Tata cars in India (21)

autocar.india

•20h

The Tata Punch EV is worth considering, but only if you have access to reliable home charging. At 1,200km a month, you're driving enough to benefit from the significantly lower running costs of an electric car, especially if you're currently spending Rs 7,000-8,000 on fuel. The Punch EV is a genuine upgrade over the Maruti Suzuki Swift in terms of ground clearance and overall practicality, while also being much cheaper to run. However, before making the switch, it's worth checking whether the drop in mileage and performance is actually due to E20 fuel or if the car needs a service, tyre pressure check or air filter replacement, as a two year old Swift shouldn't see a dramatic drop in efficiency. An aftermarket CNG kit isn't something we'd recommend as it can affect the warranty, reliability and resale value of such a new car. The only drawback with this Tata car is that it makes sense only if home or workplace charging is available. Overall, if charging isn't an issue and you're planning to keep the car for a few years, the Punch EV is the better long-term choice.

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. It is the better fit for your priorities of comfort, rear seat experience, decent mileage and road presence. The Seltos is a well-rounded midsize SUV with a comfortable ride, a spacious and supportive rear seat and a smooth IVT automatic that makes city driving effortless while still delivering respectable fuel efficiency. It also has a premium cabin and enough road presence to feel special without being cumbersome in everyday use.The Tata Safari Adventure X Plus is a larger, more imposing SUV with a stronger road presence and a more commanding driving position, but it is a fundamentally different proposition. It is a three-row SUV with a bigger footprint, higher running costs and is best suited to buyers who regularly need the extra space or do a lot of highway touring. For your priorities, the Seltos is the more sensible and satisfying choice, and the Rs 2.5 lakh you save can be put towards a higher variant or other ownership costs.

Kia Seltos

Tata Safari

autocar.india

•1d

Go for the Tata Sierra Pure Plus diesel. With your usage pattern of 60 percent highway and long trips every few months, the Sierra diesel is the more sensible choice. The diesel engine will deliver better fuel efficiency on highways, and the Sierra’s strong torque makes long-distance cruising effortless. It is also a spacious and comfortable SUV, which is important for family road trips. The Nissan Tekton is a good car, but the 1.3 turbo petrol is not as efficient on highways, and the 1.0 turbo petrol is not as refined or relaxed for long-distance driving. The Sierra diesel strikes the right balance between efficiency.

Tata Sierra

Nissan Tekton

autocar.india

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T Petrol AT. Since the current car is a Jeep Compass, solid build quality and engaging driving dynamics are clearly important priorities, and the XUV 7XO is the better fit in that regard. The 2.0-litre turbo petrol is a strong, punchy engine, and the car feels genuinely quick and engaging to drive. The AX7T variant is also generously equipped, and overall ownership experience of Mahindra cars has improved significantly over the past few years.The Tata Harrier Fearless Ultra Petrol AT is a good car with a strong road presence and a comfortable ride, but its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine does not feel as effortless as the Mahindra's 2.0-litre unit. For an annual running of 6,000-9,000 km, a petrol automatic is the right choice, and the XUV 7XO’s engine and gearbox combination is simply the more compelling package.Overall, the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T Petrol AT is the better choice for someone upgrading from a Jeep Compass and looking for a solid, engaging SUV in this price range.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier

autocar.india

•1d

Given your low annual running of 5,000km and the fact that the car will be idle for long periods, a naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a torque converter automatic is the most sensible choice. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza fits this brief perfectly. It is a simple, reliable and low-maintenance package with a proven engine and gearbox combination that will serve you well over a long ownership period. The Sonet turbo petrol DCT is the more fun-to-drive option on the highway, but the DCT gearbox is not the ideal choice for predominantly city driving and long periods of idling. As for your current Nexon, if the car is running fine now, there is no immediate need to change it. However, given the engine has already been opened and you are experiencing a perceived loss of power and mileage, it is understandable to want to move on. On the ethanol front, there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage, and modern engines are engineered to handle E20 without issue. There is no need to wait for further clarity. The Brezza is the safer and more sensible long-term choice for your usage pattern.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Kia Sonet

Tata Nexon