Latest questions answered by experts

Animesh Jha

Hello, I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of around ₹80 lakh. My priorities are safety, comfort, and performance. My usage will be evenly split between city driving and highway (long-distance) trips. I am currently considering the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, and Land Rover Discovery Sport (despite higher maintenance, I understand it offers better performance). Could you please help me choose the right option?

Autocar India

•15m

For what you're after, the BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport is the one that fits your brief best. It feels the most engaging to drive without giving up daily comfort, and it feels safe and steady at speed. The 2.0 diesel has strong pull for quick passes, the 8‑speed automatic shifts very smoothly, and the rear-biased xDrive AWD focuses on driving pleasure while still providing a safety net. In the city, it is easy to drive, the engine is quiet enough at low speeds, and visibility is good. You could also consider the new xDrive 30 petrol, which is even more exciting to drive, but we feel the trade-offs to mileage and ride comfort for your mixed usage mean the 20d still feels like the better bet.The Mercedes GLC has slightly softer suspension and a more luxurious interior, but is not quite as fun to drive. And the Land Rover Discovery Sport feels tougher and has the advantage of a small third row of seats, but it simply feels too dated and not as refined in this company. Overall, we would recommend the BMW X3 for you.

BMW X3

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Land Rover Discovery Sport

CHaruhas Vaidya

•1d

I am planning to buy a new car for my daily use, with a running of around 50 km per day. I am currently driving a Honda City diesel and would like to upgrade to an SUV that offers good comfort and fuel efficiency. My budget is around ₹20 lakh.

Autocar India

•50m

Given your requirements, you should consider the Maruti Victoris VXI strong hybrid. It costs about Rs 20 lakh on-road, has a comfortable ride and cabin and offers excellent fuel efficiency (28.65kpl claimed). Given that your daily running is high, you'll benefit from the efficient, strong hybrid powertrain, and the eCVT automatic gearbox also makes it convenient to drive. The Victoris also comes with a full, 5-star crash safety rating from Bharat NCAP and being a Maruti, it will be reliable and stress-free to live with. A drawback worth noting, though, the Victoris strong hybrid has a smaller boot in comparison to rivals, given that it has the hybrid battery in the boot. Alternatively, if you want to stick to a diesel-manual, consider the Kia Seltos HTK(O) diesel manual.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Seltos

Ajay kumar

•4d

Hi, my daily driving is around 70 km within the city, along with a monthly trip of about 500 km. I am planning to buy a car in the ₹10–15 lakh budget range. I am currently considering the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra 3XO, and Maruti Brezza.

Autocar India

•1h

With 70 km a day in city traffic and one 500 km trip a month, in the Rs. 10-15 lakh range, the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT fits your use best because its seamless automatic is very smooth at low speeds and makes long city drives easy. It is easy to see out of, the steering is light, and it rides comfortably over broken roads, so you will reach home less tired after those daily runs. It is also steady on the highway, and the cabin has enough space for family and bags on that monthly trip.You will need to stretch your budget slightly, but the Seltos is a segment above your other choices and feels it. If you are on a tight budget, then the Mahindra XUV 3XO with the turbo petrol automatic combo is also a good choice. If running cost is your top concern, given your high monthly km, the Hyundai Venue HX 5 diesel auto is worth a look too.Overall, for heavy city use with some highway travel, the Seltos IVT lines up best with what you described.

S Sinha

I am planning to buy a premium SUV in the ₹30-40 lakh segment and prefer a model without captain seats. After test-driving the Toyota Hycross, Tata Safari, and Mahindra XUV 7XO, I have booked the XUV 7XO AX7L diesel automatic 2WD, which has a waiting period of around six months. However, I am not in a hurry. While the Safari offered a more spacious third row and better suspension, the XUV felt more powerful, and Mahindra has a better reputation for service compared to Tata. I dropped the Hycross because the VX(O) variant misses some features, has smaller tyres, and the interior does not feel like a significant upgrade over my Ecosport, despite the higher price. I initially chose diesel for better mileage, but I am now concerned about potential DPF-related issues, as nearly 80% of my driving will be in Bangalore city.

Autocar India

•1h

Your observations are correct, and the Mahindra XUV 7XO does feel like the most modern and luxurious of the three vehicles you have shortlisted. It certainly is the most emotion-driven choice, as it has the most powerful engine and the sharpest driving dynamics. However, you're also right about the need for DPF maintenance, which, with your 80 percent Bengaluru city usage, will require some extra effort. Moreover, if you are looking for efficiency, the XUV7XO - even the diesel - is not the right choice. Mahindra typically tunes its engines for performance over mileage, and if there is a mileage benefit to the diesel, it will be felt out on the highway, rather than in the city.Thus, if mileage is a concern, the Toyota Innova Hycross strong hybrid is a much better choice, with excellent figures irrespective of city or highway use. If your budget stretches to Rs 40 lakh, consider going for the higher ZX (O) variant, which gives you more creature comforts inside the cabin. And if service is a consideration, Toyota is on a much higher level than both other brands. It's also got the most spacious cabin, especially in the third row. It's not the most emotional or exciting choice, but when it comes to peace of mind, it's hard to fault.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Toyota Innova HyCross

Maverick

•4d

I used to own a Mahindra Scorpio S11, but I rarely used it. I now want a car for a 20 km daily commute and occasional long highway trips about five times a year. I am waiting for the Toyota RAV4 AWD to launch in India. Could you please suggest which car I should buy? I prefer a petrol-hybrid car, and Toyota is my favourite brand in India.

Autocar India

•2h

For a 20 km daily run with five long highway trips in a year, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid is the best fit for you. It keeps the Toyota badge you like, gives you a petrol-hybrid setup, and suits your mostly city use while still handling those highway drives with ease.In slow city traffic, it starts and moves on electric power most of the time, so it feels very smooth and quiet while using less fuel. After a Scorpio, you will find it far easier to park and thread through gaps, yet it still sits a bit higher than a small car so you get a good view out. On the highway, it cruises calmly, and the hybrid has enough pull for safe overtakes when you press the pedal.A couple of things to note for your use. The strong-hybrid does not come with all-wheel drive. If AWD is a must for you, the Hyryder offers it only with the regular petrol but not the hybrid. Also, the hybrid’s boot is smaller than many rivals, so packing for those five long trips will need some planning.If you want more space and long-distance comfort, and you are okay with a bigger, costlier car, the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid is the other strong Toyota hybrid to look at. As of now, Toyota has no concrete plans to bring the Toyota RAV4 to India in 2026 or anytime soon, so we wouldn't wait for it.Overall, for your daily commute and occasional highway runs, the Hyryder strong-hybrid suits your brief best.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Toyota Innova HyCross

Sekhar

•3d

My primary usage is on highways, and I need the maximum possible range along with a good highway driving experience. I am confused between the Tata Harrier EV 75 kWh Fearless (RWD) and the Mahindra 9S 79 kWh. Which one offers a better highway range?

Autocar India

•3h

You need a car for pure highway use and want the longest stretch between stops; in that case, we would lean towards the Mahindra XEV 9S 79kWh for its better real-world highway range. In our real-world testing, we managed 477 km on the highway, which suits your “pure highway” pattern. We have also tested the AWD Harrier EV, which managed 401 km (combined). While the RWD version should better that, it will likely still fall short of the XEV 9S’s range.One thing to note: the Mahindra’s ride can feel a bit floaty on undulating highway surfaces, so try it out before you commit. If that is an issue, the XEV 9e has a more settled ride.Overall, for highway-first use and maximum range, the XEV 9S 79kWh is the safer bet.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Harrier EV