[bootham]

Jimny AT + MG Windsor EV.

[punjabitiger]

I think Hilux is the easiest choice and you might be one of the very few who will use it to it's potential.

Jimny Alpha AT - for Bangalore roads. But if you are comfortable driving Hilux in Bangalore, you can skip it. The small size and go anywhere capabilities makes Jimny a perfect "city with bad roads" car.

For long distance and highways, I would pick Toyota Hycross.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by amolpol

So it looks like at least one choice is made and it pretty much resonates with us as well:

Car #1: Hilux High AT (unless something horribly goes wrong in our test drive)

Car #2: Jimny vs Thar vs Roxx (TBD: Preowned or New and D or P)

Car #3: TBD

Slightly off topic, how is the second hand market these days for the Thar or Jimny ATs?

Car #1 : Hilux AT (new only).

Car #2: Jimny AT or Kylaq AT (if 4x4 is not mandatory) - new only - can be used everywhere including within BLR traffic without lot of stress.

Car #3: Windsor or Creta EV - In case Jimny is chosen over Kylaq. If Kylaq is chosen as car #2, it can also do duty as city/beater car. Then maybe Jimny MT/AT or some other niche car becomes Car #3 after year or so with 2 cars.

PS: I also went through similar decision making when I moved from the US to India in 2018. I have a three car garage.

Car #1 : Isuzu MU-X - has taken me all over the country including Ladakh

Car #2 : VW Polo GT - our first car in India and the only car in the garage for the first year. Its currently our city car and beater car.

Car #3 : BMW M340i - bought it because I fancied it. I use it as a weekend car for about 5000 km per year.

[amolpol]

I see Hycross getting some votes, while I do think it's a nice and comfortable car, I don't know if its fun. Will put it on my test drive list, have to go to Toyota anyway so spending some more time wont be difficult.

Originally Posted by Comrade

PS: I also went through similar decision making when I moved from the US to India in 2018. I have a three car garage.

Car #3 : BMW M340i - bought it because I fancied it. I use it as a weekend car for about 5000 km per year.

Now that's an interesting option, I would love to get a nice sedan that brings a smile on your face. I've had the Audi, the Merc and the Mini but no BMW yet (except the GSA). Sadly, I don't think these are mile munchers in the Indian context and may never get myself to doing the weekend drives/rides to stretch out. Here in France, I have had no doubts on the Audi or Merc when we have done trips stretching a few thousand KMs, but that's also because they don't suffer as much abuse as what a car in India goes through even on the highways.

Would have picked the Superb in my list again simply because it's big and has taken us through good and bad roads with comfort and lots of luggage, but thats not an option anymore.

A premium spacious mile-muncher around 50L - wonder if this segment really exists in India, except maybe the Toyotas but then they don't really have the same definition of luxury as the Germans.

[//M]

Originally Posted by amolpol

A premium spacious mile-muncher around 50L - wonder if this segment really exists in India, except maybe the Toyotas but then they don't really have the same definition of luxury as the Germans.

A Tiguan R-Line maybe ! Being a CBU, it would command a premium but it should offer excellent level of fit and finish compared to cars in the same price bracket.

Or the new Everest (if at all it comes to India).

[yedukrishnan199]

Originally Posted by amolpol

A premium spacious mile-muncher around 50L - wonder if this segment really exists in India, except maybe the Toyotas but then they don't really have the same definition of luxury as the Germans.

Sadly, there doesn't seem to be such a segment in India, and the closest you get is maybe the Camry, which isn't as premium either. You would have to go the pre-owned route for a good car which can perform this duty while being luxurious in this budget.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by amolpol

I see Hycross getting some votes,
A premium spacious mile-muncher around 50L - wonder if this segment really exists in India, except maybe the Toyotas but then they don't really have the same definition of luxury as the Germans.

I will again hazard my earlier suggestion. Im not wanting to drone on. But this product is seriously worthy of consideration based on pure merit.

BYD Sealion 7.

1. Spacious and Comfortable - ride quality is excellent.
2. Luxurious (not over the top)
3. Well appointed interiors and easy to manage controls.
4. Long Range (600kms) with Fast charge capability
5. Well priced when compared to any equivalent product irrespective of brand and hence cost efficient.
6. Running and Maintenance on EV’s is proven to be significantly less- it doesn’t matter if money is no object, this is pure common sense.
7. Reliable and with excellent service (as endorsed by the Taxi operators who use the BYD people mover vans like E6 and E7 Max)
8. Well designed and good looking (not over the top)
9. Lots of excellent features and ‘mod-cons’
10. Blistering performance
11. Pedigree from a vertically integrated technology major whose lifeblood comes from battery tech which is adopted by multiple car makers worldwide as being the ‘leading product’ at present.

All these facts make for a proper Grand Tourer.

Operating conditions in India are very harsh as compared to France and many other countries.

Therefore anyone who can afford it, tends to prioritise cocooned-comfort over most things else.

I’d urge at least a test drive.

It is worth the experience if nothing else.

[yedukrishnan199]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

I’d urge at least a test drive.

It is worth the experience if nothing else.

The more I think of it, a long-range EV, especially from BYD, the largest EV maker in the world, with the features it comes with, makes a lot of sense, considering the budget and the requirements. Getting a test drive would be good, as rightly pointed it is at least worth the experience if nothing else. The car has excellent power output, loads of feel-good and comfort features, with spacious and roomy interiors. A car worth checking out.

[amolpol]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

BYD Sealion 7.

I’d urge at least a test drive.

It is worth the experience if nothing else.

Originally Posted by yedukrishnan199

A car worth checking

Thanks, you do make some convincing points even though I am still on the fence about EVs in India. But now I’m a bit more on the side of giving it a try than leaving it out.

Updating my list:

Car #1: Hilux High AT (unless something horribly goes wrong in our test drive)

Car #2: Jimny vs Thar vs Roxx (TBD: Preowned or New and D or P)

Car #3: TBD (Sealion?)

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by amolpol

Thanks, you do make some convincing points even though I am still on the fence about EVs in India. But now I’m a bit more on the side of giving it a try than leaving it out.

Updating my list:

Car #1: Hilux High AT (unless something horribly goes wrong in our test drive)

Car #2: Jimny vs Thar vs Roxx (TBD: Preowned or New and D or P)

Car #3: TBD (Sealion?)

Bluntly speaking, despite having grown up and lived with Jeeps most of my life, Im saying this.

Please drop the Thar 3 door from your list. I bought one with my ‘eyes’ and owned it for 3 years and 30,000kms - 2021-2024.

While it is fine (if you’re so inclined, as an individual) to play at being Indiana Jones riding a wilful, ‘bucking bronco’, frankly, after the novelty and machismo wear off, you’ll want a well bred, well trained ‘Hunter Mare’ instead, because your own physique and your family, will protest vehemently.

Towards the last few months of my Thar ownership, I started actively hating it. Despite all the functional modifications made. I couldn't wait to get shot of it.
There is also a certain taboo subject which I will touch very lightly upon - a ‘subtle deterioration’ of ‘image’ - because of the changing profile of buyers/ owners. Nuff said.

I switched to the Jimny then immediately and it is absolute bliss. I ‘ll never switch back. Thats for sure.

Think of this analogy - if you want to go belting up and down the Alpes Maritimes or on the Route Napoleon - Grasse to Grenoble or on the winding road from Aix en Provence to Sisteron, it would be much more fun in a relatively compact naturally aspirated manual transmission vehicle, than in a big bulky turbo charged and ponderous vehicle. I would choose lightness and nimbleness over raw power. An old Alfa Giulietta would do me much more nicely rather than one of these new fangled hypercars.

For me this is one of the reasons why the Jimny will always score over the Thar.

The Thar Roxx on the other hand, is totally different and worth test driving. It has the Jeepy form factor, the go-more-or-less-anywhere ability, the toughness and the comfort and therefore makes for an excellent mile munching long distance tourer. And its light steering and good turning radius makes it easy in the city too, though personally I find it too bulky. This should only be bought in Diesel Auto form unless you own a petrol pump business.

The Scorpio N is also big and tough and an amazing long distance muncher - so another very good vehicle to consider for this purpose. Again only in Diesel Auto form.

You do need a neat tough small and compact city runabout which can take you anywhere anytime reliably and at short notice.

You could buy the Jimny, though honestly, fitting 3 or 4 folks in it is a pain unless you are all small/ compact of build.

This is the main reason why I suggested the Grand Vitara Hybrid or MG ZS EV or Creta EV. Inside the city you ll be surprised how many miles you will rack up and that is exactly why you should consider an EV.

You might now also consider the new Maruti e Vitara which promises to be a very good vehicle.

If you intend racking up the miles on this proposed long distance touring around Southern India, you will see unbelievably massive benefits in having a hugely comfortable long distance EV tourer or a Hybrid Tourer. Note from my personal observations - 800 to 1000kms done in a petrol vehicle will cost you 10,000Rs a month, the same in a Diesel vehicle will cost 7000-7500Rs, in a Petrol Hybrid it will be similar to the cost of Diesel and in an EV, it will come down to Rs 1500-2000 MAX. (I own an EV and two Petrol vehicles and barring the motorbike story and the number of passengers I need to carry, some of my usage patterns are similar, hence this is a real life observation.)

I ve spoken enough about the BYD Sealion - and the only thing I will add is that your fears about EV’s in India as articulated, are completely unfounded.

That leaves us with the Toyota Hycross and that is definitely a very worthy and proven contender.

Extremely comfortable especially those with the Captain Seats and the Hybrid makes a huge difference in fuel consumption.

Being also from the Toyota Stable, your servicing will also be relatively easier. No need to scatter effort across multiple brands.

So I hope you get more clarity. I definitely don’t want to create more confusion!

All the best!

[car_guy1998]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

If you intend racking up the miles on this proposed long distance touring around Southern India, you will see unbelievably massive benefits in having a hugely comfortable long distance EV tourer or a Hybrid Tourer. Note from my personal observations - 800 to 1000kms done in a petrol vehicle will cost you 10,000Rs a month, the same in a Diesel vehicle will cost 7000-7500Rs, in a Petrol Hybrid it will be similar to the cost of Diesel and in an EV, it will come down to Rs 1500-2000 MAX. (I own an EV and two Petrol vehicles and barring the motorbike story and the number of passengers I need to carry, some of my usage patterns are similar, hence this is a real life observation.

I can relate you with this. We did a trip of 2200 Kms last May from Hyderabad to Wayanad via Bangalore and reached home via Coimbatore-Bangalore.

The car we took was Hycross Hybrid and we had spent nearly Rs.15k on fuel, which I was astonished due to the fact that Hycross being a bigger car and being a Hybrid, it impressed me a lot.

While doing a similar trip in Fortuner and Endeavour would cost you around Rs.25k.

I must say that, this trip was one of the best trips I've ever made in 26+ years of my life.

Recently, when my folks did a trip of 1100 Kms to Andhra in our Hycross, guess how much did my dad spend on fuel? Its just Rs.7000 to and fro.

Similarly, our previous OG Innova used to cost around Rs.10-12k of Diesel for doing similar amount of distance.

[harshavardhan]

Car # 1: Hilux AT to satisfy needs of family go-any-where capability vehicle

Car # 2: Jimny Alpha AT to City Daily Needs. Fantastic package - I own one and love it

Car # 3: Camry for all other needs

You can't go wrong with Toyota and Maruti. All the above are New, never pre-owned.

We would love to know what you finally chose. All the best.

Originally Posted by amolpol

Thanks, you do make some convincing points even though I am still on the fence about EVs in India. But now I’m a bit more on the side of giving it a try than leaving it out.

Updating my list:

Car #1: Hilux High AT (unless something horribly goes wrong in our test drive)

Car #2: Jimny vs Thar vs Roxx (TBD: Preowned or New and D or P)

Car #3: TBD (Sealion?)

[amolpol]

So it just happened to be the fastest purchase in my history of buying cars. A weeklong work trip to India enabled the opportunity to test drive my list of cars to help the decision making for July. But little did we expect that within 72 hours of test driving the hilux, we’ll get it home already!

A big shout out to the Nandi Toyota - Whitefield folks in getting everything done like clockwork.

Will post details on the long list of test drives and initial impressions sometime soon. For now, it’s one down and few more to go

Until next time, cheers!

[SRS]

Congratulations on the Hilux, it was surely one of the cars that met your requirements to the T. Eagerly awaiting the details of the test drives and initial impressions and how the deal worked out as well.

[amolpol]

Originally Posted by SRS

Congratulations on the Hilux, it was surely one of the cars that met your requirements to the T. Eagerly awaiting the details of the test drives and initial impressions and how the deal worked out as well.

Thanks, I am glad this one worked out. Now we have a car waiting for us when we come back and there’s lesser pressure to get the others quickly. With the tariff wars ongoing, I am hoping for some good news for the buyers in the Indian market.