Latest questions answered by experts

Autocar India

•1h

With 70% city use, 30% highway and a Rs. 10 lakh cap, the Tata Altroz petrol manual in a high variant fits your brief best. It is easy to drive in traffic, feels steady on the highway, and its Harman sound system is among the nicest you will get at this price. The AC is strong, the rear seat is wide enough for three adults, and the boot is big enough for a family trip.Two caveats for your mix. With four on board and luggage, you will need to shift gears more on hills and quick passes. Also, Tata service is decent in big cities, but Maruti still has a smoother, wider network.If mileage and hassle-free service are top priority, pick the Maruti Suzuki Baleno petrol manual. It uses less fuel in the city, rides comfortably, has a big boot, a back seat that works for three, and service reach is the best. It is more relaxed than sporty, and the sound system is good, but not as rich as the Altroz.Open to use? A well-kept Honda City petrol manual brings the biggest rear space and boot, strong AC and solid service, while still being nice to drive.

Tata Altroz

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Autocar India

•2h

Since you want a bike that you will be using through chaotic Mumbai traffic, we'd steer you toward the KTM 250 Duke and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. Owing to their more upright rider triangles, these bikes will feel easier to ride through traffic and at slower speeds. Of course, neither will have the outright shove of the manic 390, but the Guerrilla comes close. The 250 Duke, while an enjoyable machine, will feel a clear step down in terms of performance from the 390, although you will see good improvements in fuel economy. Instead of the RR 310, we'd recommend you look at the TVS Apache RTR 310, as it is closer in intent and form to the Duke, and with its upright ergonomics and well-judged suspension, it will suit your use case quite well.Take a test ride of these three bikes before you go ahead with your purchase.We'd also urge you to pressure the dealer to deliver the bike. A good plan of action would be to contact the authorised company helpline and expedite the process.

Autocar India

•3h

Check out the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT. It suits you after a Wagon R because it is a taller car with high seating, the steering is light, and the automatic shifts smoothly at low speeds. The back seat is wide and fairly flat, so three adults fit better than in most small cars, and the AC is strong with rear vents, which helps the whole cabin cool quickly.On the highway, it feels steady, rides over bad patches without fuss, and the simple petrol engine is calm at cruising speeds. There's also the peace of mind you get with buying a Maruti.Two things to keep in mind: when fully loaded, quick overtakes need a firm press on the accelerator, and the cabin is plain compared to some rivals.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•4h

Of the two options on your shortlist, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios automatic is the better choice. It is a small, friendly car to learn in, with light steering, good all‑round view, and a tight turning circle, so parking and U‑turns feel simple. The engine and automatic are smooth at low speeds, and it handles bumps well, which helps in traffic and on broken roads.Know that the Nios is not as roomy as the Baleno, and the boot is smaller. Also, like most budget automatics of this type, you can feel a slight jerk when crawling and stopping in heavy traffic.Pick the Maruti Suzuki Baleno automatic only if you want more cabin space and a calmer feel on occasional highway runs. It is the bigger car and feels more solid at higher speeds, but it is a bit longer to judge in tight lanes, and the view out is not as open as the Nios for a new driver.We'd also recommend you check out the Maruti Suzuki Swift AMT. Like the Grand i10 Nios, the Swift is a friendly pick for a new driver. What works in favour of the Swift is that it's newer and has a more fuel-efficient engine too.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Autocar India

•5h

Without knowing more about your requirements and usage pattern, it is hard to pinpoint the ideal car for your needs. However, for someone upgrading from a Maruti Suzuki S-Cross, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is a great option.You'll appreciate the 7XO's suspension comfort and high-speed manners, and will be pleasantly surprised by performance, especially if you are upgrading from the 1.6-litre diesel S-Cross. The Mahindra's 2-litre petrol engine and 2.2-litre diesel unit score very high on power and refinement. Space is also aplenty, making the XUV 7XO feel like a proper jump up from the S-Cross. The XUV 7XO also packs in a whole lot of new-age features, giving you a strong sense of value for money.Alternatively, you could look at the Jeep Compass, which has the same global product vibe as the S-Cross had. However, service and reliability are a notch down on Mahindra.

Jeep Compass

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•5h

Given your comfort with the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, we'd advise you against a conventional hatchback and recommend you look at a sub-compact SUV. The high seating is a boon and will put you at immediate ease in the car. Options that meet your requirements within a Rs 10 lakh budget include the Hyundai Exter, Tata Punch and Citroen C3. The Tata Punch offers more of what you need. It's got the widest cabin (though it's still not ideal as a 5 seater) and packs in all the features that you need, and then a whole lot more. The Citroen C3 makes a compelling case for itself with the best engines, well-sorted ride and handling and the cabin experience is also vastly improved with the recent feature update. However, it's not quite as roomy as the Punch, and Citroen's service network is also not as widespread as Tata or Hyundai's.The Hyundai Exter is an easy-going option that's also worth a look.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

Citroen C3