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Asked by: Satwant Singh My local city driving is almost 800 km every month. I go on a 2,500 km intercity highway drive every three months. I am looking for a suitable replacement for my Ford EcoSport TDCI. I have shortlisted the Maruti (Grand Vitara/Victoris) and the Toyota (Urban Cruiser Hyryder), but I am confused. Please suggest a car that is reliable, fuel-efficient, and has good maintenance support nationwide. I am looking for a perfect replacement for the Ford EcoSport, if one exists. With an annual usage close to 20,000km, it is better to opt for the hybrid versions of the options you've shortlisted. Not only will these be very fuel-efficient, but their electric motors make these cars feel very peppy and responsive too.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the newest car and, being backed by Maruti's widespread network, maintenance and support should be a hassle-free experience. The only differentiating factor between the Victoris and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is styling, as well as some small features, like their touchscreen and audio systems, the Victoris' being a bit superior.The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is merely a badge-engineered Grand Vitara, but it gets brown interiors, while the Victoris and Grand Vitara get black interiors. This, along with its styling, could be taken into consideration while deciding between the three. Either way, all three share their powertrain and most other components, and you won't go wrong with either. Asked by: ANURAG GUPTA I want to buy a new petrol automatic SUV in the next 2–3 months. I’m deciding between the Tata Sierra, Maruti Victoris, Honda Elevate, and Toyota Hyryder. My driving split is roughly 70% city and 30% highway. Top priorities are passenger comfort and safety, with modern tech, low maintenance, and decent power. Which of these four is best for my needs? Out of all the options you've listed, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris seems to be the best fit for you. Since you drive majorly in the city, you'll appreciate the Victoris strong hybrid's refinement and efficiency, and it comes feature-packed with things like a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats and much more. The Victoris is also comfortable for four passengers, and being a Maruti car, it'll be easy and affordable to maintain as well. The Victoris has also received a full, 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP. It's worth noting, however, that we're yet to review the Tata Sierra, so stay tuned to our channels. Asked by: Raghavendra kunc I own a 2019 Glanza with about 70,000 km on the clock and want to switch to a sub-compact SUV. My monthly running is around 1,500 km, mostly on village roads with occasional highway trips. I’m considering the Sonet diesel because of the mileage, and I’ve also seen the new Venue but it’s pricier than before. Is the Sonet diesel a good choice, or do you recommend another model in this segment? My budget is about ₹14 lakh. The Kia Sonet diesel is a good option, and you can safely go ahead with this.However, if rear space is important to you, then you will find this very tight in the Sonet, especially so in comparison to your Toyota Glanza. If this is an issue for you, then you could consider the new Hyundai Venue; rear space is better, and on the whole, the car is a better option too. However, if you are not keen on the Venue, then you could consider the Mahindra 3XO, which has good space as well as offers a good ride along with engine performance. Asked by: HK Rath I am very happy with my Honda BR-V, but it’s time to change the car. Which model would be the best replacement for my BR-V? I drive about 20,000 km per year. Given that you still want a three-row MPV, you should consider the Kia Carens Clavis. This Kia car has a spacious and practical interior, it's feature-packed, and what's nice is that passengers will be comfortable in all three rows of seats. The Carens Clavis can be had with a 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol, a 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and a 116hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine options. However, given that your yearly running is high, it's best to opt for the diesel, which can even be had with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox for greater convenience. Asked by: Javed Khan I’m a first-time car buyer with no driving experience. I need an automatic petrol car with a 4-cylinder engine, good mileage, low maintenance costs, and a reliable engine. My budget is under ₹8 lakh. I drive about 30 km daily, split roughly 50% highway and 50% city. Please advise. Within your budget, you have two Maruti Suzuki options, the Wagon R 1.2 ZXi AMT and the Ignis Delta AT. The Wagon R is the more practical choice with a roomier cabin and a larger boot, while the Ignis feels more premium inside and looks more stylish. Both use 1.2-litre four-cylinder engines, but they are not identical. On paper, the Ignis makes 8 hp less than the Wagon R, yet in real use, there is little difference, and the Ignis' 1.2 litre K12 engine actually feels a bit more responsive at low speeds than the K12N in the Wagon R. Asked by: Shishir Dash I own a 2017 i20 Sports petrol and want to upgrade to an SUV. I’m a driving enthusiast and use the car for daily office commute as well as long weekend trips, so usage will be mixed. I like the Hyundai Creta and Alcazar but worry about their mileage and modest petrol power. Is there a reliable, feature-packed alternative (not Suzuki) that offers better fuel efficiency and driving enjoyment? That is a difficult balance to achieve, but two cars come close to your requirements, the Volkswagen Taigun GT 1.5 turbo and the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSi. Both use the same engine, and their performance is on par with the Hyundai Creta 1.5 turbo, which already offers strong performance. The advantage of the VW and Skoda engines is cylinder deactivation, which helps significantly on the highway. When the engine is under low load, it can shut down two of the four cylinders to save fuel and improve efficiency. Both cars are well-equipped, too. We would suggest waiting for the facelift versions, which are expected very soon. Asked by: Benny I own a 2010 Ritz diesel that has served me well. I’m looking to buy a new sub-4-metre car with an on-road budget of up to ₹13 lakh. My monthly driving is about 800 km, mostly in bumper-to-bumper city traffic, so I want an automatic with a torque-converter gearbox, fuss-free maintenance, and excellent city fuel economy. Please suggest suitable options. Given your requirements, you should choose between the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. Both models come with petrol engines mated to a torque converter automatic gearbox, and being a Maruti car, you know they will be reliable and fuss-free to live with. The Brezza gets a 103hp, 136Nm, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, and it has more interior space and features than the Fronx. The Fronx, meanwhile, gets a punchier 100hp, 147Nm, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, and it comes across as the better-looking model of the two thanks to its coupe-SUV-like design. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Brezza's naturally aspirated engine should be more efficient than the Fronx's turbo on your daily city commutes. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts