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Asked by: Harshith I drive 2,000 km per month, with about 80% on highways (primarily the Hyderabad ORR). I’m choosing between two EVs: the Windsor EV Pro at ₹20 lakh on-road and the BYD Atto 3 Dynamic at ₹27 lakh on-road. Is the ₹7 lakh premium for the BYD Atto 3 worth the investment for my usage? Please advise. The Windsor offers great value for money, and its cabin is spacious and well-appointed, but it’s fundamentally a city-focused EV. For your usage, especially with 80% of your running on highways and the fast, open conditions of Hyderabad’s ORR, the BYD Atto 3 is the more suitable choice.The MG Windsor’s ride is on the firmer, brittle side, and it lets in a fair bit of road noise, which becomes tiring at higher speeds. In contrast, the Atto 3 is noticeably better insulated, feels more planted at speed, and generally drives like a segment-above product. It’s also more refined overall and offers significantly more range- an important factor given your monthly 2,000km usage.So yes, for your specific requirement, the extra Rs 7 lakh for the Atto 3 is justified. Asked by: DEEPANSHU PANCHO I am planning to buy an XUV700 in January. My monthly running is 600-700 km, about 70% in the city. I live in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and I’m confused about the fuel choice. Should I opt for petrol or diesel? Please advise - thanks. Considering your monthly running is under 1000km, and most of your driving is in the city, we suggest going for the petrol version of the Mahindra XUV700. While the diesel will be more efficient, it is over a lakh more expensive than the equivalent petrol variant, and with your limited usage, it will take years to recover that cost. Additionally, since around 70 per cent of your driving is in the city, there is a higher chance of facing DPF clogging issues with a diesel engine.We would also recommend waiting a bit before making the purchase, as the XUV700 facelift is just around the corner. It is expected to come with updated styling, more features and possibly changes to the suspension.Given your limited city running, you could also consider the soon-to-launch Mahindra XEV 9S, which is a seven-seater. We expect it to be priced slightly higher than the Mahindra XEV 9E five-seater, and it should carry the same battery size, offering a good range. With home charging, its running costs will be much lower than the petrol or diesel XUV700. Asked by: Hareesh Reddy I currently own a 2015 Elite i20 with about 50,000 km on the clock over the last 10 years. I’m planning to sell it and upgrade to a bigger car - I’m considering the Creta, Victoris, and Elevate. Which of these is best for performance, comfort, low maintenance, and offers the most features/options? I plan to keep the new car for five years or more. I currently drive a petrol manual; since I drive occasionally in the city and on outstation trips, should I switch to an automatic transmission? I’m confused by the options. Please suggest. The Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Honda Elevate are all competent midsize SUVs. Given your requirements, you should consider the Hyundai Creta. It comes with a refined 115hp, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that can be had with either a slick 6-speed manual or a smooth CVT automatic. While it might not have outright performance, the Creta 1.5 petrol is easy to drive, and it's proven to be reliable as well. And since you already own a Hyundai car, you'll appreciate the familiarity in regards to the car and the after-sales service. Since your usage is minimal, you can opt for the manual as it'll be more affordable and fuel-efficient than the CVT. But if you want the convenience, especially in the city, go for the CVT automatic. Asked by: Akash Agarwal I want to buy a new car with a budget of ₹25 lakh. I’m torn between the Tata Safari and the Mahindra XUV700. Many online reviews recommend the XUV700, but I’ve heard a new version is due next year. Is it sensible to buy the XUV700 now? This would be my first SUV; I currently own a Baleno. It would be worthwhile to wait for the Mahindra XUV700 facelift, which is coming early next year, as it will be getting a big upgrade, especially in terms of features and tech. It is expected to retain its wide selection of variants, which includes 5-, 6- and 7-seat versions, petrol and diesel, manual and automatic, as well as 2WD and AWD. In your budget, you should be able to find something in the middle of the range. This is a big reason why it is preferred over the Tata Safari, which currently only comes in 6- and 7-seat guises, and only with a diesel engine, and is a little more expensive than the Mahindra, spec for spec. However, the Tata Safari petrol version is due for a launch in December 2025, with a 170hp, 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, which should provide more choice to buyers, and could be worth considering. However, there will still be no AWD version. Asked by: Srikant I want to buy a new car because my current one is almost 11 years old. I drive around 500–600 km per month on average. I’m looking for a 6–7 seater vehicle on a budget, and I’m torn between the Maruti XL6 and the Hyundai Alcazar. Can you suggest which one would be better, or recommend other options? The two cars you have shortlisted fall in different segments; in fact, where the Maruti XL6 price ends, is where the Hyundai Alcazar price begins. The Alcazar is a superior vehicle in terms of comfort, quality, features and engines. However, the XL6 MPV body style means that space efficiency on the interior is better. The XL6 has just a single engine option - a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox. Also, it is not as powerful as the Alcazar, but it will be more fuel-efficient. If you are budget-conscious and want to keep running costs low, the Maruti XL6 is the better choice for you. You could also consider the Kia Carens Clavis, which falls between these two on price. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts 
