Latest questions
Asked by: Pooja Sharma I am planning to buy the Mahindra XUV700. My monthly running is around 600km, and I am interested in the diesel variant, but I have heard a lot about DPF issues online. Will this be a problem for me? Should I instead go for the petrol variant? Please advise. It is not the total running in a month but the running per drive. If most of your trips are short distances and intra-city commutes, then yes, you can have a diesel particulate issue. The DPF burns off trapped soot only after it gets hot enough, and this happens only when the car is driven for longer distances and at higher speeds. Roughly a run of about 80kms with speeds above 60kph should be just about sufficient. If these conditions are not met, you will get a message saying the DPF needs a regeneration, and you will have to do run the cycle as instructed.Typically, the 60 to 80 kms drive with speeds above 60kph or a stationary one with the engine idling above 2000rpm for about 10 minutes. Thus, if your driving includes long runs at least once or twice a week, you should be fine. Otherwise, you should look at the Mahindra XUV700 petrol instead. Asked by: Susovan Pramanik I have been riding Royal Enfield motorcycles for years. First, I owned a Bullet Electra (2023), and then a Himalayan 411 (2020), which has crossed 45,000+ km. Lately, the Himalayan has started showing electrical issues and E20-petrol-related problems, and it has become difficult to depend on it for my daily rides. I travel at least 50km every day and occasionally do 100+ km suburban rides on weekends, so I urgently need a reliable, low-maintenance and practical motorcycle. An upright posture is a must. My budget is ₹2 lakh. Since you have had a lot of experience with Royal Enfield bikes, we would steer you toward the Hunter 350. With its lightweight, upright and neutral ergonomics and decent fuel efficiency, it will be a wonderful companion inside the city.If you want to look elsewhere, bikes like the Bajaj Pulsar N160 / N250, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and Honda Unicorn will also serve you well and will return considerably more fuel economy if that's important to you. 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: Ajay I own an Xpulse 200 2V (purchased in 2021), and have ridden about 53,000 km on it. Recently, I test rode the 400X and X440, and I'm also thinking about the KTM ADV 250 because I want more power now. I’m 6 ft tall, so the X440 feels low. I’m undecided between the 400X, KTM ADV 250, or possibly another bike. I was waiting for the Xpulse 421, but I don’t know when it will launch. Since you have mentioned you want a powerful motorcycle, we would recommend you look at the Triumph Scrambler 400X, KTM 250 Adventure and TVS Apache RTX 300 in the ADV / Scrambler category. Of the three, the Triumph bike is the most powerful, but it is also pleasantly usable inside the city, whereas the KTM and TVS are more do-it-all machines that will also be wonderful on a day-to-day basis. Coming to the Xpulse 421, there's no official communication from Hero on when it will be launched, so we would recommend going with any of the other options you are considering. Take a test ride of whichever option you shortlist before you choose. Asked by: Raghavendra kunc I own a 2019 Glanza with about 70,000 km on the clock and want to switch to a sub-compact SUV. My monthly running is around 1,500 km, mostly on village roads with occasional highway trips. I’m considering the Sonet diesel because of the mileage, and I’ve also seen the new Venue but it’s pricier than before. Is the Sonet diesel a good choice, or do you recommend another model in this segment? My budget is about ₹14 lakh. The Kia Sonet diesel is a good option, and you can safely go ahead with this.However, if rear space is important to you, then you will find this very tight in the Sonet, especially so in comparison to your Toyota Glanza. If this is an issue for you, then you could consider the new Hyundai Venue; rear space is better, and on the whole, the car is a better option too. However, if you are not keen on the Venue, then you could consider the Mahindra 3XO, which has good space as well as offers a good ride along with engine performance. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts 
