Mumbai

•4d

I currently own a 2016 Mercedes E250 CDI Edition E. The car is soon to complete 10 years, and we are looking for an upgrade. We are interested in buying the GLS. The car will run in a city and on a highway mix. We are not interested in the petrol engine, considering the low mileage. So the 450D becomes the natural option for us. But does it make sense to spend 1.6 crore on a diesel engine car in 2026, considering future conditions and also the possibility of a significant decrease in resale value if govt brings out some stringent policies on diesel cars?

•3m

The Mercedes-Benz GLS 450d is a superb upgrade from your E250 CDI, offering a significant step up in space, comfort and luxury. Given your city and highway mix, the diesel engine is actually the right choice – it delivers strong torque, effortless cruising and better efficiency than the petrol, especially in a large SUV like the GLS.

The bigger question is the long-term outlook for diesel. The 10-year rule applies only to Delhi-NCR, and there is currently no nationwide policy restricting diesel ownership or resale. The GLS 450d uses Mercedes’ latest diesel technology, which is Euro 6 compliant and among the cleanest diesel engines available. It is unlikely that the government will suddenly ban or heavily penalise such modern, clean diesels.

That said, diesel is not completely risk-free. Policy direction can change, and diesel cars generally depreciate faster than petrol or hybrid equivalents. At Rs 1.6 crore, that is a significant consideration.

If you are planning to keep the car for 7-10 years, the GLS 450d still makes sense. You will get the full benefit of the car’s capabilities, and depreciation becomes less of a concern over a longer ownership period. If you typically change cars every 3-5 years, the potential for faster depreciation is a bigger factor.

The GLS 450d is the right car for your usage, but be realistic about depreciation and ownership period.

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•2h

I currently own a Hyundai Aura and have extensive driving experience with Tata and Honda cars as well. I’m familiar with different car segments and have a good understanding of their features, performance, and driving experience.

•3d

I am a bit confused about my car selection. I have booked the Seltos IVT with ADAS. The majority of my driving is in the city. My main concerns are fuel economy and maintenance costs. Is there a better option I should consider? I rejected an EV because I cannot have a charger installed at home.

•2h

Given your priorities of city driving, fuel economy and maintenance cost, the Kia Seltos IVT with ADAS is a solid choice. The IVT is smooth and well-suited to city driving; the SUV is manoeuvrable, and the powertrain is reasonably efficient. And you're right to reject an EV without a home-charging option, because that is essential. That said, given your usage, a better fit would be the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid or the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid. Both use the same strong hybrid system, which delivers excellent fuel efficiency in city conditions by running on electric power at low speeds and reducing fuel consumption significantly. The Victoris is slightly better equipped, including a larger touchscreen and ADAS. Maintenance costs are also lower over the long term, and both Maruti and Toyota have strong service networks and proven reliability. However, they're not as spacious as the Seltos.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•1h

Will Scorpio Lifestyler change Indian pickup culture?? Probably the pickup segment will take a leap with its launch. It has already made a fan base.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•5d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•5d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

•1w

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•6d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

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