Hi, I'm planning to upgrade from 2012 Brio MT (1000 kms monthly 25/75 City/Highway) and the natural choice is Honda Elevate due to familiarity in power delivery, better in/egress and driving dynamics. While a manual is my preferred choice, I am open to an automatic. Features like panoramic sunroofs or fancy screens don't matter much. Please suggest. Also, with Turbos on sale, how often do you see buyers switching from an NA to a Turbo and back to NA? Is a Turbo petrol power so addictive?

Autocar India

•1d

With mostly city use at 1,000-1,200 km a month and a focus on mileage and low upkeep, a three-year-old Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder hybrid automatic suits you best. In slow city traffic, it often runs on electric power, so fuel use is far lower than that of a regular petrol car, and the automatic transmission is very smooth and quiet. Coming from your Duster diesel AMT, you will notice easier stop-go driving, lower vibration, and Toyota’s simple, predictable service experience.Do note a couple of trade-offs. The hybrid’s boot is smaller than some rivals, and it doesn’t feel very strong if you push hard on the highway. Clean used examples can also cost more than a regular petrol.If the hybrid price stretches the budget, look for a Hyundai Creta petrol automatic from the same period. It is easy to drive, comfortable over bad roads, and has wide, affordable service support.Another sensible pick is the Honda Elevate automatic for its simple ownership and light steering. For your brief, the Hyryder hybrid lines up best, with the Creta or Elevate as safer-value backups.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai Creta

Honda Elevate

Autocar India

•2d

With a Rs. 15 lakh cap, you want a tall, tough-looking but easy-to-drive monocoque SUV for daily use and family comfort, so we would lean toward the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi AT. It carries that square, upright look you like from the Scorpio N in a smaller, lighter body. The back seat offers good headroom and legroom, and the ride is comfortable on broken roads. The automatic is smooth, and Maruti’s wide service network and simple running costs also tick your reliability box.A few trade-offs to note for you: the engine feels just okay on fast highways, so quick overtakes need a little planning, and the cabin doesn’t feel as rich as some Korean rivals. But for your mix of looks, comfort, space and worry-free ownership at this price, it hits the brief well.If you want a bit more road presence and stronger performance while staying close to your budget, look at the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 automatic. It has a bold, upright stance, and the turbo engine feels stronger. Another option, if you can stretch a little, is the Honda Elevate V CVT. It is very roomy, very easy and smooth to drive in the city, and Honda’s reliability record is strong, but prices in some cities may cross your 15 lakh target. Overall, for value within your budget, the Brezza ZXi automatic lines up best with what you want.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Honda Elevate

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Mahindra Scorpio N

Autocar India

•12h

It’s a good idea to start your driving journey with a compact, easy-to-manage car rather than something large or bulky. That naturally puts less pressure on your skills while you build confidence.Given your budget of around Rs 14 lakh, going for a new car makes more sense than buying used. You get a clean slate, full warranty, and the latest safety and convenience features, which are especially reassuring for a new driver.Within Tata’s range, the Tata Nexon 1.2 turbo petrol with the DCT automatic is a strong fit. It’s compact enough for city use and easy parking, yet feels stable and comfortable on the highway. As for the Tata Sierra, it’s worth noting that it will sit well above your stated budget and, more importantly, will be a significantly larger vehicle. For a beginner, that extra size can make everyday driving and parking more challenging.Overall, the Nexon strikes a very sensible balance for your needs. It’s easy to drive, well-equipped, and versatile enough for both city commutes and longer highway trips.

Tata Nexon

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•1d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•5d

If you are waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, the good news is that it does not seem too far away. Current indications suggest a launch could happen either later this month or in June.Expect it to slot below the Tata Harrier EV in Tata’s electric line-up, likely with multiple battery pack options and a more premium positioning than the Tata Curvv EV. Tata has also indicated that both Rear Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive versions are planned, which should make it one of the more interesting mainstream electric SUVs in India.

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Curvv EV

Autocar India

•5d

With the kind of mileage you are already seeing from your 4th generation Honda City, I would not rush to fit a CNG kit. Around 16 kpl over 85,000 km is actually a healthy real world figure for a petrol sedan, and since the City is known for its smoothness and refinement, adding an aftermarket CNG kit will inevitably change the character of the car. Honda does not offer a factory CNG option for the City, so any retrofit will be third party, which means compromises in boot space, some loss in outright performance and the added variable of installation quality and long term reliability. Honda also recommends using fuel that meets the vehicle specifications, and aftermarket modifications can complicate warranty or support considerations on newer cars.A CNG conversion only starts making strong financial sense if your running is very high and you plan to keep the car for several more years to recover the kit cost. If your annual usage is moderate, the payback period can be longer than expected. The only real case for going CNG here is if fuel cost reduction is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, given how well your City is already performing, I would leave it as is and enjoy the refinement rather than fixing something that is not really broken.

Honda City