Latest questions answered by experts

autocar.india

•1h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXI AT. With a monthly running of 1,100 km, mostly on state highways and national highways, the Brezza is the better fit. It offers a higher seating position, better ground clearance, and a more comfortable ride over broken roads, making long highway drives less tiring. The naturally aspirated petrol engine in this Maruti Suzuki car is smooth and reliable, and the torque-converter automatic is well-suited to both highway cruising and occasional city traffic.The Dzire AGS is a good city car, but the Brezza's SUV stance and more robust suspension make it the more comfortable and confidence-inspiring choice for your usage pattern. The Brezza VXI auto is at the upper end of your budget but well worth stretching for.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•2h

For heavy highway use with a budget of Rs 30-35 lakh, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the best fit. It offers strong performance, excellent ride comfort and a very stable high-speed touring experience, which is exactly what you need for long highway runs. The diesel engine is powerful and efficient, and the car feels planted and confidence-inspiring at speed. It also offers a good balance of features and safety for the price.The Toyota Fortuner is a great car, but at Rs 30-35 lakh you are looking at a used car that is already a few years old. The Fortuner’s biggest strength is its reliability and ruggedness, but it is not as refined or as comfortable as the XUV 7XO on long highway drives. The ride is firm, the cabin is not as modern, and you are paying a premium for the Toyota badge and reliability rather than getting the best ownership experience for your money.If you want something more premium, the Skoda Kodiaq is worth considering. It is a very comfortable and refined highway car with a strong petrol engine and a premium cabin, but it exceeds budget and does not offer the same diesel efficiency as the XUV 7XO.Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel is the best balance of power, comfort and value for your budget. It is a new car with a full warranty, excellent highway manners and a very strong ownership proposition.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Toyota Fortuner

Skoda Kodiaq

autocar.india

•2h

With less than 5,000 km a year, your priority should be a petrol automatic that is dependable, easy to drive in the city and still feels confident on highways and hill drives. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic fits this brief very well. It uses a simple and proven 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth in traffic and reliable over the long term. The Brezza is also one of the more comfortable sub-4-metre SUVs, with a well-sorted ride and a robust build that inspires confidence on highways and hill roads. It is not the most powerful car in the segment, but it is dependable, easy to maintain and backed by Maruti’s extensive service network, which is exactly what you want coming from a 16-year-old i10. If you want something a bit more premium feeling, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is also worth considering. It offers a more powerful turbo petrol engine and a richer feature list, but the Brezza remains the safer long-term ownership bet.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•3h

The 350cc KTM 390 Duke finds a good middle ground between the 399cc 390 Duke R and the smaller 250 Duke in terms of outright power. Even though it has over 40hp, this engine is rather peaky which means you won't be accessing all of the peak output very often - helpful for a newer rider. In terms of features and electronics too, the 390 Duke is much better equipped compared to the 250 Duke. Overall, the 350cc Duke is a machine that you will be able to enjoy for a longer time as you progress as a rider.

autocar.india

•5h

It is quite unfair to compare a bonafide sporty naked like the Ducati Monster V2 with the relaxed neo-retro that is the Triumph Speed Twin 900 - both also have about a Rs. 4 lakh price difference, so there's also that. If you are looking for a sporty riding experience then the Monster V2 should fit that bill much better than the Triumph, although we are yet to ride the latest Monster so we can't pass a definitive verdict on just how good it is yet. The Triumph Speed Twin 900, on the other hand, is a modern classic with a more relaxed riding position and a heavier, more substantial feel. It is a lovely bike in its own right, but it is not as focused or as sporty as the Monster. Again, these are two very different machines and choosing between them will come down to what sort of a rider you are as well as if you are able to stretch your budget to accomodate the Ducati.

autocar.india

•5h

If this is to be your very first motorcycle, it makes more sense to go for the smaller Honda Rebel 300 over the bigger 500, although the 500 can also work as your first bike if you plan to keep it for many years but the learning curve will be quite steep in the initial days of your motorcycling journey. Both the Rebel models are much lighter than the comparable Royal Enfield bike so weight really isn't the issue. Coming to whether you will fit on the Rebel, we can't yet comment on that as we haven't been able to spend some quality seat time on either of them. We suggest you wait until both are available in a showroom near you and take a test ride before you make a decision.

autocar.india

•6h

The XUV 7XO is a very good choice for your requirements. It is one of the few cars in this price range that can genuinely seat five adults comfortably, thanks to its wide cabin and supportive seats. It also has strong engines, both petrol and diesel, and is genuinely fun to drive for a large SUV. Mahindra's after-sales experience is generally good, but it depends on the dealership and location, so it is worth checking the reputation of your local dealer before committing.The HyCross is still worth considering despite the dull interior. It is the most comfortable and reliable long-term ownership proposition in this segment, and the hybrid powertrain is smooth, efficient and effortless to drive. The interior may not feel as premium, but the overall ownership experience is hard to beat.The Kodiaq is a great car to drive and feels very premium, but it is not as wide as the XUV 7XO and is not the best choice if seating five adults comfortably is a priority.Overall, the XUV 7XO is the best fit for your requirements, but the HyCross is worth considering depending on your priorities.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Toyota Innova HyCross

Skoda Kodiaq

autocar.india

•6h

If you want a CNG SUV with an automatic gearbox, the options are limited. In your budget of Rs 12-13 lakh, the Tata Punch CNG AMT is the best option. It is a well-rounded sub-compact SUV with a dual-tank CNG system, good ride comfort and the AMT you want. The drawback is that the powertrain isn't the most refined, and the AMT has a noticeable pause between shifts.If you are open to a manual, then the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG is a better bet. Its engine is more refined; it is a larger car, so it feels roomier inside, and it has an underfloor CNG tank, so boot space is not affected.

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•7h

The Force Gurkha is a hardcore off-roader and excels in extreme conditions, but it is a very focused tool. On the road, it feels agricultural, refinement is limited, and long-distance comfort is not its strength. So opt for this only if you are doing a lot of serious off-roading.The Mahindra Scorpio N, on the other hand, strikes a far better balance. It is comfortable, refined, spacious and easy to live with on a daily basis, while the 4x4 system and low-range gearbox make it quite capable off-road.So if your usage is predominantly off-road and you are specifically looking for a purpose-built off-roader, go with the Gurkha; if not, the Mahindra car mentioned above is the better all-rounder.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Force Gurkha 3 Door

autocar.india

•7h

If the Rs 13 lakh price is ok with you, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT. In terms of features, it gets all the basic features along with a few more, like automatic climate control, so you're well catered for. This Maruti car also offers a more plush and pliant ride at low city speeds and will be the more fuel-efficient of the two. Given Maruti’s service reach, dealer quality and long-term reliability reputation it a safe choice.However, opt for the Mahindra XUV 3XO in case you need to seat three at the rear, as it has a wider rear seat. It's also the one to go for if driving pleasure is what you want, as the engine is livelier and, on the whole, it is a more entertaining car to drive, and of course if you are on a tight budget.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•8h

With a budget of Rs 15-18 lakh, city-focused running in Bangalore, and a family of six, the Kia Carens Clavis or the Maruti XL6 would be good options. Both offer comfy seating for 6, and between the two, the Kia car mentioned above feels a bit more upmarket. They are both not your traditional SUV's but come with some strong styling cues to minimize the MPV stance. If you must have an SUV body style, then opt for the Hyundai Alcazar, which also offers seating for 6, though the third row is best for kids.

Kia Carens Clavis

Hyundai Alcazar

Maruti Suzuki XL6

autocar.india

•8h

Go for the Tata Sierra EV. With your running of 1,200 km monthly and 75% city usage, an EV makes perfect sense, and the Sierra EV is the safer ownership choice. Tata has a well-established EV service network, proven battery and motor technology, and a strong track record with the Nexon EV and Punch EV. The Sierra EV also offers a spacious cabin, comfortable ride and good range for your daily needs.VinFast is still new in India, and while the VF7 is an interesting product, the long-term service and support ecosystem is still unproven. Since you are not chasing features and prioritise reliability and safety, the Tata electric car is the more sensible and fuss-free choice.

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Punch EV

Tata Nexon EV

Vinfast VF7

autocar.india

•9h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5 petrol AT. Since you plan to keep the car for at least 15 years, there's nothing quite like Maruti's reputation for reliability, low maintenance costs and wide service reach to give you peace of mind. What's more, the Maruti Brezza is good value, and you can get a petrol auto with a good features list well within your budget. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is unique in the segment for its large displacement, which means it has the advantage of being smooth and effortless at both low and high speeds, without suffering from turbo lag, and also being very fuel-efficient.The 6-speed torque converter auto is one of the best around and pairs well with this engine. The recently updated Brezza has also received a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating, so safety should not be a concern either.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•19h

The Tata Punch EV with the 40kWh battery is a good choice for intercity driving, provided your typical trips are within a 200-250km range. The larger battery pack gives it a usable real-world range, but an electric car is inherently less efficient on the highway, so you may need to adjust your driving style or plan charging stops accordingly. Considering that you live in Pune, a drive to Mumbai is easily possible on one charge, but you will need to charge it in Mumbai for the return journey. If you regularly travel with a full load, then too the range will drop significantly.The Punch EV is also a well-packaged car with a comfortable ride, good ground clearance and a compact footprint, which makes it easy to live with both in the city and on highways. Performance is also good, so highway overtakes are not an issue.Overall, the Punch EV 40kWh is a sensible choice for intercity driving, but make sure your typical trip distances and charging options align with what the car can comfortably deliver.

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•20h

Go for the Renault Triber or its sister car the Nissan Gravite. They are both economical to buy and run and offer genuine three row seating comfort. At your budget you will also get the top end variant which comes very well equipped with features like a touchscreen music system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a rear camera, NFC card based central locking, rain sensing wipers and other bits. The only downside is the 1.0 litre engine is not really powerful and you have to work it hard in instances like overtaking, driving in the hills or when your are fully loaded. If this is a concern, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The engine is more powerful and easily manages everyday driving tasks even when fully loaded. Its also larger and thus would give you more room inside however at Rs. 10 lakh you would get the base version only.

Renault Triber

Nissan Gravite

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

autocar.india

•21h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. With your usage pattern of 500 km a month, mostly city driving with occasional rural trips, the XUV 7XO is the more practical and comfortable choice. It offers a more refined and modern cabin, better ride comfort and a more premium overall feel. The diesel engine is efficient and well-suited to your occasional highway and rural runs, while the automatic gearbox makes city driving effortless. The Safari is a good car, but the XUV 7XO feels more polished and better suited to long-term ownership. If you are open to petrol, the XUV 7XO petrol automatic is also a strong option, especially if your running remains low. Overall, the XUV 7XO strikes the best balance between comfort, practicality, efficiency and value for money for your usage.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

autocar.india

•22h

We would recommend the Honda Elevate as it suits you best within your budget. In the city it is very smooth, quiet, and easy to drive, and the CVT transmission needs no effort in stop-go traffic. Steering is light, the ride handles bad roads well, and Honda's service network and long-term reliability are strong, which takes worry out of ownership. For your rare highway trips it cruises calmly, and the braking and high speed stability are reassuring. Also, the four cylinder engine is more powerful than the Kushaq and in the VX trim, you get the essential kit like parking camera with sensors, LED headlamps, powered tailgate and a single-pane sunroof among others.

Honda Elevate

Skoda Kushaq

autocar.india

•23h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It is a full-size SUV with the boxy design you like and a genuinely usable third row which is usually not the case in this price bracket. The AX7 trim with a petrol-manual powertrain fits in your budget and gets you a well-equipped cabin with panoramic sunroof, kelyess entry, powered seats and much more. If you prefer a diesel car, the AX5 with a diesel-manual powertrain will fit the bill and still come well equipped. Either way, the best choice for your requirements is the XUV 7XO so we would recommend you check within the variants to find one that suits you best.

Mahindra XUV 7XO