Mumbai

•5w

My usage will be around 30 km per day, three days a week, plus a couple of weekend trips. So I don’t want just a typical city car. I’d like something that feels a bit fun to drive as well. Could you suggest some options? I see there are turbo-petrol choices available, but the Honda City’s 1.5 i-VTEC also seems like a strong and powerful naturally aspirated option. One thing I noticed during a test drive, though, was the tyre noise. Even at around 30kph, it felt noticeable and a bit annoying. Is that actually a concern in real-world city or moderate-speed driving, or am I overthinking the NVH levels? Some owners do mention that tyre and road noise in the Honda City can be more noticeable than expected, especially depending on the road surface and tyres.

•5w

For light weekday use, occasional highway trips, and a slightly fun driving experience, the Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 turbo-petrol manual suits your requirements better. It feels quick without needing to rev hard, so gaps in traffic and hill climbs are easy. The steering is light in the city, yet the car stays steady on open roads, and the big boot makes weekend runs simple. The manual is also enjoyable to use if you like being involved while driving.

About the Honda City’s tyre noise: it does let in more tyre and road noise than you might expect on rough or concrete roads, but it is rarely a deal-breaker. It also varies a lot with tyre brand and pressure. Switching to a quieter set of tyres later usually helps.

Two trade-offs with the Virtus: the rear seat is not as wide as the Honda City’s, and it won’t be as fuel-efficient. A close alternative with a similar driving feel is the Skoda Slavia. If you love the City’s smooth engine and spacious cabin, then that is still the one to get. Just keep in mind that a facelift is expected soon, so either wait for that or negotiate a good discount on the current stock.

Explore cars mentioned

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.44 Lakh

Skoda

Slavia

from ₹11.70 Lakh

Honda

City

from ₹14.19 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•2d

Hi. I have been driving an i20 diesel for the last 8 years, and it has covered 1.15 lakh km. The car has been maintained well. I recently moved to Bengaluru, and the urge to upgrade has come up. I looked at the Skoda Kylaq and even booked the Signature Plus Automatic, with my i20 valued at Rs. 4.6 lakh in exchange. However, after a test drive, my family now wants me to buy the Slavia 1.0 Automatic instead. I am also concerned about the ethanol-blending issue. Should I go ahead with the purchase or continue using the i20 for a few more years? I am getting the Slavia Prestige at Rs. 18 lakh on-road.

•2d

Go ahead with the Skoda Slavia 1.0 automatic. For Bengaluru traffic and family use, it will be nicer daily, and the current car is E20-compliant too.The Slavia’s 6‑speed automatic is smooth in stop‑go, the cabin and boot are a clear step up from your i20, and its high ground clearance for a sedan handles bad roads and speed humps without drama. Skoda’s 1.0 TSI is built to run on E20, so you won’t harm the engine or void the warranty. You may see a small dip in mileage with higher ethanol and, versus your diesel, expect higher fuel bills.Since you’d booked the Kylaq, know this: it drives almost similarly to the Slavia with the 1.0 automatic. Pick it only if you really want the higher seating and compact dimensions. If your running is mostly in the city and if your family prefers a sedan, the Slavia makes sense.Rs. 18 lakh on road for Prestige is fair in Bengaluru, and Rs. 4.6 lakh for your i20 diesel at 1.15 lakh km is about par. Unless you’re happy to keep the i20 another year just to save cash, there’s no strong reason to wait.

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•3d

I own a BS4 Ford Endeavour Diesel, registered in Gurgaon in 2017. I recently came across the supreme court's revised ruling regarding the end-of-life policy for BS4 diesel vehicles. As I understand it, BS4 diesel vehicles in the NCR can continue to be used beyond 10 years, subject to passing the required fitness tests. However, my understanding is that during GRAP Stage 4 restrictions, such vehicles would not be allowed to operate. In short, am I correct in understanding that I can continue using my vehicle beyond 10 years, provided it has a valid fitness certificate and no restrictions such as GRAP Stage 4 are in force?

•3d

Your understanding is mostly right, but it has two major real-world catches. First, the Supreme Court explicitly protected BS-IV and newer vehicles from automatic age-based seizures, meaning your 2017 Endeavour is legally safe to run past its 10th birthday in 2027, subject to passing routine fitness and emission tests. This provides great relief, but it only applies on regular days. The bigger immediate hurdle is that you cannot wait until GRAP Stage 4 to park your car. Under current regulations, BS-IV diesel private cars are banned from plying starting right from GRAP Stage 3. Because Delhi-NCR regularly hits Stage 3 during the winter months, your SUV will be legally grounded for long stretches of the season, and if caught driving, it will face a hefty Rs. 20,000 fine. In short, you can absolutely enjoy your Endeavour past 10 years on clear days, but you will definitely need a backup vehicle for the winter smog.

•1d

How is the life of my Kia Carens diesel automatic purchased in 2023?

•17h

Your 2023 Kia Carens Diesel Automatic should have a long and healthy life ahead of it, provided it is maintained properly and used in a manner that suits a modern diesel.The good news is that your car is still relatively new, and the 1.5-litre diesel engine has proven to be a refined and dependable unit. If your driving includes regular highway runs or trips where the engine gets fully warmed up, there is no reason why the car cannot comfortably serve you for well over a decade. Modern diesels are capable of very high mileages when maintained correctly.The main thing to watch out for is the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). If your usage is predominantly short city trips, the DPF can clog over time. However, if you regularly drive on highways or take longer journeys, the system should regenerate naturally and remain trouble-free.

Kia Carens

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•1w

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

•5d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

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•1w

I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•6d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

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•1w

Which would be the better choice among the BYD Sealion 7, Mahindra XEV 9e, and Vinfast VF7? I currently own a Skoda Superb, which is 6 years old, and my ownership experience has been good so far. However, I am considering switching to an EV as a replacement, mainly because I am concerned about potential mechatronics-related repairs and higher maintenance costs as the car ages, even though I have not faced any issues yet. My heart says the BYD Sealion 7 would be the ideal replacement or upgrade for the Superb because of its build quality, premium cabin, and overall feel. However, my mind wonders whether it truly offers good value for money considering its premium price tag, although budget is not a major constraint for me. My daily driving is around 20-30 km, mostly within the city, with only occasional outstation trips. Considering my usage pattern and expectations, which of these EVs would you recommend?

•1d

Pick the BYD Sealion 7. It comes closest to your Superb in the way it feels inside and the calm, premium way it goes down the road, and BYD’s EV tech is well proven here. For 20-30km city usage it is smooth, very efficient, and the cabin quality, quietness and ride will feel like a real upgrade that's on par with luxury cars in the same price range.The Mahindra XEV 9e and Vinfast VF7 do sound like good value with the amount of performance and features they offer, but they both belong a size and segment down on the BYD, and that's reflected in the price too. Plus, though feature laden, their cabins will not give you the same plushness you enjoyed in your Skoda Superb. One catch with the Sealion 7 is BYD’s smaller network as compared to Mahindra. But with budget not being a big worry and your usage being mostly in the city, the peace-of-mind of mature EV hardware and genuine upmarket feel makes the BYD the right call for you. Charge at home and you will need to top up just once every few days.

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