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•42w

I currently own a Grand i10 diesel manual, which has been a very good car with excellent mileage. However, I now want to shift to an automatic transmission as most of my driving is in city traffic. My monthly running is around 1,200 km, with an outstation trip once every three months. My budget is ₹13-14 lakh. Please suggest a suitable automatic car. I am confused about whether to choose diesel or petrol.

•42w

We can understand that after driving a diesel car, you appreciate the great mileage they offer. However, if you want to switch to a diesel automatic, consider the Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV 3XO diesels, which provide automatic transmissions and are within your budget.

However, both the Tata and Mahindra diesels come with an AMT automatic transmission, which is not very smooth and has a noticeable lag when changing gears. On the highway, you have to plan your overtaking manoeuvres.

If you are not too fixated on diesel, we suggest looking at the Honda Amaze, which has a CVT gearbox that is much smoother for city driving, good enough for the highway, and reasonably efficient.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Nexon

from ₹8.26 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.69 Lakh

Honda

Amaze

from ₹8.54 Lakh

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•4d

I am planning to buy a car and am confused between the Tata Nexon CNG and Kia Sonet. My running is irregular and does not exceed around 500km a month. Which would be the better choice?

•1d

With a monthly running of around 500km, a CNG car like the Tata Nexon CNG does not make financial sense. The fuel savings from CNG are only meaningful when running is significantly higher, and at your usage level, the additional cost and inconvenience of CNG ownership are not justified. The Kia Sonet is the better choice here. It is a more refined and well-rounded product, with a smoother petrol engine, better overall ownership experience and no compromises on boot space or convenience. The Nexon is a good product in its own right, but CNG only makes sense when running is high enough to offset the additional cost and inconvenience. At 500km a month, petrol is the sensible choice.

Tata Nexon

Kia Sonet

•1w

My city commute is in Pune or Hyderabad, with around 250 km of city driving and 800-1,000 km of highway driving per month. I have shortlisted the Tata Nexon CNG, Punch CNG, and Altroz diesel, but I’m not sure which one to choose. I am concerned about fuel economy, but I’m worried that I might face difficulties if CNG is not available. That is why I considered diesel, although I’m also unsure about its future. I enjoy driving, just FYI. Please let me know which car would be a better choice for my needs.

•3d

Go for the Tata Altroz diesel. Your running is high enough to justify a diesel, and the Altroz diesel is one of the few genuinely efficient and enjoyable small diesels left on the market. This Tata car delivers strong fuel economy on the highway, has a punchy mid-range for overtaking, and is genuinely enjoyable to drive on open roads. Diesel availability is not a concern, and with your kind of running, the fuel savings will add up quickly.CNG makes sense only if you have reliable access to filling stations along your regular routes. If you are already worried about availability, it is not worth the compromise. The Nexon and Punch CNG are both good cars, but the inconvenience of planning refuelling stops will quickly outweigh the savings.The Altroz diesel is also a well-rounded car with a comfortable ride, good safety credentials and a solid ownership experience. It is the most sensible and enjoyable choice for your usage pattern.

I am 34 years old and I currently own a Honda Amaze. I am planning to get a new car. My annual running is around 7000 km and 85% of the running is out of Mumbai. I wanted a sedan but that is not mandatory. I want to buy a car that I plan to keep for the next 10 years. I need a safe automatic car that has front ventilated seats with good after sales support. I like Hyundai Verna and Creta but I do not want to go for a Maruti or Tata car. My budget is 15 lakh that can be extended up to 19 lakh if the car is value for money. Which car do you suggest?

•3d

Go for the Hyundai Verna 1.5 petrol IVT. It is the best fit for your requirements. You are coming from a Honda Amaze, so you already appreciate the comfort and ease of a sedan. The Verna is a significant step up in terms of refinement, space and features, and it offers a genuinely premium ownership experience. The IVT automatic is smooth and well suited to your driving pattern, especially with 85 percent of your running outside Mumbai. The Verna also offers front ventilated seats, strong safety credentials and a comfortable ride, making it a great long-term ownership proposition. Hyundai's aftersales support is strong, and the car is known for its reliability and low maintenance costs. Your annual running of 7,000 km does not justify a diesel, and the petrol IVT strikes the right balance between performance and efficiency. The Creta is a good alternative if you specifically want an SUV, but the Verna is the more value-for-money option and better suited to your preferences.

Hyundai Verna

Honda Amaze

Hyundai Creta

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•1w

I am a 6 ft driver who loves driving. I've driven the Swift 2013 petrol, Creta 1.6 Diesel Auto and the XUV500 the most on long trips. Now that I am planning to buy a car with a strict budget, do you think the 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol variant will be a wise decision to make, as I will be travelling once a month for short trips from Bangalore to Coorg, Pondicherry, GOA, and Mangalore? Which other car can be a perfect match for me, keeping a budget of 12 lakhs max? Also, the 3XO AX5 I'm getting from a friend who has hardly driven 6k km for 10 lakhs.

•1w

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol from your friend for Rs 10 lakh. At that price, it is a very good deal and a sensible upgrade from your Creta 1.6 diesel automatic. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin and good rear seat comfort, which will make your long drives to Coorg, Pondicherry, Goa and Mangalore more comfortable. The turbo petrol engine is smooth and is well suited to both city driving and highway cruising. At Rs 10 lakh for a car with only 6,000 km on the clock, you are getting a nearly new car at a significant discount, which makes it a far better value proposition than buying new.If you are looking for alternatives under Rs 12 lakh, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual is the best option for an enthusiast driver. The new Brezza turbo-petrol could also be a good choice. Overall, the 3XO from your friend is the most sensible choice. It offers a good balance of comfort, reliability and value, and will serve you well on your monthly road trips.

I currently own a Jeep Compass and want to get an additional car for my father, with good reliability, unlike the Jeep. My father still drives a 2008 Honda City, and I am torn between a few choices: the Honda City, Skoda Slavia, Nissan Tekton and Toyota Hyryder. Or should I wait for the Virtus facelift or the new-generation Creta? His usage is low, at almost 500 km per month. Please suggest.

•4d

With just 500km a month, petrol is the clear choice, and reliability and ease of ownership become the most important factors. The Honda City is the safest recommendation here. It is a proven product with a strong reliability record, a comfortable ride and a familiar ownership experience that your father will appreciate, especially coming from a 2008 City. The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are both excellent to drive, but the 1.0 TSI engine can feel a bit laggy at low speeds, and the 1.5 TSI is overkill for this kind of usage. The Nissan Tekton is a good value proposition, but engines are not responsive at low speeds and Nissan's service network is not as strong as Honda's, which matters more for a low-running, long-term ownership scenario. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a solid option if you specifically want an SUV, but the hybrid premium does not make financial sense at this running, and the naturally aspirated petrol is not as refined as the City's engine. The new-generation Hyundai Creta is worth waiting for only if your father specifically wants an SUV; otherwise, the City remains the more sensible choice. Overall, the Honda City is the most reliable, comfortable and hassle-free option for your father's usage.

Honda City

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Nissan Tekton

•1w

I’ve almost finalised the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic, and I really like the car. However, I’m a little worried about Skoda’s long-term service and maintenance costs, especially after the warranty period. I’m planning to keep the car for around 7–8 years. Would you recommend taking the Service Maintenance Package (SMP) along with the car? Is it worth the additional cost considering regular servicing and potential maintenance expenses? Also, compared with the Brezza and Nexon, how is the Kylaq Signature Automatic in terms of long-term reliability, service costs and parts replacement? Would really appreciate your advice before I make the final purchase decision.

•4d

If you like the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic, go ahead and buy it. It is a genuinely good car and one of the best driver’s cars in the segment. The 1.0 TSI engine paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven combination, and Skoda’s reliability has improved significantly in recent years. The bigger concern is not reliability but long-term maintenance costs, which can be higher than Maruti or Tata once the car is out of warranty.This is where the Service Maintenance Package (SMP) makes sense. It locks in your service costs for the first 4-5 years, covers all scheduled maintenance and gives you peace of mind during the most expensive ownership period. If you are planning to keep the car for 7-8 years, it is worth the additional cost because it protects you from unexpected bills and helps you budget ownership costs more accurately.Compared to the Brezza and Nexon, the Kylaq is the better driver’s car with a more engaging driving experience and a stronger engine. The Brezza is the benchmark for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs, while the Nexon sits somewhere in between. The Kylaq is not unreliable, but parts and service can be more expensive once you are out of warranty.If you are buying the Kylaq, take the SMP and enjoy the car. If long-term ownership costs are your absolute priority, the Brezza is the safer financial choice.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Nexon

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