Autocar India
NK

Nishant Kanodia

3d

Why do DRLs fade and become creamy in most cars? If DRLs work separately from turn indicators, would they be less likely to become creamy? Can't we have red DRLs at the back of cars for enhanced safety?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1h
DRLs themselves usually do not become creamy or yellow. What you are typically seeing is the outer plastic lens ageing due to UV exposure, heat, pollution, car wash chemicals and oxidation. Over time, the clear polycarbonate lens develops a hazy or yellowish appearance, which makes the bright white DRL behind it appear creamy. The effect is more noticeable in countries like India because of the harsh sun and heat.
Whether the DRL doubles up as a turn indicator generally has little to do with the lens turning creamy. However, systems where the DRL frequently dims or switches off for the turn signal do generate more thermal cycling, which can contribute marginally to ageing over many years. The biggest culprit remains UV exposure and lens quality rather than the DRL function itself.
As for red DRLs at the rear, regulations in most countries do not permit them because they could be confused with brake lights. The idea behind a DRL is to make a vehicle more conspicuous without creating ambiguity. If a red rear light were permanently illuminated during the day, drivers behind might have a harder time recognising when the brakes are actually applied.
NK

Nishant Kanodia

56m

Thank you for your reply and suggestion for better understanding

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I want to buy both Mahindra Thar 3-door and a Kia Seltos. I am considering the base variants of both vehicles. The Thar will be used mainly for leisure, while the Seltos will be used primarily for city driving. In that case, would the petrol variant of the Seltos be a good choice? Also, I am looking at the base variant of the Thar, which is priced at around Rs. 9.99 lakh ex-showroom. Would this combination make sense for my requirements?

Autocar India team

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Yes, that combination actually makes a lot of sense if the roles are clearly defined. For the Seltos, the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol is perfectly adequate if it is going to be your city car. It is smooth, refined, easy to drive in traffic and ownership costs are reasonable. You do not really need the turbo petrol if the car's primary duty is urban commuting. The NA petrol may not feel particularly exciting, but for city use it will feel relaxed and effortless. Even in its lower variants, the Seltos is surprisingly well equipped, so it does not feel bare bones.As for the Thar 3-door, if it is purely a weekend fun vehicle, the base model can make sense from a value perspective. However, it is worth remembering that the Rs. 9.99 lakh ex-showroom variant is a 4x2 model, so you do not get the full off-road capability that most people associate with the Thar. If your idea of enjoyment is primarily the lifestyle, road presence and occasional beach or trail drives, it will still do the job. However, if you genuinely want to explore tougher trails and off-road terrain, it is worth stretching to a 4x4 variant.

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Posted on: 5 Jun 2026