Latest questions answered by experts
Now, this time I am planning to buy an EV. Please suggest the best option up to the 12 Lakh range.
Go for the Tata Punch EV; at Rs 12 lakh, it is the most complete first EV you can buy. It fits your budget even with the larger battery, so you get a real 300-plus km range in normal city use and the comfort of fast charging for the odd long day. It is a proper 5‑door subcompact SUV with space for a family and a decent boot, so it feels like a normal car, just quieter and far cheaper to run.If you want something cheaper, there's also the Tata Tiago EV, but your money goes a lot further with the Punch as you get better ground clearance, more features, and crucially a larger battery. Do note, with all EVs, long highway trips still need planning and patience at chargers, and it's best to make sure you can install a charger at home. But for a first EV on a Rs 12 lakh budget, nothing else balances range, practicality and ease of ownership this well.

Hi, I want to upgrade from my Nissan Sunny Diesel to an SUV. My budget is around Rs. 16 lakh. My daily running is around 75 km on the highway, which may reduce next year due to my transfer. I want an automatic. I am confused between a diesel and a petrol SUV.
Pick the Kia Sonet diesel automatic. Your 75 km daily highway run suits diesel, and this one does effortless cruising with strong mid-range pull, so overtakes feel easy. It will also save money on fuel, typically returning around 16-18 kpl on highways. It fits your Rs. 16 lakh budget in the mid trims and will be easier to live with in the city after your transfer because it is compact yet feels like a proper SUV.One honest catch is the extra upfront cost over petrol and the usual diesel particulate filter upkeep if your usage turns into only short, stop-start city runs. If you usage pattern is dramatically changing next year and you want to keep things simple, consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx turbo petrol automatic. It is smooth, easy in traffic, and its running costs stay reasonable even if your mileage drops, though highway efficiency will be lower than the Sonet diesel.Given today’s usage and your diesel habit, the Sonet diesel automatic is the right upgrade. If your transfer makes it a mostly-city life, the Fronx petrol automatic is the safer pick.
I'm very confused about the Harrier EV and Honda City hybrid. My daily running is 90km. I have an option for home charging. My long trip only once a year.
Pick the Harrier EV. With 90 km a day and a home charger, an EV will slash your running cost, and you won’t visit a fuel pump for daily use. The Harrier’s range will easily cover your commute with plenty in reserve, and on your once-a-year long trip, you can plan a single fast-charge stop and be done. It is also quieter and smoother in traffic, and the big SUV's ride height makes city driving less tiring.Be honest about two things. The Harrier EV’s upfront price will be higher than the City Hybrid, and highway charging can still be patchy in some regions, so you need a little planning for that rare road trip. If your budget is tight or you just want the simplest long-distance experience, the City Hybrid is the cheaper buy and needs no planning at all, while still being very fuel efficient in town.Given your usage and home charging, the EV advantage is real every single day, so the Harrier EV is the smarter pick.
Can you please suggest which bike is better overall: the Suzuki V-Strom SX 250 or the TVS Apache RTX 300?
The TVS Apache RTX 300 is a faster, more modern, feature-rich and capable machine than the Suzuki V-Strom SX. If you value performance and features, then the RTX is definitely the bike more likely to be up your alley. However, if most of your riding is in the city and you value a hassle-free, no-nonsense experience then the V-Strom will be the one that will appeal to you. While they sit in similiar price segments, the RTX and V-Strom aren't directly comparable and we'd advise you to take a test ride of both before you make your decision.

My weekly drive is around 20 kms. Should I purchase a hybrid or a non-hybrid car/SUV?
Go non-hybrid. With only 20 km a week, you will never save enough fuel to cover the extra price of a hybrid, even over many years. Your running is low, so a simple petrol car or SUV will be cheaper to buy, easier to keep, and perfectly fine for short trips. Spend the money you save on a safer trim or an automatic that makes traffic easier, not on a powertrain you will not fully use.Hybrids shine when you crawl through city traffic every day and clock big yearly mileage. They are smooth and sip less fuel there, but the price gap is usually a few lakhs, and your fuel spend is tiny at roughly 1,000 km a year.
I have booked the Kia Seltos HTE(O) IVT when its ex-showroom price was Rs. 13,39,900. Now, the revised ex-showroom price is Rs. 13,71,900. Should I still go ahead at the revised price, or should I look for another option?
Stick with the Seltos HTE (O) IVT at the revised Rs 13.71 lakh, because the Rs. 33,000 hike is annoying but gets you one of the few smooth automatics you can get near this price, and you already have a booking so you will get it sooner. For mostly city use, this powertrain is easy and stress free, and the Seltos gives you more cabin feel and safety kit than smaller crossovers.First ask your dealer if your booking qualifies for any price protection or old-price invoicing. Some batches do, some may not, but it is worth pushing.If this new price now feels tight or you want stronger highway punch, the next best fit is Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 AT or Skoda Kushaq 1.0 AT, but both generally cost more for similar variants. The Seltos HTE (O) IVT represents excellent value for money, even at the revised price, as it gets you one of the newest, most spacious and best-quality SUVs in the segment, with an automatic, at a great price.
Need expert advice?
Ask the Autocar community and experts.


