Autocar India
2d

Can you suggest an upcoming EV with sufficient ground clearance to comfortably clear Indian speed breakers, while also having a low enough seat height and easy ingress so that I can transfer from my wheelchair to the front passenger seat with minimal effort? We currently own a Mercedes-Benz E200 (2025 model). My wife's daily commute is generally only around 5 km. However, we would prefer a larger battery pack in case we decide to take longer trips, such as to Goa. The car should also offer a boot capacity of at least 575 litres, enough to accommodate my folded wheelchair along with additional luggage. We previously owned a Skoda Superb, which was excellent in terms of both ground clearance and boot space. Our budget is around Rs. 1 crore.

Verified
12m

Try out the Tesla Model Y L. It is a three-row SUV with a fairly large 420-litre boot with all seats up, which expands to a massive 1,076 litres with the third row folded. There is also a sizeable frunk for extra storage.

The claimed range is 681km, so in the real world, a Mumbai-to-Goa trip is doable with one or two top-up stops. Ground clearance is about 169mm, which is on par with your Superb. It is tall, yet the seat isn’t as high as some SUVs, so sliding across from a wheelchair should be easier. It won't be as easy as your sedans, so make sure you try getting in and out at least a couple of times.

It also fits comfortably within your budget and comes very well equipped. It's worth noting that a lot of functions are baked into the large central touchscreen, and that might take some getting used to.

Tesla Model Y

Tesla Model Y

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2d

My current vehicle is a Maruti Suzuki Baleno. I am a first-time SUV buyer, and my budget is Rs. 20 lakh. I am looking for a petrol automatic SUV. My usage is primarily within the city, with daily driving of around 70 km, and I do not take long-distance trips very frequently. I would also like an SUV that offers a good driving experience, plenty of features, strong safety, good stability in both city and highway conditions, reliability, and a proven track record. Considering my requirements, which petrol automatic SUV would you recommend?

Verified
2h

Go for the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol automatic, because it balances daily city ease with real highway stability and has a strong safety rating. For 70 km of mostly city use, its smooth IVT and light controls make it stress free, yet it does not feel floaty at speed. The latest Seltos has 5-star crash safety, six airbags on the right trim, and the braking and body control inspire confidence, which matters on highway runs. It also packs the useful stuff you will actually use every day - good cameras and sensors, a crisp screen, wireless charging, ventilated seats on higher trims - and Kia’s network and reliability record are solid now, so ownership is simple.Expect around 11-12 kpl in typical city traffic if you drive calmly, which is fair for the size. The ride is a touch firm at low speed, so sharp bumps are felt more than in a Creta, but it pays you back with better control when you go faster. Coming from a Baleno, the Seltos isn’t intimidating to park or thread through traffic, yet feels like a proper upgrade.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
13h

Hi, I am currently using a Ford Figo 1.2 petrol, 2019. I love the car, but I am looking to upgrade as Ford has left India, and I may have issues selling it after a couple of years. Q1. Should I go ahead and sell the car, or can I keep it for a couple of years? Q2. The car has been driven around 65k, and I have been offered 2.75 lakhs. I think it's a good value, thoughts? Right now, my running in the city is approx 500-600 kms per month. I mostly use a car for my office commute, and I don’t have a bike as of now. And yearly, out of the city running of around 2000 kms per year. Please, my city running may increase in future if I change my house location or office. I am very much confused about EV and petrol cars. In EVs, I was considering the Nexon EV. In petrol I was considering, Honda Elevate, VW Taigun 2025 (1.0 and 1.5), as I am getting some deals on them, Skoda Kylaq ( budget option with the same engine). As I am coming in a Ford Figo, I am looking for something which feels great to drive. Please suggest the correct car option. Reiterating question- Q1. Should I go ahead and sell the Ford Figo, or can I keep it for a couple of years? Q2. Ford Figo has been driven around 65k, and I have been offered 2.75 lakhs. I think it's a good value, thoughts? Q3. Will EV be the correct option for me? ( looking at my running) Q4. Or should I go ahead with petrol cars? (This E20/E30 discussion has created so much confusion) Q5. If I were to choose a petrol car, which option would be great for me? Thanks!

Verified
3h

You don’t have to sell the Figo yet. If it’s healthy, keep it 1-2 years more; parts and service are still fine, and depreciation from here is slow. The Rs. 2.75 lakh offer is fair for a 2019 petrol at 65k km. Try direct sale or multiple portals and aim closer to Rs. 3 lakh-plus if the car is clean.Pick the VW Taigun 1.5 if you upgrade now, because it’s the only one on your list that truly feels like a step up from your Figo for daily drives and relaxed highway runs. The 1.5 is punchy, and the steering and body control make city and highway drives enjoyable. One honest catch: the automatic can feel a bit hesitant in crawl; the manual is more fun if you don’t mind a clutch. The Honda Elevate is nice, but it isn't as enjoyable as the VW/Skoda SUVs.With 500-600 km a month in the city and about 2,000km a year out of town, an EV like the Nexon EV won’t pay back quickly unless you have cheap home charging and your running shoots up.Go petrol. Don’t stress about E20/E30 - the VW-Skoda 1.0/1.5 are E20-ready, and should not pose issues if and when E30 is rolled out.

VehicleVolkswagen Taigun
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VehicleTata Nexon EV
14h

Hi Autocar team, I'm replacing my 2017 Maruti Baleno Alpha petrol and would appreciate your recommendations. Location - Currently based in Pune - BH registration planned because there is a reasonable possibility of moving to another state in the future (likely Madhya Pradesh or Bangalore or Delhi) Usage - Primarily city driving (90%+) - Occasional highway trips, sometimes very long (up to 1,000 km) - Usually 2 adults + 1 child - Must comfortably accommodate 4 adults + 1 child when required - Annual running currently under 8,000 km, but could increase significantly because there will be two drivers and an automatic car is likely to be used more Drivers - One experienced driver comfortable with any size car - Second driver is relatively new and gets intimidated by judging the front-left corner and vehicle dimensions - Features such as a rear camera have helped significantly in building confidence Budget - Initially started looking around the Rs. 10 lakh on-road mark - Comfortable spending around Rs.14-16 lakh if the improvement in safety, confidence and ownership experience is clearly noticeable - Looking for the best overall fit rather than trying to maximise budget Priorities (in order) 1. Reliability and hassle-free ownership 2. Safety 3. Easy manoeuvrability and confidence in city traffic What I dislike about my current Baleno - Feels flimsy and dents very easily - Doesn't inspire confidence on highways anymore - Braking confidence is not great Preferences - Automatic transmission is mandatory - Open to petrol, hybrid or EV - Dedicated parking is available, and home charging is possible - Mostly good roads with occasional monsoon-related road damage - I value predictable ownership, service quality and peace of mind more than outright performance Test-drive observations We have driven a few hatchbacks and compact SUVs with automatic transmissions. One thing that became clear is that a commanding seating position and a clearer view of the road ahead significantly increase confidence, especially for the newer driver. However, we are still unsure whether this benefit alone justifies moving up from a hatchback to an SUV. Long-term thinking Initially, I thought a small hatchback would be ideal because I could pass it on to my parents after 3-5 years. However, if a slightly larger vehicle provides substantially better safety, comfort and confidence, I would rather keep it for 5-10 years and buy my parents a separate car later. Question Based on the above requirements, what would be your top 5 recommendations and in what order? More importantly: - Which body style would you choose: premium hatchback, compact SUV, midsize SUV, hybrid SUV or EV? - Which popular models would you eliminate despite their popularity, and why? - How much weight should I give to reliability versus crash safety when choosing a family car that will mostly be driven in the city but occasionally undertake long highway trips? - Am I likely to regret staying with a hatchback, or is moving up a segment the more sensible long-term decision for my use case?

Verified
4h

Given your requirements, a compact SUV would be a good next car for you. The higher seating will put the new driver at ease and will have a great bearing on confidence behind the wheel. Your priority for space, reliability and stress-free ownership leads us to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza AT and Hyundai Venue DCT. The Brezza is a no-nonsense compact SUV with good space, proven reliability and a practical interior. Your comfort and experience with Maruti's aftersales make it the one we'd recommend for you. You'll get a similar hassle-free experience with Hyundai as well. The new Venue ticks the important boxes for you, but it is pricey at the top end, in case the latest features are a must-have. The Venue's turbo-petrol engine does deliver punchier performance than the Brezza, but fuel economy isn't as good. If you want a larger SUV, there's the Honda Elevate CVT. However, the new driver in the family might not feel as comfortable driving it, given its size. If the hatchback form factor suits you, the Hyundai i20 CVT is a very likeable choice. Among EVs, the Punch EV is an option, but your running doesn't really justify going electric. You'd rather spend similar money on a larger or better-equipped petrol-automatic car.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleHonda Elevate
VehicleHyundai i20
VehicleTata Punch EV

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Posted on: 23 Jun 2026