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Latest questions answered by experts

Ramakrishna

I travel 100 km daily, with about 10% city driving and 90% highway. My budget is ₹15-20 lakh on-road. Please suggest a car that suits this usage pattern. Also, is buying an EV advisable for this daily distance and highway focus?

Autocar India

•4h

Since you have a high highway running, we would advise getting a diesel. While EVs do offer low running costs compared to diesels, the charging infrastructure, especially on highways, is still at a nascent stage. If your commute involves a location with a fixed charger, then an EV would make sense. In that case, the Tata Nexon EV Empowered 45 would be a good option. With this version, you get a large 45kWh battery that's capable of delivering a real-world range of 345-355km on a single charge. It also gets a practical and feature-rich cabin with good ride comfort. However, if charging is going to be an issue, a diesel SUV would be a lot less hassle. The Tata Sierra with a diesel engine and a manual gearbox would be a good option to consider. The engine is torquey and has good efficiency as well as a modern design and feature-rich cabin. The Adventure trim also gets you a 360-degree camera, sunroof and cruise control, among other features.

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Sierra

kapil shah

•3d

I am looking for a strong car that performs well on both city and highway driving, including bad roads, so I need good ground clearance. I also want lowest possible cabin noise and a smooth ride. My budget is around ₹15–17 lakh. Please suggest suitable options.

Autocar India

•5h

For your budget of Rs 15-17 lakh, and considering you want a strong, stable car with good ground clearance, low cabin noise and a smooth ride over bad roads, the recently facelifted Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is a good option It’s easy to drive in the city, feels secure and planted at highway speeds, and its suspension has a solid, European feel that handles broken roads confidently without feeling unsettled. The only downside is that the width of the rear seat is limited It’s also worth waiting for the new-generation Renault Duster, which is set to launch soon. The earlier Duster was known for its excellent suspension and ability to handle rough roads with ease, and the new model is expected to carry that strength forward.

Skoda Kushaq facelift

•2d

Hey Autocar Team, I recently purchased the Kia Seltos 2026 Diesel Automatic. Before this, I owned a 2020 Kia Seltos Diesel Manual. As far as I know, both cars use the same engine, yet my newer Seltos does not feel as smooth as the older one, mainly because of the gearbox. I understand that a torque-converter automatic is generally considered very smooth, which is why this difference surprises me even more. I feel this could be because the automatic gearbox upshifts at around 2000 rpm, whereas in my manual, I used to shift closer to 1500 rpm, following the “listen to the engine and shift when it groans” approach I was taught. Perhaps the engine revving higher and sounding strained is what feels unusual to me. I would like to know whether this behaviour is normal for the automatic, and if it is simply something I need to get used to, since I have driven only manual cars until now. Please advise.

Autocar India

•6h

The Kia Seltos 2026 diesel AT uses the same 1.5-litre diesel engine as the MT version, and the torque converter gearbox is known for its smoothness.However, the gearbox does tend to upshift at around 2000rpm, which is a bit higher than the 1500rpm you were used to in the manual. This is because the torque converter gearbox is tuned to keep the engine in its powerband, and the engine makes its peak torque at 1750rpm.The slight delay in the gearbox also means that the engine revs a bit more before the next gear is engaged, which is why you feel the car is a bit more vocal.This is normal behaviour for a torque converter gearbox, and you will get used to it over time.

Kia New Seltos

TUSHAR SETH

•3d

Hi, I am planning to sell my 2024 Hyundai Alcazar 1.5 Turbo Signature with an odometer reading of 17,000 km, and after selling it, I want to buy an EV car. Will this be a wise decision, and what EV options should I consider?

Autocar India

•6h

Your 2024 Hyundai Alcazar with just 17,000km is still very new and has plenty of life left. Also, the Alcazar isn’t the fastest-moving SUV in the used market, so resale values aren’t particularly strong. If the car is running well, it may make sense to hold on to it for another couple of years. The EV space is evolving rapidly, and you’ll likely see many more options with better range and tech as manufacturers push new models to meet upcoming CAFÉ norms.However, if you’re keen to switch right away, your budget becomes the key factor. Assuming you’d like something with similar flexibility, including a third row, options are limited today. In the Rs 25 lakh bracket, the Mahindra XEV 9S is among the more practical and well-rounded EVs to consider, offering strong range, space and performance.If you plan to sell your Alcazar, we’d recommend posting it on our partner channel, Spinny.com, to get a competitive, transparent price.

Hyundai Alcazar

Mahindra XEV 9S

Amitesh

•3d

I am considering an automatic, and the choice is between the Kylaq AT, Elevate CVT, and Grand Vitara (GV). I would like to consider the Kylaq, but since my monthly driving is less than 500 km and mostly in the city, would a naturally aspirated engine be better? I plan to keep the car for at least 10 years and want it to be reliable, low-maintenance, with a minimum 4-star safety rating and NVH quality comparable to my 2010 Honda Jazz. I am also willing to consider other SUVs or raised hatchbacks that meet these criteria. Please advise.

Autocar India

•7h

If you like the Skoda Kylaq AT, go ahead. It’s a very good car to drive, feels solid, and is the most engaging of the three. Low running will naturally minimise wear and tear, and modern turbo-petrol engines are perfectly fine for city use as long as they’re maintained properly. Don’t overthink the naturally aspirated vs turbo debate purely from a reliability standpoint - upkeep matters more.The Honda Elevate CVT and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara are bigger and more spacious, and both are sensible, comfortable choices. The Elevate’s naturally aspirated engine is smooth and predictable, and the Grand Vitara scores well on efficiency. However, neither feels as enjoyable or as tight to drive as the Kylaq.Given your priorities - long-term ownership, decent safety, good NVH and low running - the Kylaq fits well if driving feel matters to you. If space and a more relaxed nature matter more, then the Elevate would be the calmer choice. But purely from the heart-and-head balance, the Kylaq is the one we would pick.

Skoda Kylaq

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Omkar Parit

•7w

Bro, I’m in love with the new Toyota Camry, but I don’t know if it is the best choice in this budget range. Please tell me which car I should buy in that price bracket.

Autocar India

•8h

The Toyota Camry is an excellent sedan that feels spacious and luxurious. Its hybrid powertrain makes it extremely efficient, and its ride comfort is second to none. Even though it doesn't feel sporty to drive, its performance and dynamics are quite impressive. If you like the Camry Hybrid, go for it.Other sedans that you can consider in the same price point are BYD Seal, BMW 2-Series, Mercedes A-Class and Audi A4. Out of these, the Seal (EV) feels the sportiest, while the Audi A4 is the most rounded.

Toyota Camry

BYD Seal

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

Audi A4