The 2025 Mahindra Thar 3-door has been launched; however, the side-facing rear seats, which were available in the 2020 model, are still missing. Is there any indication that Mahindra will reintroduce the Thar 3-door with side-facing rear seats?

Autocar India

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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.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

Honda City

Autocar India

•1d

That headline range comes from a fixed lab test. In Europe, it is WLTP. In India, most brands quote the ARAI/MIDC result. For the Citroen eC3, the 320 km figure is from the Indian ARAI test. This is derived from running the car in a controlled environment - on a rolling road in a lab, at set gentle speeds, with no AC, light load and its battery temperature too is maintained at optimum levels. In the real world, however, different driving styles, ambient temperatures, air-con use, and gradient changes are likely to hamper efficiency. So the real-world figure is usually much lower than the manufacturer's claimed numbers.In our real-world tests, the eC3 delivered 228km, which is largely in line with the 230 km predicted range that's displayed when your car's battery is fully charged. The vehicle's on-board computer studies your previous driving style, based on which it displays a predicted range number.To check your real range, charge to 100%, reset the trip, drive to about 10-15% SoC and see the kilometres covered. If it is far lower than expected, even with calm driving, check tyre pressures and ask the dealer to scan for software updates or battery health.

Citroen eC3

Autocar India

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This sounds like fuel vapour entering the cabin when you slow down and downshift. When the tank is very low, fuel tends to slosh around more, which increases vapour movement inside the tank. As you lift off the throttle and brake, the vapour control system becomes more active, and if there is a weak hose, loose connection or faulty seal, those vapours can escape near the engine bay or fuel filler area. The cabin ventilation system can then pull that smell inside. Filling the tank reduces the empty space in the tank, which can explain why the smell disappeared after refuelling.Start with the simple checks. Make sure the fuel cap is tightened properly and clicks into place, and inspect the rubber seal on the cap for any cracks or damage. If the smell returns, get the car inspected soon. Ask the Tata workshop to specifically check the fuel lines for seepage, the tank vent and EVAP vapour lines, the purge valve, fuel pump seals and also for any rodent damage to smaller hoses near the firewall, which is not uncommon.If the smell is strong, keep the windows open and avoid long drives until it is checked. In many cases it turns out to be a small leak or a loose hose, but because petrol fumes are a safety concern, it is worth fixing promptly.

Tata Punch