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Asked by: Dipankar I have recently shifted back to india after 2 years and need a car immediately. My 70% of driving is in city - Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon and monthly around 500-600 km apart from some trips. Looking for a mid size SUV within 20 lakhs. As this segment is crowded so taking decision is tough and confusing. There's creta, seltos, victoris, hyryder, ev cars and many upcoming. Can you advise on a car based on above? Looking for a reliable with better premiumness in the car. Yes, you are correct, there is a lot of choice in the mid-size SUV space. It's hard pinpointing one without knowing a bit more about your preferences like mileage, rear space, driving pleasure, etc. However, a good all-rounder would be the Hyundai Creta.The Hyundai car offers multiple powertrains - petrol, diesel and electric - and all powertrains are reliable. The only issue is that the interiors do not feel very premium, we would suggest you wait a bit, as Kia will be unveiling the new Seltos next month, and this should be a good option with more premium interiors. Asked by: Hemant Balakrish I am looking for a car with a budget of ₹15 lakh. I drive about 500 km per month within the city and take long trips twice a year (~2,000 km each). I need a responsive engine, good boot space, and driving comfort for both city and highway driving. I have shortlisted Basalt X, Skoda Kushaq and the new Hyundai Venue. Your inputs will help me decide. The Citroen Basalt meets your three requirements very well. It has the largest boot of the lot and has a responsive engine, and is very pleasing to drive with the most comfy ride too. The only issue is that the company's dealer network is very small; if, however, this is not an issue for you, the Basalt would do just fine. If this is a deal breaker, then look towards the Skoda Kylaq, the boot is larger, and in general, it is more enjoyable to drive when compared to the Hyundai Venue. Asked by: Prakash I live in the hills of Shillong and need an automatic SUV for steep, narrow roads. Traffic is often bumper-to-bumper (1 km can take up to 1 hour). I drive 36 km one way (10 km in city traffic, 26 km on the highway), so 72 km per day total. My home is situated on a 45-degree inclined road. I want an automatic SUV under ₹15 lakh and will buy from either Hyundai or Maruti. Please suggest the right vehicle. A car with a torque converter automatic will suit your usage best, as it builds power smoothly at low speeds and feels the most responsive. It also crawls easily off the throttle and offers strong hill-hold behaviour. Unlike a DCT, it does not overheat in slow uphill traffic.In the Maruti Suzuki car, you have two options with this transmission: the Brezza and the Fronx turbo automatic. Between the two, we suggest the Brezza as its naturally aspirated engine delivers smoother power, which is ideal for hilly regions, and it feels nicer to drive around corners.In a Hyundai car, the only torque converter option in your budget is the Venue diesel. You can get the Venue HX 5 variant if you are comfortable with a diesel engine. Asked by: Vipin I own a Celerio ZXi O that I’ve used for six years and want to upgrade to an automatic petrol car. My maximum budget is ₹15 lakh and I prefer low service and maintenance costs. Please suggest options. Since you prefer a low service cost and an easy-on-the-pocket car, it would be better to stick to Maruti Suzuki as a brand. Maruti is renowned for low service and running costs and will offer peace of mind, just like the Maruti Celerio has. If you want a bigger car in particular, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a good option to consider. It has a roomy cabin, a comfy ride, the automatic is convenient for the city, and the running costs are low, too. Also, it has a good boot space and holds its value well. The other, more compact option would be the Maruti Suzuki Fronx with a turbo-petrol engine and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. It isn't as big as the Brezza, but it is very nice to drive and quite practical too. Both cars in their top-spec variants will fit in your budget. Asked by: Saagar I’m planning to buy a new petrol automatic and would like suggestions based on my needs. My monthly running is about 800 km (mostly city) with occasional highway trips carrying five passengers. My priorities are comfort, practicality, reliability, fuel economy, and stability. Must-have features are a sunroof, reverse camera, cruise control, and modern tech and safety. I’m considering Syros HTK Plus DCT, Nexon Creative Plus DCA, Venue HX8 DCT, Brezza ZXI AT, and 3XO RevX A, but I’m open to better alternatives. Considering your requirements, the Kia Syros fits the bill and will offer everything you need in one package. The petrol engine has enough grunt for daily city driving, and the DCT gearbox is easy to use, especially if you’re not expecting high performance. The drive modes also help it adapt better on highways. It has the roomiest cabin among the SUVs you’ve mentioned.The rear seat with the recline function is very comfortable. The panoramic sunroof brings in a lot of light and makes the cabin feel more open. The features and equipment list are excellent, and the overall build quality is very impressive.The only area where it may fall slightly short is fuel efficiency, though the difference isn’t much.Overall, it’s a fantastic package and works as a great all-in-one car. Asked by: Mathur Hi. I’m looking for an automatic car with an on-road budget of around ₹15 lakh. It must have a strong safety rating, decent mileage, reliable after-sales service, and affordable, readily available spare parts. I’m interested in the Tata Sierra but have read mixed reviews about its service and build quality and am unsure how accurate they are. My annual run will be low (about 5–7k km), mostly on highways. Please advise. While the Tata Sierra is an impressive-looking SUV, we have yet to drive it on the road and experience its performance. Also, the price list for all the variants is not out yet, so it’s uncertain which variant will be available within your ₹15 lakh budget.Tata's after-sales and service support does have some catching up to do in comparison to Maruti and Hyundai. If you really liked the way the Sierra looks and what it offers, it would be worth waiting for. However, if it does not turn out as per your requirements, the Mahindra XUV 3XO in AX5 L variant is very good. It has a smooth powertrain and a good feature list, along with a spacious rear seat and low maintenance costs. Asked by: Datta Mandir I live in Bangalore. My primary use is an office commute (only 2 km) on narrow, congested roads, with occasional road trips. Our family is two adults and two children, and safety is my top priority. I want a car with strong driving experience and road presence. I previously used a Duster 110 PS and currently drive a Magnite, but am unhappy with its engine performance. My budget is ₹15 lakh, and I can stretch up to ₹20 lakh. Please suggest suitable cars. Between Rs 15-20 lakh, the best choice for your needs would be the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI with the automatic DSG gearbox. Being a mid-size SUV, the Kushaq gets plenty of practicality, but the highlight is its powertrain that has a 150hp turbo-petrol engine and a 7-speed DSG gearbox that is quick to shift. Also, the handling manners and chassis tuning make it enjoyable on long trips and around twisty roads. The feature list is also impressive, and you get a lot of kit for the money. The sound system is worth a mention too, and the overall build quality is excellent. The Kushaq would be the right choice and a great replacement for the Nissan Magnite. Asked by: Advick I’m planning to buy my first car. I can drive but not confidently yet, and I’m in the defence forces so I drive only while on leave. Please suggest which car I should buy. I’m considering the Maruti Fronx Delta CNG, Hyundai Venue N, or Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder. If you have any other good options, please tell me. We'd suggest getting a compact car rather than a larger one, which will help you make a judgment easily. Also, since you are likely to drive the car infrequently, it is better to pick a petrol, rather than pay a premium for a corresponding CNG version. We'd suggest you shortlist the new Hyundai Venue 1.2-litre petrol and the Maruti Fronx/Toyota Taisor 1.2-litre petrol. All of these are smooth and user-friendly options. Between them, the Venue will feel more spacious, and its high seating and SUV-like driving position will make it a touch easier to drive than the Maruti/Toyota options. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts 
