Simple Car Buying Guide:  Factors to consider before purchasing your new car Buying a new car is an exciting experience, whether you’re a first-time buyer or have done this multiple times before. Also, the level of involvement in this process is pretty high regardless of the fact that you may be a complete amateur when it comes to automobiles or you’re a seasoned expert. In this blog, I’ll be sharing a few handy and some very important tips that can guide you through this journey so that you can make an informed decision and end up making a purchase that suits your requirements, eventually picking the perfect car for yourself. Understand your need: Before we start shortlisting cars from different segments and price brackets, it’s important to understand and ascertain the real need for this car. Whether it is going to be driven around in the city for your office commute or is this going to be used only for weekend outings? Is your running going to be very limited or you are going to be clocking big kilometers year on year? Whether you want fuel economy or are you chasing performance? Is it going to be driven around only with 1-2 passengers regularly or it is going to be used by the entire family? etc. The car that you end up with must tick all the correct boxes. Set a Budget: It may be easy for some to write the big cheques right away after being enticed by an option that they like, but that’s not the case for everyone. One needs to factor in the additional costs that add up on the ex-showroom cost of the car. The yearly insurance, Registration fees, additional accessories, yearly maintenance, extended warranty, to name a few. It would be recommended to set aside the proper funds for this purchase after evaluating your existing financial situation and commitments. Type of car: Now this is where the fun part begins. It is very important to understand various body types of cars available in the market. There are hatchbacks, sedans, SUV, MPVs, crossovers, convertibles, coupes, etc and a lot more options. Each type of car is designed to fulfil a specific purpose and it might prove to be highly inconvenient if you get stuck with the wrong kind of car. For example, an SUV is great for long roadtrips and the occasional off-roading session that you plan on a weekend. But they are rather large and quite cumbersome to drive around in cities with bumper-to-bumper traffic. So it is imperative that you test drive each type of car and pick the one that really suits the purpose or your specific requirements. Car dealerships are equipped with all the tools and necessary information for you along with experts to guide you with test drives for each car. Petrol, Diesel or EV?: There are various types of cars that run on different types of fuel. There are also some excellent Electric cars flooding our markets at the moment. Choosing the right one actually depends mostly on your driving pattern. Let me break it down to make it easier for you.a. Petrol – If you drive under 5-10K kilometers a year, this would be your ideal choice. They also offer good and punchy performance which adds to their appeal.b. Diesel – If you’re someone who makes a lot of long distance highway trips and clock over 10-20K kms in a year, this should be your most suitable preference. Diesel engines also generally produce more torque which makes highway work an absolute piece of cake for these machines.c. CNG – If you do not wish to spend a lot on your monthly fuel costs, CNG should be your pick of the lot. These are exponentially cheaper to run and would not add too much to your fuel tabs.d. EV – EVs are exciting to drive and are filled up to the brim with tech. However, due to the limitation of infrastructure and very limited number of recharging stations in India, they offer a shorter range to drive and are currently the best suited to be driven within the city limits. EVs are suitable for use in places with easy availability of charging stations and accessible roadside assistance in case something goes wrong with the car. Prioritize safety over features: Although, the safety standards for modern cars are at their absolute best that they have ever been, it is still important to do some research on this before zeroing in on one. Global NCAP ratings and Bharat NCAP ratings are both excellent ways to figure out how safe a car is as they mark the cars on numerous safety parameters before handing out the exact safety rating for the car. So, in case you are confused between multiple options that offer different things to you as a user, always pick Safety first. The car that offers the most number of safety features in terms of number of airbags, ESP, ABS, parking cameras and sensors, structural rigidity, etc. must always top your priority. Cars will keep evolving with time and the features that you currently appreciate may get updated or replaced in the future models, but safety will always remain at the forefront. Design, Tech & Features: So far in the car buying process, I’m sure you have realized how much fun it is to evaluate and pick between so many different types of cars out there. The features and technologies that modern cars offer just add on to it exponentially. You will be amazed to see how far the car has advanced and what all the car manufacturers are offering to their buyers today. Right from premium audio systems, to sunroofs, to large infotainment displays, ADAS autonomous driving features, various driving modes. The list is too long. The best way to understand these is via a thorough test drive. The key is to figure out which of the features being offered actually do add value to your usage and

Different Types Of Cars Available In India: A Simple Guide From An Automobile Expert   Let’s say you’re in the market for either a new car, used car or just want to gain an understanding into the different types of cars that are available in India. You shall quickly understand that the options are too many. With the Indian automobile market now as diverse as ever, it may seem confusing to almost everyone to decode all the different jargons relating to the auto world and eventually try and figure out which may be the best option for them.That’s my cue. As an automobile enthusiast for the past 15+ years and with previous experience as a “Product Expert” with Mercedes Benz India, I will be your one stop shop to understand the most common car types in detail, via this blog.Fasten your seat belts and let’s start your first driving lesson.   Hatchback – Compact and city-friendly cars, they are most suited for our city traffic. They are easy to drive and manoeuvre, cheaper to buy and maintain and are usually the first preference for new drivers who want to learn how to drive, barring a few high-performance hatchbacks, which are purely designed for the enthusiasts, because of the sheer fun driving experience they provide.Most common examples of hatchbacks in India:• Hyundai i10 and i20• Maruti Suzuki Swift and Baleno• Tata Altroz• Volkswagen Polo Sedan/Saloon – Sedans, or Saloons in some other markets, are your go-to for a more upmarket and premium experience. These are generally packed with more comfort and sporty features compared to their hatchback counterparts. And since these are longer in length and width, they also offer the passengers more space and comfort on the inside. Ideal to be used for long distance commutes, owners that are chauffeur driven and for professionals who want a sleek and stylish looking set of wheels.Most popular examples of sedans in India:• Volkswagen Virtus• Skoda Slavia, Octavia and Superb• Hyundai Verna• Mercedes C-class• BMW 3-series• Audi A4 SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) – The highest growing segment of cars in India at the moment, you are sure to be having friends, relatives or colleagues around you who are currently owning one or are planning to purchase one in the near future. These cars are usually equipped with 4X4 (4-wheel drive or 4WD) drivetrains and high ground clearance to help them take on the rough stuff, like off-roading, long distance cruising, and heavy load carrying. But with their gaining popularity amongst users and the evolving nature of the diverse needs of their owners, SUVs have been made more friendly to use and maintain by people across various territories like cities, towns and remote villages. SUVs offer huge amounts of space for passengers and their luggage that they would like to move around with. Making them extremely practical for long term usage. Also, as time progresses and the family size of the individual/owner increases, they become increasingly more convenient for the needs of the family. Not compromising on their capabilities of taking on the rough terrain and long drives while at it.Common examples of SUVs in India:• Mahindra Scorpio and XUV 700• Tata Harrier and Safari• Skoda Kodiaq• Toyota Fortuner• MG Hector and Gloster• BMW X5 and X7• Mercedes Benz GLE and GLS• Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Compact SUV / Crossover – This is a fairly recently developed segment which has evolved out of the traditional SUVs and is gaining popularity amongst car buyers at an unprecedented rate. These fit perfectly into the evolving nature of car usage of the average buyer in India, being able to tend to needs such as daily commuting to work in our busy city streets and also to be able to pack in enough luggage for a family of 4-5 and head off for a weekend trip. They deliver excellently well in terms of space and practicality. Also, from a service and aftersales experience POV, these are considerably easier to maintain and service over long periods of time. The primary reason for car buyers to opt for compact SUVs though, especially in India, is the lack of good road infrastructure. Theses compact SUVs are more than able to comply with bad roads without being too massive in size to be used in our traffic packed city streets. Thus, making them the ideal purchase in today’s time. They’re a big time hit also with users who are looking to upgrade from a hatchback or sedan and for professionals who are looking for a stylish upgrade with more ground clearance without going too big.Best-selling compact SUVs in India:• Hyundai Creta and Tucson• Kia Seltos• Tata Nexon• Volkswagen Taigun• Audi Q3• BMW X1• Mercedes Benz GLC  MPV / Minivans (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) – These are for the most practical buyers out there. MPVs are the best suited for owners that intend to use their vehicle for multiple needs at once. They offer loads of space inside to safely carry big families over long distances, with their luggage. Or even for the elite class of owners who want to lounge inside their luxury van/MPV with a TV screen and reclining chairs. As I said, these can suit a host of needs for their owners, as per their requirements.Current crop of MPVs and minivans on sale in India:• Maruti Suzuki Ertiga• Kia Carens and Carnival• Toyota Vellfire• Mercedes Benz V-class• Lexus LM 350h Coupes and Convertibles – With this we enter the high-performance territory. Coupes and convertibles, also known as supercars in India, are the go-to choice for automobile enthusiasts with the primary motive to drive cars for the experience of it. Usually equipped with low-slung, head-turning designs and engine specifications that appeal to serious driving enthusiasts. These cars boast of high power and torque figures and are capable of reaching the 0-100 kmph mark in a matter of seconds. This can vary from 2.3 seconds to 7 seconds, depending on the sub-category of performance cars they belong in. These are available