Mumbai

•6w

I need a 7-seater for 80% city driving. I really liked the Mahindra Bolero Neo during the test drive because of its tall seating position and bulky design, but it is available only with a diesel engine. Should I purchase it for city run, despite potential DPF issues, or should I go for the Maruti Ertiga or something else?

•5w

Go with the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga for your 80% city use. You get petrol or CNG, so no DPF drama in short, stop-go runs, and there’s an easy automatic for traffic. It’s lighter to steer, rides more comfortably over broken roads, and its third row is actually usable for adults on short trips.

The Bolero Neo certainly has its appeal with its commanding seating position and rugged character, but its diesel and ladder-frame make it a harder life in the city. Lots of short trips can trigger frequent DPF regens, and the last row is side-facing, cramped, and doesn't have seatbelts, so it's not great for family safety or comfort. It’s manual-only and heavier to drive, too.

If you still want more style and space without diesel worries, the Kia Carens petrol is a nice middle path. Very easy in town, flexible 7-seat cabin, with an even roomier third row. The Toyota Rumion is basically an Ertiga with the Toyota badge and similar strengths, so buy whichever gives you the better deal or service comfort.

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Maruti Suzuki

Ertiga

from ₹10.29 Lakh

Kia

Carens

from ₹13.01 Lakh

Toyota

Rumion

from ₹11.31 Lakh

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•9h

Recommend a 7-seater vehicle primarily for city driving and occasional (once in a quarter) outstation (hills and plains) drive. My daily driving is about 100 km.

•7h

For your usage, the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid is the best fit. Your daily 100 km city driving makes fuel efficiency and ease of driving very important, and the HyCross Hybrid excels here with its strong hybrid system that delivers excellent fuel economy in city conditions. It is also a genuinely comfortable and spacious 7-seater, making it ideal for family use, and Toyota’s reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs makes it a sensible long-term ownership choice. For your occasional outstation trips, including hills, the HyCross Hybrid has enough power and refinement to handle highways and inclines comfortably. The only drawback is the higher upfront cost, but given your high daily running, the fuel savings and ownership experience justify the investment. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG is worth considering, but it is not as refined or as comfortable as the HyCross. Overall, the HyCross Hybrid is the most balanced and sensible choice for your usage pattern.

Toyota Innova HyCross

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•9h

I want to know which car under 12 lakh is suitable as per my requirements listed below. I only drive on weekends in Delhi's traffic. I want to finalize either Nissan Tekton base model 1.0 litre turbo engine and Brezza Turbo VXI. Is buying Turbo engine 3 cylinder not a good decision as I drive very less and that too within the city and less. I have heard that a turbo car requires more maintenance, is less fuel efficient, has carbon blockage, handling its wear and tear is also expensive compared to an NA engine .

•5h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi. With your usage pattern which is very low running, mostly weekend city driving in Delhi traffic - a simple, naturally aspirated petrol engine is the better choice. It will be easier to live with, more predictable in stop-start conditions and generally lower maintenance over time. The Brezza is also a proven product with Maruti’s strong service network, which is a big advantage for long-term ownership.The Nissan Tekton is a good car, but the 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder is not the ideal fit for your usage. Turbo petrol engines are at their best on highways, where the extra performance benefits come into play. In city driving with very low mileage, you are unlikely to see those benefits, and the engine can feel a bit laggy at low speeds.On your second question, the concerns around turbo petrol engines are often overstated. Modern turbo petrols are reliable, but they are more complex than naturally aspirated engines and can be more expensive to repair if something does go wrong. The key point is that they are not the ideal for low-mileage, city-only usage.The Brezza VXi is the safer, more sensible choice for your requirements.

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•13h

I want to purchase a 7-seater SUV. My options are the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and Scorpio N, and I am considering installing an aftermarket CNG kit for better fuel economy. Could you please suggest which one would be better suited for CNG?

•15m

We would strongly advise against installing aftermarket CNG on any of these SUVs. All three – the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 7XO and Scorpio N - are large, heavy vehicles with powerful turbocharged petrol engines. Fitting CNG to such engines is not recommended, as it can lead to drivability issues, increased wear and potential reliability concerns over time. More importantly, these SUVs are not designed with CNG in mind, and the installation can compromise safety and performance.If fuel economy is a top priority, opt for their diesel versions instead. The Mahindra and Tata offer strong torque, excellent highway efficiency and are well-suited to long-distance touring. If you are set on CNG, it is better to look at smaller, naturally aspirated petrol cars that are either factory-fitted or specifically designed for CNG use.Between the three, the XUV 7XO diesel would be our recommendation. It offers a more modern package, better ride comfort and a more premium cabin than the Scorpio N, while the Safari diesel is also a strong contender if you prefer Tata's design and feature set. But CNG should not be the deciding factor here.

Tata Safari

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•1w

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•6d

Go for the Seltos HTK NA petrol. With a family of five, the Kia Seltos is the more sensible choice because it is simply the bigger and more comfortable car. The rear seat is wider, the cabin feels more spacious, and the boot is larger, which makes a difference on family trips. The naturally aspirated petrol engine of this Kia car is smooth and reliable, and the overall ownership experience is easy and stress-free.The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature is the better driver's car with a more engaging turbocharged engine, but it is a smaller SUV, and the rear seat is not as accommodating for three adults. For a family of five, comfort and space matter more than driving dynamics, and that is where the Seltos has a clear advantage.

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•6d

Hi, I have been using Honda City CVT for the past 10 years and now, I am looking for an SUV with similar comfort but with the latest technology. My monthly running is approximately between 700-800 km mostly within Delhi.

•6d

Given your usage of 700-800 km a month in Delhi and a 10-year ownership of a Honda City CVT, the Honda Elevate CVT is the most natural upgrade. It retains the same Honda ownership experience, offers a comfortable ride and the CVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving. The Elevate also sits at a sensible price point and is backed by Honda’s strong reliability record, making it a stress-free long-term ownership proposition.If you want a more premium experience with a richer feature set, the Kia Seltos IVT is a good option. The IVT gearbox is smoother in traffic, the cabin feels more upmarket and the Seltos offers a wider range of modern features. However, it does come at a higher price point. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is worth considering if you enjoy driving, as it offers a more engaging experience and the torque convertor gearbox is also the smoothest around. The ride is a bit firmer and the ownership experience is not as straightforward as Honda or Kia, so make sure the dealer in your area is well reputed.

I want to buy a car for 40% city use and 60% long trips. I own a 2015 model of Celerio AGS. Should I buy Baleno AGS considering E20 fuel in the future.

•6d

Given your usage pattern of 40% city and 60% long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AGS is actually a sensible upgrade from your 2015 Celerio AGS. The Baleno offers a more comfortable cabin, better highway stability and a more refined driving experience, which will make those long trips far more enjoyable. The AGS gearbox is also well suited to your occasional city use, keeping things simple and efficient.On the E20 front, there is no reason to worry. The Baleno is E20 compliant, and modern engines are engineered to handle this blend without any long-term reliability concerns. Maruti has also stated that their E20 engines are built for a material tolerance of slightly more than E20, so on the material front the car should be good for something like E22 for example. The main impact of a higher blend would be a reduction in fuel efficiency.The only thing to consider is whether you want to stick with AGS or move to a more conventional automatic. If you are happy with how AGS behaves, the Baleno is a solid choice. If you want a smoother and more premium automatic experience, you could look at something like the Hyundai i20 IVT or the Honda Amaze CVT instead. Both offer a more refined automatic gearbox, which can make a difference on long highway drives.Overall, the Baleno AGS is a good fit for your usage and there is no E20-related reason to avoid it. The decision really comes down to whether you are happy with AGS or want to move to a more conventional automatic.

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