Latest questions answered by experts

I’m planning to buy a seven-seater and don’t have a particular preference between an MPV and an SUV. I’ve been looking at the Hyundai Alcazar and Tata Safari petrol as options. I’d appreciate your advice on these cars.

•4h

We would recommend the Kia Carens Clavis instead of your mentioned choices. Assuming the third row will be used frequently, the Clavis features better space and comfort compared to the Alcazar and Safari. The Clavis also has a better ride than both, and with three rows up, it has decent space behind the backrests for soft luggage. You also get a choice of powertrains between EV, petrol and diesel. Performance of the Clavis is strong even with three rows full, and being a Kia, the equipment and features on offer are very good. If you can stretch your budget, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is also a very strong choice. Gets a roomy cabin with a better third row than the Alcazar and Safari, and superb ride quality and engine performance. Both the petrol and diesel engines are powerful and refined, and it makes for a strong package.

I’m 62 and retired, with a budget of around Rs 10 lakh. My usage isn’t regular: I drive in the city about ten times a month and outside the city about once a month. A manual is also fine for me. Which car offers the best value for money?

•5h

For your limited usage, the Maruti Suzuki Swift is a safe bet. It is compact, gets Maruti's strong reliability and hassle-free nature, is easy to drive in the city thanks to its dimensions and drivability and is efficient too. The Z12 engine is smooth, fuss-free and zippy in the city, while the AMT gearbox takes out the stress of gear changes in traffic. The ZXI variant will fit in your budget and comes equipped with essentials like a reversing camera to make parking a lot easier in tight spots. The Swift also has light steering, comfortable seats, and the positioning of the seats also makes it easy to get in and out of. If you still wish for a manual, the light clutch and easy-to-slot gears will impress you. Overall, for your needs, the Swift is the best option.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

•1d

Hi, I’ve owned a Ford EcoSport petrol automatic for the past seven years and am now looking to replace it. Most of my driving is in city traffic, with occasional highway trips. My budget is around Rs 20-24 lakh, and my priorities are safety, ride quality and a good infotainment system. I’m looking for a mid-size SUV. What are my options?

•6h

The Kia Seltos is a strong choice given your requirements and budget. The Seltos in its GTX (A) guise is extremely well-equipped, with a proven powertrain: a 1.5-litre petrol engine and CVT gearbox. It is smooth and easy to drive in the city with no jerks usually seen on automatic gearboxes. Since you are used to good driving dynamics from the Ecosport, you will also enjoy the Seltos as it has good handling manners. The ride comfort is also very good, and the infotainment is one of the best in the segment. In its GTX guise, you get the expected safety suite of 6 airbags and electronics, but also Level 2 ADAS. Overall, as a package, the Seltos would be our top recommendation.

Kia Seltos

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•6h

Which SUV would you choose for a long road trip across India?

Should I consider purchasing Renault duster hybrid as a first time buyer? My primary requirement is decent mileage and long term reliability.

•7h

The Renault Duster hybrid is an impressive car but the hybrid variant only makes sense if you will be driving a lot more than average. If your annual coverage is over 20,000km and most of it is in the city, then the hybrid variant makes more sense financially. If the Duster is what you like, given its styling and presence, the turbo-petrol version would be better to go for. However, since mileage is a strong priority, we would recommend you to check the Maruti Suzuki Victoris instead. It is the same size as the Duster, but offers better efficiency and comes with the reliability of Maruti. It is hassle-free, easy on the pocket and the vast service network and low part price also makes for a better case. The styling is not as bold as the Duster, but for your needs, the high mileage, easy-to-drive nature and reliability makes it a better choice.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Renault Duster

•7h

Hyundai's upcoming Ioniq P could bring a more affordable electric SUV to India. Can it give the Punch EV and Windsor EV a tough fight?

•1d

I am planning to upgrade my 2021 Creta manual diesel with a more driver enthusiastic car that offers the best handling. This will be my daily commute car in smooth traffic run of around 50 km per day. I already own 2 EV cars as well as Innova Cysta for longer running. Can you suggest some possible sedans and SUV under Rs. 30 lakh?

•8h

Since driving dynamics are your priority, the updated Skoda Slavia would be a good option to consider. In its top-spec (Monte Carlo), the Slavia with the 150hp 1.5 TSI engine and 7-speed DCT gearbox would be a great choice as nothing in that segment matches the fun-to-drive nature of the Slavia. The engine has strong punch but is also refined to drive in the city. The gearbox is fast, responsive and genuinely fun and despite being a sedan, ground clearance is not an issue at all. The sedan style and suspension tune gives it fantastic handling manners. Another great thing about this car is its practicality thanks to a spacious cabin and a massive boot. Pair that with a good dose of equipment and the Slavia is easily the one for your needs. With the top-spec version around Rs. 24 lakh, it is also well within your budget.

Skoda Slavia

•8h

A small accident can sometimes lead to a surprisingly big repair bill, especially with today's feature-loaded cars.

•1d

I am planning to buy either Bayon or Creta under a budget of Rs. 15 lakh. Which car and what variant do you suggest?

•9h

Between the Bayon and Creta, we would recommend the Bayon since your budget is Rs.15 lakh. At this price, you can get a better equipped variant of the Bayon rather than sacrificing creature comforts. The Creta gets the same powertrain as the Bayon and is a bit larger in size. However, the wheelbase is almost identical and space in the rear is not too far off in the Bayon. Also, being a higher variant you get better equipment like auto climate control, reversing camera, keyless entry etc that make the Bayon better value. For the city, the naturally aspirated engine and CVT gearbox is well-suited. Another option to consider is the Maruti Suzuki Brezza in its automatic guise. It gets a smooth engine and gearbox along with a spacious rear seat and you can get the top-spec version in Rs. 15 lakh.

If you had ₹15 lakh for a petrol automatic car, which would you buy?

Defender prices have dropped by up to 34 lakhs following local assembly in India. That is a massive difference.

•13h

I am planning to buy the Thar Roxx Star Edition but test mules are dissatisfied with the new suspension setup. I already have a car and this would be my second purchase so I am in no hurry or there is not time constraint as of now. Therefore, I am ready to wait for a while. What do you recommend? Should I buy it now or wait?

•10h

Since you don't have an urgent need for a car, we would recommend you to wait for the Roxx with the new suspension. We tested it along with the 3-door Thar OG and it is significantly different and has improved the ride comfort along with the handling too. The Roxx suspension is good over bad roads, but it still feels bouncy on the highway and the new suspension might just fix that issue making it a lot better. Our suggestion would be to wait for the update.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra Thar OG

•10h

Tubeless spoke wheels on the Classic 350, finally!!! I really loved it.

•12h

I am planning to buy a car under a budget of around Rs. 16 lakh. My annual usage involves 5 to 6 long highway trips and weekly 80 km of city rides. I have shortlisted Grand Vitara Delta AT and Brezza ZXi Plus 1.5 L AT. Which one should I go with?

•10h

We would recommend you to go with Brezza. Both of your choices have the same engine and gearbox so performance is not too different. The Grand Vitara is larger and has a slightly longer wheelbase, but it isn't a dealbreaker against Brezza which is also good in terms of space. Equipment wise, the Brezza will offer more like LED headlamps, a larger touchscreen, a 360 degree camera and more. Ride comfort and driving manners are similar on both cars and overall if the extra room isn't something you need, the Brezza makes a lot more sense in terms of value. Highway performance is also very good and while the boot on the Brezza is roughly 50-litres less, it is adequate for airport runs and getaways.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

•15h

Will Citroen bring diesel cars in the future and do you think that it will succeed in the Indian market?

•11h

Citroen has no announced plans to introduce any new diesel model in India. Its locally developed C-Cubed range, including the C3, Aircross and Basalt, were not engineered to accommodate a diesel engine. Tighter emission requirements also make developing and selling diesel cars harder to justify, particularly for the affordable end of the market. Citroen has already mentioned that it does not intend to invest heavily in diesel, so a change of direction looks unlikely. Instead, expect more attention on alternative powertrains. Citroen entered the mass-market EV space relatively early with the eC3, ahead of several established manufacturers. More recently, it has expanded into CNG, while its parent company Stellantis has outlined a broader Indian strategy that includes hybrids and EVs. That does not confirm a particular future Citroen model, but it gives you a sense of the direction.

Old Hector had a strong road presence. Does the latest design still have that same appeal? What do you people think?

•5w

I am confused between Clavis X-line Turbo DCT and Seltos X (O) DCT. My running is 1200km on highway. Both shortlisted cars are similarly priced. According to you, which is a better option considering Seltos has some more features whereas Clavis provide good flexibility? Also, out of two, which one is more safe? There are 5 members in my family. Since Seltos is a new product, it has new electronic architecture. Which one is a better option?

•11h

Both models are good in their own meaning. However, it is the Kia Seltos that we'd recommend for your usage. It's built on a newer and superior platform that delivers a more refined experience with better noise insulation. Ride comfort is also better on the Seltos and there is ample space for five members of the family to sit in comfort. Further because it uses a new electronic architecture, it gets the latest software and hardware, including wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is missing on the Carens Clavis. There is also some comfort in knowing that the new Kia Seltos is a five-star Bharat NCAP-rated car. The 160hp 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission are common to the two so performance-wise there is not going to be much difference.The Carens Clavis makes more sense if you have a genuine need for a third row of seats or if you will be carrying more luggage. With the third row folded, the Clavis is more accommodating than the Seltos.

Kia Seltos

Kia Carens Clavis

•12h

Kawasaki Z900 or Triumph Street Triple? Which is a better choice considering that I will do 3-4 really long rides every year?

•5d

Hello Autocar team! I recently booked a Honda City ZX+ CVT. After test-driving both the Honda City and the Volkswagen Virtus, I found the City more comfortable and premium, but I noticed engine noise under hard acceleration and tyre and road noise at highway speeds. Based on your long-term testing experience, which car is better for 8-10 years of ownership in terms of suspension durability, highway comfort, cabin insulation and reliability? Is the City genuinely better, or is the Virtus technically superior in some areas? Please give us an unbiased opinion.

•12h

You are spot on in your observation about the high engine noise during hard acceleration on the Honda City CVT. That is a function of its CVT gearbox and the notorious 'rubberband effect' in which the revs rise sharply without a correspondingly quick increase in road speed. The CVT gearbox does have its advantages, with a smoother drive experience in city and low-speed conditions, but it's not the exciting choice.The Volkswagen Virtus is the superior driving car, thanks to its turbocharged engines and torque converter automatic and dual-clutch automatic gearboxes, depending on the engine you opt for. The Virtus is due for an update in the weeks to come, which will see the move to an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission for the 1.0 TSI engine. We've experienced the same engine and gearbox combination on the Skoda Slavia and found it to have uplifted the overall drive experience. In terms of cabin insulation, ride comfort, and even highway stability, the Virtus does feel superior to the Honda City. Fuel economy, however, is entirely dependent on your driving style. Drive with enthusiasm, and you'll see fuel economy dip quickly, which is something true for all turbo-petrol engines.While both the Honda City and Volkswagen Virtus are sound products, the City does have the more proven track record for reliability. That being said, there are no fundamental areas of concern on the Virtus. The upcoming update will also address the mediocre cooling, which has been a bugbear for the product since launch.To us, the Volkswagen Virtus is the car that will put a bigger smile on your face.

Honda City

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia