Mumbai

Latest questions answered by experts

Pradeep

Hi Autocar, I need your valuable opinion on purchasing a new car. My priorities are: safety, a comfortable ride (50% on highways and city roads and 50% on village roads), and a budget of around ₹5-6 lakh. Fuel efficiency is also important, as my daily run is 100 km.

Autocar India

•32m

For your requirement of safety, comfort on mixed roads and very high daily running of 100 km, we would suggest going for the Tata Tiago iCNG.The Tiago is a good fit because it offers a comfortable ride over bad village roads, along with a stable feel on highways. It is also a safe and well-built car for its price, which aligns with your priority.More importantly, with your kind of usage, running cost becomes critical, and this is where the CNG version makes a big difference. Compared to petrol, CNG will be significantly more economical, which will save you a lot of money over time, given your daily 100 km usage. In your budget, you can go for the base XE variant.

Tata Tiago

Anshuman Sinha

•9h

I’ve been driving a manual Hyundai Creta Petrol for the last six years and am now looking to upgrade to an automatic with better specifications and superior comfort. My driving split is roughly 75% city and 25% highway. I’m currently torn between the New Kia Seltos IVT (NA Petrol) and the Turbo Petrol DCT. As this will be my first automatic car, I’d appreciate insights on which gearbox better suits my heavy city usage versus occasional highway runs. Kindly suggest.

Autocar India

•57m

Since this will be your first automatic, the Kia Seltos IVT is the easier and more intuitive option to live with. In heavy city traffic, it is extremely smooth at low speeds, with no jerks or shift shocks, which makes daily driving far less tiring. The creep function is also very natural, so bumper-to-bumper traffic and parking become effortless.The turbo petrol DCT, while a lot more powerful and engaging to drive, is better suited for highway use and enthusiastic driving. In city conditions, especially in stop-and-go traffic, it can feel a bit jerky compared to the IVT.On the highway, the IVT paired with the naturally aspirated engine is still perfectly adequate for cruising at 90-100 kph, and for your usage, you are unlikely to fully benefit from the extra performance of the turbo.

Kia Seltos

Aman

•8h

I am planning to buy a 7XO diesel automatic. My daily drive would be around 60 km (Delhi-Gurgaon-Delhi). I was just reading about the DPF, so now I am in doubt whether I should go with the diesel option or not.

Autocar India

•1h

For your usage of around 60 km daily (Delhi-Gurgaon-Delhi), you can safely go ahead with the diesel automatic in the Mahindra XUV 7XO. There is no need to avoid diesel because of DPF concerns in your case.DPF issues typically arise when the car is used only for very short drives or constant slow-speed city usage. In your case, a 60 km daily run is more than sufficient for the system to regenerate naturally, especially if parts of your drive include steady speeds. The diesel engine will also suit your usage better as it offers better efficiency and is refined, punchy and well-suited for regular commuting.You just need to ensure that, once in a while, the car gets a steady run at moderate speeds, which is something your usage will likely cover anyway.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Viraj

•7h

I am a 26-year-old engineer, thinking of buying my first car. My monthly salary is around ₹90k-1 lakh. My budget is around ₹16-17 lakh max. My travel will be 30+ km daily, and on weekends I will be travelling up to 500 km on average. I am looking for an automatic car with a good safety rating and low maintenance. I was thinking of the Tata Curvv Creative Plus S model, which has a 360-degree camera as well as a sunroof, along with good safety, and I like the coupe design especially. But do let me know if the Tata Curvv is the perfect choice for me, or if I should consider another car as well. Also, I am confused about whether to opt for a petrol automatic or a diesel. If I opt for diesel, I will have to pay more but will get better mileage, so do let me know your thoughts as well.

Autocar India

•2h

If you like the Tata Curvv and its design, you should opt for it. It has secured a 5-star crash test rating from Bharat NCAP and is equipped with all the necessary safety kit. Given your usage, the extra outlay for the diesel automatic does not seem worth it, and the turbo petrol engine should feel like a good mix of performance and fuel economy for you.Downsides of the Curvv, however, are a DCT gearbox that can be jerky at low speeds, limited rear-seat space and poor cabin ergonomics. Plus, it has been known to suffer software glitches, and Tata's service quality is reportedly not as good as some other brands.Another option you could consider is the new Renault Duster. Its boxy shape may not be anything like the low-slung Curvv's, but it is quite appealing in its own right, and its 1.3 turbo petrol engine and DCT combination is a good mix of smoothness and performance.

Renault Duster

Tata Curvv

Sandeep

•5h

My monthly running is 3,000 km. Which car should I opt for in the range of ₹10-16 lakh? Usage is half city, half highway. Petrol, diesel or EV? Manual or automatic?

Autocar India

•3h

In your case, we would suggest going for a diesel automatic. At this kind of running, diesel makes clear sense because you will benefit from better efficiency and lower running costs, especially on highways. Since half your driving is in the city, an automatic gearbox will make a big difference in reducing fatigue and making daily driving easier.Within your ₹10-16 lakh budget, the Hyundai Venue diesel automatic is a strong option. It offers a refined diesel engine and smooth automatic gearbox, making it well-suited for both city and highway driving. The newer Venue is also more spacious than before, so rear seat space is not really a concern anymore, making it a well-rounded family car.If you are looking for even more space, you can also consider the Kia Syros. It feels wider, more airy and offers better rear seat room. However, the ride quality is not as comfortable as the Venue's, which is something to keep in mind, especially for long drives.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

AMLAN PANDA

•3d

I was initially planning to buy the Maruti Suzuki Dzire VXI, but after reconsidering my priorities, mainly ground clearance, I’m now leaning towards the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXI with the Urbano kit (~₹10k). My budget is very tight, capped at around ₹9 lakh on-road. However, I’ve recently heard about an upcoming Brezza facelift. Since I’ve already been waiting for a month due to Dzire delivery delays, should I continue waiting for the facelift or go ahead with the current model? Also, my key priorities are good mileage, low maintenance cost, and long-term reliability, so which option would make more practical sense?

Autocar India

•3h

Given your priorities and a tight Rs 9 lakh on-road cap, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi (current model) is the sensible choice right now. With 198 mm of ground clearance, it’s far better suited to bad roads, tall speed breakers and occasional rough use than the Dzire, which has about 163 mm of clearance. There is a Brezza facelift on the way, but updates are expected to be mainly cosmetic and feature-related, with the possibility of a price increase when it launches. So, to avoid further delay and likely price hikes, it’s better to buy the current Brezza now; with the facelift around the corner, you can even negotiate harder on the outgoing car as dealers will gradually be looking to clear stock.With your Rs 9 lakh on-road ceiling, the Brezza LXi is right on the edge but still realistically achievable in many cities, especially if you push for discounts. Just confirm the exact on-road price and the cost of the Urbano kit (~Rs 10k) with your local dealer. Compared with the Maruti Suzuki Dzire VXi, you gain roughly 30-35 mm of extra ground clearance (around 163 mm vs 198 mm), which directly addresses your main concern of scraping on speed breakers and broken roads. Maintenance remains straightforward for both cars, with typical Maruti service intervals of 10,000 km or 12 months, and parts and labour are among the most affordable in the segment. In terms of fuel efficiency, you can expect the Brezza 1.5 MT to deliver around 13-15 km/l in the city and 17-19 km/l on the highway in real-world use. The lighter Dzire is more efficient overall, but the Brezza still offers a good balance of mileage, robustness and long-term reliability.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Dzire