Latest questions answered by experts

Took my Kushaq 1.5 TSI to a track day event for the first time, and the chassis held up better through the corners than I expected from a compact SUV.

•3h

Ladakh trips are becoming almost a rite of passage for every Thar and Scorpio N owner now. Is this actually good for those roads long term?

•4h

My Seltos's forward collision warning went off for the first time yesterday during an actual near-miss with a bike cutting across.

•5h

A lot of brands bundle a must-have feature like ventilated seats with an unrelated one like a bigger touchscreen, forcing buyers to jump two variants just to get the one thing they actually wanted. Does anyone else find this variant structuring more frustrating than the price jump itself?

•5h

Took the whole extended family, nine people across two trips, in the Carens for a wedding last weekend, and the third row held up fine even on the return late at night.

•8h

I am a first-time car buyer and relatively new to driving. Most of my travel involves highway driving, with occasional trips through city traffic. I am looking for an automatic car with a budget of under Rs. 12 lakh. Could you suggest a suitable car based on these requirements?

•6h

For a first-time buyer who is new to driving, prioritises highway use and wants an automatic under Rs 12 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the most sensible recommendation. It is one of the easiest cars to drive in the segment, with good all-round visibility, a comfortable driving position and a smooth torque converter automatic gearbox that is far more refined than the AMT gearboxes found at this price point. On the highway, the Brezza feels stable and confidence-inspiring, while in city traffic the gearbox is smooth and the car is easy to manoeuvre. Maruti’s service network and low running costs also make it a stress-free ownership proposition, which is important for a first-time buyer. The only real drawback is that the Brezza is not the most feature-rich car in the segment, but it gets the basics right and is a easy car to live with. If you want something with a bit more space and a more premium feel, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is also worth considering, but the Brezza remains the safer and more beginner-friendly choice.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•6h

Strong hybrids like the Hyryder seem to be quietly winning over buyers who were on the fence about full EVs. Do you think hybrids end up being the longer-term default in India?

•14h

Hi, at present, I am using Tata Altroz DCT and want to replace with some compact SUV. My running is mostly in city area with bumper-to-bumper traffic around 450 km per month. I have chosen Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus and Tata Punch Adventure, both in AT, petrol mode. My budget is around 10-12 lakhs. Which one out of these, would you suggest or any other car is best for me?

•6h

With your usage of around 450 km a month, predominantly in city traffic, the priority should be a compact SUV with a smooth automatic gearbox, good fuel efficiency and easy manoeuvrability. The Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus automatic is the better choice here. It uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smoother and more reliable in stop-start traffic than the AMT gearbox in the Tata Punch. The Kylaq also offers a more refined driving experience, better performance and a more premium feel overall.

Currently, I own Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha 1.3 (2017) diesel that has crossed 12,000km and its current mileage is 14kpl in the city. At what price should I sell this as I currently have an offer for Rs. 3 - 3.5 lakh. Once I sell my car, which SUV should I buy for my family under Rs. 15 lakh ( maximum on-road budget). I prefer comfort, space, mileage and performance and I prefer to keep the car for at least 10 years. My 85% usage is in the Kanpur city (Tier-2 city) and my monthly driving is 1000-1100 km. In 4-5 months, I travel from Kanpur to Delhi or from Kanpur to Jaipur. I am confused about what should I do with issues like the current ethanol blending scenario in India, diesel bio mixing, diesel DPF problem, EV infrastructure issue as well as range problem and battery degradation. Which fuel variant should I be looking at?

•7h

Since your diesel Baleno is nearing 10 years, and you're being offered Rs 3-3.5 lakhs for it, it makes sense to sell it. Keeping your usage in mind, we'd recommend you to shortlist the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG and the Mahindra XUV 3XO Diesel. Both these are very sensible, comfortable choices, and are likely to return strong efficiency. The Mahindra has an edge as far as performance goes. In summary, if you don't mind the long CNG queues at refilling pumps, the Brezza CNG will be an economical option, which is further backed by Maruti's widespread network. However, if you want a fill-it, shut-it, forget-in option the XUV 3XO diesel is a good choice.

Switched my daily commute from the car to a scooter six months ago just to beat traffic, and honestly haven't looked back even once during peak hours.

•2d

I currently own a used Maruti Ciaz (2025) and am planning to shift to a smaller car since my regular driving is within the city and occasional long highway rides. Is Maruti Suzuki Wagon R ZXI Plus 1.2 a good choice considering Maruti's reliability and easy access to inexpensive spare parts? I do not want to stretch my budget beyond 10 lakh. Alternatively, should I consider Baleno, Glanza or upcoming Renault Triber Turbo?

•7h

The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R ZXI+ 1.2 is a sensible choice for your requirements. It is compact, easy to drive in the city, and the 1.2-litre engine also gives it enough performance for occasional highway runs.However, coming from a Ciaz, you will notice a significant step down in overall refinement, ride comfort and highway stability. The Wagon R is primarily a city car, and while it can handle highway trips, it does not feel as composed or as comfortable at higher speeds as a larger hatchback.Instead, consider the Maruti Suzuki Baleno facelift as it would be a better fit and its smaller car than your Ciaz but you won't be compromising too much on comfort and highway ability. The Baleno is still easy to drive in the city, offers a better ride quality and more stability on highways, and is more refined overall than the Wagon R.The upcoming Renault Triber turbo is an interesting alternative if you need more flexibility with seating and boot space, but it is not as refined or as proven as the Maruti options.Overall, the Baleno would be the more balanced upgrade from a Ciaz.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Renault Triber

•1d

Hello, I am planning to buy a sub-4 meter SUV. My budget is Rs. 10-11 lakh and my weekly running is 100-150 km. Please suggest me a budget friendly car.

•8h

With a weekly running of 100-150 km, your annual usage is relatively low, so a petrol engine makes the most sense. In your budget of Rs 10-11 lakh, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the strongest recommendation. It is one of the most spacious sub-4 metre SUVs, has a wide cabin that makes it a comfortable five-seater, and offers a strong turbo petrol engine that is both enjoyable to drive and efficient enough for your usage. It is also one of the safest cars in the segment.If you are looking for something more budget-friendly, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a very good alternative. It is reliable, easy to maintain and has Maruti's extensive service network, which keeps ownership costs low. It is also comfortable and well-suited to city driving. Between the two, the 3XO offers better space and a more modern package, while the Brezza is the safer long-term ownership bet.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•8h

Everyone keeps saying buy the top variant for resale value, but for a car you're planning to keep 8-10 years, does that advice even hold up anymore?

•14h

Hi, I want to buy an automatic car under a budget of Rs. 13.5 - 14.5 lakh. I want a low maintenance car that offers best mileage in this range and has hassle free service. My daily commute is around 30-40km. Sometimes, I also do highway driving. My options include Nexon Creative DCA petrol, Kia Sonet HTK Plus Diesel, Hyundai Venue HX 5 Turbo DCT and Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT?

•9h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT as it best fits your priorities of low maintenance, good mileage and hassle-free service. The Brezza is the most reliable and stress-free option out of all the cars you've mentioned. Maruti's service network is unmatched, running costs are low and the naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth, proven and well-suited to your running. It is not the most feature-rich car in this list, but it is the one you will own with the least headaches.The Brezza VXi AT is the sensible, low-stress choice that will keep you happy over the long term.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•9h

Upgraded from my old WagonR to a Virtus last month, and the difference in highway stability alone has made every long drive feel like a completely different experience.

•12h

I am planning to buy a hatchback. We currently own a Swift ZDi AMT and an Ertiga ZXi AT. The Swift has done around 1,30,000 km, while the Ertiga has only 12,000 km on the odometer. I am based in Bangalore. I mainly use the Ertiga for my daily commute to work, which involves a lot of bumper-to-bumper traffic and finding It difficult to drive Ertiga. I drive around 1,200-1,500 km per month, mostly for my daily office commute (around 20 km) and highway driving on weekends. I am considering trading in the Swift and upgrading to a new Swift ZXi+ AMT. My main priorities are hassle-free ownership and decent mileage. Before I finalise the Swift, are there any other hatchbacks that I should consider?

•10h

Given your priorities of hassle-free ownership, decent mileage and a comfortable city driving experience, the new Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi+ AMT is a sensible choice. The Swift is reliable, easy to drive in traffic and offers good fuel efficiency, which aligns well with your daily commute and weekend highway runs.However, since you already own an Ertiga, it is worth considering the recently-updated Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT as well. The Baleno offers a more spacious cabin, a larger boot, more features and a more premium feel, making it a better all-rounder for both city and highway use. It is also easy to drive and delivers the same reliability and efficiency.If you are open to looking beyond Maruti, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another strong contender. It offers a comfortable ride, a well-built cabin and a smoother CVT automatic gearbox, making it well-suited to Bangalore's traffic conditions.Overall, the Swift remains a solid choice, but the Baleno AMT is worth serious consideration given its additional space and comfort.

Kushaq vs Taigun, same platform and drivetrain options, but they somehow feel like completely different cars to drive. Curious which one people think actually justifies its badge here?

•2d

My wife (5'0") and I are buying an automatic car primarily for city commutes with occasional highway trips. We are considering the Kia Seltos. Is it a good choice specifically regarding seating ergonomics and visibility for a 5-foot tall driver?

•10h

The Kia Seltos is a good all-rounder, but for a 5-foot-tall driver, it is not the easiest car to live with. The seat height adjustment is limited, and the bonnet is relatively high, which can make judging the front of the car difficult. The A-pillars are also quite thick, which can create blind spots at junctions. The Seltos is also a larger car than you really need for city commutes, which makes parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces more challenging.A better option would be the Kia Syros. It has a higher seating postion, lower bonnet line, better all-round visibility and a more compact footprint, which makes it much easier to drive and park in the city. The seat height adjustment is also more accommodating for shorter drivers. The Syros is also a very comfortable and reliable car with low running costs, which makes it a great long-term ownership proposition.

Kia Seltos

Kia Syros

•2d

Hello. I own a 2022 Tata Punch manual and have recently started facing severe cabin rattling while driving off-road and while reversing at low speeds. I have escalated the issue to Tata Motors' top management, but there has been no solution. I am now planning to upgrade to a 1.5-litre SUV. My average driving is around 100km per month. Please suggest a good SUV with better build quality, performance, mileage and, most importantly, reliability.

•11h

With just 100 km per month, fuel savings will be negligible, so a petrol car is the sensible choice. The bigger concern is your experience with the Punch and the desire for a genuinely reliable, well-built upgrade. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5 petrol is the recommendation here. It is a genuinely well-engineered SUV with a proven engine and a strong ownership track record. The 1.5 petrol is the only one in the segment and is punchy enough for highway use, while still being fuel-efficient. The 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth and reliable, making it a good fit for your usage, and it will also fit in your budget. The Brezza also offers a good balance of ride comfort and driving enjoyment, and it is a clear step up from the Punch in terms of overall quality and refinement.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•1d

I am currently looking to upgrade my vehicle. My existing Ford Freestyle petrol has covered 1,46,000 km over seven years. My typical driving pattern consists of 60% highway and 40% city driving, primarily in a mining region where road conditions are challenging. I am considering the Kia Sonet diesel, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder as potential replacements. I would greatly appreciate your recommendation.

•11h

Given your usage pattern of 60% highway driving, challenging road conditions and high annual running, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel would be our first recommendation. The 3XO diesel is well-suited to rough roads thanks to its robust suspension setup, good ground clearance and strong low-end torque, which makes it easy to tackle broken surfaces and steep inclines. It is also one of the most spacious compact SUVs, with a wide cabin that comfortably accommodates five passengers, and it offers excellent value for money with a strong feature set.The Kia Sonet diesel is also a solid option, offering a refined engine and a more premium cabin feel, but it is not as spacious as the 3XO and does not feel as rugged on poor roads. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder hybrid is a good long-term ownership proposition with Toyota’s reliability, but it is not the best fit for your usage. The hybrid system is most effective in city driving, and on highways and rough terrain it does not offer the same torque or durability benefits as a diesel.Overall, the 3XO diesel strikes the best balance between durability, comfort and running costs for your specific requirements.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Sonet

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

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