Autocar India
2d

I recently learned how to drive and am planning to buy a car that I intend to keep for the next 9-10 years. My budget is Rs. 15-18 lakh on-road. I prefer a petrol car because my daily running is around 35 km, along with weekend trips with my family. My family members already own a Tata Nexon, so I would prefer something different rather than buying another Nexon. Please suggest the best petrol cars within my budget, keeping in mind: Long-term reliability and maintenance, comfortable family use and weekend highway trips, good fuel efficiency, automatic transmission, if possible, and safety and ease of driving for a new driver Features that will remain useful over the next 9-10 years I am particularly confused about whether I should prioritize a 360-degree camera since I am a new driver. Is it actually worth choosing a car/variant specifically for the 360-degree camera, or can I manage with a normal rear camera and parking sensors? I would appreciate a practical recommendation.

Verified
5m

Go for the Honda Elevate CVT. It is the most sensible long-term choice for your requirements. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth, reliable, and easy to live with, and the CVT automatic is one of the most seamless and stress-free transmissions for city driving. This Honda car is also well suited to weekend highway trips, with a comfortable ride and a spacious cabin that works well for family use. Honda’s reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs makes it a strong 9-10 year ownership proposition, and the car is easy to drive with good visibility and light controls, which is important for a new driver.On the 360-degree camera question: it is a useful feature, but it is not essential. A good rear camera and parking sensors are more than adequate for everyday parking and manoeuvring, especially as you build confidence. It is not worth compromising on the overall car choice just to get a 360-degree camera.If you want something a bit more feature-rich, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is a good alternative. This Mahindra car offers more equipment and a more premium feel, but the Honda Elevate remains the more sensible long-term ownership choice.

VehicleHonda Elevate
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
Honda Elevate
Honda Elevate
2d

Hi Team, I have a Kiger Turbo CVT RXZ, the top model, which I bought in 2023. I’m now planning to move to a 7-seater by next year. My usage is quite low, around 100 km per week. However, I also take long family trips of around 600-800 km one way once every quarter. Which car should I consider waiting for, given that my priorities are long-distance comfort and decent fuel economy? I also wanted to know whether I should sell my Kiger or keep it as a secondary car for temporary or short-distance use. Or would it make more sense to sell the Kiger and buy a new 7-seater? Please suggest. Thanks!

Verified
1h

With your usage pattern of around 100 km a week and quarterly long trips of 600-800 km one way, a petrol 7-seater is the right direction. The Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 turbo petrol automatic is the best fit for your needs. This Kia car offers a comfortable ride, strong performance and a spacious cabin, making it well suited for long family trips. The petrol engine is also a better fit for your running than diesel, given your relatively low annual mileage.On the Renault Kiger, it makes sense to sell it and put the money towards the new 7-seater. Keeping two cars for your usage pattern is not financially efficient, and this Renault car is still relatively new, so you will get a better resale value now than if you wait another year or two. The Carens Clavis is also relatively compact and can comfortably handle both your city and highway needs, so there is no strong case for keeping the Kiger as a secondary car.Go for the Carens Clavis petrol now and sell the Kiger. It is the most sensible and hassle-free solution for your usage.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis
VehicleRenault Kiger
4d

Hi, I own a Hyundai Venue petrol Turbo DCT SX(O) top model, June 2022 facelift, 2nd gen. I now want to upgrade to a 7-seater. I go on long road trips every year, around two or three times, covering 3,000-7,000 km, for which I need good boot space with the third row folded. The usual number of passengers is four, and never more than five. I want a top-end automatic turbo-petrol car. I have test-driven the Kia Carens Clavis, MG Hector Plus and Hyundai Alcazar. I liked all of them and can't make up my mind. Please help unconfuse me and point me towards the right car. Budget is not a worry. Among these three, which would be the best? If not, and you can suggest something else, I am game. I won't buy a Tata or Mahindra product due to too many ownership niggles.

Verified
3h

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis turbo petrol automatic. It is the most practical and well-rounded choice for your needs. This Kia car offers a genuinely usable third row that folds flat to create a large, flexible boot, which is exactly what you need for long road trips with four to five passengers and lots of luggage. The turbo petrol engine paired with the DCT delivers strong performance and a familiar driving experience coming from your Hyundai Venue, while the ride quality is comfortable and the cabin is spacious and well-appointed.The MG Hector Plus is a good car with a comfortable ride and a premium feel, but the third row is less usable and the boot space with the third row folded is not as generous or as flexible as the Carens Clavis. The Hyundai Alcazar is a solid option with a refined turbo petrol engine and a premium cabin, but the third row is tighter and the overall space utilization is not as good as the Carens Clavis.Since you have ruled out Tata and Mahindra, the Carens Clavis is the best fit. It offers the right balance of space, comfort, performance and practicality for long-distance touring with your family.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis
VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleMG Hector
VehicleHyundai Alcazar
4d

Currently, I am using a Swift VXi petrol and planning to upgrade. My annual running is around 11,000-13,000 km, 80% of which is in the city, with occasional highway trips. Although I don't consistently drive at triple-digit speeds on highways, I really value good acceleration and overtaking capability in my new car. Driving dynamics are also important to me, and since some of my family members, including myself, are prone to motion sickness, I am okay with less body roll and a slightly stiffer suspension. I have capped my budget at Rs 20 lakh maximum on-road, and an automatic transmission is a must. I will be exchanging my Swift, which is expected to fetch around Rs 2-2.5 lakh here in Kerala. I have shortlisted the VW twins with the 1.0-litre AT as well as the 1.5-litre DSG. I am also considering the Seltos IVT and DCT. The XUV 7XO Diesel AT is another option under consideration. I have ruled out the Duster because the rear-seat experience feels like a step back. I am also getting offers for the Hycross GX petrol through a corporate tie-up with my company. I am completely confused among these options. My family wants a smaller car, but I want something that I can comfortably keep and use for at least 5-7 years.

Verified
6h

Go for the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG. It is the best fit for your requirements. You want strong acceleration and confident overtaking, and the 1.5 TSI delivers exactly that. This Skoda car is a genuinely quick car with a strong mid-range, which makes highway overtakes effortless without needing to push the car hard. The Kushaq also has a well-sorted chassis with controlled body roll and a slightly firmer suspension setup, which helps with motion sickness by reducing the floaty feeling on undulating roads. At the same time, it is not uncomfortable in the city. The Kushaq is also compact enough to be easy to live with in urban conditions, which addresses your family's preference for a smaller car. The Kia Seltos IVT is smooth and easy to drive, but it does not offer the same level of performance or driving engagement. The Seltos DCT is quick, but the gearbox can feel a bit jerky in stop-start traffic. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is a strong product, but it is a much larger car and does not align with your family's preference for a smaller vehicle. The Toyota Innova HyCross GX is a great family car, but it is not the right fit for your usage pattern and driving preferences. The Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG strikes the right balance between performance, dynamics, size and long-term usability. It is a car you will enjoy driving for the next 5-7 years.

VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
4d

Hello I am a Doctor currently drive around in an 2018 Honda Jazz, I am very happy with it but it's time now to get a new car and budget around Rs. 16-18 lakhs, I need a car which easily seats 5 and with a good trunk for outstation travels each month, my monthly run is around 200km tops when in city and a highway run every 2-3 months is around 300kms, I live in Mumbai so you guys know the usual problems, so need a advice as I am scared for e20 and e20+ fuel changes and am scared about EV resale prices, currently short listed the Kia Seltos (prefer petrol or CNG (if any chance in near future))as the most favourite and need some advise for other cars. Would a diesel make sense when I don't drive every day?

Verified
7h

Based on your usage, a diesel car does not make sense. Your monthly running is low, and your highway trips are infrequent, so you will not recover the higher upfront cost of a diesel. A Petrol car is the right choice here.The Kia Seltos is a good option, but at your budget you will be looking at the lower variants, so you might have to skip a few features.On E20, do not worry. Modern petrol engines are engineered to handle E20 fuel and are engineered to take on higher blends too (upto a certain level).On CNG, there is no factory CNG option on this Kia car, but given your low running, a CNG car does not make financial sense anyway.In case you're looking to get an electric car, and you can arrange for home charging, consider the Kia Syros EV or MG Windsor Pro. Both are spacious five-seater EVs which should serve your needs.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleKia Syros EV
VehicleMG Windsor
Kia Seltos
Kia Seltos
1d

I'm driving Tata Altroz NA petrol manual for the past five years. Now, I want to switch to a diesel engine since most of my running would be on rough terrain and ghat roads. My yearly running is around 15,000 km. I am looking for a used Nexon diesel due to budget constraint. I live in Mangalore. Would it be a good option or should I look for some other brand/model? I would prefer manual only since I like driving manual cars and I don't need very fancy features. Please suggest.

Verified
20h

Given your usage of 15,000 km a year, rough terrain, ghat roads and a preference for manual driving, a diesel SUV is the right direction. The Tata Nexon diesel is a good choice for this use case. The diesel engine has strong low-end torque, which is exactly what you want for hill climbs and rough roads, and the Nexon’s ground clearance and suspension setup are well suited to the kind of terrain you’re describing. It’s one of Tata Motor's older cars and has been constantly updated since its introduction for improve aspects of performance comfort and reliability so get as new a car possible as your budget allows. If you find a well-maintained example with a clean service history, the Nexon diesel is a very sensible and cost-effective upgrade from your Altroz.If you want to consider alternatives, the Hyundai Venue or even the Maruti Suzuki Brezza diesel (from the previous generation) is worth a look. Overall, the Nexon diesel manual is a good fit for your requirements. Just focus on finding a well-maintained used example with a full service history.

VehicleTata Nexon
VehicleTata Altroz
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleHyundai Venue