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Latest questions answered by experts

Avdhesh

Hello Mam/Sir, We already own a wonderful car, an Alto K10, which I have driven across multiple terrains — from smooth highways to challenging hilly roads that even some 4x4s find hard to tackle. I don’t plan to sell it, but since it’s time for an upgrade, we are considering a new car, probably a compact SUV, for our family of four. I am 6 ft tall and everyone in my family is tall as well. We will use this new car mostly for local driving, but we already have the Alto K10 for that purpose. We want something we can drive comfortably on long rides and in rough terrain, especially in the mountains, as well as on highways. I am an avid traveler and I love to drive. We need a manual petrol car. We want a car that packs a punch in performance without compromising on features. It must be safe, solid, and backed by good after-sales service and low maintenance. Our budget is not more than ₹20 lakhs.

Autocar India

•17m

You can consider the Mahindra Thar Roxx. Its rear-wheel-drive layout will come in handy when driving in rough, hilly regions. Furthermore, its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is strong, the 6-speed manual gearbox is smooth to operate, and its highway ride quality is quite good, although not as good as most monocoque offerings in the same price range. The Thar Roxx has you covered on space and features, too, and its road presence is also second to none. Alternatively, you can consider the more sophisticated Mahindra XUV 7XO for its fantastic suspension setup - it is an excellent long-distance tourer.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Pinank

•1w

I am 35 years old, a swimmer with an athletic build, 6 feet tall, and weigh 70 kg. I live in Ahmedabad, a city with poor road conditions, heavy traffic, and unpredictable road behavior. Hard braking and quick manoeuvring are often necessary due to potholes, slippery roads, and sudden pedestrian or vehicle movements. I tried the Pulsar NS125, but with a heavy pillion rider (90 kg+), I found it difficult to manoeuvre in tight traffic. The bike felt heavy, braking was harder to manage, and I experienced back pain after riding with a heavy pillion. Under the same conditions, I do not face any back pain when riding the Honda Twister with a similar pillion. Please suggest a new or used bike within a budget of ₹1.8 lakh that is suitable for city use, has a sporty look, offers comfortable seating, and is easy to manoeuvre without causing back pain, even with a pillion rider. Should I wait for the Kawasaki Ninja 125 launch? I am also considering a used Kawasaki Ninja 300 for the next two years—will it be comfortable for city riding, and will its seating position help avoid back pain while handling traffic with a heavy pillion rider?

Autocar India

•42m

Within your budget, you will get very old examples of the Kawasaki Ninja 300, which will likely not be in good shape after all these years. We'd recommend you go for a new bike for the peace of mind that comes with it and the warranty coverage that comes with it. Since you have mentioned you want something sporty, we'd recommend the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. Both have energetic engines, good handling and will also be comfortable for day-to-day use with their upright ergonomics. Both are also reasonably comfortable bikes to carry pillion with, although larger people will be pressed for space. A test ride of these two should help you decide which is best for you.

Kawasaki Ninja 300

Bajaj Pulsar NS200

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

Varun

•1w

Amaze CVT, Tata Altroz DCA, Tata Punch EV, and Citroën C3 Turbo Automatic. I am 5.4 ft tall and currently have a family of four members, which will become five after marriage. I work from home, so my usage will mainly be city driving, with one vacation trip every month. From my perspective, the Honda Amaze CVT feels reliable with a good engine and ADAS, but the CVT rubber-band effect and engine noise during hard acceleration concern me. The Altroz DCA offers strong safety and premium interiors, but the engine feels underpowered, the bonnet is not visible, and the thick A-pillar creates blind spots. The Citroën C3 Turbo Automatic has a strong engine and good performance, but the interiors are basic and rear legroom feels slightly cramped. The Punch EV feels smooth and well-rounded overall, but the higher cost and charging concerns are drawbacks. In terms of visibility, I can clearly see the bonnet in the Amaze and C3, but not at all in the Altroz. The Altroz feels more spacious, the C3 has the most powerful engine, and the Punch EV offers the best smoothness. My main concern is whether the bonnet visibility issue gets resolved with regular driving experience, or if I should prefer a car with clear bonnet visibility from the beginning. Based on my usage and concerns, which car would be the best choice for me?

Autocar India

•1h

If you're open to an electric, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option. As you've rightly pointed out, its elevated seated position results in good frontal visibility. If you opt for a variant with seat height adjustment, you can crank up the seat further to get a clearer view of the bonnet. Performance is strong, and being an EV, it is much smoother and more refined than all the ICE vehicles you've listed above. Also, ground clearance is ample, and it confidently glides over bad roads.An ICE option we'd recommend you check out is the Nissan Magnite 1.0 Turbo-petrol-CVT. The powertrain is smooth, and the seating is high. If you have a Nissan touchpoint around you, this is worthy of consideration.

Tata Punch EV

Nissan Magnite

Jagan

•15w

I am planning to buy my first luxury car for a family of three. My priorities are safety first, then luxury. My monthly running in the city will be around 200-300 km. I’m confused between the new Volvo S90, the ES90, and the Lexus 300h. I want a car without a sunroof, but with ventilation for both front and rear seats, and good under-thigh support in the back seat. Please advise.

Autocar India

•1h

Unfortunately, the Volvo S90 is no longer on sale in India, and the ES90 has not been launched in India. That leaves the Lexus ES 300h, which is an excellent choice. Though your usage is not much, it is mostly in the city, and the ES 300h's strong hybrid powertrain is a smooth and mostly silent companion that will run in EV mode for the most part. It has an excellent rear seat experience, including powered recline and, yes, ventilation too; plus, thigh support is excellent, and the seat itself is very comfortable. Sadly, a sunroof is an almost inescapable part of any luxury car today; you'll just have to keep it closed.

Lexus ES

Abhra Ghosh

•4w

Hi everyone. I want to buy a 6/7 seater. We are a family of 5 humans, 1 dog and 2 parrots. We travel by road max times. My budget is 13-14 lakhs, and I am confused between the Maruti XL6 and the Kia Carens Clavis. I am a Maruti Spresso owner and will trade in that during the purchase of the new car. Please help me to choose.

Autocar India

•2h

Between the two, we'd recommend the Kia Carens Clavis, which feels more premium in comparison. Not only is its interior quality and fit-finish better than the Maruti's, but it also has more space in all three rows. One added advantage is that with the Clavis, you get a bench seat in the middle, giving the fifth passenger an option to sit in the middle row or the third row. While they won't have the luxury to choose with the Maruti Suzuki XL6, which can only be had with two captain chairs in the middle row. The Kia's 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the controls feel light and easy too. The Maruti XL6 might have a slight edge in terms of fuel efficiency; however, the Kia's engine wouldn't be too far behind.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Mohammed Sirajuddin

•2d

I am an NRI based in Dubai, looking to purchase an automatic SUV for my home in Kasaragod, Kerala. I will be using when I visit couple of times in a year and the car will be primarily used by my sister for local shopping and local commutes, but will also remain idle sometimes. Between the Skoda Kylaq Prestige Plus (1.0 TSI with 6-speed Torque Converter) and the Hyundai Venue HX8 (1.0 Turbo with 7-speed DCT), which powertrain is more mechanically durable for a 10-year ownership cycle? Is buying new punch ev also makes sense? I’m open to other suggestions as well.

Autocar India

•2h

All modern cars today, if maintained well, are engineered to last 10 years or more. Over that period, you should budget for both scheduled services and some wear-and-tear replacements. Given your usage pattern with limited annual running and long idle periods, the way the powertrain behaves when used sparingly becomes more important. Since most of your trips are short and local in Kasaragod, outright performance is less critical than smooth and reliable operation.Between the Skoda Kylaq Prestige Plus (1.0 TSI with 6-speed torque converter) and the Hyundai Venue HX8 (1.0 Turbo with 7-speed DCT), both should serve you well if maintained properly. However, purely from a mechanical durability standpoint, a conventional torque converter automatic, like the one in the Kylaq, is generally more tolerant of stop-go driving and long-term ownership than a dual-clutch transmission (DCT).DCTs offer quicker shifts and better efficiency, but they are more complex and can be sensitive to heat and crawling traffic. This is something your sister is likely to encounter in town driving. Over a 10-year horizon, especially with intermittent usage and possible long idle periods, the simpler torque converter setup is typically the safer bet.That said, both cars use small turbo-petrol engines. Modern turbo engines are reliable, but they are inherently more complex than naturally aspirated (NA) engines. It is due to additional components like the turbocharger and intercooler. If absolute long-term peace of mind is your priority, you could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, which comes with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired to a 6-speed torque converter. An NA engine is mechanically simpler and, in theory, better suited to low annual running and long ownership.As for the Tata Punch EV, it is an excellent value for money as an EV. However, in your specific case, it may not make complete sense. Your annual usage appears limited, so you won’t significantly benefit from the lower running costs of an EV. Additionally, the Punch EV is compact with a smaller boot, which may restrict practicality during family visits. Long idle periods are also not ideal for EVs unless the battery state of charge is managed carefully.