Latest questions answered by experts

I’m planning to buy an automatic petrol SUV and would appreciate your suggestions. We are a family of 3 with a 4-year-old daughter. Around 90% of our driving is within Mumbai city, with occasional highway trips. I’m 6’4”, my wife is 5’7”, so cabin space and comfort for tall occupants are important. I was almost set on the Mahindra XUV 7XO, but after seeing the Kia Seltos, I’m now confused. My priorities are comfort, ease of driving in city traffic, safety, reliability, and hassle-free ownership. Which one would you recommend and why? Are there any other options around the Rs. 20 lakh on-road budget that I should consider?

•21m

Pick the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol automatic for your mostly Mumbai use. It is easier to thread through traffic and park than the bigger Mahindra, the automatic is smooth in stop go, and real city fuel efficiency will be better too. Kia’s service reach and overall ownership experience in Mumbai are also very hassle free. The new Seltos also comes well equipped on the safety front and secured a 5-star crash rating from BNCAP. You are tall, so one watch-out. In the Seltos, front headroom can feel tight with the sunroof. Try a variant without it or set the seat lower and see if you are comfortable behind the wheel. If headroom is the only decider, look at the Honda Elevate petrol automatic. It isn't as refined or well equipped as the Seltos but the cabin is airy and seat height is great for tall people.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

•10h

I want to buy a new automatic car in the price range of the top-end Kia Sonet or the Mahindra XUV 3XO. The car will be driven around 7,000 km per year and will be used as a second vehicle. So, an EV may also be worth considering, as I have a solar plant at home. I like premium interiors and prefer a relatively maintenance-free vehicle. I also want good ground clearance to handle potholes. What would you suggest? Should I stick to sub-4-metre SUVs, or should I also consider larger options?

•2h

Your annual running of just 7,000km, the fact that this will be a second car, and having a solar plant at home make an EV a very compelling proposition. You'll enjoy extremely low running costs, quiet performance and the convenience of charging at home.Our top recommendation would be the MG Windsor EV. It is priced similarly to the top variants of the Sonet and 3XO, but offers a much more spacious cabin and a greater sense of space inside. It also feels more premium than its price suggests and is an excellent family car.The Tata Nexon EV is another excellent option. It offers good ground clearance, strong performance, a proven electric powertrain and a wide service network. If you prefer the more traditional SUV stance and slightly better rough-road ability, it remains a very sensible choice.If you decide to stay with a petrol automatic, we'd lean towards the Mahindra 3XO over the Kia Sonet. The 3XO offers a more spacious cabin, stronger safety credentials and a more comfortable ride, while the Sonet counters with a richer feature list and a more premium-looking interior.

Which is the best value-for-money 7-seater car?

•3h

Given your budget of Rs. 10 lakh, the Renault Triber is your best option. The Triber has a roomy cabin and a genuinely usable third row, it has a decent feature set and the 1.0-litre petrol engine is fairly efficient too. It can be even had with CNG for lower running costs or an AMT automatic for greater convenience. Do note though, it's not the most refined car and the engine will feel underpowered when fully loaded or when you're out on the highway. Alternatively, you can even consider the Nissan Gravite which is mechanically identical.

Renault Triber

Nissan Gravite

•1d

For a daily city commute of around 50 km, would you recommend an EV or a petrol car?

•4h

We'd recommend an electric car for a daily city commute of around 50 km, as your usage perfectly suits an electric vehicle's strengths and you'll benefit from significantly lower running costs. City traffic is where EVs shine, instant go, smooth crawl, and they recover energy when you slow down, so you waste less in jams. With most EVs now giving real 250-400 km between charges, you’d plug in at home or office roughly twice a week, and routine upkeep is lighter than a petrol. The catch is charging. If you don’t have a dependable parking spot with a socket or wallbox, living with an EV can get annoying. In that case, a simple petrol automatic is easier and cheaper to buy upfront, and it’s also better if you often do long highway trips.

•1d

I own a 2017 Hyundai i20 Asta (O) with around 60,000 km on the odometer. I am planning to upgrade with a budget of Rs. 20 lakh. My priorities are an automatic transmission, ADAS, a sunroof and a powered tailgate. I have shortlisted the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Renault Duster. Which of these would be the best long-term choice, and why?

•4h

Pick the Hyundai Creta. It is the smoothest step-up from your i20 and the most complete long-term choice here, with a calm CVT automatic for city traffic, a comfortable ride, and Hyundai’s wider service reach and resale backing you over 8-10 years.The Creta gets ADAS on the top automatic trims, and you still get the big sunroof and all the tech you’d want. However, it does miss out on a powered tailgate, which the Duster gets. If you're okay with not having that feature, the Creta represents the best option here.

Hyundai Creta

Renault Duster

•1d

Wanted to buy an automatic car within a budget of Rs. 15 lakh on-road, with an additional Rs. 1.5 lakh available from my old car exchange. I have shortlisted the Honda Elevate VX CVT and the Renault Duster Revolution 1.3 CVT. My monthly usage includes 1,000-1,200 km of city driving and around 500 km of outstation travel. Please suggest which one I should choose, or recommend any other car in the same category and budget. My priorities are good headroom and a comfortable rear seat.

•4h

Pick the Honda Elevate VX CVT. With your heavy city running, its smooth CVT automatic, lighter controls and great visibility make everyday driving easier and calmer, and the cabin is spacious with a comfortable rear bench for two adults. It also rides well enough for your monthly 500 km outstation trips and should be more fuel efficient and easier to maintain than the Duster.The Renault Duster 1.3 DCT only makes sense if you really value the strong punch from its turbo engine and the robust suspension on rough roads. It is quicker and feels tougher on bad patches, but expect lower city mileage and a rear seat that is not as spacious as the Honda's.If you want one more to check in the same bracket, look at the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 automatic. It has a comfy back seat, it's easy to drive, has decent mileage and will be stress-free to live with.

Honda Elevate

Renault Duster

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara