Puri

•14h

I am looking to buy a petrol automatic SUV primarily for city use, with occasional highway trips. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Zeta mild hybrid and Kia Seltos HXO, both with petrol engines. My priorities are real-world city and highway mileage, reliability, maintenance costs, long-term ownership of 8-10+ years, comfort and overall value for money. The car will mainly be driven by my father, who drives fairly calmly. I would appreciate advice from owners and users, especially regarding actual mileage in heavy city traffic, maintenance costs and any issues faced over the years.

•3m

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Zeta mild hybrid petrol automatic. The mild hybrid system gives it an efficiency advantage in city traffic, and Maruti’s service network and low-cost maintenance are hard to beat over a decade of ownership. The automatic gearbox is smooth and well-suited to calm driving, and the car is comfortable and easy to live with.

The Kia Seltos HXO petrol automatic feels more premium, with a nicer interior and a more powerful engine, but it also costs more. For a calm driver who values reliability and low running costs, the Grand Vitara is the better long-term ownership proposition. You'd pick the Kia Seltos if you want a more premium cabin and stronger performance and are willing to pay for it.

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•1d

Which of the three would be most suitable for cross-country trips involving a mix of smooth, average and bad roads: the Honda Elevate CVT, Maruti Grand Vitara Smart Hybrid AT, or Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 AT? My key criteria are reliability and safety, ride quality, and fatigue-free driving. I am also considering a few potential downsides: the NVH levels of the Elevate, the long-term reliability of the Smart Hybrid battery in the Grand Vitara, although this is not a deal-breaker, and the possibility of EPC-related faults in the Taigun. I would appreciate some expert advice on which of these three would be the best overall choice for my requirements.

•1d

For your requirements, the Honda Elevate CVT is the most balanced choice. It is a simple, robust and reliable package with a proven naturally aspirated petrol engine and a smooth CVT gearbox, which makes it well suited for long-distance touring. The Elevate also offers a comfortable ride, good ground clearance and a suspension setup that can handle a mix of road conditions, including bad patches, without feeling fragile. Honda’s long-term reliability track record is strong, and the car’s simplicity is actually an advantage for ownership over 5-10 years.The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Smart Hybrid AT is also a good option, but the hybrid system adds complexity without a significant advantage on long highway runs, where the fuel savings are less pronounced. The battery is not a major reliability concern, but it is still an additional component to consider over long-term ownership.The Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI AT is the enthusiast’s choice with a more engaging driving experience and strong performance, but your concerns about EPC-related faults are not unfounded. While Volkswagen has improved reliability, the ownership experience is still not as hassle-free as Honda or Maruti.

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•1d

I am planning to buy a sub-4m SUV and have shortlisted the Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus Automatic and Hyundai Venue HX5 Diesel Automatic. My annual running is expected to be around 16,000 to 18,000 km, including approximately 12,000 km of highway driving. From an economic point of view, I am slightly concerned about the Kylaq’s real-world petrol mileage, especially given the high amount of highway running. I am also concerned about the long-term implications of E20 petrol and whether it could lead to any issues in the future. On the other hand, I have concerns about buying a diesel due to the possibility of future government restrictions and the uncertainty around long-term diesel ownership. Considering these factors, I would appreciate your advice on which of the two would be the better choice for at least eight years of ownership.

•1d

Go for the Hyundai Venue Diesel Automatic. With your annual running of 16,000-18,000 km and a strong highway component, the diesel makes clear financial sense. The Venue’s diesel is refined and well suited to long-distance driving, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth and reliable. Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are also strong, which matters over an 8-year horizon.The Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus Automatic is the better driver’s car, but the 1.0 TSI petrol will not match the diesel’s efficiency at your running, and the E20 concern is largely overstated – modern engines are engineered for it, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20. On the diesel side, the government has not announced any blanket restrictions on private diesel cars, and with Bharat Stage 6 and DPF technology in place, long-term ownership is not a major concern.The Venue is the more sensible and cost-effective choice for your usage pattern. If you want a more premium and spacious diesel SUV, the Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic is worth stretching for, but within your shortlist, the Venue is the right call.

I currently own a Mahindra XUV 3XO TGDi (Revv variant) and have clocked 6,300km over the past eight months. However, I am averaging only 8–9kpl. Since around 80 percent of my driving is within the city and I prefer high-performance engines, should I consider switching to the Kia Seltos Diesel or the XUV 3XO Diesel?

•1d

At 80% city usage, switching to a diesel purely for better mileage doesn’t make much sense. Your 8–9kpl is on the lower side, but the T-GDi is the performance-oriented engine, and frequent stop-start traffic will naturally bring down its efficiency.The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel will deliver considerably better fuel economy and strong low-end torque, but it also brings the added complexity of a DPF. Since most of your driving is in the city, short and slow trips can make DPF regeneration more difficult. You would need to give the car occasional sustained runs to allow the system to regenerate properly.The Kia Seltos diesel is the better of the two if you want to move to a larger and more premium SUV. It is refined, has strong torque, and the automatic is well suited to relaxed driving. However, you would still have the same DPF consideration, and neither diesel will give you the performance character of your T-GDi.

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•2d

I am planning to buy a naturally aspirated petrol automatic car and have shortlisted the Toyota Hyryder mild hybrid and Honda Elevate. Which one would be the better choice?

•1d

Go for the Honda Elevate CVT. Both the Elevate and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder mild hybrid use naturally aspirated petrol engines, but the Elevate’s 1.5-litre engine is more refined, and the CVT gearbox is silky smooth, making it a more relaxed car to drive in everyday conditions. The Elevate also benefits from Honda’s strong reputation for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs, which is exactly what you want from a naturally aspirated petrol automatic. The Hyryder is still a good car, but the Elevate is the more complete package for this brief.

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•4d

I am new to driving and am looking for a sub-4-metre petrol SUV with a torque converter automatic gearbox. My budget is around Rs 12-13 lakh on-road. I have shortlisted two options: the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic and the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic. We are a family of five. My current usage is mostly within the city, but based on my future work requirements, it could shift to an 80:20 mix of city and highway driving.

•3d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Signature AT. For a new driver with predominantly city use, its 1.0 TSI with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic is smooth and easy to drive, while the compact dimensions make it relatively easy to manage in traffic. It also has a more mature, planted feel on the highway.The Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro AT is the better choice if rear-seat space is the priority. Its cabin is wider and more accommodating for a family of five, and its 1.2 turbo-petrol makes 200Nm, giving it stronger low-end and mid-range performance than the Kylaq.However, the 3XO's boot is also one of its compromises, while the Kylaq offers a better balance of driving dynamics, boot space and highway manners. With your usage potentially becoming 80:20 city/highway, the Kylaq's combination works particularly well.

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•3d

Which car should I buy among Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Petrol base or Kia Seltos petrol base? And also tell me if anyone has faced power issue or pickup issue while overtaking as I want the car for long term.

•3d

Between the two, the Seltos is the better choice, especially if you are looking at the base variant. It feels more premium, is the newer product and offers a more complete package even in its lower variants.The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol makes 115hp and 144Nm. It isn't a particularly powerful engine, but it is smooth and refined and is perfectly adequate for normal city driving.For overtaking, it won't have the punch of the Seltos turbo, but it isn't underpowered either. With a full load and during quick highway overtakes, you may need to plan ahead and use higher revs. The Grand Vitara's 1.5 petrol is also a smooth, simple powertrain, but its performance is more relaxed and the base variant is quite sparsely equipped.

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