Latest questions answered by experts

Vengdesh

Hi, I used the Kia Sonet HTK until 2024, and now after two years, I want to upgrade to a compact SUV. I will mostly commute around 30 km per day, with a long trip once every three months. Should I go for an automatic or a manual transmission? I am not considering Tata or Mahindra, as I have used them in the past. My options are the Skoda Kylaq, Hyundai Venue, or Kia Sonet again. Alternatively, I am also considering a sedan like the Honda Amaze. Also, should I choose an automatic or a manual?

Autocar India

•15m

Pick the Hyundai Venue automatic - it will make your 30 km daily city drive far easier and still handle your once-in-3-months trips calmly. Two-pedal ease in traffic saves fatigue, it’s compact for tight parking, and Hyundai’s service reach is wider than most, so ownership is simple. It also gives you a change from your old Sonet without feeling alien.If you loved your Sonet’s feel and features and don’t mind a repeat, the Sonet automatic is still a strong pick. Choose the Venue if you want a slightly more relaxed ride and a fresh cabin and more space. Amaze works if you really want a sedan’s boot and lower price, but you’ll miss the higher seat and ground clearance that help on bad roads and speed breakers.Go automatic for your usage. The manual is cheaper and can return a bit better kpl, but in stop-go traffic the automatic is worth the extra Rs. 1-1.5 lakh and a little fuel penalty.

Aditya

I am confused between Maruti Suzuki Swift CNG, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R CNG, Tata Tiago CNG, Tata Punch CNG and Hyundai Grand i10 Nios CNG. Which one would be the better choice, and why?

Autocar India

•45m

Pick the Tata Punch CNG; it keeps CNG running costs low while giving you usable boot space with its dual CNG cylinder setup that sits neatly below the boot floor and this frees more luggage room than the others. The Punch CNG also uses a single ECU for the petrol and CNG fuel system, thus unlike other CNG cars which default start in petrol mode, the CNG Punch starts directly on CNG eliminating the need to manually switch over. The 5-star crash rating makes it a reassuring choice here for a first car. It is easy to drive in traffic, rides well on broken roads, and won’t feel out of depth on the odd highway run. If you find the purchase cost a bit higher you can also opt for the Tata Tiago CNG which also has the dual CNG tank setup.

Tata Punch

Tata Tiago

Neel

•6h

I want to replace my 10-year-old Maruti Ignis with a small EV suitable for the small lanes of Mumbai. I would prefer the top-end variants, and the budget would be around 10-12 lakhs. Usage will largely be 20-30 kms within the city.

Autocar India

•1h

Pick the Tata Punch Smart+ 30. It is small enough to slip through Mumbai’s lanes and park in tight spots, yet it feels like a proper spacious car for daily life. Your 20-30 km city run will deplete the 30 kWh battery, so you can charge just once a week for your daily commutes. The Smart+ is not the top trim, but you still get all the features you'd need like auto climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, LED headlamps, 6 airbags and more. It also rides and absorbs bad patches really well, and the cabin is also spacious enough for five people, so it'll feel like a proper upgrade from your Ignis.If your lanes are really scooter-narrow and you mostly drive alone, the MG Comet top variant is even easier to squeeze and park, and will fit your budget comfortably. Just know it has two doors and a very small boot, so getting people in the back is a hassle and airport bags are a squeeze.

Tata Punch

MG Comet

Dipanjankolkata

•1d

I have Tiago EV LR 2023 with odo 25k, I bought it at 11.40 Lacs on road. It's been a good experience so far, but for a long drive, it's stressful with a 160 kms range. I want to upgrade to Punch LR 40 empowered. Any idea how much I could get after 3 years? Or when could be the right time to sell the vehicle?

Autocar India

•2h

The Tata Punch EV Long Range is a meaningful upgrade from the Tiago EV LR. You get significantly more real-world range, a more spacious cabin, better ground clearance and a much richer feature list. If range anxiety on highway trips is the main reason for upgrading, the Punch EV addresses that far better than the Tiago EV.As for resale, EVs currently depreciate faster than equivalent petrol cars, with the steepest drop occurring in the first three years. A large part of that depreciation has already happened on your Tiago EV.Looking at current used-car listings, 2023 Tiago EV Long Range examples with mileage similar to yours are generally advertised in the Rs 6.5 lakh range, depending on variant, condition and city.Since you bought the car for Rs 11.4 lakh and have already completed 25,000km, this is actually not a bad time to sell if you are certain about upgrading. Waiting another two or three years will give you more value out of the car through usage, but it is unlikely to significantly improve the percentage of value retained. In fact, as newer EVs with better range continue to arrive, older EVs tend to face greater depreciation pressure.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Tiago EV

Bhanu Kiran

•3d

My father is 58 years old and is going to buy a new CNG vehicle in Hyderabad. We are looking at Maruti, as we would like to use it for 10-15 years. We previously had a Verna 3rd gen. My dad's requirements are less maintenance and good mileage in the city and on highways, and this vehicle will be used mostly in the city and occasionally on highways with luggage and not exceeding 15k -20k kms annually. We are confused between Vitara and Victoris initial budget for Victoris was 12lacs on road, and my father is okay to stretch till 15lacs after visiting the showroom. Please suggest the best one, and is Grand Vitara good from the above 2 products and suggest what the add-on we should choose, which will help us in the long term, and can we add the add-on outside the showroom.

Autocar India

•3h

Pick the Maruti Victoris CNG over the Grand Vitara CNG. For your Rs. 15 lakh on-road budget and mostly city running, the Victoris VXi fits comfortably within budget, and it gets a dual underfloor CNG tank setup, which gives it a much more usable boot than the Grand Vitara.The downside is that the Victoris does not come with a spare tyre. However, you can buy one as a dealer accessory and carry it in the boot on longer journeys if needed.If you need other accessories, Maruti usually offers a long list of dealer-fit options. These are definitely preferable to aftermarket parts, which can sometimes affect your warranty coverage.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Ayush jain

•5h

I have been owning a Baleno MT petrol for the last 6.5 years. Planning to change the vehicle now. My monthly running is approximately 1,000km (city + highway). I enquired at the market and shortlisted two options: the Creta SX Summer Edition (petrol manual) and the Curvv EV Accomplished X. Both are priced at a difference of just Rs 50,000. Could you please suggest which one to buy?

Autocar India

•3h

Go for the Creta SX petrol manual. With your usage pattern, you'll appreciate the Creta's smoothness and stress-free ownership experience, which will feel familiar to your Baleno manual. It has a roomy cabin, it rides well over bad roads, and Hyundai service is everywhere.The Tata Curvv EV will be cheaper to run and nice to drive in the city - quiet, quick and single-pedal friendly. But your highway runs will require some planning for charging stops, and it also isn't as proven as the Creta.One honest catch with the Hyundai Creta is that you will spend more on fuel, and a manual can tire you in heavy traffic. If you are okay with that, the Creta is the safer, easier choice today.

Hyundai Creta

Tata Curvv EV