Delhi

•4d

Are any flex-fuel vehicles expected to launch in India, and is there a timeframe for their arrival? Does it make sense to wait for one or buy an existing E20-compliant car?

•3m

Currently, the only flex-fuel car on sale is the Maruti Suzuki WagonR flex-fuel. However, many car makers such as Toyota, Tata Motors, Kia, and Hyundai have shown flex-fuel vehicle concepts on different occasions. We expect a few more models and even some launches at the Bharat Mobility Show in February 2027. If you are not in a rush to buy a new car, it makes sense to wait till the first quarter of next year for more announcements and firmer timelines.

All petrol cars currently on sale are not only E20-compliant but can also support slightly higher blends of ethanol without any material damage to the engine and other components. As such, today's cars will be able to support the base ethanol blend for years to come without any concern.

Flex-fuel vehicles, which can support even higher blends of ethanol, do make your vehicle future-proof to an extent. However, as the ethanol blend increases, efficiency decreases. At current fuel prices, the drop in fuel economy isn't compensated by the lower price of E85 petrol. Flex-fuel vehicles would make more sense with some kind of hybrid setup that would compensate for this drop in fuel economy.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Wagon R

from ₹5.42 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

More posts on similar cars

•3d

Hi, I’m a beginner driver about to join driving school (learning manual first). My wife is also a new driver. We plan to buy an automatic car primarily for family convenience with our infant. Could you please advise on the following? Transmission: While IVT/CVTs are smooth and easy in city traffic, do they compromise too much on highway driving fun? Car Recommendations: Which automatic cars within Rs 13-20 lakhs would be best suited for two beginner drivers in terms of city ease, safety, comfort, and occasional highway enjoyment?

•33m

Considering you're looking for your first car and want something that's light, compact and convenient to use, the Skoda Kylaq would be our top recommendation. It has a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine mated to a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, which is extremely smooth in the city and also very adept on the highway. The ride quality is also very good, and its compact dimensions make it easy to use in the city. You also have good ground clearance, so it is comfy when it comes to bad roads, and it actually fits well within your Rs 13-20 lakh budget and gets a lot of equipment as well.What's also very good on the Kylaq is the safety, as it has received 5 stars in BNCAP crash test ratings and gets good safety equipment. All things considered, the Kylaq in its top spec Prestige+ trim would be our top recommendationIf you'd like a second option, consider the Hyundai Venue. It is the newer car compared to the Kylaq, and it has a lot of features as well. Also, being a Hyundai car, it's very easy and light to drive and easy on the wallet. If you want something that's fuss-free, then the Venue will be a good choice and will fit within your budget if you go for the petrol automatic.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai Venue

•16h

With unpredictable traffic and insurance disputes, a dashcam seems increasingly useful. Seen many videos online of cars having one.

•16h

If you could remove one feature from modern cars to make them cheaper, what would it be? Panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, powered tailgate or something else?

View all Posts

Has E20 fuel affected your mileage?

Is ADAS worth paying extra for in a car?

Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•6d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

Honda Amaze

•4d

I am planning to buy either Kia Seltos HTX ivt or Tata Sierra EV empowered 75. Since there is concern on petrol availability/pricing and ethanol blending in the future, which option would be better for our monthly usage of around 500km within the city which will also include 2 trips outside the city every year. If I take Seltos, I am concerned about its resale value in 5 to 10 years and more for an EV as it is more expensive as compared to Deltos and its infrastructure problems. What do you suggest?

•3d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. Your usage pattern of around 500km a month in the city with only two outstation trips a year does not justify the premium of the Tata Sierra EV Empowered 75. The Seltos IVT is a smooth, refined and reliable petrol automatic that will handle your city driving effortlessly, and Kia’s service network and ownership experience are strong. Concerns about petrol availability and ethanol blending are largely overblown - E20-compliant engines are designed to handle the fuel, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage. The Sierra EV is a very impressive product with a premium cabin and strong range, but it is significantly more expensive and you will not recover that premium through fuel savings at your level of usage. The Seltos is the more sensible and cost-effective choice for your requirements.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra EV

•4d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

View all Posts

Upcoming launch buzz

Community discussions on upcoming launches