Latest questions answered by experts

Autocar India

•6h

The important thing to understand is that while the government has notified standards for fuels up to E30, it has not mandated an immediate switch to E30 fuel. In fact, the government has asked ARAI to conduct long-term testing on how E25 affects existing E10 and E20 vehicles before taking any further decisions. The study is expected to assess durability, mileage, engine health and long-term reliability over tens of thousands of kilometers.There is also a strong possibility that consumers will be offered a choice of fuel blends at petrol pumps rather than a sudden replacement of E20 with E30. Discussions are already underway around offering multiple ethanol blend options based on vehicle compatibility. Even if higher ethanol blends eventually arrive later in the decade, manufacturers, fuel companies and regulators will have to provide a transition path because millions of E20-compatible vehicles will still be on the road.Between the two cars, we would actually lean towards the Baleno AMT. The Baleno's 4-cylinder petrol engine is noticeably smoother and more refined than the Dzire's 3-cylinder unit, which makes a difference in everyday driving. It also has one of the better calibrated AMT gearboxes in the segment, feeling smoother and more predictable than many rivals. For elderly parents, the Baleno's wide-opening doors, comfortable ride and easy drivability are all strong positives.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Autocar India

•7h

The 2026 Tiago gets more cosmetic enhancements, new interiors and more features, and like the outgoing car, it feels very user-friendly, thanks to its light controls, compact size and good visibility all around. If you like the Tiago, go ahead with it.For similar money, you'll also get a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, which has more cabin space, and its engines are also smoother and more efficient. You can also get a Hyundai Grand i10 Nios with a four-cylinder petrol engine which is more refined, and its controls are smoother than the Tata's. The Nios also has better interior quality and fit-finish.

Tata Tiago

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Autocar India

•8h

As things stand today, both naturally aspirated and turbo petrol engines sold by major manufacturers are designed to be E20 compatible. There is no evidence to suggest that a modern turbo petrol engine will suddenly become unsuitable while an E20-compliant naturally aspirated engine remains unaffected. If India eventually moves to much higher blends, manufacturers will likely need to make hardware and calibration changes across the board, regardless of whether the engine is turbocharged or naturally aspirated.In fact, if you are choosing between a Venue Turbo DCT and an equivalent naturally aspirated rival, we would make the decision based on the way the car drives rather than on future fuel policy. The 1.0 turbo petrol offers better performance and flexibility than most naturally aspirated engines in the segment, especially on highways and during overtakes.So our advice would be simple: buy the Venue Turbo DCT if it suits your needs today. We do not see the turbocharged engine as carrying any meaningful additional risk from potential future ethanol-blend increases compared to a modern naturally aspirated petrol engine.

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•9h

The latest situation is that Hyundai's Ni1i 7-seater SUV appears to have gone quiet. We had originally reported in 2024 that Hyundai was evaluating a three-row SUV positioned above the Alcazar, but since then there has been very little concrete information from Hyundai. As things stand today, even if the project is still alive, it is unlikely to arrive before late 2027 or beyond.As for positioning, the Ni1i was never expected to be a direct replacement for the Tucson. The idea was for it to be a more India-focused three-row SUV, targeting buyers of the XUV700, Safari and similar vehicles, whereas the Tucson sits in a different segment as a premium five-seat global SUV.Regarding the next-generation Tucson, Hyundai has not confirmed plans for India yet. Given the relatively modest sales of the outgoing Tucson, we would not assume its successor is a certainty for our market. If Hyundai does decide to bring it here, it is still likely to be well over a year away.So if you are planning a purchase in the near future, we would not recommend waiting specifically for either the Ni1i or the next-generation Tucson. Both remain uncertain, and even in the most optimistic scenario, they appear to be some distance away from launch.

Hyundai Tucson

Autocar India

•9h

Pick the Hyundai Venue DCT. For mostly city use, it is simply the easiest to live with: compact dimensions for easy parking, a high seating position for better view in traffic, and enough ground clearance to glide over bad patches and tall speed breakers without worrying. Its turbo engine with the automatic feels quick enough to exploit gaps in traffic, and the steering is light, so long commutes will be less tiring. Do note, though, the Venue DCT's can feel a touch hesitant at low speeds, and the city mileage is just okay, as is the case with the others, because it's a small capacity turbo engine.The Hyundai i20 N Line DCT is more fun to drive, but its firmer suspension and lower stance make it less friendly on rough roads and speed bumps, and you're sitting lower, so you won't get as good a view out.The Skoda Kylaq AT has the smoothest gearbox for bumper-to-bumper and feels more at home on the highway, but it isn't as premium or spacious on the inside as the Venue.

Hyundai Venue

Hyundai i20

Skoda Kylaq