Latest questions answered by experts
Latest questions answered by experts
Ashish
•1wWhich car should I choose within a budget of 16 lakh? Family of 3-5 persons. Daily usage is 20 km. I like Victoris and 3XO, but I am exploring other options.

Autocar India
If you plan to regularly travel with 5 passengers, the back seats of both the Maruti Victoris, especially the XUV 3XO, may be a bit tight for the three passengers. The Tata Sierra is one option you could consider, as it has a fantastic back seat that is wide and offers plenty of legroom.The new Kia Seltos is an even better option, as it offers a more powerful base 1.5-litre powertrain than the Sierra and a good back seat, too. If you want to play it safe, the Hyundai Creta is still the favourite among SUV buyers, a proven product with an affordable cost of ownership and good resale value.
Ankit Wagadre
•1wI’m planning to buy the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic, but I’m confused between the TCMPFi and TGDi engine options. My usage is low, with about 50% city driving (Pune traffic) and 50% highway. I also take 2–3 long trips each year. Could you suggest which engine would be better overall in terms of reliability, mileage, and maintenance costs?

Autocar India
If your usage is relatively low and evenly split between city driving in Pune and occasional highway runs, the TCMPFi engine in the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic should suit you perfectly well.For everyday driving, the MPFi (indirect injection) turbo petrol offers smooth, easy performance that’s more than adequate for both city commutes and relaxed highway cruising. It may not have the outright punch of the TGDi, but in real-world conditions, especially in stop-and-go traffic, it feels progressive and easy to manage. For most drivers, it delivers more than enough performance for overtaking and long trips a few times a year.From a long-term ownership perspective, the TCMPFi is also the simpler engine. With fewer complexities than a direct-injection TGDi unit, it can potentially mean slightly lower maintenance costs and less to worry about over time, particularly if you’re not clocking very high annual kilometres. It’s also usually priced a bit more attractively, which improves overall value.The TGDi makes sense if you really enjoy strong acceleration and want that extra mid-range punch, or if you frequently drive fully loaded on highways. But given your described usage and focus on reliability and ownership costs, the TCMPFi automatic would be the more sensible and well-rounded choice.
Ishaan
•1wI am confused between the BMW 320d and the Audi A6. Please help me choose one. My monthly commute will be 500-800 km.

Autocar India
The BMW 320d is a sporty sedan with a strong diesel engine and more engaging driving dynamics, but it sits in a segment below the Audi A6. The A6’s 2.0‑litre petrol engine is much smoother and more refined than the BMW’s diesel, which can feel a bit gruff in comparison. With your usage of just 500 to 800 km a month, a diesel really isn’t necessary, and you won’t fully benefit from its efficiency advantage.Where the BMW does score is in the cabin, which looks and feels more modern than the A6’s interior, which is now beginning to feel a bit dated. However, overall, the Audi A6 offers a more luxurious experience, a more refined powertrain and, with the attractive deals currently available in the market, becomes the better all-round choice despite not being as sporty to drive as the 320d.
Sonu S
•5dHello. I want to purchase a big petrol automatic SUV in Chandigarh within an on-road budget of 21 lakh, which is almost 18 lakh, ex-showroom. Safety, prestige, decent mileage, low maintenance and some modern features are what I want. I will keep the car for only four years. I have zeroed in on Scorpio N Z8 Select AT, Tata Safari Pure X and Harrier Adventure X AT. Please advise. Primarily city driving with an occasional highway drive once a month.

Autocar India
The Mahindra Scorpio N offers a larger, more powerful 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, compared to the other two cars, and its rear-wheel drive layout will be a touch better to drive on hills, too. Additionally, being a body-on-frame SUV, it feels a touch tougher too, and more capable over bad roads. That said, since your usage is primarily in the city, the Scorpio N's ride will feel bumpier in the city. And purely for those reasons, we would recommend the two Tata SUVs.There's very little to differentiate between the Tata Safari and Harrier, with the former having a three-row seating configuration and the latter being a 5-seater. Both drive similarly, and the 1.5-turbo-petrol engine is surprisingly powerful, refined and smooth. So, between the Safari and Tata Harrier, pick the one that appeals to you more.

Amit
•2dHi, I need an automatic car for a daily commute of 50 km on weekdays in Mumbai city. I will hardly be taking any long trips on weekends or otherwise. Which car would you suggest: Harrier Petrol, 7XO Diesel or Seltos NA/Turbo, considering that I currently drive a Kushaq 1.0 manual? Budget is 25 lakh.

Autocar India
Purely as an urban commuter, the Kia Seltos NA Petrol IVT is the best option in terms of smoothness and user-friendliness. It is larger than your current car, and will feel like a proper upgrade in terms of space, comfort, features and tech.Do keep in mind that your Skoda Kushaq's Turbo-Petrol engine is more powerful in comparison, and the Seltos 1.5 NA's performance could feel a bit underwhelming on the open road. Its turbo-petrol version will feel relatively more effortless.The Tata Harrier and XUV 7XO are larger cars, and since you don't plan to use the new car for long trips, these could feel too big to drive in Mumbai's traffic.
Ajinkya Sonar
•1wHi Team, currently I have a Seltos HTX IVT Petrol Automatic and am planning to sell it. Could you please advise where I can get the best resale value, including Spinny?

Autocar India
If you are looking to sell your Kia Seltos HTX IVT Petrol, you should check within your friend circle and neighbourhood. Also, check with organised players like Spinny. It's best to shop around a bit, as the price people will offer you for your car will depend on its condition and how badly the buyer wants it.With the organised sector, at times, the value you receive might match the open market rate or may be slightly lower. However, you will benefit from a quicker process, full payment and all paperwork, including RTO transfer, being handled by the company.


