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Asked by: Mathur Hi. I’m looking for an automatic car with an on-road budget of around ₹15 lakh. It must have a strong safety rating, decent mileage, reliable after-sales service, and affordable, readily available spare parts. I’m interested in the Tata Sierra but have read mixed reviews about its service and build quality and am unsure how accurate they are. My annual run will be low (about 5–7k km), mostly on highways. Please advise. While the Tata Sierra is an impressive-looking SUV, we have yet to drive it on the road and experience its performance. Also, the price list for all the variants is not out yet, so it’s uncertain which variant will be available within your ₹15 lakh budget.Tata's after-sales and service support does have some catching up to do in comparison to Maruti and Hyundai. If you really liked the way the Sierra looks and what it offers, it would be worth waiting for. However, if it does not turn out as per your requirements, the Mahindra XUV 3XO in AX5 L variant is very good. It has a smooth powertrain and a good feature list, along with a spacious rear seat and low maintenance costs. Asked by: Nandini We have an AMT car that we drove around 20,000 km in the last 3 years. In May 2025, we replaced the battery after it failed to start, and last week, on a road trip, the car broke down. At the service centre, we were told the alternator needed replacement due to a wiring issue, which caused it to wear out. Can you tell me if this is a common problem with the Nexon and whether we should look for an alternate car? Maintenance costs have become heavy. Could you suggest a better alternative SUV? Your vehicle's battery and alternator usually don't give up in just three years. Have you installed any aftermarket accessories? Something might be draining battery power, even after the vehicle has been turned off, commonly known as parasitic drain. Ask the service centre to thoroughly check each fuse to identify the solution. Since you have already spent on repairs, and assuming the problem has been resolved, you should keep the vehicle and continue using it. Selling the car will not only result in a financial loss, but you will also have to put in more money to purchase a replacement vehicle. Asked by: Prakash I live in the hills of Shillong and need an automatic SUV for steep, narrow roads. Traffic is often bumper-to-bumper (1 km can take up to 1 hour). I drive 36 km one way (10 km in city traffic, 26 km on the highway), so 72 km per day total. My home is situated on a 45-degree inclined road. I want an automatic SUV under ₹15 lakh and will buy from either Hyundai or Maruti. Please suggest the right vehicle. A car with a torque converter automatic will suit your usage best, as it builds power smoothly at low speeds and feels the most responsive. It also crawls easily off the throttle and offers strong hill-hold behaviour. Unlike a DCT, it does not overheat in slow uphill traffic.In the Maruti Suzuki car, you have two options with this transmission: the Brezza and the Fronx turbo automatic. Between the two, we suggest the Brezza as its naturally aspirated engine delivers smoother power, which is ideal for hilly regions, and it feels nicer to drive around corners.In a Hyundai car, the only torque converter option in your budget is the Venue diesel. You can get the Venue HX 5 variant if you are comfortable with a diesel engine. Asked by: Praveen I’m looking for real-world feedback on the XUV700 vs the Scorpio N. Which one offers better overall value for money and long-term reliability? How different are the engine refinement and performance between the two? In terms of safety and build quality, which SUV feels more confidence-inspiring on the road? Finally, how do their actual fuel-efficiency figures compare in city and highway conditions? The Mahindra Scorpio N is a ladder-frame SUV, meaning the body is bolted onto a chassis. This construction makes it more hardy, however, the Scorpio N will have that typical body sway that is associated with chassis vehicles. The ride is thus not settled over undulations, and this is where the Mahindra XUV700 is better. It utilizes a monocoque construction, which is where all components are bolted to the body shell itself. This gives the car overall better rigidity, resulting in better ride and handling, something that is noticeably better with the XUV700. Engine refinement and performance are similar, given that the two SUVs share the same powertrains. However, real-world efficiency is better with the XUV700 as it has active safety. Also, the XUV700 has better and more stable handling at higher speeds. Asked by: Dhirendra pratap I want to buy a new car. My monthly running is around 4,000 km. Which option will be more budget-friendly for me, EV or hybrid? I am currently driving a Swift Dzire diesel. Please suggest which car I should buy. If you have access to home charging and there's a good network of EV chargers around you, an electric car makes sense as it will give you lower running costs than hybrid or ICE vehicles. But if you don't have consistent access to EV chargers and you frequent road trips, you'd find more value in a strong hybrid.Since your running is so high, you'll appreciate a strong hybrid's frugal nature as well. As for your options, there are currently three strong hybrid midsize SUVs on sale that all share the same powertrain - the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder.If you want a sedan, there's the Honda City e:HEV, or if you want an MPV, there's the Toyota Innova HyCross and the Maruti Suzuki Invicto. Asked by: Sid I own a Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid V model. Within two years of purchase, i.e, November 2023 till now, I drove 60,000 km, an average of 2500 km per month. My usage is a mix of highway and city use. I am planning to buy an EV. I’m not comfortable with XEV 9E because it’s too big for a city commute. Please suggest a good car for mixed usage. I liked the new Volvo XE 30 and BYD Atto 3. Which one do you suggest? My budget is up to 45 lakhs. Both are excellent options and should fit in your budget of Rs 45 lakh. The Volvo EX30 is the more contemporary option with more luxurious interiors. However, it isn't very spacious and is missing some features you would expect at this price.Overall, your better bet is the BYD Atto 3, which, though a little bit older and with a quirky interior design, is the more complete car. Most of all, this BYD car has a more spacious interior, particularly in the rear seat. Moreover, it has a slightly higher range rating and a slightly lower price than the Volvo. Asked by: Sudhagar I want a torque-converter petrol automatic for daily commuting of around 40 km (mostly highway but often with city-like traffic congestion) and bimonthly hilly trips. I have been driving my friend’s Kylaq frequently since its launch. My heart says Kylaq, but my brain suggests the Brezza. Decent mileage, handling, and reliability matter. Please suggest. Yes, the Skoda Kylaq is the better as far as driving pleasure goes, while the Brezza has the Maruti advantage of good after-sales service, it's also more spacious inside, especially so at the rear, where the Kylaq has much less room.So if rear space is important, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the way to go. If not, the Kylaq will do just fine and buying one isn't a risk as Skoda have made improvements to their service network and the cars are quite reliable too. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts 
