We would like to buy a scooter for a female member of our family. She has been using an Activa for many years, and it is still running well. However, I’m not very happy with its safety and would like to upgrade to a better and safer scooter. I’m currently considering the Ather Apex, while she has a slight preference for the Vespa. However, I’m not sure about Vespa’s reliability. The nearest Vespa service centre is around 10 km away. Would it be possible to get a Vespa serviced and maintained by a local mechanic? Please advise which scooters we should consider. Our budget is around Rs 2-3 lakh.

•4w

Since the person you are shopping for prefers a neo-retro styled scooter, consider options like the Yamaha Fascino and Suzuki Access. Both have appealing designs and are frugal, reliable, comfortable and lightweight machines which should serve you well. The Fascino is one of the lightest ICE scooters on sale and if ease of use is a top priority, then the Yamaha edges ahead. We'd recommend you go take a test ride of both before making your decision.

Coming to the Ather 450 Apex, it will surely offer a step up in terms of performance and features but in terms of practicality and comfort, you might be losing some ground here. Also, its sharp brakes are prone to locking up, which isn't ideal. And no, a roadside mechanic cannot repair a cutting-edge electric scooter, you have to go to the authorised service centres for that.

Moving on to the Vespa, Piaggio's scooters are good to ride but their purchase and ownership costs are significantly higher than the mainstream brands. If you are okay with this, then you may go ahead with your purchase.

Explore bikes mentioned

Yamaha

Fascino 125 Fi

from ₹90,066

Suzuki

Access 125

from ₹94,230

Ather

450 Apex

from ₹2.11 Lakh

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•1d

I am a first-time car buyer. Please suggest an SUV that is easy to drive for a new driver who is not very confident behind the wheel. I am looking for a car with very light steering for heavy traffic and parking, good ground clearance, a 360-degree camera, and a CVT transmission, as I feel CVTs are easier to drive in traffic. What about the Honda Elevate CVT? It offers good hood visibility and ground clearance, but I am not sure about its steering. I also feel it is a bit long, and it does not have a 360-degree camera. Could you suggest other options that would suit my needs? Are Hyundai and Kia IVTs better than CVTs? What about the Nissan Magnite CVT and Renault Kiger CVT? Would an EV be a better option? Overall, please suggest an automatic car that is easy to drive for someone who is not very confident behind the wheel. I would prefer a car that meets my requirements, but I am open to better suggestions as well.

•1d

For a first-time driver who is not very confident, the Nissan Magnite CVT and Renault Kiger CVT are the most natural fits, while the Honda Elevate CVT remains a good choice if the extra size is manageable. The Magnite and Kiger are compact, have light steering, good all-round visibility, around 205mm ground clearance and 360-degree cameras, making them particularly easy to place in tight traffic and parking spaces. The CVTs are also smooth and predictable, which is useful for a new driver. The Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT is another good option, and its IVT is essentially a CVT in operation, but the Seltos is larger and therefore not quite as unintimidating as the Magnite or Kiger. The Honda Elevate CVT has several advantages for a new driver, particularly its good bonnet visibility, upright driving position, 220mm ground clearance, light and predictable CVT and 5.2m turning circle. Its 4.3m length, however, will make tight parking slightly more challenging than in the Magnite or Kiger. The current Elevate's lack of a factory 360-degree camera is also a drawback, although the upcoming Elevate facelift is expected to get a 360-degree camera, which would make it a considerably better match for this requirement. An EV can be even easier in traffic because there is no gear changing and the response is very smooth, so the Punch EV is worth considering if home charging is available.

I currently own a Himalayan 450 and am looking to upgrade to a twin-cylinder ADV with a refined engine and good electronics. I mainly use the bike for long rides and highway touring and am not particularly interested in off-roading. My budget is up to Rs 8 lakh. Could you suggest some good ADV options that would suit my requirements?

•4d

The BMW F 450 GS is the only twin-cylinder adventure motorcycle that fits in your budget, while the Honda NX500 E-Clutch is another option you can check out. That said, both these motorcycles are not a significant upgrade over your Himalayan 450 in terms of performance and the on-road price of the NX500 E-Clutch stretches over your Rs 8 lakh budget. We suggest you wait until the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 and the Norton Atlas GT will be available in the Indian market. Take a test ride of both these motorcycles and pick which one suits you best.

Norton Motorcycles Atlas GT

BMW Bikes F 450 GS

Honda Bikes NX500

Royal Enfield Himalayan 750

•4d

I am a first-time car buyer and have recently started driving, so I have limited driving experience. My usage will be around 200-300km within Chennai city, with highway travel to my native place, around 650km away, twice a year. I am looking for a reliable and safe car with a naturally aspirated (NA) engine. I am not looking for fancy or premium features, although useful features would be appreciated. The car will mainly be used by a family of five, including three adults and two children. My budget is around Rs 10 lakh, but it is not a strict limit.

•4d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza petrol manual. It is the most sensible first car for your needs. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth, easy to drive and forgiving for a new driver, while the clutch and gearbox are light and user-friendly in city traffic. The Brezza is also one of the most reliable cars in the segment, with Maruti’s strong service network and low maintenance costs, which is important for a first-time owner. It is also a safe car with a solid build and good crash test ratings. The rear seat is comfortable enough for three adults on short city runs, and the boot is adequate for your occasional long highway trips. In your budget, you can get the base LXi variant with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine. While it misses out on fancy features, it covers all the essentials well.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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