Latest questions answered by experts

Dhruv

Hi Autocar, I have a budget of ₹15 lakh and am confused between the Victoris (vxi), Hyryder (base model) and Grand Vitara (base model), all in petrol + CNG form. I do like the Victoris, but, I am not sure whether it has been able to capture the market well enough, which makes me concerned about its resale value and spare parts availability in the future. Please assist. Kindly note that I am looking for a car that will be used mostly for long-distance travel, with limited city usage.

Autocar India

•2m

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXI CNG suits your needs the best. It suits your highway use better than the Grand Vitara and Hyryder CNGs because unlike those two, the Victoris CNG gets underbody mounted CNG tanks which frees up boot space which is essential on road trips. Also worth noting, all three SUVs are mechanically identical. Furthermore, Maruti’s service reach is the widest and if resale is a worry, the Maruti badge is known to have one of the best resale values on the market.Do note, you'll have to plan your highway trips according to the availability of CNG pumps on your route and you'll also have to wait in the queues that are generally there at CNG pumps.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Srujanansh Das

•20h

Hello Autocar India Team, I am planning to buy a new family car with a maximum on-road budget of ₹13-14.5 lakh and would love your recommendation. My requirements include strong engine performance, good features, ample cabin space, 5-star safety, good fuel efficiency, comfortable ride quality, and solid build quality. I currently own a Renault Kwid and am looking for a car that would be a significant upgrade in every aspect, including performance, comfort, safety, and overall driving experience. My usage will be approximately 65% on rural roads and 35% in city driving, so ride comfort, ground clearance, and durability are especially important to me. I am particularly interested in the new Renault Duster Techno 1.0 variant and would like to know whether it would be a suitable choice for my needs. If not, please suggest other cars within this budget that you believe offer a better overall package. Thank you for your guidance.

Autocar India

•32m

If strong performance is high on your priority list, we would be cautious about the Renault Duster 1.0 Techno. While we have experienced this 1.0 turbo petrol engine in the Magnite, where it feels punchy and capable, the Duster is a significantly larger and heavier SUV, so we do not expect it to feel particularly quick or effortless, especially if you are looking for a meaningful upgrade from a Kwid in outright performance.If your heart is set on the Duster, the smarter move would be to stretch slightly for the 1.3 turbo petrol, which sits only a little above your budget and will feel substantially stronger and more satisfying to drive, especially on rural roads where effortless overtaking and usable performance matter.If you are open to alternatives, the Skoda Kushaq Classic+ 1.0 TSI is a very strong option. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy, the Kushaq is genuinely nice to drive, has good rear seat space, solid build and safety credentials that you are looking for.If fuel efficiency matters more than outright performance, then the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol HTE(O) is worth considering as well. It will not feel as punchy as the turbo petrol options, but it is the most premium feeling of the lot, more efficient in everyday use and a very sorted family SUV overall.

Saran s

I currently own a 2019 Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi Plus, which has covered 85,000 km. I have received an exchange valuation of Rs 4.85 lakh against a new Hyundai Venue or Maruti Brezza. Considering my monthly usage has now decreased to just 600 km, would it be financially prudent to proceed with the exchange, or would it be wiser to retain my current car for another few years?

Autocar India

•1h

Since your usage has reduced, it makes sense to retain your Maruti Suzuki Dzire if it is serving you without any issues. Even if you have a major service coming up which involves changing its suspension, tyres, brakes, clutch, etc., the total cost to keep your car in top shape will only be a fraction of what you'll otherwise have to spend to purchase an all-new car.And being a Maruti car, it is likely to hold its value, and even if you decide to sell a few years down the line, its resale price is not likely to drop too sharply.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Akshay

•7h

Asking on behalf of a colleague. He plans to buy an EV for regular use, which includes weekly office work (3-4 days), weekend trips with his small family, all within the Bangalore city area. He has booked the Mahindra XEV 9S. Should we wait for the launch of Sierra EV, as it is a bit smaller in size, which may be useful for his city usage? Also, since the Sierra petrol and diesel are still not visible on Bangalore roads as of mid-May 2026, despite having a huge hype during launch, would waiting for the Sierra EV be a wise decision or just a waste of time? Can the increasing petrol price lead to an increase in the cost of EVs? The Bangalore government has already removed the road tax discount on EVs.

Autocar India

•1h

The Mahindra XEV 9S is the more sensible choice rather than waiting for the Tata Sierra EV. With no firm launch date for the Sierra EV and uncertain delivery timelines, it makes more sense to opt for the XEV 9S, which is already on sale.Yes, the XEV 9S is a bit larger than the Tata; however, its light steering, tight turning radius, good visibility and driving aids make it surprisingly easy to drive and live with.Coming to the second part of your question, Karnataka has introduced new slabs for EV road tax from May 1, 2026, so on-road prices are higher than before, but still running costs remain much lower than petrol. Since your colleague is buying the car now, it will save him from any potential price hikes due to the higher battery import cost or any new taxes.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Sierra EV

ronak Lalwani

•6h

Which car should I buy with an Rs 8-9.5 lakh budget and 15,000km annual running? My highway-to-city usage is 70:30. I am posted in Maharashtra, and my hometown is approximately 1,100km away. I need good boot space and mileage, and the car will be registered under the BH series. Should I go for petrol, diesel or EV? I have looked at the Tata Altroz diesel, Tata Nexon diesel and Maruti Dzire petrol.

Autocar India

•2h

The entry-level Tata Altroz diesel-manual fits your budget. It is spacious, fuel-efficient, and has a decent-sized boot by hatchback standards, too. The Tata's highway stability is excellent, refinement isn't one of its strengths, and it does get quite noisy.Alternatively, you could consider the mid-spec Maruti Suzuki Dzire. Even though it is only petrol-powered, its 3-cylinder engine is extremely fuel-efficient. The clutch, gearbox and steering are light, the car is very spacious, and its boot is large. While the Dzire is a very comfortable car, engine performance on the highway is a bit dull. However, if you are a sedate driver, this is the one to go for.

Tata Altroz

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Gowtham M

•8h

Hi, I am planning to buy an electric car under a 10 lakh budget. Unable to decide on the car. Mostly for city (Hyderabad) purposes, with daily usage of 10-20 km. Did test drive Punch, Curvv, e-Vitara, Windsor - I thought Punch better, some people are saying Tata service is not good. Kindly help me select an EV car.

Autocar India

•2h

For your daily running of 10-20 km in Hyderabad and with a budget of Rs. 10 lakh, you should consider the base Tata Punch EV Smart variant. It suits short city use best because it is small and easy to park, feels smooth at low speeds, and has enough range to do your commute multiple times on one charge. The tall seat gives you a good view out, and the good ground clearance makes dealing with speed breakers and broken patches easy.Meanwhile, the Tata Curvv EV, Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara and MG Windsor are larger and pricier, and will go well past your budget. As for your concerns, Tata's service quality varies by outlet. In Hyderabad, the EV network is among the widest, but pick a dealer with strong Google reviews, choose their bigger workshop, and take an extended warranty to keep peace of mind.Alternatively, you could even consider the MG Comet EV as an urban runabout.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Curvv EV

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

MG Windsor

MG Comet