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•9w

Hi Team, I’ve finally decided to go ahead with the Tata Harrier Adventure X+ Diesel AT instead of the petrol variant. I was previously a WagonR owner, and for the last three years, I’ve been driving a VW Taigun 1.5 MT Petrol. My only concern with switching to a diesel is the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). My running is around 500 km per week, so I believe that should be sufficient, but I’m still not entirely clear about the DPF requirements. Does a diesel car need to be driven every day, or is regular weekly running of around 500 km enough to keep the DPF healthy? I’d also like to know about real-world experiences with diesel cars, particularly regarding DPF regeneration and maintenance. I’d really appreciate any suggestions or experiences you can share. Also, I’m a big fan of the Harrier. I did consider the 7-seater, but honestly, it feels a bit too long for my preference and has more of a “taxi” feel to it. The 5-seater Harrier looks much more proportionate and suits my taste better. Looking forward to hearing about your experiences.

•9w

With 500km a week, you are well above the threshold where DPF becomes a concern. The DPF is designed to capture soot from the exhaust and then burn it off during a process called regeneration. This regeneration typically happens automatically when the engine reaches operating temperature and is held there for a sustained period, usually during a 15-20 minute drive at steady speeds. Your weekly running is more than sufficient for this.

You do not need to drive the car every day. What matters is that the car gets regular runs where the engine is warm and running at a consistent speed. Short, stop-start city trips are what cause issues, not the frequency of use. As long as your usage includes some highway or longer stretches, the DPF will regenerate as intended.

In real-world experience, modern Diesel cars are far less fussy about DPF than people fear. The issues tend to arise only with very low-mileage, purely urban cars. With your usage, the Tata Harrier Adventure X Diesel AT is a perfectly sensible choice. It is a strong, refined engine with good long-distance capability, and the automatic gearbox is well suited to both city and highway driving.

The Harrier is also the right choice from a proportion and feel perspective. The Tata Safari is a good car, but if you do not need the third row, the Harrier is the more balanced and better-looking option.

Go for the Harrier diesel without hesitation. Your usage is exactly what modern diesels are designed for.

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•9w•

Hello @autocar.india Follow-up Questions on DPF & Regeneration Thank you for the detailed response. It is reassuring to know that with around 500 km of weekly running, my usage should be well within the comfortable range for a modern diesel engine. I have a few follow-up questions specifically regarding DPF operation and monitoring: 1. What if there is a gap in weekly usage? Suppose during a particular month, I do not drive the car much during the first week, but then cover good highway distances during the following three weeks. In such a scenario, is there any reason to be concerned about DPF clogging or regeneration issues? In other words, is the important factor the overall usage pattern over a period of time, rather than strictly driving 500 km every seven days? 2. Is there any way to monitor DPF soot accumulation? As I understand it, BS6 diesel vehicles are equipped with a DPF, and the driver is generally alerted when the system requires regeneration or when the soot load reaches a certain level. My question is: is there any onboard feature, instrument, diagnostic tool or aftermarket device that can show the approximate DPF soot/ash accumulation level—for example, 20%, 35%, 70%, etc.? It would be very useful for the owner to have some visibility into the DPF condition before it reaches a point where an active regeneration is required. For example, if I know that the soot load is increasing, I could proactively take the car on a longer highway drive and allow regeneration to take place. 3. How is this handled in commercial/heavy-duty diesel vehicles? Do JCB machines, trucks, buses and other heavy-duty diesel vehicles have similar systems to monitor DPF soot loading and regeneration requirements? If such monitoring is available in commercial vehicles, is there any equivalent information or diagnostic capability available to owners of passenger cars such as the Harrier? Would really appreciate your guidance on these points, particularly from your experience with modern BS6 diesel vehicles. Thanks again!

•9w•

Hello @autocar.india -Kindly requesting you to give a response on above query.

•4w•

@shiv09 won't be an issue, as long as you are getting those highway runs the following weeks

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•3d

Please advise which car would be the best choice for long-term ownership: the Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen SUV, or any other suitable option. My priority is reliability, long-term durability, and hassle-free ownership over the next 10 years or more. I would appreciate suggestions based on real-world ownership experience, maintenance costs, spare parts availability, and after-sales support.

•3d

For long-term ownership, the Mahindra Scorpio N is the safest recommendation from your shortlist. It has a proven track record, robust mechanicals and a strong service network, making it a dependable choice for 5-10 years of ownership. The Tata Harrier and Tata Safari have improved significantly, but the Scorpio N still has the edge on long-term reliability and ownership confidence. The Jeep Compass is a good product, but it is now an ageing model and does not offer the same value proposition as the Scorpio N. If you are open to alternatives, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is worth considering. It is a more modern product with a better balance of comfort, features and refinement, and it is a strong long-term ownership proposition as well. The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are excellent driver's cars, but they are smaller and do not offer the same level of space or road presence as the Scorpio N or XUV 7XO.

Hi, I'm planning for a reliable car for my family for long term ownership. Mostly, I drive within the city with monthly average of 300-500 km and take 2-3 long trips in a year. I had shortlisted Seltos HTX petrol. However, I'm getting recommendations to go with Harrier base under my budget. Should I opt with Seltos or Harrier?

•2d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX petrol. With your usage of 300-500 km a month and mostly city driving, petrol is the right choice, and the Seltos is a very well-rounded car. It is comfortable, easy to drive in the city, has a good feature set in the HTX trim, and Kia’s service network is strong. The Harrier base is a bigger, heavier car and is better suited to buyers who do a lot of highway driving or need the extra space and ruggedness. For your usage, the Seltos will be easier to live with, more efficient and a better fit overall. The only reason to consider the Harrier would be if you specifically need the larger size and more rugged nature, but for your requirements the Seltos is the smarter choice.

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•2d

I am planning to upgrade from my Hyundai i10. My daily commute is around 40 km in Chennai city, and I drive approximately 600 km on the highway once a month. I am considering the Tata Altroz diesel, with a budget of around Rs. 11 lakh. I am looking for a reliable diesel car with good mileage and low maintenance costs. I prefer a practical car without unnecessary fancy features. Please suggest the best options for my usage.

•1d

Given your usage pattern of 40 km daily city driving and a 600 km highway run every month, diesel does make sense, and the Tata Altroz diesel is a solid choice. It offers good fuel efficiency, a comfortable ride and a well-built cabin, and it is one of the few diesel hatchbacks still available in the market. The Altroz diesel remains a sensible option, but do keep in mind that Tata's service experience can be inconsistent depending on the dealership. If you are open to stretching your budget slightly, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is worth considering. It offers a more powerful diesel engine, better highway performance and a more robust ownership experience. If you are strictly sticking to the Rs 11 lakh budget, the Altroz diesel is the best fit for your requirements. It is practical, efficient and well-suited to your usage pattern. Just make sure you are comfortable with your local Tata service centre before making the final decision.

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•1w

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a seven-seater car. I have test-driven the Renault Triber Turbo and Citroen Aircross X and was impressed by what both offer at their price points. However, the Aircross put a wide smile on my face. As a current Maruti Suzuki user, I did not consider the Ertiga because it feels similar to our Swift. I liked the Aircross X but am sceptical about Citroen's service network and spare parts availability. However, there are three Citroen showrooms within 45 km of my place. Please suggest which car I should choose. My budget: Rs. 15 lakh Current vehicle: Second-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift petrol (2017) Annual usage: Around 10,000 km, with a 50:30:20 split between town, highway and city driving Requirement: A seven-seater car

•6d

The Citroen's interiors feel more special, its engine is more powerful, and its ride-handling balance is outstanding; however, for seven adults, it won't be as comfortable as the Triber.In fact, the Triber's superb packaging makes it genuinely comfortable for passengers in all three rows, despite its compact sub-4-meter dimensions. The new turbo-petrol engine makes it an effortless performer, and its ride quality feels very mature too. Moreover, the Triber Turbo is also much more affordable in comparison, making it outstanding value for money. Yes, the Aircross X will appeal to your heart, but given Citroen's limited service network and cramped third row, the Triber Turbo is the more sensible choice.

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•3d

I am planning to buy my first car. I want to have a 7-seater and need it for long term ownership. I liked the Citroen Aircross X design for 5+2. I am planning to choose a car with automatic transmission. I have couple of major concerns for which I would like your advice. First one is Mileage, I heard Aircross has a mileage issue and its real-world city mileage is 8 kpl while on highway it is 14 kpl. Is it the same for X version also? Second advice is for its service network. I have heard from the people that its service is slow. Regular servicing also takes around 2 days of time. I have a service center within 10 km from my home. My budget is Rs. 20 Lakh and I need an automatic transmission with rear and front parking camera or 360-degree camera since I am a new driver. Are there any 7-seater alternatives within this budget?

•2d

The Citroen Aircross X is a good-looking car, now with a premium interior. It is the only SUV in its category which offers a 5+2 seating configuration, and even though the third row is not particularly spacious, it works for occasional use. The real-world fuel efficiency figures as per our tests are 9.5kpl and 13.62kpl in city and highway conditions, respectively, which is quite decent given the strong and smooth performance this 1.2-turbo-petrol-AT delivers. What's more is that ride comfort is outstanding, perhaps the best among all midsize SUVs. So as far as comfort and practicality goes, the Aircross X is a good car.Citroen's service centre network is limited, but since you have a touchpoint close to your home, your vehicle's regular servicing and maintenance is likely to be taken care of smoothly. If you love the Aircross X for what it is, go for it - as far as value goes, it is an outstanding proposition. If you're looking for proper seven-seater alternatives, we'd strongly recommend the Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ turbo-petrol automatic version. All three rows are properly spacious, well-suited for adults. This variant will be within your Rs 20 lakh on-road budget, and it has front and rear parking sensors, as well as rear-view camera to make parking easy for you. Sure, it isn't an SUV, but it is a very sensible car, if you need a proper seven-seater.

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•4d

Hi team, I am planning to buy the Tata Altroz diesel, but I am confused between the Altroz and the Kia Sonet. Given that both options fall into different segments, I am unsure whether I should go for the Altroz or consider a sub-4-metre SUV like the Sonet. Could you please help me understand which would be the better choice? Thanks in advance.

•4d

Go for the Tata Altroz diesel. Your daily running of 30km and a mix of city and highway driving make diesel a sensible choice, and the Altroz is a genuinely strong package. The diesel engine is efficient, punchy and well suited to both city commutes and highway runs, while the Altroz itself is spacious, comfortable and has a proven safety record. It is also significantly more affordable than the Sonet, allowing you to opt for a higher variant with more features within the same budget.The Altroz diesel offers a better balance of efficiency, performance and ownership cost. The only caveat is that the Altroz diesel is available only with a manual gearbox, so if you specifically want an automatic, the Kia Sonet diesel automatic would be the better choice. Otherwise, the Altroz diesel is the smarter buy.

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