Latest questions answered by experts

I want to buy a car for my family and am confused between the Honda Amaze VX CVT and the Maruti Swift ZXI+ AMT. It will be driven 80% in the city and 20% on the highway. This will be the first automatic car in my family. My priorities are ease of mind, efficiency, and concerns regarding ethanol blending. I have driven both cars but am still not sure which one to choose.

I’m quite confused about my next car upgrade and would really appreciate some advice from people who have experience travelling with large families and pets. We are a family of six: my wife, our child, my parents, our dog and me. Until now, I’ve been using a Tata Punch, which has served us reasonably well. However, with our little baby, things have become considerably more complicated. A five-seater no longer seems practical, especially when we travel with luggage and our dog. My usage is a mix of daily commuting (around 20 km a day) and family road trips. We usually undertake 3-4 long trips a year with approx 3-4k kms round trip. I’ve been considering three options: 1. Tata Sierra The idea here is to use all five seats for the family and create a padded, bed-like platform in the boot for our dog. I could use the space underneath the platform for luggage. The ROX edition’s roof carrier is another interesting option, although I’m unsure about the legal restrictions on roof-mounted luggage carriers and whether they could attract challans in states such as Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. 2. Tata Safari The Safari offers the advantage of a third row. I’m wondering whether I could fold down half of the third row to accommodate luggage while keeping the other half for my dog. I’d probably need to install some sort of secure partition or cage to prevent luggage from shifting onto the dog or flying forward during sudden braking. However, I’m not sure how practical or safe this arrangement would be. 3. Toyota Innova Hycross (GXO) Given that my daily commute is relatively short, I’m not convinced that the hybrid’s additional cost would be justified by fuel savings alone. However, the Hycross’s cabin and luggage space are appealing. I’m wondering whether the third-row floor and boot could be configured to create a sufficiently large, flat and comfortable space for my dog while still accommodating our luggage. At this stage, these are just ideas, and I’m not sure how practical any of them would be in real-world conditions. I’d particularly appreciate advice from people who travel with their dogs, especially on long road trips. How do you manage luggage, ensure your pet’s safety and keep the cabin comfortable for everyone? Are there any other vehicles or practical modifications I should consider? One important consideration is that our baby is still very small, so we don’t have any major trips planned in the immediate future. I’m perfectly happy to postpone our next big road trip for a year or so. Consequently, I’m in no hurry to buy a car and am open to waiting for upcoming launches if something more suitable is on the horizon. I’d love to hear about your actual experiences, particularly with pet-friendly car setups, rather than just theoretical suggestions. Any advice on the choice of vehicle, safe modifications or alternative configurations would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, I am currently using a 2021 Ford EcoSport diesel and am now planning to buy a new car by exchanging my EcoSport. I have shortlisted two options: the Kia Seltos HTX diesel automatic and the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel automatic. I am confused between the two and would like to know which one I should choose. The on-road prices of both cars are similar. My usage is mostly solo driving, with both city and highway use. On weekends and holidays, I usually travel with my family. Kindly suggest which car would be a better choice for my usage.

Hi, I’m planning to buy new car as my second car for my parents in Kanpur, India specifically as I don’t reside there anymore. I had before Volkswagen Ameo Diesel. Kindly suggest an SUV only within a budget of maximum Rs. 15 lakhs (on-road price).

Hello, this is Dilip. I’m planning to buy my first car for myself and my parents. I’m 30 years old and am looking for a car under Rs. 20 lakh, preferably with a manual transmission, that offers excellent long-term reliability, low maintenance and ownership costs as well as good safety and build quality. I need a car comfortable for my parents and family with a good driving experience in both city traffic and highways. It should offer good mileage and overall practicality. Suggest me a car that I can confidently keep for 8-10 years. Please suggest the best options based on these requirements and explain both pros and cons of each car.

Which automatic SUV car is best for new driver who does not have much confidence? Is CVT transmission will be good in such case and does it come with a light steering. I am planning to buy Honda elevate CVT but it is bit lengthier. Is the steering of Honda elevate light enough for traffic?

I am planning to buy a new car under a budget of around Rs. 11.5-12.5 lakh (on-road). It will be mostly used for city driving, with a few highway trips. My main requirements are automatic transmission. good safety rating, good quality interior, low maintenance costs, good driving performance and offers fun-to-drive experience. Please suggest 4-5 good cars in this price range that would suit my requirements.

Which is a better buy between Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi Turbo or Tata Nexon Pure Plus? I am interested in usable features. Please suggest accordingly.

Hi, I have been happily driving a Polo for the last 4 years and I think that it is the right time to upgrade it to a bigger vehicle because of my mom's back pain. Please suggest a car under 12 lakhs. Thanks a lot.

I purchased tata punch petrolAMT adventure variant Auguest month. Till now i drive 500k. In traffic it's ok. Interior and design looks good. Due to AMT jerk is common in this. Doors are opening at 90 degrees which is good for elder people. 360 degree camera, left and right truns cameras are useful in tight traffic. I didn't trst it on highway till now. Over all its good. Milage now giving 10 km per liter now as I am learner.

I am planning to buy a new car under a budget of Rs. 22-23 lakh. I drive a 12-year old Chevrolet Sail diesel now. I really enjoy driving this car, particularly its MultiJet engine with a good mid-range torque. I value driving dynamics and pleasure of driving more than fuel efficiency and features. I prefer sedan over an SUV. My dad owns a 2022 Skoda Slavia 1.0 MT. I really like that car but in city driving, I've felt noticeable turbo lag at low speeds. Other than that, Slavia is a very good car. So I have shortlisted 2026 Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG. But only thing that I worry about is the reliability of a DSG with its dry clutch system, because I tend to keep the car for at least next 7-8 years. Also, I have doubts about its city driving manners. But I live in a tier-2 city and encounter stop and go traffic rarely. I hit the highways often though. So, will the Slavia 1.5 satisfy my needs coming from a good torquey diesel engine? Another SUV that I am interested is the Duster/Tekton, because I have heard that they are the closest to the German twins in driving pleasure and dynamics. Can I go with the Slavia 1.5 DSG or should I go with Duster/Tekton 1.3 DCT?

I owned a Verna Diesel AT for 6yrs, which had a 4 Speed Torque Converter AT and now own Seltos Diesel AT for 7yrs, which is a 6 speed TC. I enjoyed both of them and never missed the driving pleasure given the output from these cars and their pairing and the fact that they always come with a manual mode if you want, I'm sure that is the case with 7XO Diesel AT also, which is again a TC unit. Never had any problem with any of these cars in the last 13yrs. Pls go for an AT without worry (atleast with TCs or CVTs). They are time tested. Also, What's the fun in pressing the clutch if beyond a certain age, legs are more important for atleast 18hrs of usage everyday than the small driving pleasure that we get for few hrs here and there ;-)

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?

I’d like you to let me know about Lexus es 350h

When I bought my Honda CB Hornet 160R nearly ten years ago, I fell head over heels for its looks—especially that aggressive design and massive rear tire. I spent hours watching YouTube reviews from journalists praising its linear power delivery, and the moment I saw it in the flesh, I was hooked. I bought it on impulse without ever taking a proper test ride or looking at competing options. That decision turned out to be a ten-year headache. Instead of a dependable motorcycle, ownership has been a cycle of relentless unreliability. Every time one part is fixed, another—or the exact same one—starts crying for attention. To make matters worse, the firm suspension transmits every single pothole and undulation straight into my back. A decade on this bike has completely robbed me of the joy of riding, and I’ve finally given up on it. I am now looking for a complete reset. I need a motorcycle where exceptional, plush ride quality comes first, backed by rock-solid reliability and a smooth, effortless engine. I want a true engineering gem that will bring back the excitement of being on two wheels."

Ventilated front seat as well as hybrid option is must

Driven crysta 2.4 diesel manual, clutch was easy and effortless i expected it to be like tight and tough to operate, but all my concerns vanished in front of my conscience when the first gear was slotted, it also dont stall that easily from 3rd gear to 4th gear the sweet turbo spooling is addictive and the pedal controls and steering allignment are well sorted and nice its non tiring. u wont feel like driving a big car, i have mixed feeling with hydraulic steering u may feel its heft while turning the wheel at slow speeds but its mangeable and in high speeds its gives confidence sometimes you feel that steering is not responding to your input in a swift manner like making quick maneuvers this is because we are so used to light weight electric steering of our cars so we only use neccessary toned down movements,cause eps responds really well in a sensitive way, you have to drop that habit with Crysta. There is that refinement issues when compared with that of mahindra diesels also quick downshifts aint that smooth, sure its rugged and you feel that reliablity kind of feel. Anybody who edited out crysta from list due to being a manual should test drive one to get the feeling and then decide dont go by the online narrative which makes buying a manual car a big sin.

Flash door handle don't give creta because this door handle is not good and comfortable to use. So please don't do useless and unconvince features for this....