I am a first-time buyer and do not have much idea about cars. Upon research, I feel a hybrid (petrol and EV) is a good option to go with. My budget is Rs 12-14 lakh, and my top priorities are safety, mileage, and comfort. I feel the Maruti Suzuki Victoris might be the right option, but I am not sure about its boot capacity. Looking at the launch of the Tata Sierra, I am also attracted to its modern features at a similar budget. Please help me decide. Or is there any other option I should be considering?

Asked by: Jagannath Nayak

Unfortunately, there isn't any hybrid vehicle in the Rs 12-14 lakh range. You will get the petrol versions of the Victoris and Tata Sierra in your budget.

While the Maruti Suzuki Victoris shares a lot with the Grand Vitara, it is likely to be an efficient, reliable option. The Tata Sierra is an all-new vehicle with a new engine; hence its reliability is still unproven.

If you want to buy a car immediately, go for the Victoris. Otherwise, if you can wait, we'll be putting the Sierra through our efficiency and other real-world tests in the coming weeks, and the results will be published on our website, for you to take a more informed decision.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Answered by

Autocar India Team

Dec 06, 2025

Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts

Help and Support

Latest questions

Asked by: NISHANT GULATI Hello, Autocar. I have a maximum budget of ₹2 lakh on-road. Which is the best bike that I can buy for 50:50 city and highway use? I want a bike with decent power and torque to cruise comfortably at 90kmph on highways at low rpm. I also visit the hills 3 to 4 times a year, so the bike should perform well on ghats. Pillion comfort should be good too. I currently own an old Royal Enfield Classic and do not want to buy another Royal Enfield, as I find it unreliable, high on maintenance and unnecessarily heavy. Thanks. Keeping your requirements in mind, the option that should be at the top of your list is the TVS Ronin. It has a smooth, torquey engine paired with neutral ergonomics and lovely ride comfort. Considering it has a flat and spacious seat, pillion comfort should also be quite nice for most folks.Some other options you can look at are the Honda CB300F and the Bajaj Pulsar N250, both of which have aggressive looks but are actually very straightforward and easy to ride.Take a test ride of all three to see which one suits you best.

Autocar India Team

Dec 06, 2025

Asked by: Kashif Honda Amaze ZX automatic or i20 Sportz automatic, which one is better? The Honda Amaze's 1.2-litre petrol engine feels a bit livelier and more effortless in terms of performance, compared to an i20 petrol-IVT. With it, you also get a large boot, as well as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which could be a deal-maker for some.The Hyundai car, on the other hand, has a smoother, more refined engine, and overall, it feels better built than the Honda Amaze.In summary, if ADAS and a boot are important to you, go for the Amaze; else the Hyundai i20 IVT delivers a more premium experience and is the more rounded choice.

Autocar India Team

Dec 06, 2025

Asked by: Mani I am 53 years old and 6 feet 2 inches tall. I have just learned to drive and am still not very confident. I want to buy my first car for a family of four. My budget is Rs 7 to 9 lakh. I will drive around 40 km per day in the city and around 1,400 km on the highway every three months. Please suggest which car would be good for me. The Maruti Suzuki Swift or Baleno will suit you well. The Swift is easy to drive, efficient and spacious enough for four with good highway ability.The Baleno offers more space, a larger boot and a smoother, more powerful four-cylinder 1.2-litre engine. In your budget, you can get the ZXi variant of the Swift, which has a slightly better feature set than the similarly priced Zeta variant of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

Autocar India Team

Dec 06, 2025

Asked by: Nishant Hi, I am confused between the Kia Clavis NA and turbo petrol engine options. My monthly running is around 500 km in the city and on the highway, with a yearly long trip of around 5,000 km round trip. For long-term reliability, does the NA engine feel underpowered with a full load? The Kia Carens Clavis Turbo has the clear power and torque advantage and, money no object, is the better pick if you plan to frequently travel with 7 passengers onboard.That said, the Carens Clavis’ 1.5 NA petrol engine also delivers reasonable performance. It won’t be as responsive as the turbo, and you’ll feel the lack of pep on climbs with a full load, but in ordinary city and highway driving, it works just fine.

Autocar India Team

Dec 06, 2025

View all questions

Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts

Help and Support