Latest questions
Asked by: Tushar K Hi, I am currently driving a 2021 VW Taigun 1.0 MT with annual running of ~10,000 KM (60% City, 40% Highway). The car is running fine, but it becomes a pain in heavy city traffic due to constant gear shifting & turbo lag. I am confused between 3 options: (1) Get the cheapest possible city automatic like an S-presso AGS and use it with Taigun, (2) Get a proper AT like Amaze/i20 CVT or Brezza AT and upgrade Taigun after a few years, or (3) Sell Taigun and upgrade to a proper AT SUV. Please suggest. The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso AGS, which has an AMT thought convenient, doesn’t offer a smooth driving experience because of the way AMTs work - their main weakness is that annoying pause in between gear shifts, which feels quite jerky and causes ‘head nod’, a term that is synonymous with AMTs.Upgrading to a proper AT leaves you with very few options; some of the ATs are diesels, and the only mid-size SUV petrol AT is the Tata Sierra. Your option of getting a city-centric car, keeping the Taigun for highway driving, and upgrading it later makes the most sense.The Honda Amaze, with its CVT transmission, makes the most sense as a city car. It is smooth and comfortable, taking the stress out of city driving, whilst the manual 1.0 Taigun is a solid highway car. The Taigun is due for a facelift around February–March 2026, and other new midsize SUVs, including an all-new Creta, are expected around 2027. So yes, hang on to your Volkswagen Taigun and pick up an Amaze for your city chores. Asked by: Rehan Hi, I am considering purchasing a car in the ₹70-80 lakh budget. I am confused between the Mercedes-Benz C300d and the BMW 330Li. Please advise whether I should opt for the six-cylinder 330Li or the four-cylinder C300d. You have not mentioned your exact usage pattern, but if you are travelling long distances frequently and spend most of your time behind the wheel, the C300d makes sense due to its strong diesel engine, which is well-suited for highway driving.However, in most other respects, the 330Li is a better choice as its petrol engine is obviously smoother and more refined than the C300d’s diesel motor. To clarify, the engine powering the 330Li is BMW’s 2-litre, four-cylinder petrol and not a six-cylinder unit, so the number of cylinders should not be a deciding factor here.Crucially, the BMW 330Li has a longer wheelbase than the C300d, and that means more legroom and far better comfort for rear seat passengers compared to the tight rear seat in the C-class, which also suffers from inadequate under-thigh support. Asked by: Shrikanth Bhat Please advise on choosing between the following petrol automatic cars priced at ₹13-14 lakh on-road in Bangalore for a family of four. My usage is split 50:50 between city and highway driving. 1. Brezza AT: sensible and practical, but feels unenthusiastic to drive. 2. Kylaq or 3XO AT: poor mileage and reliability (I am an existing Skoda owner) 3. Venue DCT – good overall, but concerned about DCT reliability and 1.0 turbo efficiency in Bangalore traffic Is the Brezza’s driving experience really that dull, considering I do enjoy driving? Since you enjoy driving, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, while the safest choice overall, is not a fun car to drive. The 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol isn’t very powerful, so while it's adequate in town, it’s not meant for spirited driving and will disappoint the enthusiast in you.We feel you should reconsider the Skoda Kylaq. Its 1.0 TSI engine paired with the smooth-shifting 6-speed AT works well in the city and on the highway, and is a nicer gearbox than the Venue’s DCT, which, though quite reliable, feels a little jerky in slow-moving traffic. Yes, Skoda doesn’t have the best reputation for after-sales experience, but we feel the Kylaq is fundamentally a fairly reliable car. Asked by: Sk We are a family of four, with teenage children. We have been driving a Skoda Octavia for the past 7+ years. Our usage is mainly city driving, around 600-800 km per month in Bangalore traffic, and approximately 5,000 km of highway driving annually. If we want to upgrade to an SUV or MUV, what would be ideal? We are looking for safety, driving pleasure, and a luxurious interior, overall, something that feels like a step up. The budget is around ₹40 lakh. The ₹40 lakh price bracket is something of a no-man’s land in the SUV market, as there aren’t too many strong contenders positioned here. If you can stretch your budget to around ₹50 lakh, the Skoda Kodiaq would be an ideal upgrade. It’s spacious, feels luxurious inside, and offers a noticeable step up from your Octavia in terms of comfort and refinement.If that’s beyond budget, consider the Toyota Innova HyCross ZX(O) Hybrid. While it isn’t quite as plush inside as the Octavia, it’s a very comfortable and spacious family car. The hybrid powertrain is efficient for city use and delivers relaxed performance on highways, making it an excellent all-rounder for your needs. Asked by: Nithyanand I have been driving a Mahindra XUV500 for the past 10 years, and the odometer now shows 1,60,000 km. I am planning to change my car and want to stay in the same segment. I have a stipulated budget of ₹18 lakh and am looking for a similar 7-seater SUV with minimal electronics, great comfort, better mileage, and strong safety. My typical running is about 10,000 km every six months. Please suggest what I should go for. You have not specified which fuel type is your preferred choice, but if you want good mileage in 7 seater segment, we suggest you go for Diesel.Since you are driving a Mahindra XUV 5OO, a good upgrade for you is the soon-to-be-launched Mahindra XUV 7XO. However, at 18 lakhs, you will have to choose the MX or AX5 variants, but unless Mahindra gives 6 airbags in these variants, it will fall short on the safety criterion. A very sensible alternative is the Kia Carens Clavis diesel. It’s comfortable, practical, and well-suited to family use, with a ride quality that works well both in the city and on the highway. It should also deliver good mileage and is generally easy to live with day to day. Asked by: Gaurav I recently bought a Grand i10 automatic 2017 to practice driving, and I’ve been using it for a year now. My monthly running is almost 900 km, and I am getting a mileage of about 9 km/l. I am looking to upgrade to an SUV with good fuel economy and decent features, with a budget of around ₹14 lakh. Which car would you suggest? Traditionally, torque converter automatics have been known to affect fuel efficiency, and the four-speed unit in the Hyundai Grand i10 did so even more due to the limited number of ratios. However, after experiencing a torque converter automatic that feels polished and premium, switching to an automated manual transmission will feel like a downgrade. An AMT feels more basic and rudimentary, even though it is as efficient as a manual gearbox.Within your budget, you now have several good options. If you want to stay within the Hyundai car family, the Venue turbo petrol with the DCT in the HX 6 variant is worth considering. It is well equipped and uses a punchy 1.0-litre engine paired with a smooth 7-speed dual clutch automatic.If you enjoy driving, the Skoda Kylaq is also a strong option. In fact, if you are willing to stretch your budget slightly beyond 14 lakh, you can get the top Prestige automatic variant on road. It is better equipped than the Venue HX 6, and its 1.0-litre engine feels lively, while the 6-speed torque converter automatic performs well too. Asked by: Arjun Sharma I am contemplating changing my 2013 Honda City, which I truly adore and has clocked 167,000 km, for a new daily driver. I am not a fan of very tech-heavy vehicles. I am considering the Honda City CVT ZX, but part of me also wants a real SUV like the Thar 3-door or the 5-door Roxx. My budget is about ₹20 lakh, and reliability is a big consideration. Please advise. The Mahindra Thar is one of those special products that tug at the heartstrings, so we can understand why the boy in you wants it. The Mahindra Thar Roxx, which is a 5-door, has a far better suspension than the 3-door. The practicality of a spacious back seat, is the one to go for if you want to use it as a daily driver. It is tough and can withstand a lot of beating and high mileage without a sweat, but it may not be completely niggle-free like your Honda City probably is. Also, bear in mind that you may tire of the Thar, which has a bumpy ride and controls that are heavier than the user-friendly Honda City you are used to. Yours is a case of heart over head, so go ahead and satisfy that boy in you :) Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts 
