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Latest questions answered by experts

Vikas

I have booked the Tata Sierra Accomplished 1.5 L TGDi petrol automatic, and my maximum budget is 24 lakhs. I need a 5-seater car with a monthly running of 1800–2000 km, mainly in the city. I recently drove the Tata Harrier Petrol Adventure X-Plus with the same engine specifications as the Sierra. I am confused between the two because the Sierra has a waiting period of about two months, while the Harrier is available within 15 days. The Sierra’s exterior looks great, but I have heard about various fit and finish issues and poor quality of interior materials, whereas the Harrier does not have these issues. The Harrier seems bulkier compared to the Sierra. Can you advise which car is the right choice for long-term ownership considering fit and finish, material quality, performance, and overall value for money?

Autocar India

•47m

You’ve already booked the Tata Sierra Accomplished 1.5 TGDi automatic. On paper, it fits your requirements quite well: five seats, predominantly city use, and a budget capped at Rs 24 lakh.The Sierra is a more modern product compared to the Tata Harrier, and as you rightly pointed out, it has strong road presence and very distinctive styling. In the flesh, the fit and finish on the Sierra is actually quite good. Panel gaps and shut lines are tight, and overall build consistency feels improved. It’s also worth noting that the Sierra is produced at Tata’s ex-Ford plant in Sanand. It operates to higher production standards than some of Tata Motors’ older facilities. That does give some confidence that quality levels are among the best Tata has achieved so far.Both cars use the same 1.5-litre TGDi petrol engine, but in the Harrier it is tuned to produce around 10hp more. In our experience, the Harrier does feel slightly smoother and a bit stronger in outright performance. However, for predominantly city driving of 1,800-2,000km a month, you’re unlikely to really exploit that extra power. What matters more is drivability, ease of manoeuvring and day-to-day comfort.This is where the Sierra makes a strong case. The Harrier, as you’ve noticed, feels bulkier and larger. In tight urban conditions, that extra size can become a bit of a handful. The Sierra’s slightly more compact dimensions and good visibility from the driver’s seat make it easier to live with in daily city traffic. The cabin design in the Sierra also feels fresher and more contemporary, whereas the Harrier’s interior, while solid, doesn’t feel as special.In terms of long-term ownership, Tata cars aren’t as reliable as global brands, but the quality has improved, and we don’t think this is a deal breaker. Given your budget, usage pattern and preference for a 5-seater that feels modern and manageable in the city, the Sierra is the better overall fit. If you can accommodate the two-month waiting period, it is worth waiting for rather than choosing the Harrier simply because it is immediately available.

Tata Sierra

Tata Harrier

Shashank

•5h

Hello, I currently drive a VW Virtus GT and absolutely love it. Lately my office commute has changed, and I now have to travel about 50 km a day in Hyderabad traffic, so my fuel bills are increasing. I want to know if switching to an EV is suitable and advisable, as I’m worried about EV after-sales maturity in India and charging infrastructure on highways (like queues at charging stations). Please advise if switching to an EV is a good idea, and if so, which model within the same budget would give me a similar feel to the Virtus.

Autocar India

•1h

If your commute is no more than 50km a day, then yes, an EV could be a good solution for you. It will certainly bring down your running costs compared to a petrol car. After-sales service is not an issue; in fact, EVs require far less maintenance and upkeep than ICE cars. It's mostly consumables - like brake pads - that get changed with subsequent services. However, what takes a hit is resale value, which for an EV is nowhere as strong as for an ICE car. As for charging infrastructure, it's always advised to have a charger installed at home or at work (or both) to reduce reliance on the public charging network. As it is still developing, and in some regions it is unreliable. In and around a big city like Hyderabad, however, you shouldn't have too much of a problem. You should, however, plot at least 2-3 charging options on any highway journey you make, as functionality and queues are potential hurdles. As for which EV to buy, none will give you quite the same thrill as a Volkswagen Virtus GT, especially in the same budget. But you can try out the Mahindra BE6 or the Vinfast VF6, both of which are fast and fun to drive, with a solid build.

Mahindra BE 6

Vinfast VF6

Krishnan

•1d

I am planning to buy a Punch.ev but I’m confused with other EVs like the MG Windsor EV, Tata Nexon EV, and Hyundai e-Vitara. I have to travel about 75 km daily, and I also go out occasionally with my family. Which one is the better choice?

Autocar India

•2h

The new Tata Punch EV facelift, which has been recently launched, is hard to fault. It now offers improved range, strong performance and an excellent ride. What makes it even more attractive is the pricing. Tata Motors has launched it at a starting price of Rs 10.3 lakh (on-road), which makes it an exceptional value and even more competitive than before.The only real weakness of the Punch EV is the cramped back seat, which may not be ideal for regular family outings. If your daily 75km commute is the priority and your family can tolerate the tighter rear space occasionally, then you can go for the Punch EV without a second thought.However, if cabin space is critical for you, then the MG Windsor EV is the better option. It has a far more spacious and comfortable cabin, making it better suited for family use, though it is not as nice to drive as the Punch EV.

Tata Punch EV

Santhosh Mahadevan

•1d

Hi, I am planning to buy a car for our family, which will be primarily used by my dad and occasionally by me as well. Currently, he drives a Maruti Ciaz diesel. The plan was to go for an SUV with a budget of ₹18-21 lakh. We were thinking of the Hyundai Creta Diesel Automatic or the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid. Alternatively, we also had the new Kia Seltos and new XUV700 in mind, given their price range. His main priorities are: Smooth driving experience (including smooth suspension) Very good rear seat space (including legroom - as the Ciaz offers very good space) Good luggage space Decent mileage (13-15 km/l in city and 18-20 km/l on highways) Low maintenance and minimal headaches for 5-6 years Considering these, can you guide us on which could be the best option and the specific model we should go for? The expected driving range would be more than 500 km per month.

Autocar India

•2h

If you want very good legroom that matches the Honda Ciaz and a smooth driving experience, the Mahindra XUV 7XO 2.2 diesel AT is a good choice. Mahindra has upgraded the rear suspension, and the ride quality and handling have improved significantly. Rear seat space is excellent, and luggage space is very good, especially with the third row folded down. The trade-off is that the 7XO is a big, heavy SUV. It doesn’t feel as nimble in city traffic and tight parking, and it isn’t very efficient compared to the other options.If fuel efficiency is a higher priority for you, then the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara strong hybrid (or its mechanically similar cousin, the Victoris hybrid) will give you much better economy. It delivers smooth performance, easy city driving and the efficiency figures you’re aiming for. The Hyundai Creta diesel AT is also a solid, more efficient choice than the 7XO, with a comfortable ride and easy usability in town traffic.After the Ciaz, you’ll likely feel most at home in the 7XO because of the space and comfort it offers. But if you prefer better efficiency and a slightly smaller, easier-to-live-with package, the Grand Vitara hybrid or the Creta diesel automatic are both good alternatives within your budget.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Amit Verma

•2d

Hi, I currently own an XUV300 diesel manual and am looking for a petrol automatic SUV within a budget of ₹20 lakh with all basic and essential features only. I will be using it 70 % in city (Delhi) and 30 % on highways, mostly with my family of three for weekend getaways. The cars I have shortlisted are the Tata Harrier petrol and the Kia Seltos (Turbo DCT) gearbox. Please suggest which would be the ideal option between the two, as I am okay with a car that averages around 12 km/l.

Autocar India

•3h

Of your two shortlisted SUVs, the Kia Seltos is the better option for you. For one, the Tata Harrier is priced much higher, essentially in a segment above, and though you mentioned that only basic features would suffice, you will get only an entry-level Harrier petrol at your budget. Moreover, it's a large, heavy vehicle, so fuel economy will not be good at all. In fact, do note that even if you choose the Seltos Turbo DCT, you would have to drive extremely carefully to achieve 12kpl in real-world usage, especially if the majority of that is in Delhi city traffic. While we still recommend the Kia Seltos, consider choosing either the 1.5 petrol IVT or even the 1.5 diesel AT instead if mileage is a priority.

Kia New Seltos

RAHUL ROY

•3d

Hello Autocar Team, I need help choosing between the two Mahindra cars listed below. I stay in Bangalore and currently drive an XUV300 Petrol Manual. I am looking to upgrade to a 7-seater car, but I am confused between the Mahindra XUV7XO and the Mahindra Scorpio N Petrol Automatic. I drive mostly on highways and very rarely in cities. My main requirements are: Good suspension Good ride quality Low maintenance cost Long-term ownership (15 years or more) Please suggest which one would be better for my needs.

Autocar India

•3h

Since your driving is mostly on highways and you are particularly looking for a good ride quality, we would recommend the Mahindra XUV 7XO over the Scorpio N. The Scorpio N is a ladder-frame (chassis) based vehicle, which, while tough, has the typical 'busy body' ride over ruts and undulations. The XUV 7XO, in contrast, is a monocoque-based SUV and offers much better body control. Monocoque-based vehicles also tend to have a lower centre of gravity than ladder frame ones, which results in better and more stable handling. This is something that you will appreciate on your highway drives. The 7XO also uses a new type of frequency-selective dampers - what Mahindra calls Da Vinci dampers - and these offer a very good ride quality and good body control too.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra Scorpio N