Latest questions answered by experts
Shyam
•2dI’m looking to buy a compact SUV with an automatic transmission for my family, with a budget under Rs. 17 lakh. It should comfortably seat 5 people - 4 adults and 1 child - plus luggage. My usage will be mostly city driving in Pune for office commutes, with occasional highway trips to Mumbai and other outstation routes that include ghat sections. I’m considering the Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Hyundai Creta N Line, Kia Sonet, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, and MG Astor. Could you please help me decide which automatic option would be most reliable for me? I’d like to compare them on safety, mileage, comfort, and service/maintenance. If there’s another car you’d recommend that fits my needs better, please suggest that too.

Autocar India
Mostly city use in Pune with room for five and a Rs 17 lakh cap - the Hyundai Creta IVT is the best fit. The N Line or other turbo-petrol trims will require you to stretch your budget beyond Rs 20 lakh. Since most of your use is in Pune city traffic, performance from the 1.5 NA is more than adequate. It is also the roomiest amongst your choices and comfortably seats five with room for their luggage. One drawback, though, is that on your occasional highway excursions, you may find overtaking needs a bit more planning with a full load and luggage.If performance feels inadequate, then the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic or the Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI automatic are great choices too. They feel solid and safe, have top crash ratings, and stay steady in sharp bends. The automatic is smooth in traffic, the engine pulls well on climbs, and fuel use is sensible for daily runs. They are not as roomy as the Creta, but overall, the space is good for four adults and a child, and the ride handles broken roads well. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris should be very easy to own and efficient, but highway performance would trail the Kushaq/Taigun.Overall, for your mix of city and highway with ghats, the Creta IVT fits best.
Ayush jain
•19hHi team, currently, I am using a Baleno Alpha petrol manual and looking to upgrade my current vehicle. My daily running is 30km, and on weekends or once/ twice a month. I used to go for long drives out of the city. I am confused between EV and Petrol. Since I am getting both at almost the same price. Need a car which is fun to drive and can be revved through easily.

Autocar India
Without knowing your exact budget, it would be hard to recommend the best one for your needs. However, since you're looking at a fun-to-drive car and are upgrading from a Baleno, you should consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.0 Turbo MT Alpha.It feels lively and revs cleanly, and the 5-speed manual gearbox is precise. Coming from a Baleno manual, you will enjoy the stronger pull for quick overtakes and yet you keep the same simple ownership and wide service network. For your weekend trips, there is no range or charging worry like an EV, so you can just fill and go.Two trade-offs to note: rear space and boot are fine, but not the largest in this price range, and if you drive it hard, it will not be very efficient.
Sanjit Tiwari
•5hI own a 2025 Skoda Kodiaq L&K. Skoda has now activated ADAS in the newer models. Kindly confirm whether the same feature will also be activated in the earlier 2025 models, considering that Skoda had indicated that all the necessary hardware for ADAS is already present and that it could be enabled through a software update.

Autocar India
Unfortunately, no. The ADAS suite cannot simply be activated on the older 2025 Skoda Kodiaq via a software update alone, because it does not have all the required hardware for the system to function.While modern cars are increasingly software-defined, ADAS is not just a case of unlocking dormant code. It relies on a combination of sensors, cameras, radar modules, control units and the correct electronic architecture working together. If the full hardware stack is not present from the factory, a software update cannot magically add those capabilities.So if your understanding was that all 2025 Kodiaqs were physically ADAS-ready and only awaiting activation, that is unfortunately not the case.
Drakshya Mohanty
•1dI currently own an Audi A4 Premium Plus Petrol and have been using it for the last three years. The car has now crossed the 50,000 km mark. I am now confused about whether I should continue using the same car for a few more years or upgrade to a newer German luxury SUV within a budget of around ₹60-65 lakh.

Autocar India
With 50,000km covered in 3 years, the smarter move is to keep your Audi A4 for another couple of years unless you clearly need a taller car for rough roads or easier entry. At this age and mileage, a well-serviced and carefully driven A4 still has plenty of life. It is quiet and smooth on highways, and you avoid another big hit in value right now.The other issue is that, on a budget of Rs 60-65 lakh, your only available SUV options from the German luxury brands are compact SUVs like the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, which will feel like a downgrade from your A4 in terms of size and space. You will have to up your budget by at least Rs 10 lakh to move into the next segment of luxury SUVs. Better alternatives, if you don't mind a non-luxury badge, are the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tayron. They offer similar quality levels to their more luxurious counterparts, as well as equitable levels of comfort and refinement. They even use the same EA888 2.0-litre petrol engine as your A4. What's more, for much less money, you get far more space and an even longer list of features. You sacrifice some snob value, but you get a more rounded product.

Kalpesh dalia
•18hHi Experts, I am planning to buy a diesel automatic SUV and am currently considering the Tata Nexon Fearless Plus PS AMT. However, I also have the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos in mind. Could you please suggest which would be the best option?

Autocar India
You want a diesel automatic, and you’re leaning toward the Tata Nexon Fearless+. For mostly city use with some weekend drives, the Nexon diesel automatic works well and costs a lot less than a Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos diesel automatic. However, being an AMT, the Nexon's automatic transmission will feel slow and a bit jerky, especially in slow traffic, compared to a proper torque converter automatic. Considering these factors, you should also take a look at the Hyundai Venue 1.5 diesel AT HX8. It's priced similarly to the Nexon but comes with a more refined diesel engine and a smoother automatic in the form of a 6-speed torque converter. The Hyundai's cabin also feels more premium than the Tata and its backed by Hyundai's widespread service network throughout India.
Sreerag
•15hPlease suggest a used diesel manual 2WD SUV within a maximum budget of ₹13 lakh. I prefer a vehicle that is not older than 8 years. My top priority is a strong torque-rich driving experience.

Autocar India
Considering your needs and budget, you should take a look at the Jeep Compass 2.0 diesel manual 4x2, ideally a 2018-2020 Sport or Longitude. It suits your brief because the torquey engine gives a strong shove from low revs, so the car pulls cleanly in 3rd and 4th without needing frequent downshifts. That makes quick highway passes easy. It also feels steady at speed, and the build feels solid, which adds confidence on long drives. Do note a couple of trade-offs. The clutch can feel a bit heavy in slow city traffic. Rear-seat and boot space are not as generous as those of larger rivals, so if you often travel with five adults, keep that in mind. Service costs will also be higher than those of a Maruti or Hyundai.
Need expert advice?
Ask the Autocar community and experts.

