Autocar India
•1d

I bought my beloved Hyundai Creta last year after months and months of deliberation and after checking more than 25 cars. Now with this E20 nonsense going on, I am not too sure I want to put my prized possession through all this bullshit. My annual usage is about 4000 to 5000 kms and mostly in the city with the occasional highway run. Please inform me which car I should go for if I have to move to another vehicle. I am not sure about an EV since my usage is less. Diesel is out of the question. Does that leave me with CNG?

Verified
•1h

We don't think you should replace your 2025 Creta because of concerns around ethanol blending. Your car is E20 compliant, and while there has been plenty of discussion around E25, E27 and even E30 fuels, there is currently no official roadmap confirming such a transition. Even if higher ethanol blends are introduced in the future, the impact on a modern E20-compliant car is expected to be limited. Manufacturers typically engineer a degree of tolerance into their E20-compatible engines, so occasional exposure to slightly higher ethanol blends is unlikely to cause any immediate issues. Over a very long period, the most likely effects would be a small drop in fuel efficiency and slightly accelerated wear of certain fuel-system components, not a major reliability concern.With an annual running of just 4,000-5,000km, neither an EV nor a CNG car makes much financial sense. It would take a very long time to recover the additional cost through lower running costs. Similarly, a diesel isn't the right fit for your predominantly city usage.

VehicleHyundai Creta
Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Creta
•1d

I have a Hyundai Xcent 2016 Petrol Model. I have driven it 70K kms so far in almost 10 years. Suggest me a mid-sized SUV keeping the mileage in view, also my budget is not more than 12 Lakh.

Verified
•2h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual, because it fits your Rs. 12 lakh cap and will give you the best mix of city mileage and space in this price. Your running is low, so a simple petrol works well here, and the Brezza’s smooth, unstressed engine is easy in traffic yet does fine for occasional highway trips. Coming from an Xcent, you will like the higher seat, better road view and the comfy ride on broken roads, without feeling too big to park.It is also one of the roomier compact SUVs, with a useful boot, and cheap-to-run service across the country. The lower manual trims should fit under Rs. 12 lakh on-road in many cities; the automatic will likely overshoot your budget.Consider waiting for a month or two, as a new Brezza is due. If by “mid-sized” you meant Creta-class, be ready to stretch well past Rs. 12 lakh; at this budget, the Brezza is the sweet spot.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
•22h

Hi, I was considering a Kylaq Sig+, the Venue N line N6 and maybe Honda Elevate, trying to keep the cost below 13lakhs. A first-time car buyer. It's just my wife and me, sometimes maybe take our parents around. Our goals are weekend trips, and weekdays are not a lot. Want it to be a sub SUV of sorts. Would also do multistate trips sometimes. Kylaq was a no-brainer, but I was worried about Skoda maintenance and the turbo petrol engine. Should I look at NA instead? Please suggest from the above, or if there's any other car I could consider?

Verified
•2h

We'd recommend the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ Automatic. For a first-time buyer who will mostly use the car for weekend drives, occasional long road trips and relatively little weekday running, the Kylaq is the most rounded choice. It offers excellent ride and handling, feels secure at highway speeds and is enjoyable to drive without compromising on comfort.We wouldn't be overly concerned about the 1.0 TSI turbo-petrol engine. It is now a well-proven powertrain, and the 6-speed Aisin torque-converter automatic has a strong reputation for smoothness and reliability. As for maintenance, Skoda's ownership costs have become much more competitive in recent years, especially if you opt for one of its service packages.The Honda Elevate is a strong alternative if you value long-term simplicity and reliability above all else. Its naturally aspirated petrol engine and CVT are proven, easy to live with and should offer complete peace of mind, though it isn't as engaging to drive as the Kylaq.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleHonda Elevate
•23h

I want to buy a 1.5-litre petrol automatic SUV with a torque-converter transmission within a budget of Rs. 15 lakh. I currently own a Maruti Suzuki Dzire and want to upgrade to an SUV that will be used mainly for occasional hill driving. Which one should I choose?

Verified
•2h

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5 petrol automatic with the 6‑speed torque converter. For occasional hill driving, it is the easiest to live with at this price, because the gearbox gives smooth crawl and strong low‑speed control for steep starts, and the manual mode lets you hold a lower gear on descents. Coming from a Dzire, the familiar 1.5 engine and Maruti’s light controls make the upgrade stress‑free, while the higher seating and ground clearance help on broken hill roads and village tracks.Aim for the VXi or ZXi automatic, depending on what fits your Rs. 15 lakh envelope in your city. You get hill‑hold, ESP and decent visibility, which matter more in the hills than gimmicks. Be honest with expectations, though: with five people and luggage on a sharp climb, it will feel strained, and you will hear the engine work; use manual mode, and it will still get the job done, just not fast. Fuel economy will drop in the hills into the low teens. Consider waiting for a month or two as a new Brezza is due.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
•1d

I am planning to buy the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 by the end of next year for my daily office commute from Delhi to Gurugram, which is around 20 km one way. Buying it is partly a childhood dream, but I also want to be practical. Is it the right choice? What other options should I consider, and what factors should I keep in mind? I am 38 years old.

Verified
•3h

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a sporty roadster that is good fun daily, and it's reasonably practical and comfortable for commuting duties too. Whether this is the right choice for you is a question only you can answer, and the way we'd recommend you go about it is to take a test ride of the bike and see if it fits into your orbit. Some points to bear in mind in traffic: the Guerrilla's clutch is a little heavy, and its engine's bottom end is a little weak. But on the flip side, it has a punchy mid and top-end and its handling is very engaging and surefooted too. If you want to consider a more commuter-friendly alternative to the Guerrilla, try out the 350cc Triumph Speed 400, which doesn't have as much outright performance, but it's better suited to commute on and is also more comfortable. A test ride of these two should help you determine which is the better fit for you. Do write back if you think neither is a good fit, and we'll be happy to recommend different options!

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450
Triumph Speed 400
•1d

I have a budget of around Rs. 10 lakh and want to buy a good-looking SUV with a CNG option, good features and strong fuel efficiency. Which one would you recommend?

Verified
•4h

Get the Tata Punch iCNG. It fits your Rs. 10 lakh budget, looks like a proper small SUV, and the factory CNG keeps running costs very low. Tata’s twin-cylinder CNG tanks free up more boot space than other CNG SUVs, so your luggage will still fit. It rides well over bad roads, and the higher seat makes city driving easy. Pick a mid variant, and you still get the basics you want, like touchscreen with Android Auto, steering controls, rear camera, and decent safety kit.Do note that the CNG version feels slow, especially with a full load or on highways. But for your use case, the Punch iCNG is the most balanced choice.

VehicleTata Punch