I'm a 26-year-old planning my first car purchase. I'm smitten by the Thar Roxx for its looks and practicality, but high petrol running costs and the 10-year diesel ban worry me. I plan to do road trips all over India and have a maximum budget of ₹18 lakh on-road. Which safe, powerful vehicle would you recommend within this budget? Also, are there any upcoming launches worth waiting for - I can wait until April 2027 when CAFE-3 norms kick in.

Yes, the Mahindra Thar Roxx, in diesel guise, and especially in petrol guise, is not fuel-efficient. One car worth considering is the recently revealed Tata Sierra, which is likely to be available with multiple petrol engine options. And given Tata cars' recent track record of high NCAP crash test ratings, you can expect a good rating from the Sierra as well. 

You could also wait for the next-gen Kia Seltos. It is expected to launch by late 2025 or early 2026. The new model is likely to be larger and more spacious than the current version. There are also rumours of a hybrid powertrain, which could be the answer to your long-distance road trips. 

There will be many more new launches before April 2027, including models that haven’t been revealed yet. So if you’re not in a hurry, waiting could give you even better options.