Mumbai

•4d

I’m 52 years old and have been driving a Maruti Ciaz ZXI for the last 10 years. It has covered only around 83,000km. I’m now looking for a 5 to 7-seater SUV with a budget of around Rs 20 lakh, with a 10 percent flexibility. I’m confused about whether to choose an automatic or manual, and whether petrol, diesel or a strong-hybrid powertrain would be more suitable. My priorities are good ground clearance, comfortable ride quality, well-finished interiors, a good infotainment system, strong safety features and reasonable maintenance costs. Please suggest a suitable vehicle based on these requirements.

•5m

Given your usage pattern of 83,000 km over 10 years, your annual running is relatively low, so a petrol car or hybrid car makes the most sense. Diesel is best avoided as the cost premium and potential DPF-related issues are not justified at your running. Between automatic and manual, we would strongly recommend an automatic since it makes city driving far easier and modern automatics are reliable and refined.

For your requirements, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the most sensible recommendation. It offers good ground clearance, a comfortable ride, a spacious and practical cabin, and a strong focus on reliability and low maintenance costs. The hybrid powertrain delivers excellent fuel efficiency in city driving, and the car is easy to live with over the long term. The infotainment system is modern and user-friendly, and safety features are well covered, including a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating.

If you want a 7-seater, the Kia Carens is worth considering. It offers a more flexible seating arrangement and a comfortable ride, but the Victoris Hybrid remains the more efficient and lower-maintenance option.

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•4d

I am planning to buy my first car and am considering Kia Seltos base model, but I have a concern. I am 6'1" and my son is 6'3". Should I skip Seltos and consider Carens base model as it is more flexible and value for money. I need the car primarily for highway use but I might use it for travelling locally as well. However, I am not sure whether it should be my first car.

•2d

Considering your height, the Kia Carens is the better choice. Rear-seat headroom and legroom will matter far more than features and, while the Seltos is a very good car, it isn’t as roomy or as flexible as the Carens.Since your usage is primarily highway driving with some city use, the Carens makes sense from a comfort perspective. You and your family will be spending long hours in the vehicle, and the extra room to stretch out will be appreciated. It rides well, is stable at speed and offers the flexibility of occasional third-row use or extra luggage space when needed. As a first car, its size is more manageable than you might think, and it is quite easy to drive in the city.One thing to keep in mind is that the Carens is now only available in a single Premium (O) trim. It has the basics covered, but it does look and feel a bit dated compared to the Carens Clavis. Overall, the Carens is a sensible and value-for-money choice for your requirements and a better fit for your family than the Seltos.

Doing a Mumbai to Goa drive next month with 3 people and a fair bit of luggage. Deciding between an XL6 and a Carens, which one would actually handle it better.

•1w

Hello Team I am a 45-year-old person living in Noida Extension and working in Gurgaon, where I drive 10 times a month. The morning journey takes around 90 minutes, while the evening journey takes around 2.5 hours. I currently drive a Honda Amaze CVT and am looking for an upgrade. My budget is around Rs 20 lakh. Could you please suggest an overall good car?

•22h

Given your daily reality of long, traffic-heavy commutes between Noida Extension and Gurgaon, the priority should be comfort, ease of driving and low fatigue rather than outright performance.Since a lot of your driving is in stop-and-go traffic, a hybrid car makes a lot of sense. Consider the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid or the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid. They can run in electric-only mode when crawling in traffic and deliver terrific fuel efficiency. At the same time, they are relaxing and easy to drive, with comfortable cabins that should make your long commutes less tiring.If you can install a home charger and don’t drive long distances too often, a full electric car like the new Kia Syros EV might also be worth a look. EVs are generally ideal for stop-and-go traffic and will make your long commutes as stress-free as possible.Overall, a hybrid like the Hyryder or Victoris makes the most sense, but an EV is worth considering if you can charge at home.

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•5d

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?

•4d

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.

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•4d

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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•6d

We are planning to upgrade from a Hyundai i10 to an automatic petrol compact SUV under Rs 14 lakh. We have shortlisted the Hyundai Venue Turbo DCT and Skoda Kylaq Prestige AT. We liked the Venue, but we are not sure about the maintenance cost of its DCT gearbox.

•4d

Yes, dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are more complex and can be expensive to repair if something goes wrong. That said, the Hyundai Venue Turbo DCT is quite well-sorted. However, do keep in mind that if you drive a lot in stop-start traffic, it might not feel as smooth as a torque converter.The Skoda Kylaq AT uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is far better suited to Indian conditions. It is smoother, and the Kylaq is more engaging to drive, with a strong turbo petrol engine and a well-balanced chassis. Overall, the Skoda car seems to be the safer and more sensible choice for you.

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