Dharmapuri

•13w

I am looking to upgrade my 19-year-old i10 Era and am seeking a vehicle that offers a great blend of comfort and longevity for the next 15 years. My budget is 12-16 lakh. While I am happy with my current car, I need something with more power for overtaking and lower maintenance requirements. Although my current annual usage is low (approximately 2,000-3,000km), I expect this to increase with a new car. My primary use will be city driving in Kochi with three passengers, but I need enough space and comfort for occasional long drives and airport runs. I am prioritising value for money. My current picks: Tata Punch EV (Empowered S+) - around 14 lakh Pros: The instant torque and overtaking performance are appealing. Shock absorbers are also nice. There are features (but not sure how much they will help me). Concerns: Tata’s quality control, long-term service consistency, and uncertainty around EV resale value and technology depreciation. Mahindra XUV 3XO (MX2 Pro TC Automatic) around ₹12 lakh Pros: Feels like a proper, spacious SUV. Cons: Lower fuel efficiency and higher RTO costs compared to an EV. Skoda Kylaq (Signature TC Automatic) - around 12.75 lakh Pros: Excellent reviews for handling and engine performance. Cons: Lower fuel efficiency and higher RTO costs compared to an EV. Citroen Aircross (X You Manual) - around 10 lakh Pros: Excellent reviews for ride comfort and handling. Cons: Manual transmission and concerns about the brand's service network. Overall, what should I choose between a manual, an automatic and an EV? Are automatics a no-brainer these days? Is the Punch EV a good option now?

•13w

Given your priorities of comfort, longevity, low maintenance and value for money, the Skoda Kylaq Signature AT would be the recommendation from your shortlist.

The Tata Punch EV is actually one of Tata's more sorted products, and the instant torque will certainly make overtaking effortless. However, if you're planning to keep the car for the next 15 years, there are still some unknowns around long-term battery technology, resale values and how EVs will evolve over such a long ownership period. It makes sense as an EV, but perhaps not as the safest long-term bet.

The Mahindra XUV 3XO offers more space and feels like a bigger vehicle, but its fuel efficiency is likely to be lower than the Kylaq's, and it doesn't feel quite as polished from behind the wheel.

The Kylaq strikes a sweet spot. Its turbo-petrol engine provides the performance you're looking for, the torque-converter automatic is smooth and reliable, and the car feels well engineered. It is also likely to be easier to live with over the long term than an electric car if your goal is to keep it for 15 years. The Skoda Kylaq price range extends from Rs 7.59 lakh to Rs 12.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

As for manual versus automatic, for a predominantly city-driven car in 2026, an automatic is increasingly becoming the default choice. Modern torque-converter automatics such as the one in the Kylaq are smooth, reliable and remove much of the fatigue associated with urban driving.

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•17h

I am planning to buy an SUV, and my annual running is quite low, around 4,000-5,000 km. Most of my driving will be in the city, with occasional highway trips of around 2,000 km annually. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh, and the car will be used by my family of four, including me. Please suggest the best SUV options for my requirements, considering comfort, reliability, safety, performance, mileage, maintenance, and overall long-term ownership.

•3h

With your low annual running of 4,000-5,000 km and a budget of Rs 10-12 lakh, a petrol compact SUV is the most sensible choice. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is the strongest recommendation here. It offers the most spacious cabin in the segment, making it a genuinely comfortable 5-seater for a family of four, and the turbo petrol engine is punchy enough for occasional highway runs while remaining efficient in the city. This Mahindra car also comes well equipped and offers excellent value for money.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza Turbo is the alternative if you prioritise long-term reliability and low maintenance costs above all else. It is a proven, dependable product with Maruti's extensive service network, and it is also a comfortable 5-seater. The 1.2 petrol versions of the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet are also worth considering if you want a more premium-feeling cabin and a wider feature list. They might not have the same performance as the turbo-petrol versions, but their engine is responsive and both are very user-friendly with light controls and good visibility.

Which car should I buy for my family? We currently have an eight-year-old Baleno, which my wife drives to work. We are now looking for another car primarily for family use, for me and my parents, who are also learning to drive. Our budget is around Rs 15 lakh. The car will mainly be used for city driving, with occasional highway trips.

•12h

If you want to shop within the Maruti portfolio, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza petrol automatic is a sensible choice for your requirements. Since your parents are learning to drive, the Brezza’s light steering, good visibility and easy-to-drive nature make it a very confidence-inspiring car. The automatic gearbox is smooth and stress-free in city traffic, and the naturally aspirated petrol engine is reliable and easy to live with. It is also a comfortable five-seater with a decent boot, making it practical for family use and occasional highway trips. If you want something a bit more premium and feature-rich, the Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO are also worth considering.

My budget is under Rs. 14.5 lakh. I can get an automatic variant in the sub-4-metre segment, while in the above-4-metre segment, I would have to choose a manual, such as the Duster, Tekton or Seltos. Which one should I buy? I mostly travel within the city, but I prefer above-4-metre SUVs. Could you please suggest the better pick for my requirements?

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic. Your usage is mostly city driving, and in that environment an automatic gearbox makes a huge difference to daily comfort and convenience. This Mahindra car is one of the most spacious and comfortable sub-4m SUVs, with a wide cabin that makes it a genuinely good family car. It also offers strong performance, good safety credentials and a well-rounded ownership experience.While the Duster, Tekton and Seltos are all excellent above-4m SUVs, at your budget you are limited to manual variants. Given your city usage, the lack of an automatic would quickly become a compromise you notice every day. The 3XO automatic is a better fit for your needs than a larger manual SUV.If you are absolutely set on an above-4m SUV, the Honda Elevate might be worth considering. Since a facelift is just around the corner, you will get good discounts on the current version and may even find an automatic version in your budget. The Elevate has great ride comfort and is reliable too, but it isn't the most feature-rich or the most premium SUV in the segment.Overall, the 3XO automatic is the more sensible and satisfying choice for your usage.

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Popular discussions right now

•3d

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?

•3d

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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•6d

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.

•5d

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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•5d

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.

•5d

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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