Mumbai

•11h

I am planning to buy the Kia Seltos but am confused between the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and the turbo-petrol DCT. Around 80% of my driving will be in the city, with the remaining 20% being highway and hill-station trips. I will normally be travelling with five passengers. Which engine and gearbox would be better for my usage?

•8m

Go for the Kia Seltos 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol IVT. With 80% city driving, the IVT automatic is the better choice. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start traffic, and the 1.5 NA engine is refined and easy to live with. The turbo petrol DCT is the enthusiast's choice, but the DCT gearbox can feel jerky at low speeds and is not as well suited to heavy city traffic. The 1.5 NA is also more reliable and easier to maintain in the long run.

For your 20% highway and hill station runs with five passengers, the 1.5 NA will do the job. It is not the most powerful engine, but it is adequate for steady cruising and occasional climbs. If you regularly drive fully loaded in the hills and want stronger performance, the turbo petrol is the better performer, but for your usage pattern, the 1.5 NA IVT is the more sensible choice.

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•4d

I’m considering buying a pre-owned 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque SE R-Dynamic with the 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol engine and AWD. It has covered only 15,000km, was manufactured and registered in 2021, and is a BS6 vehicle. The fuel flap says “Premium Gasoline Recommended, 91”. I want to confirm whether this generation and engine are compatible with E20 petrol. Also, should I buy it? I’m looking to enter the premium SUV segment with a budget of around Rs 40 lakh.

•59m

The 2021 Range Rover Evoque SE R-Dynamic 2.0L Ingenium petrol is a BS6-compliant engine, but it is not officially certified for E20 fuel. The “Premium Gasoline Recommended, 91” label refers to octane rating, not ethanol content. In India, regular petrol is now 95 octane, so you do not need to use premium fuel unless the manufacturer specifically requires it. The bigger question is ethanol compatibility. BS6 engines were designed with some ethanol tolerance, but E20 certification only became mandatory for new models from April 2023 onwards. Land Rover has not issued a blanket statement confirming E20 compatibility for older BS6 models.Should you buy it? At Rs 40 lakh, a lightly used Evoque is a tempting entry into the premium SUV segment. The Evoque offers a genuinely premium cabin, strong performance and a distinctive design. However, ownership costs are high. Land Rover parts and service are expensive, and long-term reliability is not as bulletproof as some German rivals. If you are buying this as a weekend car or a second car, it makes sense. If this is your only car and you plan to keep it for 5-10 years, you need to be comfortable with higher maintenance costs.On E20, the reality is that most modern BS6 engines will run on E20 without immediate issues, but long-term durability is unproven. Ethanol can accelerate wear on certain rubber and plastic fuel system components over time.Overall, buy the Evoque if you want a premium SUV experience and are comfortable with higher running costs. If you want a lower-risk, long-term ownership experience, a new Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta or Skoda Kushaq at a similar price is the safer bet.

I currently drive a 2018 Hyundai Creta 1.6 petrol automatic, which is very comfortable. Its mileage is around 7-8 kpl, and my monthly running is 1,000-1,200 km. Please advise on a good vehicle with decent mileage and comfort. I look forward to your advice.

•13h

With 1,000-1,200 km a month and a 7-8 km/l Creta 1.6 petrol automatic, the priority should be better fuel efficiency without sacrificing comfort. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the most sensible upgrade. It delivers significantly better real-world fuel economy, especially in city driving, while still offering a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The hybrid system is proven and reliable, and the ownership experience is straightforward.If you want a more premium feel and are willing to accept slightly lower fuel efficiency, the Kia Seltos petrol IVT is a strong alternative. It offers a more upmarket cabin and a comfortable ride, but it will not match the Victoris Hybrid on fuel savings.The Hyundai Creta petrol IVT is also worth considering if you want to stay within the Hyundai family. It offers a familiar ownership experience and a comfortable ride, but again, it will not be as efficient as the Victoris Hybrid.Overall, the Victoris Hybrid strikes the best balance between fuel efficiency, comfort and long-term ownership costs for your usage pattern.

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•1d

I am currently driving a Grand i10 petrol (2014 model). I would like to buy a new car under a budget of around 20 lakhs. My running is 30% on highway and 70% in the city. I want to buy a car that is comfortable for the driver as well as for the passengers. The car should be modern, feels fun to drive and is fuel efficient too. Which cars should I consider?

•1d

Coming from a Grand i10 and with a 70 percent city, 30 percent highway usage pattern, the Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT would be the best all round upgrade around your Rs 20 lakh budget. It offers a comfortable and spacious cabin, smooth automatic, good refinement and enough performance for everyday driving, while being more fuel efficient than the turbo petrol alternatives. It also feels considerably more modern than your current car without becoming difficult to drive in the city. In our testing the Seltos IVT returned 9.27kpl in the city and 14.76kpl on the highway for the petrol automatic.The Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG would be the choice if fun to drive is more important. It is the most engaging SUV here, with strong performance and excellent highway manners, and it was also the most fuel efficient of the turbo petrol SUVs. You can get the Sportline variant with DCT in your budget.

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•1d

Hi Autocar Team, I am confused between the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual and automatic. My current ride is a Fluidic Verna diesel manual, which is nearing 15 years of ownership and has clocked nearly 2.5 lakh km. My usage consists of mixed city and highway driving, with around 40km daily and weekend highway runs of about 400km. For long-term ownership, which would be the better choice: the manual or automatic?

•1d

Go for the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic. The diesel engine is well suited to your high running, and the automatic gearbox is a proven torque converter unit that is reliable and well matched to the engine. This Mahindra car will make your daily city driving far less tiring, while still being smooth and efficient on the highway. Coming from a 15-year-old Hyundai Verna diesel manual, the automatic will feel like a significant upgrade in terms of comfort and ease of use, without compromising on long-term reliability. The manual is still a good option if you strongly prefer the engagement, but for your usage and ownership horizon, the automatic is the smarter choice.

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•3d

I am confused between Creta SX IVT and Elevate CVT for 8000 km of annual running with long trips of 1200 km 3-4 times in a year for a family of 4. Apart from this, day to day usage is less than 100km per month. I am looking for a car for long term ownership and travel comfort.

•3d

The Creta SX IVT is the better fit for your requirement. It offers a quieter, more refined cabin, comfortable rear seats and a smoother CVT, which are particularly valuable when spending several hours on the highway with four people and luggage. Autocar's long term experience with the Creta petrol IVT also found it refined, comfortable and particularly well suited to road trips.The Honda Elevate CVT has advantages of its own. Its 220mm ground clearance, long travel suspension and large 458-litre boot make it particularly good on poor roads, while its naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine and CVT make for a relatively simple powertrain. However, the cabin is noticeably noisier, particularly when accelerating hard, and the CVT can produce the typical rubber band effect.

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•5d

Hi, I am planning to buy a CNG SUV and am considering the Tata Nexon CNG and Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG. I will be driving around 150km every day for office, so my main concerns are fuel economy and maintenance costs. Many people have suggested the Brezza because of its mileage and lower running costs, but Tata is also a large company and has a wide service network. So, why do buyers generally recommend the Brezza over the Nexon CNG? I personally prefer the Nexon, but I am confused about whether it would be the right choice for my daily usage. Which one would make more sense for my requirements?

•4d

Go with the Tata Nexon CNG if that is your preference. At 150 km daily, CNG is the right fuel choice, and both the Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Brezza are factory CNG cars, so reliability and safety are not a concern. The Nexon CNG is a strong product with good performance, a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The reason many people suggest the Brezza is Maruti's reputation for low maintenance costs, wide service reach and a long-standing reputation for hassle-free ownership. The Brezza CNG is also a very reliable and efficient package. However, the Nexon CNG is the more modern car and feels more premium inside.At 150 km daily, the key is to choose the car you will enjoy driving every day. The Nexon CNG is a solid choice, and there is no reason to change your decision.

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