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Asked by: Sachin s My monthly driving is around 2,000 km, with 80 percent city usage and 20 percent highway. I want to purchase an SUV for a family of four. I am looking for an economical yet powerful car. I am confused between the Creta SX(O) Diesel AT, Seltos GT Diesel AT, XUV700 AX5 Diesel AT, and Scorpio Z8. Please guide me on what I should buy, as I want a performance-driven car and prefer a diesel over a petrol. The car should be strong in power and handling, and also be feature- and tech-loaded. The Creta's and Seltos' 1.5-litre diesel engine will be efficient, while the XUV700's and Scorpio N's 2.2-litre diesel will be powerful and punchy.Since power and handling are priorities, go for the Mahindra XUV700. Further, with twin screens and a large sunroof, among other features, the XUV is well-equipped, and these modern niceties further add to the overall feel-good factor. Asked by: ANANDSHREE I am planning to buy a car. My maximum budget is Rs 10.5-11 lakh on-road. I am looking for an SUV with good performance, 5-star safety, and decent mileage. My monthly usage will be around 500 to 800 km, with a 1,000 km trip every three months. Should I choose diesel or petrol? I like turbo engines. My shortlist includes the XUV3XO Diesel or Petrol MX2, and the Skoda Kylaq Signature. I am concerned about Skoda’s maintenance costs. Are there other options? Your monthly usage isn't much, hence a diesel might not justify the premium it commands over a corresponding turbo-petrol. Between the two options shortlisted, the Skoda Kylaq feels a bit nicer and more fun to drive. While the Mahindra XUV 3XO isn't too far behind in terms of ride comfort and handling, it is the one to go for should you need to travel with 4 or 5 adults often, since it is more spacious. Otherwise, the Kylaq is a good option.As far as maintenance goes, the Skoda's upkeep costs are similar to most other compact SUVs, and even parts are priced competitively due to the high levels of localization. Furthermore, Skoda has provided a service cost calculator on its website to give you an idea of how much you are likely to pay per service. Asked by: RP Hi, I am looking at buying a new car in the coming year. My budget is up to Rs 15 lakh. My current car is a 15-year-old Alto. I am interested in an SUV for Bangalore (notoriously bad traffic and roads). I expect about a 100 to 150 km commute every week for office use, and I may occasionally drive on highways (short distances and not full-blown road trips). My key considerations are safety and reliability, as I have a 1-year-old child. Since you are accustomed to the reliability that Maruti Suzuki offers, it's best that you stick with a Maruti SUV for your next purchase. Given your budget and requirements, your best bet is the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, the ZXi+ AT variant, which is a fully loaded spec well within your budget.The compact SUV is spacious and comfortable for a family, while compact enough to tackle Bengaluru traffic, with a smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic to give your left foot a break. It's also potent enough and stable for use on short highway drives.Alternatively, you could choose the more compact Maruti Fronx, which comes with a punchier 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, but it isn't quite as spacious or SUV-like as the Brezza, in case that is a higher priority. Asked by: Dhruv Biswas We currently own a 2018 Brezza and are looking to upgrade. Our budget is around ₹15-16 lakh. The car would probably be used twice a week for about 60 km each time, with occasional road trips. We want to avoid a Maruti this time and are aiming for a safer option. Given that you are looking at an upgrade from a compact SUV like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, it would be worthwhile looking at the larger mid-size SUV segment. However, bear in mind, then, that you would likely have to stretch your budget a bit to get a good amount of features. We would advise holding off on your purchase for a little longer if possible, as there are several exciting new cars launching very soon. First is the Tata Sierra, a good-looking and well-equipped SUV whose full price list is expected later this month. Then there is the all-new Kia Seltos, which promises to be larger and even better equipped than today's car. And finally is the new Renault Duster, which promises the same robust SUV feel and value proposition as the original, with more modern features. All should be big on safety, although official crash test ratings remain to be seen. Asked by: Chandru I currently drive a Tata Nexon and am planning to upgrade to a seven-seater. I have shortlisted the Skoda Kodiaq Sportline and Jeep Meridian Trail AT, but am confused about which one to finalise. I need expert advice on this. You may suggest any other seven-seater as well, except the Innova HyCross. There's a dearth of seven-seater SUVs available in the Rs 35-50 lakh price bracket, with the only options being Skoda Kodiaq, Jeep Meridian, MG Gloster, and Toyota Fortuner. Out of these, the Kodiaq feels the most sophisticated and the most car-like; however, space for adults in the third row is tight, and is best used as a seven-seater for short distance, occasionally.The Jeep Meridian's third row space is no better, and overall, it doesn't feel as polished as the Kodiaq, hence the Skoda is the better bet.But if your objective is to travel with six or seven adults often, consider the MG Gloster and Toyota Fortuner, which are more spacious than the Skoda and Jeep. The Gloster has an edge over the Fortuner in terms of a more upmarket interior and better refinement. Asked by: Karan I own a 2018 Ford Endeavour 3.2L 4x4 and absolutely love its ride quality and smoothness. I have driven it for 1.3 lakh km. Due to government regulations and some issues with the car, I now want to replace it. However, I am unable to decide on a new SUV with 4x4 and an automatic transmission that can offer the same road presence and ride quality, or at least come close. The Fortuner is a close contender for road presence, but it offers poor ride quality, low value for money and underwhelming interiors for its high price. Please suggest suitable options. The Ford Endeavour 3.2L truly delivered a premium experience that remains unmatched, even today. As a replacement, the MG Gloster comes close in terms of its road presence, refinement, features, and ride and handling balance.If you're open to a 5-seater 4x4 petrol-AT SUV at a much higher price point, you could look at the tough-as-nails Jeep Grand Cherokee - it is a very competent car. Asked by: rikhath baig Hello Car Expert, I’m planning to purchase a new car in 2026 and can wait up to a year. My driving is mostly within the city, so I need a spacious, comfortable car with modern features and an automatic transmission. My on-road budget is capped at ₹15 lakh, and my yearly usage is around 5,000-6,000 km. I’m considering the Mahindra XUV 3XO, Skoda Kylaq, and Kia Sonet, but I may have missed other suitable options. Of your three shortlisted cars, the Mahindra XUV 3XO checks the most boxes. It has a very spacious cabin - although not a very spacious boot - and has a comfortable ride and loads of features. As for longevity, any car can be kept for 10+ years if you drive it carefully, maintain it well and have it serviced regularly. That said, Mahindra's aftersales and service isn't as well-regarded as, say, Maruti or Hyundai's, so that's something to keep in mind. You should also consider the newly launched Hyundai Venue, which also meets all your requirements very well, and comes with more modern tech inside the cabin. Asked by: Sukhvinder Singh I want to buy a seven-seater for my family. I am looking for comfort, safety, low maintenance, and a car that is future-ready with respect to fuel. I am confused between Hybrid and ICE. I am not interested in EVs. My budget is around Rs 25 lakh. Kindly suggest. You are unlikely to get a hybrid seven-seater at around Rs 25 lakhs, but if you're willing to stretch by a few lakhs, you could get a Maruti Suzuki Invicto, the Hybrid Zeta+ variant. The Invicto is essentially a badge-engineered Toyota HyCross, offering the same level of comfort, efficiency, and features.Since it isn't as popular as the Innova, Nexa dealers are offering substantial discounts, which means you could get a great deal too. If your usage isn't much, you could consider the Toyota Innova HyCross Petrol CVT, which will easily fit into your budget. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts 
