Mumbai

•1w

Sir, I am planning to purchase a new car with a budget of Rs. 13 lakh. My major running is within the city, accounting for around 90% of my usage, with a daily drive of approximately 20 km. I am confused about whether to go for an automatic or manual transmission. My preferred car brands, in order, are Skoda, Volkswagen, Toyota, Kia, MG, and lastly, Maruti Suzuki. Please suggest which brand and car would be the best choice for me.

•3m

With a budget of Rs 13 lakh, 90% city usage and 20 km daily, the decision is straightforward: go for an automatic. Modern automatics are far more reliable and efficient than they used to be, and in stop-start city traffic they make a huge difference to comfort and fatigue. At your running, the slight premium over a manual is justified by the ease of ownership.

Given your brand preferences, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the best fit. This Skoda car uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth and well suited to city driving. The Kylaq is also one of the most fun-to-drive cars in the segment, with strong performance and good handling. The only drawback is that the rear seat is not the most spacious in the segment, but it is adequate for most families.

If rear seat space is a priority, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is worth considering. This Mahindra car is one of the most spacious compact SUVs, with a wide cabin and comfortable rear seat. The only compromise is that the boot is on the smaller side.

Overall, the Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the recommendation.

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Skoda

Kylaq

from ₹8.77 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹9.00 Lakh

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•4d

Hi, I am currently using a 2021 Maruti S-Presso manual and am planning to upgrade to a new car. I am looking for a sub-4-metre SUV with an AMT. My budget is Rs 10-12 lakh. My annual usage is around 6,000 km, with 60% highway driving and 40% driving in Chennai city. I also plan to take one or two solo trips each year. Please suggest a good car with low maintenance, good mileage, and strong safety.

•1d

Given your usage of around 6,000 km a year with a 60% highway bias, consider the Skoda Kylaq or Mahindra XUV 3XO, both of which are available with powerful turbo-petrol engines and smooth 6-speed torque converters (automatic). Both these cars are excellent highway cruisers too, and if you maintain steady speeds, they will return respectable fuel efficiency too.Alternatively, you could consider the Kia Sonet HTK (O) DCT too. It is a very polished offering, and compared to the Mahindra and Skoda, it will be a bit more efficient too.

Looking to buy my first car with a petrol automatic. I have never driven before, and going forward, I will mostly use the car for city driving with occasional highway trips. My budget is around Rs. 15 lakh. I am confused between the Brezza ZXI+ AT and Victoris VXI AT. Which one should I go for? Please suggest some better options as well within a budget of around Rs. 15-17 lakh.

•1d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI+ AT. As a first-time buyer with mostly city driving and occasional highway runs, the Brezza is the more confidence-inspiring choice. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and predictable, the torque converter automatic is reliable and easy to live with, and the higher seating position gives you excellent visibility in traffic. This Maruti Suzuki car is also a genuinely comfortable 5-seater with a well-sorted ride, and Maruti's service network is a big plus for long-term ownership.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXI AT is a good car, but if you don't need the extra space, you are better off with a higher trim of the Brezza with more features. If you are looking for alternatives, the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 AT is worth a look. It is one of the most spacious compact SUVs, has a wide cabin and a strong turbo petrol engine, but the boot is smaller than the Brezza's. The Skoda Kylaq AT is another option if you want a more engaging driving experience, but as a first car, the Brezza's ease of use and ownership peace of mind make it the better recommendation.

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•4d

I am planning to purchase my first car and am a new driver, so I am also new to driving on the roads. Budget: Rs 15 lakh Need an automatic transmission I work in Delhi, but my hometown is in Uttarakhand. My usage will be around 60% city driving and 40% highway/hill runs. Overall running will still be around 1,000 km per month. Open to both EVs and petrol/diesel cars. I don't have a home charger, but there are common AC/DC chargers in my society and office. Which car should I choose? I like the Mahindra 3XO RevX A and Skoda Kylaq Prestige+. I would also like suggestions for EVs if there are any that fit my requirements. I am open to other options as well.

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX A. It is the better fit for your usage and budget. As a new driver with a car under Rs 15 lakh budget, you need one that is easy to drive in Delhi traffic, comfortable on highways, and capable on hill roads. This Mahindra car delivers on all three. The turbo-petrol engine is punchy enough for highway overtakes and hill climbs, while the automatic gearbox is smooth and easy to live with in the city. The car also feels solid and planted on the highway, which is important for long drives to Uttarakhand.The Skoda Kylaq Prestige+ is a good alternative if you prioritise driving dynamics, but the 3XO offers better value for money and a more spacious cabin. On the electric car front, the Tata Nexon EV and Kia Syros EV are the only realistic options within your budget, but without a dedicated home charger and with regular highway and hill driving, an EV isn’t the most practical choice right now.The 3XO RevX A strikes the right balance between city comfort, highway stability, and hill capability, making it the best first car for your needs.

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•6d

I want to purchase a 7-seater SUV. My options are the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and Scorpio N, and I am considering installing an aftermarket CNG kit for better fuel economy. Could you please suggest which one would be better suited for CNG?

•5d

We would strongly advise against installing aftermarket CNG on any of these SUVs. All three – the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 7XO and Scorpio N - are large, heavy vehicles with powerful turbocharged petrol engines. Fitting CNG to such engines is not recommended, as it can lead to drivability issues, increased wear and potential reliability concerns over time. More importantly, these SUVs are not designed with CNG in mind, and the installation can compromise safety and performance.If fuel economy is a top priority, opt for their diesel versions instead. The Mahindra and Tata offer strong torque, excellent highway efficiency and are well-suited to long-distance touring. If you are set on CNG, it is better to look at smaller, naturally aspirated petrol cars that are either factory-fitted or specifically designed for CNG use.Between the three, the XUV 7XO diesel would be our recommendation. It offers a more modern package, better ride comfort and a more premium cabin than the Scorpio N, while the Safari diesel is also a strong contender if you prefer Tata's design and feature set. But CNG should not be the deciding factor here.

I am a first-time buyer. My salary is Rs 4.2 lakh per year (CTC). Which company and which model would suit me?

•5d

With a CTC of Rs 4.2 lakh per year, the key is to keep the purchase affordable and running costs low. The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 is the most sensible starting point. It is reliable, easy to maintain and has excellent service reach, which is exactly what you want as a first-time buyer. The 1.0-litre petrol engine in this Maruti Suzuki car is efficient, and the car is easy to drive in the city.If you need a bit more space, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is a good alternative with its tall-boy design and larger boot. If you are open to a slightly higher budget, the Tata Tiago is worth considering for its stronger build and more premium feel, but Maruti's service network and lower maintenance costs make it the safer long-term choice at this budget. The Alto K10 is the most practical and financially sensible first car.

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•3d

I currently use a Skoda Slavia Ambition 1.0 automatic since last 4 years. Now, I am thinking of switching the car but I am confused between Honda Elevate V CVT petrol and Kia Seltos HTK iVT petrol.

•2d

Given that you are coming from a Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI automatic, the Kia Seltos HTK IVT petrol is the more natural upgrade. The Seltos offers a noticeably larger and more premium cabin, better rear seat space and a more substantial feel overall. The IVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving, and the car feels like a genuine step up from the Slavia in terms of comfort and overall ownership experience.The Honda Elevate V CVT petrol is a solid and reliable choice, but it does not feel like as much of an upgrade from the Slavia. The cabin is not as spacious or as premium as the Seltos, and the overall ownership experience is more about simplicity and reliability than about feeling like a significant step up.The only caveat with the Seltos HTK is that it is not the most feature-rich variant in the lineup. If you can stretch to a higher variant, the Seltos becomes an even stronger recommendation. If not, it is still the better choice over the Elevate because it offers a more substantial upgrade from your current car.

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