Delhi

•19h

Hi, I am an automotive enthusiast and go for track drive as well. Can you help me out with a suitable car under Rs. 15-17 lakh as I own Ritz diesel that has completed 2.3 lakh km in 10 years without any engine repair or changing timing chain with regular use of full synthetic oil. I do both city and highway driving regularly as my daily run would be 70 km and I do out station travel for work as I stay in Hyderabad and go for trip around Hyderabad to Bengaluru Chennai Pune and Mumbai. I have 3 elders who rarely travel outstation but they sometimes travel within city. My wife and children travel often with me especially for official and personal usage, suggest me a car with good driving dynamics that offers stability abd comfort. Can a 1 liter Skoda vehicle manage driving load or is 1.5 liter better. I don't have an opinion on Kia or Hyundai and I want to know if these brands are reliable and safe. Suggest me a suitable car.

•3h

Given your daily usage of 70km, and frequent highway trips, a diesel car will be a more economical choice. And in that price bracket, consider a higher-spec Mahindra XUV 3XO which has an excellent 1.5 Diesel engine that's punchy and refined, and its ride comfort and high speed stability easily matches cars from higher segments.

If you insist on a petrol offering that'll appeal to an enthusiast like you, consider a Renault Duster or Nissan Tekton 1.3 Turbo, which are excellent to drive. The only real downside is that their turbo engine isn't efficient.

A Slavia or Kushaq are great to drive too, and while their 1.0 TSI feels perfectly fine in the city, on the open road you'll certainly yearn for stronger performance and more effortless power delivery, something which is available with their 1.5 versions; unfortunately, these won't fit into your Rs 15-17 lakh on-road budget.

The Hyundai Verna and Creta 1.5 Turbo variants are pricey, while a Kia Seltos with a 1.5 turbo petrol variant in your budget will be with an iMT (clutch-pedal-free manual transmission). It is a well-rounded car, and even though it drives well, it doesn't feel as engaging or as fun-to-drive as a Duster, Tekton or the Skoda offerings. Even the Kia's 1.5 diesel engine lacks outright punch and isn't likely to suit your driving style.

Hence we'll suggest you to either consider the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel, or look at the Renault Duster or Nissan Tekton 1.3 turbo instead.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.23 Lakh

Skoda

Slavia

from ₹11.15 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.41 Lakh

Hyundai

Verna

from ₹12.76 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.66 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.76 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.17 Lakh

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•3m•

@autocar.india can I also consider Tata currv or Nexon or Thar OG 1.5 or second's Innova crysta or Harrier please suggest me or only option is 3XO

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•1d

I am currently driving Fronx and now I want to upgrade to diesel car for 2 people under a budget of 25 lakh to 30 lakh for my current running of 3000 km which includes 80% running on highways.

•1d

With 3,000 km a month and 80 percent highway driving, a diesel SUV is the right choice. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the best fit here. It is an excellent highway car with a powerful diesel engine, good ride comfort and a stable, planted feel at speed. It is also well equipped and offers a genuinely premium experience for the money. The Kia Seltos diesel is the alternative if you want something slightly more compact and easier to live especially since you might not need that extra space the XUV offers. The Seltos diesel is very effient and refined, but as far as outright performance goes, the XUV's larger 2.2-litre diesel gives it an edge.

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•4d

Hello Autocar India team, I want to thank you for your First Impression articles, detailed reviews, podcasts and other content. Please continue with your impartial reviews. I currently own a 2015 Vento Highline Petrol and still fall in love with the car whenever I take it on long drives. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be much movement in the sedan segment. We can stretch our budget to Rs 40 lakh on-road. Our primary use will be planned or unplanned road trips, with limited city driving. EVs concern me because of battery life and charging infrastructure. Petrol cars are a concern because of E20 and the possibility of higher ethanol blending in the future. Hybrids haven't convinced me either. I also don't want to consider premium hatchbacks like the Creta and Seltos. We have narrowed our choices to the Jeep Meridian Overland or Compass 4x4, although Stellantis' long-term commitment remains a concern; the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD; and the Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel 4x4. Please share your unbiased recommendation. Thanks and regards, Yashodhan Patel

•2d

Thank you for your kind words on our content.Of the vehicles on your shortlist, the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD is the best. It's got a strong diesel engine and a smooth gearbox, which make long journeys absolutely effortless. Kia has also packed the Sorento with features that uplift comfort levels inside. The third row isn't the best, though the Jeep Meridian and Mahindra XUV 7XO are also not great in this regard. Kia's proven reliability also makes the Sorento an easy model to recommend for your usage.

Hi Autocar Team, I am confused between the Skoda Slavia 1.0 AT and 1.5 DSG. Which would you recommend for long-term ownership? I plan to keep the car for as long as it can reliably handle Bengaluru traffic and highway drives. Please suggest which engine and transmission combination would be more suitable for my needs.

•2h

For your usage in Bengaluru traffic with regular highway runs and a long-term ownership plan, the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI automatic is the more sensible choice. The 1.0 TSI paired with the 8-speed torque converter automatic is well-suited to handle the stop-start traffic conditions of Bengaluru. The 1.5 TSI is the enthusiast's choice, offering stronger performance and quicker shifts, but the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox can get a bit jerky in stop-and-go traffic conditions. Also, being more complex, it could be more expensive to repair outside warranty. Out on the open road, though, performance will feel far more effortless and entertaining compared to the 1.0 TSI.In summary, if you are willing to pay a premium for performance and driving enjoyment, the 1.5 TSI DSG is a fantastic engine and gearbox combination, but for your brief, the 1.0 TSI automatic is the smarter long-term choice.

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•1d

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•1d

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•4d

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?

•4d

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.

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•5d

Please advise which car would be the best choice for long-term ownership: the Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen SUV, or any other suitable option. My priority is reliability, long-term durability, and hassle-free ownership over the next 10 years or more. I would appreciate suggestions based on real-world ownership experience, maintenance costs, spare parts availability, and after-sales support.

•5d

For long-term ownership, the Mahindra Scorpio N is the safest recommendation from your shortlist. It has a proven track record, robust mechanicals and a strong service network, making it a dependable choice for 5-10 years of ownership. The Tata Harrier and Tata Safari have improved significantly, but the Scorpio N still has the edge on long-term reliability and ownership confidence. The Jeep Compass is a good product, but it is now an ageing model and does not offer the same value proposition as the Scorpio N. If you are open to alternatives, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is worth considering. It is a more modern product with a better balance of comfort, features and refinement, and it is a strong long-term ownership proposition as well. The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are excellent driver's cars, but they are smaller and do not offer the same level of space or road presence as the Scorpio N or XUV 7XO.

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