Latest questions answered by experts

I am planning to buy a new touring car and want a naturally aspirated petrol manual. The cars I have shortlisted are: Suzuki Jimny, Honda Elevate, Tata Sierra (maybe diesel?), Hyundai Creta/Kia Seltos, and Suzuki/Toyota Grand Vitara. I need advice on the best price-to-value, and general service-related problems are not an issue (I usually service my car myself). If possible, please explain the compromises, both mechanically and feature-wise.

•26m

Of your shortlist, it comes down to the Honda Elevate, Maruti Suzuki Victoris/Grand Vitara, or Toyota Hyryder, and finally the Kia Seltos.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is simply not practical enough for the money, and its ride isn't suitable for touring. The Sierra's 1.5 NA petrol is its weakest engine, and the diesel is expensive, and between the Creta and Seltos, we'd pick the newer Seltos as it is more modern, larger and more spacious. And though we would recommend using the official service outlets, if you are interested in servicing the vehicle yourself, the naturally aspirated petrol manual is the best bet. The good news is that all these cars will fall comfortably within your budget, too.The Maruti and Toyota SUVs are superbly reliable and incredibly efficient, though rear-seat space is not as good as the others. The power figure is not great either, and though sufficient in the city, for your highway touring use, you might feel it wanting slightly.The Kia Seltos' 1.5-litre petrol engine produces slightly more power, but the vehicle is also heavier, so it does not feel dramatically quicker on the highway. It is larger than the others, though, offering noticeably more cabin space, better interior quality and a stronger feature list. While it costs roughly Rs 1.5 lakh more in higher trims, you do get more for your money.In terms of outright value, though, the Honda Elevate strikes the best balance. It is more spacious than the Maruti/Toyota, cheaper than the Seltos, and has the most powerful engine, which is also fuel-efficient and legendarily reliable. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC remains tractable at low speeds as well as strong enough on the highway. It is also backed by solid ride and handling dynamics. Downsides are that refinement isn't as good as the others, and even in top-spec guise, the feature set is not as good, though you do get the essentials. We would recommend the Honda over the others for your needs.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

•1d

Hello! I have a manual Ertiga and am planning to buy a secondary automatic car in the Rs 10-12 lakh range for long-term ownership. I intend to opt for the maximum extended warranty and service packages. Usage will be mostly city driving in Delhi NCR, with a few short vacation trips, and a monthly running of around 600-700km. I want a delightful ownership experience with good build quality, fit and finish. I am not willing to go with an AMT transmission. Please suggest the best option. Also, please suggest more options if I increase my budget by Rs 1-2 lakh.

•1h

The Honda Amaze CVT would be the recommendation here. Since this will be a secondary car primarily for city use in Delhi NCR, with monthly running of just 600-700km and a focus on long-term ownership, the Amaze makes a lot of sense. The CVT automatic is among the smoothest gearboxes in this price range, the petrol engine is refined and proven, and Honda's reputation for reliability and hassle-free ownership is hard to ignore. If you're planning to take the maximum warranty and service packages, it should be an extremely easy car to live with for many years.The Hyundai i20 IVT would be the second choice. It feels more premium inside than the Amaze, offers excellent fit and finish, and its IVT automatic is just as smooth in city traffic. It is also compact and easy to drive, making it a great urban runabout.If you're willing to stretch your budget slightly, the Skoda Kylaq Classic+ AT is worth considering. It brings the benefits of an SUV body style, a solid feel and a smooth torque-converter automatic. However, for your specific use case, the Honda and Hyundai edge it out thanks to their smoother powertrains and stronger reputation for long-term ownership peace of mind.

I owned a manual-transmission Maruti Dzire VDi for over 14 years and had covered just 24,500km so far. I recently sold it due to a knee problem. Now, I am planning to buy an SUV or sub-compact SUV with an automatic transmission, mainly for city driving and occasional highway trips. My monthly running may not exceed 500km for now. Please suggest the most suitable car for me. Thanks.

•2h

Within the compact and sub-compact SUV segments, there is a wide choice, and setting a budget would help in narrowing it down. However, given your requirements, a good option is the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It's a Maruti, so it's something you're familiar with, and it keeps you within the same aftersales and service ecosystem. It's a good all-rounder that feels large and spacious, giving you a sense of having made a proper upgrade while remaining compact enough to be manageable. There's sufficient ground clearance and boot space, and depending on your budget, you could get some good features too.Its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and strong enough for your occasional highway trips, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth. Plus, maintenance costs are manageable, especially given your limited usage. Do note, however, that a facelift of the Maruti Brezza is right around the corner, so if you can wait a few months, it will no doubt be worthwhile.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•2d

I am considering buying the Mahindra XEV 9S Pack Two or the Hyundai Creta Electric. My driving is 70% in the city, and my priorities are ride comfort and driving pleasure. Which would be the better choice?

•3h

Pick the Hyundai Creta Electric. For 70% city use, its performance and throttle modulation are just perfect for a relaxed city drive. Its power delivery is smooth and quick, with light, accurate steering, so darting through gaps feels easy and safe rather than startling. Hyundai’s EV tuning is very polished, with useful regen levels, so you can ease into a near one‑pedal flow in traffic. That makes daily driving calmer but still satisfying. The cabin is quiet, and the seats are supportive, which matters after a long weekday commute. The ride is also good, and it rounds off speed breakers and potholes nicely so you and your passengers won’t get tossed about. On the highway, too, you will find the ride nicely tied down, whereas the Mahindra can get a bit floaty on long undulations.The only bit is that the drive experience is more dialled down and not sporty, which is what you will get with the Mahindra. So this is non-negotiable, go with the XEV 9S. For city comfort and a relaxed driving pleasure, the Creta Electric is the better bet.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra XEV 9S

•1w

Hey Autocar. I know the Grand Vitara and Victoris are essentially the same. However, considering the naturally aspirated engine, torque-converter automatic gearbox and front-wheel-drive layout, along with their relatively high kerb weight, will there be any adverse effect on pulling power?

•4h

You won’t face issues in the NA + torque-converter Grand Vitara/Victoris in normal use, but the extra weight and the auto do blunt response, so with five on board or on steep hills it will feel lazy. The 1.5 petrol makes its torque higher up the revs, and the torque converter slips a bit at low speed, so the car needs a downshift and revs to move smartly. That is why city crawl and gentle cruising are smooth, but sudden gaps or uphill overtakes need a heavier right foot and some patience.Front-wheel drive is not a problem on tarmac. It will climb most ghats fine, but expect frequent downshifts and more engine noise when loaded or at altitude. Use the manual mode or S/L on climbs to hold a lower gear, and it feels stronger.The engine is built to take the load and will not show any abnormal signs of wear, in case that's a concern for you.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•1w

My running is 30km per day, mostly in the city, with a highway trip once a month. I am confused between the Kia Seltos petrol IVT and the Mahindra Scorpio N diesel automatic. Can you suggest which one I should buy?

•5h

Go for the Kia Seltos petrol automatic for your use. With 30 km a day in the city, it is much easier to drive and park, the gearbox is smooth in traffic, and real-world fuel costs will be lower than those of the big diesel SUV. Your pattern of short, stop-go runs also isn’t ideal for modern diesels with a DPF; one highway trip a month may not always clear it. The Seltos also costs less to buy and feels nicer to live with every day.The Mahindra Scorpio N diesel automatic only makes sense if you truly need its strengths - extra seats and space, rough-road ability, and that tall, commanding feel on long trips. In town, it is heavy, thirstier, and can feel bulky over speed breakers and while parking. So, unless you regularly carry six or drive on broken roads, the Seltos fits your routine better. The trade-off is you won’t get the Scorpio N’s bad-road toughness.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra Scorpio N