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•5h

Kindly suggest me a car under a budget of Rs. 15-16 lakh running of around 4000km per month. I am confused between EV or diesel. Also, please let me know which car is reliable for maintainence?

•5m

With 4,000km a month, your running is extremely high, so low running costs become the top priority. The question is, do you have reliable home charging. If the answer is yes, then an EV is your best bet, with running costs being around Re 1 per km.

Within your Rs 16 lakh on-road budget your best options are the MG Windsor EV Excite 38kWh, Kia Syros EV HTK Plus 42kWh and Nexon EV Creative 45kWh. Out of these, the MG Windsor is the biggest car with the roomiest cabin and largest boot. With a 38kWh battery, its real-world range will be the lowest between 260-310km.

The Kia Syros EV is a surprisingly spacious EV, with high quality interiors, a sophisticated ride-handling balance and smooth, zippy performance. Its motor is very efficient, hence you can expect 320-340km of range. If you don't mind the way it looks, this is an EV you must seriously consider.

The Tata Nexon EV has the largest battery pack and its real-world range of around 350km is the most too. It has been around for a while, and over the years, Tata has polished it and ironed out most inconsistencies, making it a mature offering.

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•2d

Hi Autocar, My name is Vikky. I'm in Mumbai, and I have driven my Tata Nexon EV XZ+ 30kwh for 4 years & 40k km and have absolutely loved the experience, but the depreciation is super high on the Nexon EV: The invoice price was INR 16 lacs in 2022, and now the dealers are offering me only INR 4 lacs for a trade-in, thus depreciating my car by 75% in 4 years. What would be your advice for other EV owners or me? Why are Tata and Mahindra not offering buyback programs for their EVs like VinFast is doing? If they have so much confidence in their product, they should offer a buyback scheme. Vikky, Mumbai

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•1d

The depreciation you are seeing is unfortunately a reflection of the current EV market. The EV landscape has moved very quickly in the last four years, with newer models offering significantly more range, faster charging and better technology at similar or even lower prices (than what you paid for the Nexon EV in 2022). That rapidly evolving tech landscape alone has impacted used EV values across the board.The best advice for you and other EV owners is to think of EVs as long-term ownership propositions. The real savings come from low running costs over time, not from resale value after a few years. If you have loved the Nexon EV and it is still serving your needs well, the most financially sensible option is often to keep it for as long as possible and maximise the cost savings. The lack of a formal buyback programme from Tata or Mahindra is not necessarily a sign of a lack of confidence in their products. On the other hand, Vinfast’s buyback scheme is a marketing tool to build confidence and gain acceptance in a new market. Of course the buyback will come with several terms and conditions in order to receive the promised residual value, often only be applicable in exchange for a new vehicle from the same brand. So do go through the fine print before proceeding.

•1d

I have a budget of around Rs 14-15 lakh and am considering the Kia Syros EV with a 42kWh battery and the Tata Nexon EV Creative with a 45kWh battery. Which is the better choice? I am particularly concerned about the NMC battery chemistry in the Syros EV.

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•1d

The Kia Syros EV 42kWh is the one to go for. It's significantly more spacious than the Tata Nexon EV, and overall quality and reliability are a clear step above the Nexon's. In our experience, Hyundai and Kia's electric cars are also the most efficient, so you'll manage a crucial bit more range on the Syros too. The NMC battery pack should not be a deal breaker by any means. While LFP is theoretically better suited to hotter climates as we have in India, real-world performance does not suggest one chemistry is better than the other. Car makers develop vehicles with a full life cycle in mind, and the long warranties on EV batteries should allay any fears you may have.

•1d

Hi Autocar team, I currently own a 2023 Tata Harrier and a 2011 Maruti Suzuki Alto. I use the Alto for my daily commute and the Harrier for long highway trips. I now want to replace the Alto with an EV for everyday use. I like the comfort and pricing of the MG Windsor Essence, but I am confused between the Windsor and the Tata Curvv EV. Which would you recommend?

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•1d

Go for the MG Windsor Essence. It is a better fit for your requirements, particularly for daily commuting. The Windsor has a spacious cabin, a wide rear seat and a more premium feel. The Curvv EV is a good product, but its cabin does not offer the same level of space and comfort.The Windsor also has a larger battery and a longer claimed range, giving you more flexibility for occasional longer drives. MG's EV ownership experience has also been positive, and the Windsor feels like a well-rounded product. Its main drawback is that MG's service network is not as extensive as Tata's, although this may be less of a concern if you primarily use it in the city.Overall, the Windsor Essence is the more spacious and comfortable option for your daily commute.

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•6d

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a seven-seater car. I have test-driven the Renault Triber Turbo and Citroen Aircross X and was impressed by what both offer at their price points. However, the Aircross put a wide smile on my face. As a current Maruti Suzuki user, I did not consider the Ertiga because it feels similar to our Swift. I liked the Aircross X but am sceptical about Citroen's service network and spare parts availability. However, there are three Citroen showrooms within 45 km of my place. Please suggest which car I should choose. My budget: Rs. 15 lakh Current vehicle: Second-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift petrol (2017) Annual usage: Around 10,000 km, with a 50:30:20 split between town, highway and city driving Requirement: A seven-seater car

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•5d

The Citroen's interiors feel more special, its engine is more powerful, and its ride-handling balance is outstanding; however, for seven adults, it won't be as comfortable as the Triber.In fact, the Triber's superb packaging makes it genuinely comfortable for passengers in all three rows, despite its compact sub-4-meter dimensions. The new turbo-petrol engine makes it an effortless performer, and its ride quality feels very mature too. Moreover, the Triber Turbo is also much more affordable in comparison, making it outstanding value for money. Yes, the Aircross X will appeal to your heart, but given Citroen's limited service network and cramped third row, the Triber Turbo is the more sensible choice.

•2d

I am planning to buy my first car. I want to have a 7-seater and need it for long term ownership. I liked the Citroen Aircross X design for 5+2. I am planning to choose a car with automatic transmission. I have couple of major concerns for which I would like your advice. First one is Mileage, I heard Aircross has a mileage issue and its real-world city mileage is 8 kpl while on highway it is 14 kpl. Is it the same for X version also? Second advice is for its service network. I have heard from the people that its service is slow. Regular servicing also takes around 2 days of time. I have a service center within 10 km from my home. My budget is Rs. 20 Lakh and I need an automatic transmission with rear and front parking camera or 360-degree camera since I am a new driver. Are there any 7-seater alternatives within this budget?

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•2d

The Citroen Aircross X is a good-looking car, now with a premium interior. It is the only SUV in its category which offers a 5+2 seating configuration, and even though the third row is not particularly spacious, it works for occasional use. The real-world fuel efficiency figures as per our tests are 9.5kpl and 13.62kpl in city and highway conditions, respectively, which is quite decent given the strong and smooth performance this 1.2-turbo-petrol-AT delivers. What's more is that ride comfort is outstanding, perhaps the best among all midsize SUVs. So as far as comfort and practicality goes, the Aircross X is a good car.Citroen's service centre network is limited, but since you have a touchpoint close to your home, your vehicle's regular servicing and maintenance is likely to be taken care of smoothly. If you love the Aircross X for what it is, go for it - as far as value goes, it is an outstanding proposition. If you're looking for proper seven-seater alternatives, we'd strongly recommend the Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ turbo-petrol automatic version. All three rows are properly spacious, well-suited for adults. This variant will be within your Rs 20 lakh on-road budget, and it has front and rear parking sensors, as well as rear-view camera to make parking easy for you. Sure, it isn't an SUV, but it is a very sensible car, if you need a proper seven-seater.

•1d

I’m planning to buy the new VW Taigun Topline MT as my first car. I’m a first-time buyer with no driving experience, but I’m genuinely interested in learning to drive and want a manual transmission rather than an automatic. My annual usage will be around 5,000–7,000km, mostly a mix of city and highway driving, and I intend to keep the car for 10–12 years. Safety is one of my biggest priorities, followed by looks, driving enjoyment and long-term ownership costs. Would you recommend the Taigun Topline MT over alternatives like the Hyundai Creta SX MT, Kia Seltos HTX MT or Duster Adventure? I’m choosing the Taigun because I like its looks, features and driving experience, but I want an honest assessment rather than a recommendation based solely on performance or enthusiast appeal. Would you go ahead with this choice in my situation?

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•5h

As a first time buyer with no experience of driving, consider getting something smaller and more affordable to learn, practice and then upgrade to a car which you can keep and enjoy for 10-12 years. You could consider a sub-10 lakh hatchback first that'll be relatively easy to maintain/repair while you master the art of driving.If you still want to go ahead with the Volkswagen Taigun Topline MT, it is a solidly built, fun-to-drive car. The updated version gets an upgraded air-con which performs very well. Moreover, it is quite spacious yet relatively more compact than similarly priced midsize SUVs, so maneuvering and parking will be quite easy.The Hyundai Creta SX MT and Kia Seltos HTX MT are both excellent alternatives. They offer an airier cabin experience and are backed by their respective service networks, which are wider than VW's. Their 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol manual versions are more responsive in the city, as there is no dull zone before the boost comes in (turbo lag), as you will experience with the 1.0 Taigun; and their manual gearbox and clutch are smoother and effort-free compared to the Taigun's.That said, if your heart is on the Taigun 1.0 MT, go for it, but we'll also recommend you explore the option of buying a relatively smaller, cheaper car to learn and practice driving before spending on the Taigun.

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•3d

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