I am planning to buy a personal car alongside my family car. I have shortlisted the Citroën Basalt X MT Turbo, which ticks all the boxes in terms of price point, comfort, and space compared to other sub-4m cars in this segment. However, I am concerned about the after-sales/service experience, long-term ownership reliability, and the future of the brand in India, especially considering the exits of Ford and GM. Please advise.

Autocar India

•1d

Check out the the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature. It will feel closer to your old Punto than the Fronx does. The steering has good weight and the car turns in eagerly, so it is easy to place in tight bends and hairpins. The suspension takes rough patches well without tossing you around, and the car feels steady at highway speeds. The 115hp turbo petrol has strong pull once spinning, so quick overtakes on climbs are simple, and with the manual, you have full control of gears on steep sections. It also has a solid safety record, which matters on hill roads.A couple of things to note. At very low revs, you may need a downshift to get going cleanly on an uphill, so keep it in the right gear. Also, Skoda’s service reach is not as wide as Maruti’s, so check dealer support in your town.Other alternatives include the Renault Duster Techno Plus 1.3 Turbo, which feels tough, comfortable and characterful, but not as nimble, and as it's a brand new product which means its reliability is yet to be proven. You could also check out the Citroen Basalt X 1.2 Turbo AT, which is excellent value for money, but its dealer network is even smaller than Skoda's, so that needs to be borne in mind.

Skoda Kushaq

Renault Duster

Citroen Basalt

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•2d

You have already been using the car in the right way. Regular highway driving should prevent DPF problems, so repeated issues along with multiple turbo replacements point to something beyond normal wear and tear. While it may get resolved with further intervention, the frequency of visits and downtime understandably affects ownership confidence.A practical approach is to give the service centre one final, structured attempt to fix the issue properly, ideally with escalation to the manufacturer. If the problem repeats after that, it is sensible to move on rather than continue with uncertainty.If you do decide to change, a petrol automatic SUV like the Kia Seltos IVT or Hyundai Creta petrol CVT will feel familiar but far easier to live with, especially in mixed usage. They are smoother in daily driving and avoid diesel-related complications. If your running remains high and fuel cost is a concern, a strong hybrid is worth considering. Options like the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder offer excellent efficiency with petrol-like smoothness, making them a good middle ground between petrol and diesel.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•3d

From what you’ve described, this is not a simple tyre issue. You now have two different tyre sizes at the front and rear, you have replaced a wheel bearing and a brake disc, and the noise comes in with heat and under braking. You should go to Tata service first and get the brakes and hubs checked properly, because this is a safety item.Two things stand out for your case. First, the kat-kat noise under braking after a few kilometres points to a brake fitment or disc issue on the front. If the hub face was not cleaned before fitting the new disc, or if the disc is a little bent, you get a knock and a whistle once things heat up. If the pad clips or guide pins were not fitted or greased correctly, the pads can rattle and squeal. Also, discs and pads should be replaced on both front wheels at the same time. If only one side is done, it can cause an uneven feel and noise. Second, you now have 195/60 R16 in front and 215/60 R16 at the back. The rear tyres are about 3 to 4 per cent larger in rolling size. The ABS, which prevents wheel lock, reads wheel speeds. A big front-rear difference can confuse it, and you can feel a buzz or kick through the pedal, more so on hills.What I’d do next: ask Tata to check both front discs and pads as a pair, clean the hub surfaces, check wheel nut torque, and check front wheel bearing play again. Ask them to scan the ABS for errors and inspect the wheel speed sensors and rings. Also have them check all four wheels for bends from the long flat-tyre drive earlier.About the spare: a 2023 spare used now is fine if the rubber has no cracks and the date code is 2023. The tyre-burst story, just because it was unused, is overblown.For long term, run the same size and brand on all four wheels. Either go all 195/60 R16 or all 215/60 R16, but don’t mix. Overall, get the brake and hub diagnosis at Tata first. Once that is right, align all four tyres to same specifications and your Nexon should feel normal again.

Tata Nexon