Latest questions answered by experts

Jaswin Dcosta

I am planning to buy my first car with an on-road budget of around ₹12 lakh. I work as a seafarer and will be away for 6-7 months at a stretch, during which the car’s usage will be very low. My driving pattern will be around 70% city and 30% highway. I am currently considering the Skoda Kylaq, Nissan Magnite, and Maruti Brezza, all in automatic variants. Could you please suggest which would be the best option for my needs?

Autocar India

•8m

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. Since you are going to be away for 6 to 7 months at a stretch and the car will see low running during that time, the Brezza makes the most sense because it is the easiest and most stress-free car to own long term, with proven reliability, fuss-free maintenance and a naturally aspirated petrol engine that generally handles irregular usage better than small turbo petrols. It also has a smooth torque converter automatic, a comfortable ride and enough space and practicality to work well as your first car for many years.The Skoda Kylaq is the most enjoyable to drive of the three and feels more solid and premium inside, while the turbo petrol engine gives it stronger performance and better highway manners. However, for your usage pattern with long idle periods, a simpler naturally aspirated setup like the Brezza feels like the safer long-term bet. The Nissan Magnite CVT turbo offers strong value for money and a good feature set, but overall, it does not feel as polished or premium as the other two.

Akash gaurav

Need genuine advice Currently, I own a Maruti Suzuki Swift VXI DualJet and am planning to upgrade to a compact SUV within a ₹10 lakh budget. I am confused between: - Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX M - Tata Nexon Pure Plus - Skoda Kylaq Classic Connect Interestingly, all three are coming around the same price for me. Since I am coming from Suzuki, I also checked the Maruti Brezza, but honestly, it feels a bit expensive given the features and engine offered in the XUV 3XO RevX M and the Nexon Pure Plus. My priorities are: - Best engine performance and driving feel - Reliability for long-term ownership - Less maintenance/service cost - Good mileage - Comfortable for highway + city usage - Good after-sales experience I mostly drive in city traffic, but also do occasional long highway trips. Would really appreciate feedback from actual owners regarding: - Which has the best engine refinement and performance? - Which one is cheapest to maintain after 5–7 years? - Any issues with Tata/Mahindra/Skoda service? - Is Brezza still a better practical choice despite lower power? - Which one would feel like the best upgrade coming from a Swift? Please help me choose wisely. Thanks!

Autocar India

•38m

We would suggest you opt for the Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX M. Its turbo petrol feels clearly stronger than your Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Brezza, so gaps in traffic and highway passes need less effort, and the car feels steady and comfortable at speed. For the money, it also feels like a real “upgrade” in the way it drives and the way the cabin feels.Why it fits your brief: you asked for the best engine performance and driving feel first, and here the 3XO delivers without blowing the budget. You also want long-term peace - Mahindra upkeep is usually reasonable, and parts availability is broad in most cities. The ride and handling balance is also very good, and it does a good job out on the highway or even over broken city roads.The trade-offs: mileage is not its strong point, and Mahindra service isn’t as smooth or uniform as Maruti's everywhere. The Tata Nexon petrol is strong on paper, but it does not feel as smooth at low speeds, and the clutch can feel heavy. As for your question on the Brezza being the most practical? Yes, if you value low running cost, easy service and resale over performance.

pravin bhosale

I have bought a Nissan Magnite CVT turbo... I am facing an issue with the front tyre alignment. My garage person says there is a suspension problem, and the alignment cannot be done. The Nissan showroom has accepted the problem, but even after keeping the vehicle for 15 days, they couldn't provide a satisfactory result. The problem still persists, and there is still a minor issue in the alignment.

Autocar India

•1h

Since, the Nissan Magnite is still showing alignment issues even after suspension work and repeated visits to the dealership. You are right to push for a proper resolution rather than accept it as normal. A slight steering pull or uneven tyre wear on a relatively new car usually points towards either incomplete wheel alignment or suspension geometry issues. Also, in some cases, damage or tolerance issues with suspension or steering components. The positive here is that the Nissan dealership has acknowledged the problem, which is important, but if the issue persists after 15 days in the workshop. Then, you should ask for a more detailed technical inspection report and ensure that tyre condition, suspension parts, steering rack and wheel balancing are all being checked systematically rather than just repeated alignments.At the same time, since you mention the issue is now minor. But it is also worth understanding that modern cars can sometimes develop slight left or right drift depending on road camber and tyre wear patterns. So it is important to distinguish between a genuine fault and a small behavioural characteristic. The best way to judge this is by checking whether the car pulls consistently on a flat road and whether tyre wear is uneven over time.

Nissan Magnite

vishal

•4d

I am thinking of booking the Hyundai Creta S(O) Petrol Manual. My monthly running will not be very high, and the car will mostly be used for city drives, with only occasional highway trips.

Autocar India

•1h

Mostly city use, low monthly running, and only rare highway trips - in that case the Hyundai Creta S(O) petrol manual is a sound pick and you can go ahead with it. The 1.5 petrol feels smooth and quiet at low speeds, so it suits stop-start city driving, and it pulls cleanly from slow speeds without you having to shift gears all the time. The steering is light and the view out is good, which makes tight lanes and parking easier. Since your running is low, petrol is the right fuel too, so you avoid the higher buy price and upkeep of a diesel.Keep a couple of things to keep in mind for your use. If your daily route has heavy, bumper-to-bumper traffic, working the clutch and gear lever can get tiring after a while. In that case, the S(O) IVT automatic is an automatic that feels very smooth in the city and is worth a look if it fits your budget. Also, on the few highway runs that you do, the manual is steady and comfortable at normal speeds, but quick overtakes will need a downshift.Overall, for mainly city roams and light annual use, the Creta S(O) petrol manual fits your brief well. Pick the IVT only if you want an easier, no-shift drive every day.

Hyundai Creta

Chethan Kumar

•4d

I am from Bangalore and planning to buy a new car. My usage will be around 70% on highways, and I am confused between the new Seltos Diesel Manual and the Sierra Diesel Manual. I have already booked the Seltos HTX, but now I am wondering whether I should go for the Sierra Adventure+ instead or continue with the Seltos.

Autocar India

•2h

With 70% highway use from Bengaluru and a booking already on the Seltos HTX diesel manual, we would stay with the Seltos HTX rather than switch to the Sierra Adventure+ diesel manual. For long runs, the Kia’s diesel feels strong in higher gears, it is refined, and it stays steady and fairly quiet at cruising speeds. The HTX is also well equipped, and its size is easy to live with in the city.Pick the Sierra Adventure+ only if you truly need more rear cabin space and value extra features, and if you are okay with a bigger car to park and likely a higher on-road price. Given your highway-heavy use and the booking in hand, the Seltos HTX diesel manual lines up best right now for strong cruising, easy overtakes and simpler day-to-day use in the city.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Dr Ashish lashkari

•1d

Hello sir, my name is Dr. Ashish Lashkari, and despite being in the healthcare industry, my passion for automobiles is no less than my profession. I currently drive a Jeep Compass Petrol Automatic, which I purchased in 2018 and have driven around 85,000 km since then. Now, I want to upgrade to something better, and my options are a used Mercedes, a BMW, or the new Mahindra XEV 9e. My usage is around 25% city driving and 75% highway driving with family. Petrol is no longer my preferred choice, as the poor fuel efficiency of the Jeep has been quite frustrating. Please suggest what would be the best option for me. Thank you so much in advance.

Autocar India

•2h

If you are looking for a good used luxury car, check out the Mercedes GLA or the BMW X1. Stick with the current generation models and look for the one that is around 4 to 5 years old. You can consider buying from organized pre owned car sellers like Spinny. You may pay a bit more than the open market but you will get cars that are thoroughly checked and with warranty too. If you are looking at the Mahindra XEV 9E, make sure you have a provision to charge it at home or your place of work as relying solely on the public network isn't really feasible. Also, if your highway runs are more than 350 odd kms and involve mountain roads, you might have to stop for a charge too. So make sure your route has plenty of charging options.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

BMW X1

Mahindra XEV 9e