Latest questions
Asked by: Ankur Mohindra I am looking to buy a comfortable 5-seater SUV for driving in Mumbai and its outskirts, and I am confused whether to go for the Honda Elevate CVT or book the Tata Sierra DCA; could you please help me decide? Both cars you selected have 1.5 naturally aspirated (NA) engines, and the Honda car engine mated to a CVT is clearly the better option for several reasons. Firstly, Honda makes the best small-capacity naturally aspirated engines, and for Mumbai traffic, the CVT is a much smoother automatic than the twin-clutch DCA in the Tata. Also, the Tata engine, which develops a mere 106hp, is nowhere near as powerful as the Honda engine (121hp). Hence, Honda Elevate is better than the Tata Sierra DCA, which comes with this 1.5 NA engine. Asked by: Suhas I am planning to buy an automatic car and am confused between the Nexon DCA and Venue DCT; my preference is reliability with good safety, and since I have heard that the Nexon has reliability issues, is the Venue DCT more reliable and which car should I choose? Indeed, the Tata Nexon doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability. However, the quality and service have improved recently, especially for Nexons made at the Sanand plant, which formerly belonged to Ford. But it's not just reliability, but the fact that the Hyundai Venue DCT is a quicker shifting and smoother transmission than the Tata DCA or dual clutch automatic. Besides the Venue, which has recently been updated, feels a lot more premium and plush, and is definitely the better option. Asked by: Rohan Kumar I am planning to buy a new car and am confused between the XEV 9S, Harrier EV, and Fortuner 4x2 Diesel Automatic. My usage is mostly within the city, with occasional weekend drives of up to 100 km. I live in an area with a lot of incline terrain and bad roads, and my monthly driving is around 500 km. I also have my own parking space where I can install a charger. Considering my driving pattern and road conditions, should I opt for an EV or choose a petrol or diesel vehicle, and which car would be the best choice for my needs? For city use, the Toyota Fortuner is not ideal. Since you have private parking that accommodates a charger, this is a perfect time to switch to an EV. The Mahindra XEV 9E is more appealing than the Harrier EV, but the Mahindra XEV 9S is the one to focus on because it is more practical and also costs less. It offers enough range for your 100 km weekend runs, has sufficient power and torque to tackle steep inclines, and has adequate ground clearance for rough roads. The Fortuner will handle rough roads better, but given that it is much more than the 9S. It is hard to justify the extra spend for occasional rough-road use. Asked by: P Shahenha I am planning to buy my first car with a budget of ₹14 to 15 lakh. I have undergone ACL surgery on my right leg and am unsure whether I should choose a manual or an automatic. I am inclined towards the Skoda Kylaq Prestige, but I am not sure if it is the right choice or which variant would suit me better. My monthly driving is usually around 300km, but between April and June, I drive up to about 700km per month. I also have a mango orchard located 2-3km off-road from my home. Please suggest which car and variant would be best for my needs. Yes, the Skoda Kylaq Prestige is a good option, and you should definitely choose the automatic option. Unfortunately, you have had ACL surgery on your right leg, which is what you will need primarily for driving, but an automatic will still bring some amount of relief and ease of use.The Skoda Kylaq's 6-speed torque converter AT gearbox is smooth and seamless, which will definitely benefit you in stop-go traffic, as well as on your occasional highway drives. Plus, this Skoda car has a robust suspension and a comfortable ride quality, which will help when you go off tarmac to your mango farm. Just bear in mind, this is still a 2WD car designed for the city, and not an off-roader, so it needs to be driven with care on loose or mucky surfaces. Asked by: Nazar Ali Amrull I am confused between the Triumph Speed 400, KTM Duke 250, and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. Which one should I buy? Since you haven't specified what you're looking for exactly in your next purchase, we'll list out the strengths and weaknesses of all so you can decide for yourself.The Triumph Speed 400 is the best all-rounder of all three bikes you're deciding between, with lovely city manners, decent highway capability, and good suspension comfort too. It also has the most premium badge on the tank if that's something important to you. If you do a lot of highway miles at triple-digit speeds, do bear in mind that post 105-110kph, there are quite a few vibes in the handlebars, seat, footpegs, and tank, which is one of the very few weaknesses of this bike in objective terms.Coming to the KTM 250 Duke, while it has the least peak output, it has the sportiest chassis and the most engaging handling. The engine can feel a little dull below 6000rpm, but after that, it has an enjoyable rush of power till the redline. If you are someone over 5'9, you may feel a little cramped on the KTM.The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 will feel the fastest of the three - a very unusual thing to say about a Royal Enfield in any comparison. It is reasonably usable both in the city and out on the highway, and if you are of shorter stature, the Guerrilla will be the easiest to manage due to its low seat height.Take thorough test rides of all machines before you decide. Asked by: Shri Kadam I have an L5 disc issue, I am 5 ft tall and 95 kg, and I want to buy a geared bike for city and occasional highway use under 350 cc with a budget below ₹3 lakh on road in Karnataka; can you suggest suitable options? Considering your height and your back issue, you will require something with good suspension, a low seat and a comfortable seating posture. Very few bikes amalgamate all three, so we have chosen to prioritize suspension over an ultra-low seat. Over time, you can work around that issue and even get comfortable with it. Some options in the 150-160cc space to look at are the Honda Unicorn / SP160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V and the Bajaj Pulsar N160. All have seat heights under 800mm and have compliant suspension setups. If you want a larger machine under the 350cc bracket, then you can consider the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 as well as the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. The latter has a lower seat, but its feet-forward seating position won't be very comfortable over bad roads. The Hunter has supple suspension, and while it has a taller seat, its neutral seating position will be better over bumps. We would strongly recommend taking a test ride of whatever you decide to go with to make sure you're comfortable with the bike. Asked by: Shailesh Pawar Which car should I buy with a budget of around ₹15 lakh if I want a petrol manual variant with a panoramic sunroof, good safety and mileage, and should I wait for the Kia Seltos 2026 or choose between the Toyota Hyryder and Grand Vitara, considering I can stretch my budget by only Rs. 50,000? If ₹15 lakh is a strict budget and a sunroof is a must, we suggest you consider either the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder or the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. With year-end offers currently available, you can negotiate and secure a good deal.The new Kia Seltos is an attractive option as well, but at this price point, the variant you get may not include a sunroof, and the Seltos is not particularly known for fuel efficiency. That said, if you are keen on the updated Seltos, it may be worth waiting for the price announcement on 2nd January. Asked by: Bronie I currently own the KTM Duke 390 Gen 3 and want to upgrade, but I’m confused about which bike to choose. I feel I might miss the Duke’s power and performance. I am considering the Kawasaki Z650 or Honda 650 as upgrade options. Please advise. Since you own a KTM 390 Duke and have spoken about its performance, we'll put that parameter at the forefront when recommending some options. The Kawasaki Z650, while a quick, light and premium machine, can feel a little dull if you're stepping up from the fast KTM. While the Honda CB / CBR 650 models are now knocking on the door of 100hp, they are also quite heavy machines, and the engine is rather peaky, which means that you'll really have to work for the performance. In the Honda lineup, we suggest you look at the CB750 Hornet, as that is a punchy and lightweight machine that will feel like a good step up from the 390 Duke. You can also take a look at the Suzuki GSX-8R because even though its spec sheet is quite modest, in the real world, this is a very fun machine that doesn't sacrifice practicality too much. Another option in the same segment is the Triumph Daytona 660, which is also a relaxed, real-world usable sportbike with engaging performance. If you want to break the 100hp barrier well and truly, bikes like the Triumph Street Triple R and Kawasaki Z900 are the most affordable options. The former is an accomplished track machine, while the latter will be a sublime road bike owing to its creamy smooth engine and plush suspension.We recommend a thorough test ride of all bikes before you choose to go ahead. Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts 
