Mahindra XEV 9e and Vinfast VF7 do sound like good value with the amount of performance and features they offer, but they both belong a size and segment down on the BYD, and that's reflected in the price too. Plus, though feature laden, their cabins will not give you the same plushness you enjoyed in your Skoda Superb. One catch with the Sealion 7 is BYD’s smaller network as compared to Mahindra. But with budget not being a big worry and your usage being mostly in the city, the peace-of-mind of mature EV hardware and genuine upmarket feel makes the BYD the right call for you. Charge at home and you will need to top up just once every few days.

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