Delhi

Latest questions answered by experts

Amit Verma

Hi, I currently own an XUV300 diesel manual and am looking for a petrol automatic SUV within a budget of ₹20 lakh with all basic and essential features only. I will be using it 70 % in city (Delhi) and 30 % on highways, mostly with my family of three for weekend getaways. The cars I have shortlisted are the Tata Harrier petrol and the Kia Seltos (Turbo DCT) gearbox. Please suggest which would be the ideal option between the two, as I am okay with a car that averages around 12 km/l.

Autocar India

•17m

Of your two shortlisted SUVs, the Kia Seltos is the better option for you. For one, the Tata Harrier is priced much higher, essentially in a segment above, and though you mentioned that only basic features would suffice, you will get only an entry-level Harrier petrol at your budget. Moreover, it's a large, heavy vehicle, so fuel economy will not be good at all. In fact, do note that even if you choose the Seltos Turbo DCT, you would have to drive extremely carefully to achieve 12kpl in real-world usage, especially if the majority of that is in Delhi city traffic. While we still recommend the Kia Seltos, consider choosing either the 1.5 petrol IVT or even the 1.5 diesel AT instead if mileage is a priority.

Kia New Seltos

RAHUL ROY

•3d

Hello Autocar Team, I need help choosing between the two Mahindra cars listed below. I stay in Bangalore and currently drive an XUV300 Petrol Manual. I am looking to upgrade to a 7-seater car, but I am confused between the Mahindra XUV7XO and the Mahindra Scorpio N Petrol Automatic. I drive mostly on highways and very rarely in cities. My main requirements are: Good suspension Good ride quality Low maintenance cost Long-term ownership (15 years or more) Please suggest which one would be better for my needs.

Autocar India

•57m

Since your driving is mostly on highways and you are particularly looking for a good ride quality, we would recommend the Mahindra XUV 7XO over the Scorpio N. The Scorpio N is a ladder-frame (chassis) based vehicle, which, while tough, has the typical 'busy body' ride over ruts and undulations. The XUV 7XO, in contrast, is a monocoque-based SUV and offers much better body control. Monocoque-based vehicles also tend to have a lower centre of gravity than ladder frame ones, which results in better and more stable handling. This is something that you will appreciate on your highway drives. The 7XO also uses a new type of frequency-selective dampers - what Mahindra calls Da Vinci dampers - and these offer a very good ride quality and good body control too.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra Scorpio N

pankaj deshpande

•3d

My daily driving is around 60+ km in city traffic. I currently own a Tata Nexon diesel. I’m looking for a reliable, safe, low-maintenance, high-feature car around ₹25+ lakh. I’m unsure whether to go for an EV or a diesel car. Can you please suggest which car I should consider for complete peace of mind, low running costs, and low maintenance?

Autocar India

•1h

Since you are driving 60km daily and all within the city, an EV would be a good option for you. However, this is only on the assumption that you have access to charging at home or your place of work. Relying only on public charging is not really convenient at all. We would suggest the Maruti Suzuki eVitara. Its drawbacks of tight rear and boot space would not be much of an issue for your usage, and it would deliver well on your requirements of being reliable and safe. The eVitara received a 5-star crash rating in the BNCAP tests, and being a Maruti Suzuki car should prove to be very reliable. Moreover, you will get the top spec version within your budget.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

Ramachandran

•3d

I am 70 years old and currently driving an Alto K10 manual in Palakkad, Kerala. I want to upgrade to a 1.2 L automatic with good road visibility and an adjustable seat. My budget is ₹8-10 lakh. Please suggest the best option.

Autocar India

•1h

You can consider the Maruti Suzuki Ignis AMT. It is a good option for you as it has the height adjustable drivers seat and its tall-boy-like design means you sit higher up and have a good view of the road outside. It also makes the Ignis easy to get in and out of. The 1.2-litre engine is peppy enough, and the AMT gearbox is smooth when driven at a relaxed pace. Moreover, you will get the top spec version within your budget, and the Ignis is also a very reliable car.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

nishith

•6d

I am confused between the Maruti XL6 Automatic and the Kia Carens Clavis Turbo DCT. Based on the points below, please share your opinion on which variant would be best for my usage. I want to buy a 6/7-seater petrol automatic within a budget of ₹15-20 lakh. My annual running is around 10,000 km, split almost equally between city and highway usage. I also make 3-4 long trips every year from Gurgaon (Haryana) to my hometown in Gujarat (about 1,800 km round trip). The car may remain unused for one to four weeks at a time, and this can happen frequently. I expect smooth and stress-free ownership for 15 years or more, as I may not be able to buy another car again. I have very normal driving habits. I will also teach my wife to drive the car, and she will use it regularly once she learns. The Kia Carens Clavis 1.5-litre turbo DCT offers all the features I want, but I am concerned about the long-term reliability (15+ years) of a turbo petrol engine and a DCT gearbox. I do not specifically need a turbo engine, but I am forced to opt for the turbo + DCT combination to get an automatic transmission and features like rear wiper-washer-defogger, cruise control, and auto-folding ORVMs. Given these factors, which option would be more suitable for me?

Autocar India

•2h

Both the MPVs you've shortlisted are incredibly capable but have surprisingly different appeal. In most cases, for this budget, we would recommend the Kia Carens Clavis for its greater variety of powertrains, more upmarket interior and longer list of features. However, given your detailed set of requirements, in this case, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki XL6 instead. For a start, even the top-end automatic version falls well within your budget, whereas you'd have to settle for a mid-spec variant of the Clavis Turbo DCT. While not as powerful as the 1.5 T-GDi in the Clavis, the Suzuki K15 1.5 petrol is sufficiently powerful and a great all-rounder; as you've rightly said, you don't really need a turbo at all. Moreover, its 6-speed torque converter automatic is smoother and will be easier for your wife to get used to. The XL6 lags on features, but it has all the essentials and then some. And finally, while both cars have thus far proven reliable enough, Maruti's reputation over the past 4 decades suggests the XL6 will be hassle-free over the course of its life.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Tanmay

•1w

I have a Kwid and want to upgrade to a premium hatchback. My budget is ₹10 lakh. I want a safe, feature-rich car - I’m not worried much about mileage or performance, but I want comfort and standard safety features. Please suggest the best option.

Autocar India

•2h

Since safety is a high priority for you, check out the Tata Altroz, which has scored a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating. It's just as well that mileage and performance aren't high priorities for you, as neither are strong points for the Altroz. Both these improve considerably if you choose the 1.5-litre diesel variant - but then there's a big price jump for this as well. However, even if you choose the petrol, for your budget of Rs 10 lakh, you will get a mid-spec variant of the Altroz only. If you want a bit more bang for your buck, consider the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, which has scored a 4-star Bharat NCAP rating, but still gets all the expected safety features. In your budget, you can get a fully-loaded petrol model, and overall, the Baleno scores higher than the Altroz on space, comfort, mileage, performance and maintenance.

Tata Altroz

Maruti Suzuki Baleno