Latest questions answered by experts

Rajan Khurana

I have booked the Hyundai Venue HX10 DCT, but I am confused about the transmission. At lower speeds, it feels like there is a noticeable gear shift, which can feel jerky. On the other hand, I really like the interior. I am unsure whether I should go ahead with the Venue or consider the 3XO. My only concern with the 3XO is that the interior feels very traditional and not as premium. I am quite confused. Please advise, as the car delivery is planned within the next 15 days and I want to make the right decision.

Autocar India

•25m

From what you’ve said, most of your worry is low-speed city use and how smooth the automatic feels, with cabin look a close second. For that use, I would lean to the XUV 3XO petrol automatic, because its regular automatic gearbox is smoother when you are moving slowly in traffic. The Venue DCT (a dual-clutch automatic that changes gears very quickly) can feel like a small pause or a light jerk at 10-20 kph as it shifts, which is exactly what you noticed. The 3XO’s automatic does not do that, and it also handles long, crawling jams without any worry about clutch heat.The catch is what you already feel: the 3XO’s cabin design looks more simple and not as flashy as the Venue. If the cabin look matters to you every single day, the Venue still makes sense. You can also drive the DCT more gently in the first two gears and let the car roll on its own to smoothen that low-speed feel. Once above 20-25 kph, the Venue DCT feels quick and easy.So the call is this: pick the XUV 3XO petrol automatic if your priority is a smooth, calm drive in heavy city traffic. Stick with your Venue DCT booking if the premium cabin is what you love and you can live with a little shift feel at very low speeds. For your brief, I’d pick the 3XO for the smoother city drive.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

Karan

•1d

We are a family of five, and all of us are quite tall (men are 6 ft+), so we find it difficult to fit comfortably in smaller cars. We are looking to purchase a spacious and comfortable car within a budget of ₹15–16 lakh, with good fuel efficiency as we travel around 15,000-20,000 km a year. We are open to electric cars as well as used cars.

Autocar India

•1h

With five very tall adults and 15-20k km a year, a spacious three-row makes the most sense in your ₹15-16 lakh window, and I’d lean toward the Kia Carens 1.5 diesel manual in a mid variant with the second-row bench. It gives you real stretch-out space, good headroom, and a wide middle row so three adults can sit without rubbing shoulders too much. The low floor makes getting in and out easy for parents and kids alike, and the suspension takes bad patches calmly, so long drives feel relaxed. With your yearly distance, the diesel will use less fuel on highways and needs fewer fuel stops, which matters on family trips.If you want lower running cost in the city and can live with slower pick-up, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXi CNG is a strong value new car. For five tall adults it works well across the first two rows, and you can fold the third row for luggage, but with the CNG tank in the boot, there is little space if all seats are up.Given you’re open to used, a well-kept Toyota Innova Crysta 2.4 diesel is the most comfortable way to carry five tall adults and luggage. It is easy over long distances and feels very solid; just focus on service history and avoid abused fleet cars.

Dushyant Sikri

Hello, I own a Tata Nexon petrol (P) XM+(S) BS6 (January 2023), which comes with stock size of 195/60 R16 tyres. I have driven around 54,000 km. A few months ago, one tyre got punctured, and unknowingly my father drove 27–30 km on a flat tyre, causing multiple sidewall punctures. It was repaired at the time. Later, during alignment and balancing in February 2026, I decided to replace the replaced tyre with my unused stepney (from 2023) and bought one new tyre, placing the new tyre at the front and old one at the back. The very next day, the car started showing unusual vibrations from the pedal side along with noise that remained consistent even after one week of driving. Despite trying multiple tyre rotations at different shops, the issue persisted. I was advised that changing only one tyre could have caused this, and I should replace all tyres. On further advice and after watching multiple YouTube videos, I upgraded to 215/60 R16 tyres (as seen in higher Nexon variants), replacing two tyres due to budget constraints. The noise reduced, but pedal vibration remained. A mechanic then diagnosed worn front wheel bearings and disc rotors, which I replaced. However, after 3–4 days, a new “kat-kat” noise started coming while braking, along with a whistling sound during light braking. This noise appears after driving 7–8 km in the city but became constant during a hill trip to Bhimtal, even without braking. The suspension has been checked and is fine. Please advise whether this issue is tyre-related or if I should visit Tata service for a detailed diagnosis.

Autocar India

•2h

From what you’ve described, this is not a simple tyre issue. You now have two different tyre sizes at the front and rear, you have replaced a wheel bearing and a brake disc, and the noise comes in with heat and under braking. You should go to Tata service first and get the brakes and hubs checked properly, because this is a safety item.Two things stand out for your case. First, the kat-kat noise under braking after a few kilometres points to a brake fitment or disc issue on the front. If the hub face was not cleaned before fitting the new disc, or if the disc is a little bent, you get a knock and a whistle once things heat up. If the pad clips or guide pins were not fitted or greased correctly, the pads can rattle and squeal. Also, discs and pads should be replaced on both front wheels at the same time. If only one side is done, it can cause an uneven feel and noise. Second, you now have 195/60 R16 in front and 215/60 R16 at the back. The rear tyres are about 3 to 4 per cent larger in rolling size. The ABS, which prevents wheel lock, reads wheel speeds. A big front-rear difference can confuse it, and you can feel a buzz or kick through the pedal, more so on hills.What I’d do next: ask Tata to check both front discs and pads as a pair, clean the hub surfaces, check wheel nut torque, and check front wheel bearing play again. Ask them to scan the ABS for errors and inspect the wheel speed sensors and rings. Also have them check all four wheels for bends from the long flat-tyre drive earlier.About the spare: a 2023 spare used now is fine if the rubber has no cracks and the date code is 2023. The tyre-burst story, just because it was unused, is overblown.For long term, run the same size and brand on all four wheels. Either go all 195/60 R16 or all 215/60 R16, but don’t mix. Overall, get the brake and hub diagnosis at Tata first. Once that is right, align all four tyres to same specifications and your Nexon should feel normal again.

Tata Nexon

Anirban Banerjee

•4d

I am a little confused. Given that my budget is around ₹70 lakh, is a Mini Cooper Convertible a wise choice? It has been on my wishlist for years, but I am still in a dilemma and unable to make a decision.

Autocar India

•3h

With a ₹70 lakh cap and a long-time wish to own one, the Mini Cooper S Convertible makes sense if your main use is city driving and short weekend runs for two. Why it fits your brief: it turns every simple drive into something special, which matters when you’ve wanted it for years. It is small and easy to park, so daily city driving is not a headache. With the roof down on early mornings or late nights, the entire experience is amplified.Know the trade-offs before you say yes. Space is tight. The rear seats are best for kids or short hops, and the boot is small, even smaller with the roof folded. The ride can feel firm on broken roads. Also, our hot sun and long monsoon mean you will drive roof-up more often than you think. If you already have a main family car, go for this Mini car with your heart. If this will be your only car, and you do many long trips with luggage or more than two people, it will feel limiting. Otherwise, it delivers exactly the joy you have waited for.

Mini Cooper Convertible

Anil Gupta

•3d

Hi Autocar team, I own a 2015 Hyundai i20 Elite petrol manual. My average running is around 500 km per month. I am looking for a practical SUV that can accommodate a family of 5–7 members occasionally. This will be my last car, as I am 58 years old, and it will mostly be driven alone or with a co-passenger. I have looked at the Tata Sierra and Mahindra XUV 7XO. I am confused between electric and petrol, and also between manual and automatic. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•4h

With 500 km a month with at most you and one passenger (but sometimes 5-7 members), the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic in the 7-seat version is the better fit for you. It gives you a proper third row for those rare family trips, yet the rest of the time it works well as a calm, easy daily car.For your low running, petrol makes more sense than electric. Try to avoid the higher upfront price of an EV as you will not drive enough each month to recover that extra cost. The XUV’s petrol with the automatic gearbox that changes gears on its own will feel far easier than your i20 manual in stop-go traffic.A couple of trade-offs to note. The Mahindra car that you are considering, is big, so parking in tight spots needs some care. Also, the third row is best for kids or short adults on short trips but not during long highway stretches.Overall, for your usage and this being your last car, the XUV 7XO petrol automatic 7-seater lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Sierra

Dhiraj

•3d

My monthly travel is around 1,050 km, with a mix of city and highway driving. I also take a long-distance highway trip of around 300 km once every two months. I currently own a Honda Amaze diesel and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. Kindly suggest a suitable SUV under ₹20 lakh.

Autocar India

•5h

Go for a turbo petrol SUV, and shortlist the Tata Sierra and the new Kia Seltos mid variants which just about fit in your budget. Both suit your usage well, but the decision comes down to driving feel versus long-term peace of mind.The Tata Sierra turbo petrol automatic is the better choice if you prioritise comfort and smoothness. It feels more relaxed to drive, the engine is punchy without being aggressive, and the torque converter gearbox is smoother in daily city use as well as on highways. This Tata car is also larger and more comfortable, which makes a difference during longer drives.The new Kia Seltos turbo petrol DCT is the more proven and dependable option overall. The powertrain is well-established, refinement is strong, and importantly, Kia has built a wider and more consistent aftersales network across India, which gives better ownership peace of mind. While individual experiences can vary, Kia’s service consistency across cities are generally considered more reliable than Tata’s, where service quality can still differ from dealer to dealer. The DCT gearbox of the Kia car also feels quicker and can be efficient in steady traffic, though it is not as smooth as a torque converter in stop-go conditions.So the difference is clear. The Sierra feels smoother and more comfortable to drive. On the other hand, the Seltos feels more sorted as a long-term ownership package, especially because of its more established service ecosystem.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos