Agra

•1d

I am planning to buy a car in the Rs 12-13 lakh price range and will travel around 1,000-1,200km on the highway every month. Should I go for the Sonet diesel, or would a petrol car be a better choice? If petrol is the better option, please suggest cars with good mileage, as fuel efficiency is my main concern.

•12m

With 1,000-1,200 km of highway driving per month, the Kia Sonet diesel is a sensible choice. At that kind of running, the fuel cost savings of diesel over petrol become meaningful, especially on highways where diesel engines are at their most efficient. The Sonet diesel is a strong highway performer, with good torque for overtaking and a relaxed cruising nature. It is also a well-rounded package with a comfortable ride and a decent feature set.

If you are open to petrol, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the best alternative. It is one of the most fuel-efficient petrol SUVs in the segment, and Maruti's ownership experience and service reach are hard to beat. However, the fuel cost difference compared to diesel will still be noticeable in your running costs.

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•3m•

@autocar.india If I choose Breeza which one is better turbo or NA engine.

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•1d

I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of Rs 25 lakh. I currently drive a 2021 Kia Sonet DCT and am quite interested in the Thar Roxx. However, around 80% of my driving is in Hyderabad’s heavy traffic. Is the Thar Roxx a good choice for my usage, or are there other options worth considering?

•3h

With 80 percent of your driving in Hyderabad's heavy traffic, the Mahindra Thar Roxx is not the most sensible upgrade from your Kia Sonet DCT. The Thar Roxx is a lifestyle SUV with a rugged, off-road-focused character, and while it is great fun on trails and highways, it is not the most comfortable or practical daily driver in dense city traffic. The ride is firm, the turning circle is large, and the overall driving experience can become tiring in stop-and-go conditions.Given your budget of Rs 25 lakh, a more practical upgrade would be something like the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta. Both offer a significant step up in space, comfort and refinement over the Sonet, and are far better suited to daily city driving while still being capable on highways. If you are looking for something with a bit more character, the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun are also worth considering, especially if you enjoy driving.If you are still drawn to the Thar Roxx for its lifestyle appeal, it is best approached as a second car rather than a primary daily driver. For your usage pattern, prioritising comfort, ease of driving and practicality will make you much happier over the long term.

I am planning to buy a sub-compact SUV. My budget is Rs. 13-14 lakh, and my priorities are a smooth automatic transmission and good mileage. I am considering the Brezza ZXi AT, Sonet HXT DCT, and Venue HX6 DCT. I am very confused because the Brezza’s torque-converter automatic offers good fuel efficiency but lacks some features, while the Sonet and Venue offer all the features I need. However, I am concerned that the DCT may be less fuel-efficient and could involve higher maintenance costs. My daily commute is around 30 km, mostly in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. Please suggest which one would be the best choice for my requirements.

•2d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT. Your priorities are a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and a daily 30km commute in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Brezza’s 6-speed torque converter automatic is the best fit for this usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start conditions, and the naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and easy to live with. Maruti’s service reach and low maintenance costs add to the ownership peace of mind.The Sonet and Venue DCTs are good cars, but the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy traffic. It can feel jerky at low speeds.Alternatively, if you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option.

I have been using a Grand i10 manual for the last eight years and am now planning to get a new vehicle for my wife, who will be a new driver. Her monthly commute will be around 700km, with 500km on the highway and the remaining distance in stop-and-go traffic. The vehicle will also be used for long trips, mostly on the plains. My priorities are comfort and space for a family of five, a peppy engine, reliability for 10-12 years, and pocket-friendly maintenance costs; last is mileage. I don't like Tata or Mahindra cars. My budget is Rs 15-17 lakh. I am considering the Honda Elevate and Sonet diesel. Please feel free to suggest any other cars.

•2d

Go for the Honda Elevate petrol CVT. It is the best fit for your requirements. The Elevate’s CVT automatic is smooth and convenient, making driving in city traffic far less stressful. It is also a reliable, fuss-free car that will comfortably last 10-12 years with Honda’s strong service network and low maintenance costs. The cabin is spacious enough for a family of five, and the ride is comfortable on long highway trips. The petrol engine is refined and peppy enough for your usage, and you avoid the long-term concerns around diesel ownership as emission norms tighten.The Kia Sonet diesel is a good car, but it is smaller than the Elevate, and the diesel automatic doesn't make sense given your usage. The Honda car mentioned above is the more sensible, long-term choice.

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•3d

I currently drive a Grand i10 Manual petrol and am now planning to buy a new compact SUV that is comfortable, fuel efficient and has low maintenance. My usage is 35km of daily office commute in Delhi-NCR traffic. Please advice which option is best fit amongst Hyundai Venue HX 6T, SONET HTK+O and XUV 3XO.

•3d

Go for the Hyundai Venue. With your daily 35km commute in Delhi NCR traffic, comfort and low maintenance are key, and the Venue delivers on both. The 1.2 NA petrol is smooth, refined and easy to drive in stop-start conditions, while Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The HX6T variant also gives you a good balance of features without pushing the budget too far.The Sonet HTK+O is mechanically very similar, but the Venue is a newer model and offers a more spacious cabin. The XUV 3XO is also a good option, but its turbo petrol engine won't be as efficient as the Hyundai’s.Overall, the Venue is the most sensible upgrade from your Grand i10 for daily city use.

I want to buy Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 diesel manual but my concern is that many users have reported notchy or problematic gearing in manual and wearing of clutch plate. Are these recurrent issues or they are case-to-case basis?

•5d

Go ahead and buy the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 diesel manual. The notchy gearshift and clutch wear are not widespread ownership issues. The 7XO uses a 6-speed manual gearbox paired with a strong diesel engine, and while some owners have reported a slightly notchy shift action, it is not a reliability problem. It is more a matter of shift feel, and it tends to improve as the car runs in. Clutch wear is largely usage-dependent. The 7XO diesel has a strong torque band, so you can drive it with fewer gear changes and less clutch slip. If you drive in heavy stop-start traffic with a lot of clutch riding, any modern diesel will wear its clutch faster. Mahindra has also made incremental improvements to the clutch and gearbox over time. The bigger picture is that the 7XO diesel is one of the best long-distance SUVs in the segment, with a strong engine, excellent ride and a very comfortable cabin. If you are worried about the manual, the automatic is a very good torque converter unit, but if you prefer a manual, this is not a reason to avoid the car. Just drive it normally, avoid excessive clutch slip in traffic, and you will not have a problem.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•6d

I am planning to buy a new car under 20-25 lakh for the next ten years. I have considered two cars Seltos DCT GTX(A) and Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo DSG but am afraid of the mileage and if I go with an EV, I am afraid that infrastructure will not be that good. I drive daily for 10-15 km and take 2-3 trips in a year on highway. Should I buy the car now or wait for Seltos Hybrid? Will it cost an additional 2-3 lakh or will it be value for money for my driving. Should I consider another car?

•6d

With a daily running of just 10-15 km and only a few highway trips a year, fuel efficiency and long-term reliability should be your top priorities. The Seltos DCT GTX+ and Kushaq 1.5 DSG Monte Carlo are both excellent cars, but their turbo-petrol engines and dual-clutch gearboxes are not the most efficient or the most stress-free choices for predominantly short city runs. The DCT/DSG gearboxes are at their best on open roads, and in stop-start city traffic they can feel a bit jerky and are not as smooth or as durable as a torque converter automatic over the long term.The Seltos hybrid is worth waiting for if you are not in a hurry. It is expected to be priced roughly Rs. 2-3 lakh above the equivalent petrol variant, and for your usage pattern it will make more sense than the turbo-petrol DCT. Hybrids deliver their biggest efficiency gains in city driving, and over a 10-year ownership period the fuel savings and smoother driving experience will more than justify the premium.If you want to buy now, the Kia Seltos IVT (naturally aspirated petrol with CVT) is the better choice for your usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to city driving, and you will not be paying a premium for performance you will rarely use. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the torque converter automatic is another good option if you prefer a more engaging driving experience, but the Seltos IVT is the more refined and hassle-free choice.EVs are not the right fit for you at the moment given your concerns about charging infrastructure and your low daily running. The savings are not significant enough to justify the compromises.

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