I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

autocar.india

•10m

Although your annual running of around 12,000km sits on the fence between petrol and diesel, your usage pattern is predominantly highway, which plays to a diesel's strengths. The concern about DPF is understandable, but it's often overstated. DPF issues are far more common in vehicles used almost exclusively for short city trips. Since your driving is mainly on highways, the system will get the opportunity to regenerate properly. As for the car remaining parked for 3-6 months, that's not ideal for either fuel type. Diesel cars require some precautions, such as keeping the tank full and using fresh DEF when the car is put back into regular use. Still, long periods of inactivity are not a reason to avoid diesel altogether.We wouldn't let E20 fuel influence your decision either. Modern E20-compliant engines are designed to run on it, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20. While ethanol can marginally reduce fuel efficiency, it is not a reason to avoid buying a petrol car today.Among your shortlist, we'd place the Mahindra XUV 7XO ahead of the others. It is the most rounded package, offering excellent space, comfort, safety and highway ability.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•9h

We'd recommend a small petrol hatchback. With an average running of just 200-300km per month, an electric car is unlikely to make financial sense as you'll find it difficult to recover the higher upfront cost through lower running costs.As for a solar EV, there are currently no solar EVs on sale in India. While a few manufacturers have showcased concepts and prototypes, there isn't a practical, mass-market solar electric car that you can buy today.For your usage, a car like the Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Wagon R or Hyundai Grand i10 Nios would be a better fit. They are reliable, inexpensive to maintain and well suited to low annual running. If you're keen on an EV for its quiet and effortless driving experience, the MG Comet EV is worth considering, but from a purely value-for-money perspective, a petrol hatchback is the more sensible choice.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

MG Comet

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

autocar.india

•10h

For a 70km daily commute with only 7-10km of city driving, the Tata Tiago EV Creative+ 24kWh is a sensible and cost-effective choice. The Tiago EV is one of the most affordable EVs on the market, and its 24kWh battery is well suited to your usage pattern. With a daily round trip of 70km, you will be using roughly 30-40% of the battery per day, depending on driving style and AC usage, which means you can comfortably charge at home overnight without range anxiety becoming an issue.The Tiago EV is also compact and easy to manoeuvre, which is useful for the city portion of your commute, and its running costs are significantly lower than petrol or diesel alternatives. Compared to the Punch EV, Nexon EV and MG Windsor, the Tiago EV is the most budget-friendly option in electric cars. The Punch EV offers a higher driving position and more ground clearance, but it comes at a higher price and is not necessary for your usage. The Nexon EV and Windsor EV are larger and more expensive, and their extra space and features are unlikely to justify the additional cost for your daily commute.The only real drawback of the Tiago EV is its relatively small boot and basic interior compared to more expensive EVs, but for a daily commuter car, these are minor compromises. Overall, the Tiago EV Creative+ 24kWh is a practical and financially sound choice for your needs.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Tiago EV

MG Windsor