Mumbai

•3d

Hi, my monthly running is under 1,000 km, and I prefer a mid-size SUV as I'm over 6 feet tall. My driving is around 80% in the city and 20% on highways, and my budget is approximately Rs. 14 lakh. I'm confused about buying a petrol car due to the transition to E20 fuel. Could you please suggest a good car that suits my needs?

•21s

Your concern about E20 is understandable, but it should not be a deal-breaker. All petrol cars sold new today are engineered to handle E20 and even tend to have material tolerances for higher blends like E25 or E27 engineered in, and the impact is largely limited to a drop in fuel efficiency.

Worth noting, however, is that at Rs. 14 lakh, you only have access to the absolute start of the midsize SUV segment. This usually means just the base or second variant of each car, which typically miss out on a lot of features, are limited on colour options and look a bit barebones. If you're okay with this, we would recommend the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol MT HTE(O). It's among the newest of the bunch, and this Kia car will provide you with a spacious, comfortable, efficient, and smooth engine and gearbox that's well suited to the city. We would recommend the smooth CVT automatic, but you would have to stretch your budget by around Rs 2 lakh for that.

If you would prefer having more features, consider the Kia Syros. Though it is technically a compact SUV, its tall and boxy shape means it is far more spacious than others in the segment. And owing to its sub-four-metre size, its price is much lower than the Seltos, and you can have it in a high specification on your budget of Rs 14 lakh. Do note, however, its 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is not quite as smooth and effortless as the Seltos's 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol.

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More questions on similar cars

•6d

I want to buy my first car within a budget of around Rs. 15 lakh. My annual driving would be below 10,000 km. I am looking for a reliable, low-maintenance car with good long-term ownership prospects. I am confused between choosing a top-end sub-compact SUV like the Maruti Brezza or Tata Nexon, or a mid-size SUV like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, or Toyota Hyryder in their mid variants. Please suggest which would be the better choice.

•2h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi+ petrol automatic. With under 10,000 km a year, petrol is the right choice, and the Brezza is one of the most reliable and low-maintenance cars in the segment. This Maruti Suzuki car is also a genuinely comfortable 5-seater with a wide rear bench, good ride quality and a simple, proven naturally aspirated engine paired with a smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic. The ZXi+ variant is well equipped, so you are not compromising on features, and Maruti’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the country.The Tata Nexon is also a strong option, but the Brezza’s naturally aspirated engine is better suited to long-term ownership and low-maintenance requirements. If you need the space and don't mind compromising on features, the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT is a good choice. It is actually well equipped for a lower-end trim and offers a roomier, more border cabin than the Brezza. Overall, the Brezza ZXi+ gives you a complete package without compromise, and that is the right approach for a first-time buyer looking for long-term ownership.

Hi Team, I am currently driving a 2020 Maruti Suzuki Baleno and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My shortlisted options are the Honda Elevate, Tata Harrier, and Mahindra XUV 7XO. My daily drive involves around 35 to 40 kms in heavy Bangalore city traffic, along with occasional highway trips. My primary priority is a car with a solid 5-star safety rating, along with good ride comfort and easy city drivability. Coming from a lightweight hatchback, I am looking for an option that offers a clear step up in safety and space without feeling overly cumbersome during my daily urban commute. Could you please evaluate these three models based on my usage and suggest the best option and engine-transmission combination for me?

•3h

Based on your usage, the Honda Elevate CVT is actually the best fit for your needs among your shortlist. With a 35-40 km commute in heavy Bangalore traffic, the CVT makes life easy; the engine is responsive enough to go for gaps in traffic, and the steering is light in the city. Importantly, this Honda car is not so large as to become cumbersome to drive in tight city traffic, which is important to you. The Tata Harrier and Mahindra XUV 7XO are both physically larger, making them slightly more cumbersome to drive in traffic. Their petrol powertrains are also quite thirsty in the city, while their diesel engines do not suit your city-heavy usage, likely requiring additional highway trips just to keep the DPF happy.If you want an alternative similar to the Elevate, the Kia Seltos is a strong choice. It has a 5-star safety rating, is very well equipped in terms of features, and its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with the IVT offers a smooth, relaxing drive in the city.

I want to buy a safe and reliable car for a family of three and a dog. We previously used a Maruti Swift Dzire and typically take around 7-8 highway trips every year. The car will also be our primary vehicle for daily driving in Bangalore traffic. Now, I’m looking for a car that offers excellent safety, reliability, and low maintenance, with minimal service issues over the long term. Which cars would be the best options for our usage? Also, is it still a good idea to buy a petrol car, especially with the increasing adoption of E20 petrol and changing emission norms? Should I consider a naturally aspirated petrol, a turbo-petrol, a hybrid, or another option? Our budget is under 30 lakhs

•17h

For your usage, the Toyota Innova HyCross petrol is the best fit. You are coming from a Swift Dzire and want a safe, reliable family car for Bangalore traffic and 7-8 highway trips a year. The HyCross petrol is a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine with a CVT, so it is smooth, reliable and easy to drive in the city. This Toyota car is also a very comfortable highway car with a spacious cabin, good ride quality and Toyota’s strong reliability and service network. The hybrid version is more expensive and only makes sense if your running is high enough to justify the premium. The petrol is the better value for your usage.On fuel choice, E20 is not a concern. Modern petrol engines are engineered for E20, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20. Premium petrol is not required. The main impact of higher ethanol blends is slightly lower fuel economy, not reliability. Turbo-petrol engines are fine if you want performance, but for long-term ownership and low maintenance, a naturally aspirated petrol is the safer choice. Hybrids are worth considering only if your running is high enough to recover the premium.If you want a smaller car, the Kia Seltos is a good alternative. It feels premium, is spacious, has a smooth naturally aspirated petrol with a CVT, and Kia’s aftersales service is reliable too.

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

Hi, my brother and I are planning to buy a new family car. Our budget is RS. 10 lakh, and our maximum monthly running will be around 500 km. Our priorities are a reliable engine, good performance, and fuel efficiency. Please suggest the best all-rounder car within our budget.

•5d

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible recommendation here. It is spacious enough for family use, has a proven and reliable engine, and is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. Maruti’s service network and low maintenance costs also make it a very easy car to own over the long term.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze is worth considering. Honda’s engines are known for their reliability and refinement, and the Amaze is a comfortable and well-built sedan.Overall, the Baleno is the most balanced choice. It offers the best combination of space, efficiency, reliability and low running costs, which is exactly what you need given your usage and budget.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

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•1w

Which car should I buy for a maximum monthly usage of 500 km? It will be used mostly by a 60-year-old person and his wife.

•6d

Given your requirements, the focus should be on ease of use, comfort and long-term reliability rather than performance. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible choice here. It is easy to drive, has a comfortable ride, a spacious cabin and it is easy to get in and out of. It is also extremely reliable and inexpensive to maintain, which is important for long-term ownership. The petrol engine is smooth and efficient, and with your low low monthly running, there is no need to consider diesel, hybrid or EV options. If you prefer a slightly higher seating position for better visibility, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is a good alternative, offering the same reliability and ease of ownership in a more SUV-like package. Both cars are easy to manoeuvre in the city, comfortable on occasional highway runs and backed by Maruti’s extensive service network, making them ideal for your usage.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

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•3d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

•3d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

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