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Asked by: Rayaan Hi, we are planning to purchase the Skoda Kylaq (Signature Plus automatic variant) as it feels premium to look and be in. But doubts arise about its value for money. Is it true that the Skoda brand requires only 95 octane petrol and has a high maintenance cost? Is it worth buying it just for the looks, or will it be a headache to maintain it once purchased? Or should we consider other options? Is it reliable if we plan to keep and use the car for more than 10 years? The Skoda Kylaq is a premium compact SUV, so with that comes a premium price, but you do get your money’s worth because, other than the design and interiors, which you like, the Kylaq is brilliant to drive.The 1.0-litre TSI engine is one of the best small-capacity petrol engines in the market and offers superb performance and refinement. Skoda cars are not as easy on the pocket as Japanese or Korean cars, but they're not going to make a hole in your pocket either. It is solid enough to last 10 years or more.Yes, the 1.0 TSI works best on 95 octane, which is now the base octane rating for normal E20 petrol that has been rolled out nationwide. So you really don’t have to search for 95 octane fuel and can fill anywhere. Asked by: Kakkireni Vamsi Hi team, my monthly driving is around 500 km per month and with occasional long drives, my annual usage is roughly 10,000km, a mix of city & highways. I am looking for tech & features. Interested in a 7-seater automatic with a budget of around 21-22 lacs. Confused between XUV700 diesel, XUV700 petrol, Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 turbo petrol. Pls advise. We would narrow your choice down to the Mahindra XUV700, but suggest you wait for a month when its replacement, the XUV 7X0, will be launched.The Mahindra XUV 7X0 will be absolutely feature-packed with a three-screen layout, a full suite of ADAS, and connected tech. Though your running isn’t very high, we would still recommend the diesel as it's smooth, economical and will command better resale value. Asked by: chandan d I am using a 2007 Honda City ZX VTEC, which is still running well. I am planning to buy a new car, and I drive enthusiastically. I like the used Skoda Octavia and am looking for a used car under ₹12 to 13 lakh, but I am worried about high spare part costs and DSG gearbox issues. The Honda Civic looks good, but its 0 to 100 feels slow with CVT. Other options I am considering are the Slavia 1.5 GT or the latest-generation Honda City. My usage is around 10,000km per year. An SUV is also acceptable if it drives well. Which option is better? We would rule out a used Skoda Octavia because, for your budget, you are likely to get only a third-gen 2016-2018 model, depending on the condition and the kilometres clocked. Octavias are expensive to maintain and can be expensive too, so you could end up with a white elephant paying lots of workshop bills.As you said, the Honda Civic is slow, but also with a CVT, it's not a great driver’s car, though the engine is smooth and free-revving.Your best bet is to go for a new Skoda Slavia 1.5 with the DSG transmission, which is a fantastic driver’s car and, in fact, will match an old generation Octavia for thrills. SUVs don’t offer the same driving pleasure as a sedan, and since you are an enthusiast, it's best you stick to a sedan. Asked by: Prabu I have been using a petrol Hyundai Xcent for the last 10 years and have driven more than one lakh kilometres. I am now planning to buy a new car. My usage is roughly 70% highway and 30% city. I am considering an electric car and wondering if it is the right choice, or if I should stick with petrol. Please suggest suitable options. If 70% of your driving is on the highway, it's best to stay away from an electric car, as the public charging infrastructure in India is still hit or miss, and that can be stressful on a highway drive. Since in your Xcent you averaged just 10,000km a year, you can stick to petrol.We suggest you go for the Hyundai Creta 1.5 CVT, which is a popular and proven SUV offering decent highway performance and a smooth drive in the city thanks to a top-notch CVT auto transmission. Also, being an Xcent owner, you are familiar with the Hyundai brand, which is a plus. Asked by: Shyamal Dutta I want to buy an SUV as big as the Innova. It should look good, have an engine capacity of 2,000cc or more, and deliver decent mileage, all within a budget of Rs 22 lakh. Please advise whether I should choose petrol or diesel, and whether a sunroof is worth opting for. There are only two of us, so cabin space is not a priority, but we need a large boot as we carry a lot of luggage. The Mahindra XUV700 is a good option to consider. It is spacious, has a large boot, and is available with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel engine.The petrol engine is smooth and refined, and while it is not as punchy as the diesel, it is quite tractable and will be more than adequate for your needs. The diesel engine, on the other hand, is quite punchy and will be better suited for highway drives.Both engines are available with a choice of a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The automatic is quite smooth and responsive, and it will make your daily commute quite hassle-free.The XUV700 is also quite feature-loaded, and it is available with a sunroof, so you can opt for that variant. The only downside of this Mahindra car is that it is not as fuel-efficient as its rivals, and you can expect a mileage of around 8-10kmpl in the city and 12-14kmpl on the highway.Do wait until next month, though, as a new version called the XUV 7XO will be launching. 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