Latest questions answered by experts

Autocar India

•7h

Go for the Mahindra XEV 9S or Mahindra XEV 9E, both of which are more spacious than the Mahindra BE 6, which feels surprisingly cramped, especially for rear seat passengers. The 9E and 9S have front seats too, and they get a three-screen layout too, which your front passenger is likely to appreciate on long drives. The XEV 9E has an edge over the XEV 9S on account of its slightly firmer suspension setup, which results in a more settled highway ride.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra BE 6

Autocar India

•8h

Go for the Maruti Victoris VXi manual as it fits your Rs 14 lakh budget and represents a step up from your i20. You will sit higher, see the road better, and it deals with bad roads and speed breakers better than the i20, yet it is still relatively easy to park and thread through traffic. The controls are light, the petrol engine feels smooth and calm in the city, and Maruti’s wide service network makes ownership simple almost anywhere. One thing to be aware of: the engine is more about smoothness than speed, so if you're on a highway with four people and luggage, you may need to plan your overtakes. While the Victoris VXi MT will be ideal, if you want to benefit from lower running costs, consider the Victoris LXi CNG. If a big part of your 1,500 km is highway and you want lower fuel bills and stronger pull at low speeds, look at the Kia Sonet diesel manual mid variant. It suits long runs well, though the ride can feel a bit firm on sharp bumps. If you want to stay with Hyundai, check the Venue diesel manual, which is mechanically identical to the Sonet.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

•9h

Go for the Renault Duster 1.3 turbo DCT. For your usage and coming from a naturally aspirated petrol, it will feel like a clear step up in performance. The turbo engine delivers much stronger acceleration and effortless overtakes, which makes it more satisfying to drive both in the city and on the highway. While most dual-clutch automatics can feel jerky at low speeds, the Duster’s setup is relatively well-tuned and manageable in traffic, and once you are moving, it feels quick and responsive.The Kia Seltos IVT is a smoother and easier car to drive in stop-and-go conditions, and it will feel more refined at low speeds. However, its naturally aspirated engine is tuned for comfort and efficiency, so it can feel underpowered, especially when you need quick acceleration or are used to driving with more intent.On service and spares, Kia has the advantage with a wider and more consistent network. Renault’s support in cities like Chennai is generally adequate, but it may not feel as seamless. Opting for an extended warranty and service package will help improve peace of mind.

Renault Duster

Autocar India

•9h

Go for the Toyota Innova Hycross GX(O) 7-seater at your budget, it gives you the best mix of space, comfort and easy daily use. It drives like a modern car, not a heavy ladder-framed people mover, so the steering is light, the ride is comfortable, and the petrol-automatic powertrain keeps things smooth in traffic. The third row is genuinely usable for adults, the cabin is airy, and Toyota’s service network and resale are strong, which makes ownership simple over many years.One thing to be aware of: the GX(O) is petrol-only, so it will use more fuel than a diesel when fully loaded or on long highway runs. Also, it skips some of the fancy features you see in costlier trims, so if you want all the tech, you will have to stretch or look elsewhere.Pick the Toyota Innova Crysta only if you do a lot of highway driving with seven people and luggage. It's diesel pulls strongly, and the car feels tough on bad roads, but it is manual-only, so the clutch can feel heavy in traffic, and the cabin feels older. Choose the Mahindra XUV 7XO if you want more features and strong performance for the money. But know that the third row and boot with all seats up are smaller than the Hycross.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Innova Crysta

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•10h

Go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For your usage and priorities, it is the more sensible and value-for-money choice. It feels modern, is easy to drive in the city and still delivers a fun-to-drive character with strong mid-range performance for your occasional highway trips. It also feels stable and confidence-inspiring at speed, and the automatic gearbox is smooth and well-suited to Mumbai traffic, which adds to overall ease of ownership.On your AC concern, earlier feedback on some Skoda models was mixed, but this has been addressed with updates to the AC system, including a more efficient compressor and improved airflow. The Kylaq benefits from these improvements, so cooling performance should not be a concern, though it is still worth checking in a proper midday test given Mumbai’s conditions.The Renault Duster 1.3 turbo automatic is now a new-generation product and remains the more engaging car to drive, with stronger outright performance and a very capable ride over rough roads. However, compared to the Kylaq, it is larger and not as easy to drive or park in the city. The Kylaq is also more affordable, which means you can opt for a higher variant with more features within your budget.

Skoda Kylaq

Renault Duster