Autocar India
•1d

Which is the best SUV to buy now or is it better to wait for 1-1.5 years since there are going to be a lot of changes in the powertrain landscape? Should I buy a hybrid or a petrol automatic SUV under a budget of Rs. 25 lakh. My daily usage is 50-60 km within the city, including heavy traffic and bad roads, along with highway travel once or twice a month. I am looking for an SUV with a good driving experience, reliability, safety, good features, and a proven track record.

Verified
•2h

With a budget of Rs. 25 lakh, daily city usage of 50-60 km in heavy traffic and bad roads, and 1-2 highway trips a month, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the best fit. The hybrid system of this Maruti Suzuki car delivers excellent fuel efficiency in stop-start traffic, the ride is comfortable over broken roads, and Maruti’s service network and reliability are strong. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid is essentially the same car with Toyota’s badge and service network, so choose whichever brand you are more comfortable with.There is no need to wait 1-1.5 years. The powertrain landscape is evolving, but there is no major shift expected in this price bracket that would make waiting worthwhile. Hybrids like the Victoris and Hyryder are already well-proven and deliver real-world benefits today. If you are willing to wait, however, a Kia Seltos hybrid and Renault Duster hybrid are expected to launch later this year.Between hybrid and petrol automatic, hybrid is the clear choice for your usage. Your daily city running is high, and the hybrid system will save you significant fuel costs over time while still being easy to live with. Petrol automatics are cheaper to purchase, but the fuel savings of the hybrid far outweigh that.If you want a more premium feel and stronger performance, the Kia Seltos IVT or Hyundai Creta IVT are good alternatives, but they will not match the hybrid for fuel efficiency in your usage. The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are the better driver’s cars, but again, they will not be as efficient in city traffic. Overall, the Victoris Hybrid or Hyryder Hybrid are the most sensible and cost-effective choices for your usage.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleRenault Duster
VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleVolkswagen Taigun
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleKia Seltos
Maruti Suzuki Victoris
Maruti Suzuki Victoris
•3d

I'm having a Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus 1.2 MT, which I bought in June 2024 and have driven around 29,000 km. I was a first-time buyer, so I received a lot of advice from everyone, which left me confused. Eventually, I chose Maruti because of its low maintenance and fuel efficiency. However, I'm now bored with its performance as well as its mileage. I'm getting only 16-17 kpl on the highways, whereas I used to get over 20 kpl initially. My driving is 60% highway and 40% city. Is it worth upgrading to a new car, or when would be the right time to upgrade?

Verified
•3h

With 29,000 km on your Maruti Suzuki Fronx in just over a year, you are clearly a high-usage driver, and your 60% highway usage is the key factor here. The 1.2 petrol is a reliable and efficient engine, but it is not particularly exciting on the highway, and that is likely why you are feeling bored with this Maruti Suzuki car. The bigger question is whether it is worth upgrading now. Financially, the car is still relatively new, and you will take a depreciation hit if you sell it this early. However, given your usage pattern, it may actually make sense to upgrade sooner rather than later. A diesel SUV like the Mahindra XUV 3XO or the Tata Nexon would be a much better fit for your driving style, offering stronger performance on the highway and better fuel efficiency at higher speeds. Alternatively, if you want to stick with petrol, something like the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI would offer a much more engaging driving experience without sacrificing too much on efficiency.Ultimately, the decision comes down to how much the current car is bothering you. If you are genuinely unhappy with the performance and fuel efficiency, it is better to upgrade now rather than wait another year or two and continue to be dissatisfied with the car. If you can live with it for another year or two, you will get more value out of the car before upgrading.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleTata Nexon
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
•1d

I am planning to buy the Skoda Slavia. Should I wait for the facelift, or should I buy the Skoda Slavia Prestige 1.0-litre automatic variant? I do not want to exceed my Rs. 18 lakh on-road budget. My usage will be mostly for office commutes as well as highway drives.

Verified
•4h

The facelift is expected soon in just about 2 months or so, thus if you can we would highly recommend you to wait. The update in Skoda Slavia should bring in the new 8-speed torque converter automatic which debuted on the Skoda Kushaq as well as the upgraded AC compressor that should improve AC performance. Skoda Slavia price would rise but you would still be able to get a variant within your budget and in any case there is also a chance that once the new car arrives, there will be some unsold stock as well. Thus you could use the new cars arrival to bargain for a lower price on the older car.

VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleSkoda Slavia
•1d

Hi team, I already own a 2022 Tata Safari and want to replace it with a more powerful, comfortable, and feature-rich SUV. My budget is Rs. 35 lakh (on-road). I checked out the MG Majestor, but it is out of my budget, as the on-road price is around Rs. 48 lakh. I also looked at the Toyota Hycross, but I didn't like its interior. Kindly suggest the best 7-seater SUV within my budget. I usually drive in the city, covering around 30-40 km daily, and take one or two trips to hill stations every year.

Verified
•5h

At this price point and with your requirements, there isn't much choice available so the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel would be the most sensible option. It offers a more powerful diesel engine, a more refined driving experience and a premium cabin with a strong feature set. The diesel engine is punchy and well suited to both city driving and occasional hill station runs. The third row is not as spacious or comfy as your Tata Safari but it is usable. If the Mahindra car does not feel like an upgrade, you could consider the Jeep Meridian. It would feel larger and has a premium and classy cabin. The diesel engine of this Jeep car is the proven and familiar 2.0 litre multijet unit - the same engine that powers the diesel Safari. The Meridian will also do well for your long drives to hill stations as the ride and handling balance is outstanding with a secure handling for the ghats, good highway stability at higher speeds and a well judged ride quality over broken roads.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleTata Safari
VehicleJeep Meridian
Mahindra XUV 7XO
Mahindra XUV 7XO
•16h

I want to buy the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXI manual petrol. The facelift is about to launch, but the dealer is currently offering me a Rs. 50,000 discount. My concern is that the facelift might come with inbuilt rear seat headrests. So, should I wait for the Brezza facelift, or should I take the discount?

Verified
•6h

If rear headrests are a genuine concern, there is a high chance that the updated Maruti Suzuki Brezza will have adjustable rear headrests, similar to the entry-level Victoris and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara variants. Additionally, you can expect a lengthier standard equipment list alongwith some cosmetic enhancements. As a result, the updated Brezza is likely to be a bit pricier than the outgoing version, and there won't be any discount on offer. If that is something that you're comfortable with, then the new Brezza will be worth the wait.But if you're on a tight budget, the Rs 50,000 discount seems like a tidy saving. Also, there's a high chance that you'll get quicker delivery of the outgoing version, while you could need to wait for a few weeks, for the updated Maruti Suzuki car.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
•14h

I am looking for a used Honda WR-V diesel that is around 10 years old. Is it a good option? My daily driving is 60 km. Please suggest. My Renault Triber AMT gives an average of 7-8kpl in the city, which is why I want to switch back.

Verified
•7h

If the vehicle is well looked after and the service history checks out, then go for the Honda WR-V diesel. The diesel engine of Honda cars is quite reliable and very efficient too. If possible, look out for a vehicle that has got a major overhaul done which includes replacement of clutch, brake pads and discs, tyres, suspensions, engine mounts and injectors. This will save you from a major expense. Also, being 10 years old, some of the trims (rubber parts) might have worn out and might need replacement; these could lead to water leaking into the cabin. You could consider buying a pre-inspected car backed by a warranty from a reputed used-car platform like Spinny, for added peace of mind.