Latest questions answered by experts

Dr Prakhar

Hi, So I need a 6/7 seater automatic car with occasional city driving and a bi-monthly out of town drive of around 500kms one way (otherwise monthly running of only 500 kms with 3 kms trips 4-5 times in a day). On road budget is around 21 lacs max, and a few essential points are: No Sunroof, Driver Seat Memory function, dual zone ac, physical ac buttons and side mirror auto adjustment on putting reverse gear. Also, confused if petrol should be taken because of recent Ethanol blending So far, I could select No car, which has all of the above, with Kia Clavis coming close.

Autocar India

•30m

The Kia Carens Clavis is probably the closest match to your requirements at this price point. The challenge is that the combination of features you're looking for is typically found on higher variants. In the Clavis, you'll need to move up the variant ladder to get most of these features, and that means accepting the sunroof as part of the package.As for the petrol versus diesel debate, your usage pattern actually favours petrol. Your monthly running is relatively low, and the frequent 3km city trips are not ideal for modern diesel engines. The occasional 500km highway journeys are easily handled by a petrol automatic. Ethanol blending should not be a major concern either, as modern petrol cars are engineered to run on the fuels currently available and planned for India.

Kia Carens Clavis

Raju

•1d

I am planning to buy an automatic car within a budget of Rs.10-11 lakh. I am a beginner driver, and most of my usage will be within the city. Which between Hyundai Exter and Honda Amaze would be the better choice for my needs?

Autocar India

•1h

The Honda Amaze CVT would be the recommendation here. For a beginner driver with predominantly city usage, the Amaze's CVT automatic is a major advantage. It is smoother, more refined and easier to drive in stop-start traffic than the AMT offered in the Exter. The sedan also offers a more comfortable ride, a larger boot and a mature driving experience that will remain satisfying even as your driving skills improve.The Hyundai Exter counters with its higher seating position, which some new drivers find reassuring, along with better ground clearance for rough roads and speed breakers. However, its AMT gearbox is not as seamless as the Honda's CVT.

Honda Amaze

Hyundai Exter

Rakesh

•1d

Hi, I own a Hyundai Venue SX Diesel, and for the past three months, I have been facing recurring DPF issues. Whenever I drive around 20-30 km within the city, the DPF warning light comes on. Due to this issue, I had to cancel two to three planned trips, and am becoming frustrated with the frequent DPF-related problems. I am now considering selling my 3.5-year-old Venue SX Diesel and purchasing a naturally aspirated petrol vehicle, such as the Venue 1.2, Creta 1.5, or Seltos 1.5. My driving pattern is approximately 70% highway and 30% city driving. Would it be a good decision to sell the diesel vehicle and switch to a naturally aspirated petrol model?

Autocar India

•2h

With around 70 percent highway driving, a diesel SUV is still very well suited to your requirements. In fact, your usage should normally be sufficient to keep the DPF healthy, provided the vehicle is regularly driven at sustained speeds. The fact that the DPF warning light is appearing after relatively short city runs suggests there could be an underlying issue that needs investigation rather than this being purely a usage-related problem.Before taking the significant financial hit of selling a 3.5-year-old vehicle, it would be worth getting the car thoroughly inspected by Hyundai and escalating the matter if necessary. A healthy diesel vehicle should not be causing repeated DPF concerns with your mix of highway and city driving.As for the alternatives, the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engines in the Creta and Seltos are smooth, refined and hassle-free, but they will feel less effortless on the highway and will not match the diesel's fuel efficiency. The Venue 1.2 petrol would be an even bigger step down in performance.

Prashanth

I am planning to buy a new car within a budget of Rs. 12 lakh. My final choices are the Kia Sonet and the Hyundai Venue. I am a little confused about which one to choose, as I plan to make the purchase within the next 30 days. The car will be used primarily for highway driving, and good fuel efficiency is one of my key requirements. Safety and build quality are also important factors for me. Which one would you recommend?

Autocar India

•3h

Go for the Hyundai Venue. It sits on the newer platform and has a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. It also has the better back seat among the two, which helps on long trips with family, and the cabin feels a touch more airy. For highway-heavy use you could consider the 1.5 diesel which is refined and gives good real world mileage. The Sonet has the firmer suspension between the two; it isn't as absorbent as the Venue over rough roads, but feels a bit more planted on the highway. If you’re fixed on petrol within Rs. 12 lakh, the Venue is solid pick.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Mitesh

•4d

I am currently using a 2012 Honda City i-VTEC and am now planning to buy a good used SUV. My requirements are a spacious cabin, good features, a petrol engine, and an automatic transmission, with a budget of around Rs. 10 lakh. Which brand and model would you suggest?

Autocar India

•4h

Pick a used Hyundai Creta petrol automatic. It keeps the easy, fuss-free feel you’re used to in the City, adds a higher seat and better ground clearance, and within Rs. 10 lakh, you’ll find clean 2018-19 cars with good kit or even the new 2020 model with a higher mileage. Cabin and boot space are plenty for family use, the automatic is smooth in traffic, and Hyundai’s wide service network helps when you’re buying used.You may see lower mileage than your i-VTEC and the drive is relaxed rather than exciting. If sheer cabin space is the priority and you can stretch a bit, a first‑batch MG Hector petrol automatic is huge and very feature rich, but it usually sits just above Rs. 10 lakh and drinks more fuel. If you prefer a fresher feel and sharper features, an early Kia Seltos petrol automatic can land near your budget in some cities, though its rear seat is a touch tighter than the Creta.

Amruth

I'm confused between the Kia Seltos HTK Petrol Manual and the Hyundai Creta EX Optional Summer Edition. I'm getting both for around Rs. 15 lakh. Which one would be the better choice? Also, in what situations or for what reasons should I choose one over the other? Additionally, which brand offers the better after-sales service experience?

Autocar India

•5h

Pick the Seltos simply because it feels more modern and premium on the inside, and thanks to its larger dimensions, cabin space is a bit better too. Both cars share their 1.5-petrol engine, and both have light and smooth controls, which make them equally easy to drive. Performance and efficiency will be similar too. The Creta on the other hand, is a car you can't go wrong with, and you will also find more Hyundai service touchpoints than Kia. That said, if you have a Kia service centre near you, it is the Seltos we'd recommend.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta