Mumbai

•5d

I am looking for an SUV that is very comfortable on highways and powerful enough to tackle a slippery uphill section that I need to drive on about twice a month. My current Hyundai i10 can manage the climb during the dry season, but it struggles to make it up during the rainy season when the surface becomes slippery. Could you please suggest the best SUV options within a budget of Rs. 25 lakh?

•14m

Get the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara AllGrip AWD (manual). It is calm and comfortable at highway speeds, and its proper AWD with a lock mode gives you traction for that slippery climb in the rains, which a normal front-wheel-drive SUV will struggle with. You also get decent ground clearance and sensible tires, so you are not scraping or spinning when the surface turns slick.

For your twice-a-month climb, it is the smart balance: much easier to live with than big ladder-frame 4x4s, yet far more capable than the usual soft-roaders. On long drives it rides well, has all the features you need, is super efficient and won’t tire you out. Running costs and service are friendly too, which matters over years of use.

One thing to be aware of: the AWD comes only with the automatic - in case you preferred a manual, and the 1.5 petrol is not very quick for fast overtakes when fully loaded. If you can live with that, this is the most painless way to get real rainy-season ability within Rs. 25 lakh.

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Maruti Suzuki

Grand Vitara

from ₹12.75 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•1d

Suggest to me between the Tata Nexon Diesel Automatic and the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Petrol Mild Hybrid Automatic. My running is 30 to 50 kilometres a day.

•17h

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Petrol Mild Hybrid Automatic would be the recommendation here.With a monthly running of just over 1000km, you're right on the cusp where a diesel's fuel-efficiency advantage starts becoming less compelling, especially if a significant portion of that driving is in the city. The Grand Vitara's naturally aspirated petrol engine and torque-converter automatic are smooth, refined and easy to live with, while the mild-hybrid system helps improve fuel efficiency in urban conditions. It also offers a more spacious cabin, better ride comfort and a more premium overall experience than the Nexon.The Tata Nexon Diesel Automatic will undoubtedly be more fuel efficient on longer journeys and offers strong low-end torque. However, it is still a modern diesel with a DPF, and if your driving includes frequent short trips or heavy city traffic, it may not be the ideal fit over the long term.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Tata Nexon

•5d

I’m looking for a compact SUV for India. My main consideration is great driving dynamics and power. I’m looking for a petrol variant and an automatic transmission. I’ll be using it mainly on long road trips and broken road explorations. Our dream is to do all India / global trips. In about 2 years, there’s a chance we’ll travel with four people (including me) more regularly, so I don’t want the car to struggle then. I don’t need features like ADAS, and I’ll want to upgrade the sound system and camera after purchase. While I’m leaning towards Renault, Skoda, and Volkswagen, could you give me 4-5 options and the best variant? My budget on road is 23-24 lakhs max.

•1d

Pick the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG, in either Prestige or Monte Carlo. It’s the most fun-to-drive in your budget, with strong mid‑range power for four-up highway climbs, and a suspension that rides well on broken roads without feeling floaty. It stays stable at speed, and the steering feels natural on long drives. One honest caveat: the 7‑speed dual‑clutch can feel a bit jerky in stop‑go traffic, but your use is mostly highways, so it suits you fine.Close second is the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG. Same punchy engine and gearbox, and equally enjoyable on twisty hill roads. Between the two, buy the one that gets you the better deal or closer service centres in your city.From Renault, the new Duster turbo‑petrol DCT is a solid choice too. It’s also great on rough roads and enjoyable in the twisties with enough performance for quick highways. Its DCT uses a wet clutch compared to the dry clutch from VW/Skoda, which means shifts are smoother in the city. Wet clutch transmissions are also generally more robust than dry clutch units.Alternatively, consider the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT. It has a roomier cabin, which will be important when you are travelling four up. It isn't quite as sharp as the above competitors, but it is enjoyable with plenty of performance.If you are going to be travelling to remote locations, service availability can be scarce. If that is a concern, then include the Maruti Victoris or the Grand Vitara 1.5 petrol. They can also be had with AWD, which can be very useful on rough roads and in icy conditions.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

•2d

I am a first-time car buyer. My regular commute will be around 20 days a month, primarily on highways, with a round-trip distance of approximately 130 km per day. I have shortlisted the Renault Duster Techno 1.3 Turbo and would like to know whether it would be a good choice for my requirements. I am also open to other recommendations. Additionally, could you please suggest some good diesel cars within a similar budget?

•1d

The Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo is a good choice, especially if you enjoy driving. The turbo-petrol engine offers strong performance, effortless overtaking ability and makes long highway commutes far more enjoyable than most naturally aspirated rivals.However, your usage pattern is quite demanding. A daily round trip of around 130km for 20 days a month works out to nearly 3,000km every month. In our real-world fuel efficiency tests, the Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT returned 7.47kpl in the city and 13.47kpl on the highway. While those figures are acceptable for a performance-oriented turbo-petrol SUV, your monthly fuel bills will be fairly substantial given the distances you cover.For that reason, it may be worth waiting for the Duster Hybrid, which should offer significantly lower running costs while retaining much of the Duster's practicality and appeal.You should also consider the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid. They may not be as engaging to drive as the Duster, but they are exceptionally efficient and are likely to save you a considerable amount in fuel costs over the years.If you'd prefer a diesel, the Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic and upcoming Tata Sierra Diesel Automatic are worth looking at. Both should be considerably more fuel efficient than the Duster petrol and are well suited to high-mileage highway use.

Renault Duster

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

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•5d

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

•4d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

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I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•4d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

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•4d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

•3d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

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