New Hyundai EV SUV Localised For India Debut In 2027

MG Majestor Diesel Review: Big, Comfortable And Surprisingly Easy To Drive

Somnath Chatterjee — Wed, 13 May 2026 12:24:26 +0530

The MG Majestor enters a full-size SUV segment that has long been dominated by a single nameplate, making its arrival both exciting and challenging. But on paper at least, the Majestor appears to have all the right ingredients, a twin-turbo diesel engine, an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard and a more capable 4x4 setup aimed at serious SUV buyers.

Having already tested the Majestor extensively off-road, this review focuses more on what it is like to live with on regular roads, in the city, on highways and during long-distance cruising. And from the very first impression, one thing becomes clear: this is a genuinely massive SUV.

Even for taller drivers, climbing into the cabin requires a bit of effort, although thoughtfully placed grab handles make access easier. Once inside, the cabin feels more premium and sporty than expected, avoiding the typical beige-heavy design theme seen in many large SUVs.

Spacious Cabin With Practical Features

The all-black interior gives the Majestor a more modern and rugged appeal. Cabin quality feels solid, while the presence of physical buttons instead of excessive touchscreen controls is a welcome touch for usability.

Space is one of the Majestor’s biggest strengths. The middle row, in particular, feels roomier than what the Toyota Fortuner offers, making the SUV well-suited for long journeys. While features such as three-zone climate control and a 360-degree camera enhance practicality, a 540-degree camera setup would have added even more convenience for a vehicle of this size.

Passengers also benefit from excellent visibility thanks to the high seating position. However, rear sunblinds are one feature that feels noticeably absent, especially considering the premium positioning of the SUV.

Twin-Turbo Diesel Delivers Strong Highway Performance

Powering the Majestor is a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine producing 215 bhp. At startup, refinement levels are impressive for a diesel SUV of this size, and around the city, the engine remains relatively quiet.

There is some turbo lag at lower speeds, particularly in stop-start traffic, but once moving, the SUV feels surprisingly easy to drive. A major reason for that is the light steering setup, which significantly reduces the intimidation factor usually associated with large ladder-frame SUVs.

Parking and manoeuvring in urban environments are also easier than expected. Despite its imposing dimensions, the steering calibration helps the Majestor feel manageable and less cumbersome during daily use.

Ride Quality Is Among The Biggest Highlights

The Majestor truly shines when it comes to ride comfort. Unlike many body-on-frame SUVs that tend to feel bouncy, the suspension here remains composed and absorbs bad roads effectively.

Low-speed ride quality is particularly impressive, flattening potholes and rough patches with ease. Combined with generous ground clearance, the SUV handles broken roads effortlessly and feels built for Indian conditions.

On highways, the diesel engine comes alive with strong pulling power. The SUV cruises comfortably at high speeds while maintaining reassuring stability. Although some diesel clatter is noticeable under hard acceleration, it remains reasonably controlled overall.

Tough SUV Character Still Intact

Push the Majestor harder through corners and the expected body roll does appear, but the SUV still manages its weight better than anticipated. For something this large and heavy, its balance between comfort and capability is impressive.

Fuel efficiency, however, is not its strong point. The SUV returns around 8-9 kmpl, though that figure is largely expected given its size, weight and performance-focused diesel setup.

Ultimately, the MG Majestor succeeds in delivering what buyers in this segment often want most, road presence, comfort, strong highway performance and genuine SUV toughness. While the size requires some getting used to and the turbo lag is noticeable in city driving, the Majestor proves itself to be a capable, comfortable and easy-going large SUV.

Why Upcoming Hybrid Cars Will Help Save Fuel As PM Modi Urges People To Reduce Fuel Costs

Somnath Chatterjee — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:48:30 +0530

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to save fuel and work from home while for the Indian car industry, the onset of more fuel efficient cars will help increase fuel efficiency plus reduce our fuel bill.

Currently a majority of our cars have petrol engines with the best selling cars in India having this fuel type.

Diesel cars are also popular but only on certain SUVs while CNG cars are rising in popularity so that customers can save on petrol costs.

To achieve a lower fuel bill, the focus on more efficient petrol cars will help, especially with a majority of new carmakers bringing hybrid cars in the future.

Here, the fuel efficiency would be much higher and in many cases, the low speed driving would be pure electric where the engine is not used.

How Will This Help?

This will help in increasing fuel efficiency and reducing our oil bill with more and more hybrid cars being sold.

While EVs are getting popular, they still are a small component and petrol buyers are eager for a less expensive alternative without charging hassles which brings in the hybrid.

In this year or next, we will see more and more hybrid cars on sale with Maruti Suzuki bringing more hybrid cars especially at the affordable range plus other carmakers like Hyundai also saying that they will bring hybrid cars.

Hence with this, SUVs- the most popular type of cars will be using less fuel and would be beneficial for our environment as well as the owners pocket plus meeting what our PM is advocating.

Audi Q9 To Be Their Biggest 7 Seater SUV And Is India Bound

Somnath Chatterjee — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:46:02 +0530

The Audi Q9, as its name suggests, is set to become the largest SUV ever produced by Audi and will be positioned above the Audi Q7 in the brand’s global line-up. Expected to effectively replace the Audi A8 as the company’s flagship offering, the new Q9 marks Audi’s shift towards ultra-luxury SUVs with a strong emphasis on rear-seat comfort and long-distance luxury travel.

What Are New Features?

The massive three-row SUV is noticeably larger than the Q7 and has been designed to cater to chauffeur-driven buyers as much as driving enthusiasts. The second row is expected to feature an executive-style captain seat configuration with individually powered seats offering heating, cooling and multiple massage functions. Audi has also equipped the cabin with a large panoramic sunroof along with configurable ambient lighting to enhance the premium experience.

Space appears to be a major priority, especially for third-row passengers, with the Q9 likely to offer the roomiest rear section ever seen in an Audi SUV. The interior design is entirely new and incorporates multiple digital displays, including a dedicated passenger-side screen. Despite the heavy focus on technology, Audi has retained several physical buttons for easier usability. Practicality has also received attention, with generous storage areas and large bottle holders integrated into the centre console.

India launch expected

As expected from a flagship luxury SUV, the Q9 will come loaded with high-end features, though one of the biggest highlights is likely to be its fully powered automatic doors, including the rear doors. These can reportedly be opened and closed through multiple control methods, making this the first Audi model to offer powered doors as standard or optional equipment.

Under the bonnet, the Q9 is expected to feature a powerful V8 engine paired with a hybrid system, while a six-cylinder variant is also likely to be offered. Given India’s growing demand for full-size luxury SUVs, the Q9 is widely expected to arrive in the Indian market as well. Once launched, it will compete directly with rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the BMW X7.

New Kia Sonet 2027 To Have More Space, Features And Plus A Diesel

Somnath Chatterjee — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:09:20 +0530

The all-new generation Kia Sonet has been spied, and we can expect an India launch by 2027. The current Sonet has been around for a while, and the new generation will be built on a new platform altogether, which is the same which underpins the Hyundai Venue and the Kia Syros.

Bigger Design, More Aggressive Look

The all-new Sonet will get bigger and get a new design, which is similar to the Kia Seltos, and look more aggressive. It would look bigger as well, while sharing some small similarities with the new Venue.

The all-new Sonet will be a big change on the inside too, with a new platform enabling more space on the inside. The interiors would be all new with a Syros-like design plus a new look steering wheel. The infotainment system would be new as well, and the technology would be updated, like on the new Seltos.

Engine Options Likely To Continue

However, unlike the Syros, the new Sonet will get a single-pane sunroof and not a panoramic sunroof, similar to the new Venue. Engine options for the new Sonet will be the 1.0 turbo petrol and 1.2L petrol, as well as a diesel, which would be expected to continue.

The all-new Sonet will be a radical change overall and will come next year. Expect the new generation Sonet to be a bit more expensive than the current generation model.

New Skoda Kodiaq Prices Get Reduced: Know Top 3 Things

Somnath Chatterjee — Tue, 12 May 2026 11:11:19 +0530

Skoda has reduced the price of its starting range for its flagship Kodiaq SUV. The Kodiaq SUV comes with the Lounge, Sportline and L&K trim. Here are the top 3 things that you should know regarding this new Skoda SUV.

1. The starting Lounge trim comes with a 5 seater configuration with its prices starting at Rs 36.99 lakh. The Sportline is priced at Rs 44.99 lakh while the top-end L&K is Rs 46.99 lakh. The Sportline and the L&K get a 7 seater configuration. The Lounge variant is cheaper by Rs 3 lakh which makes this large premium SUV now more accessible.

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2. The L&K trim now gets ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, new Matrix LED adaptive headlights, frontal assist and emergency braking and warning, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, rear traffic alert, and more. The same ADAS features are also now available on the Sportline trim. The Sportline also gets some L&K features like a 360 degree camera and more like a new grille with an LED strip.

3. The Kodiaq continues with its 2.0 TSI turbo petrol with 204bhp and a 7-speed dual clutch automatic while 4x4 is also offered on the new Kodiaq as well. The L&K is the most feature rich Skoda SUV with additional luxury touches and features. Prices for the top-end L&K and the Sportline have also been increased a bit due to the feature additions namely ADAS on the top-end and the Sportline getting more equipment. The Lounge variant is now more accessible which makes it an attractive entry into the premium SUV range.

ALSO READ: New Skoda Kodiaq Update 2026 ReviewNew Skoda Kodiaq Update 2026 Review

Want To Spend Less On Fuel? Here’s How Petrol, CNG, Hybrid And EVs Compare

Akshat Ayush — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:35:44 +0530

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging Indians to cut fuel use amid supply disruptions linked to the US-Iran conflict, one question has become urgent for car buyers: which fuel type actually costs less over time?

We will take a car under Rs 7 lakh segment for comparison. To find out, let's compare the base variants of the Tata Punch, one of India’s best-selling compact SUVs, across its three powertrain options: petrol, CNG, and electric. The Punch is the only car in its price range available in all three options, making it the fairest comparison possible. All prices are for Delhi, assuming a 30-kilometre daily commute.

This is an illustrative comparison. Costs will vary based on individual usage, insurer, and fuel price changes.

Petrol, CNG, Electric Comparison

The petrol Punch Smart base model costs Rs 6,21,137 on-road in Delhi, as per CarDekho, sourcing Tata's official pricing. The CNG variant is Rs 1.38 lakh more, at Rs 7,59,835. The electric Punch Smart 30 kWh sits at Rs 10,14,534 on-road, nearly Rs 4 lakh above the petrol. However, EVs are exempt from road tax in Delhi under the existing Delhi EV Policy, which brings that gap down somewhat.

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First-Year Insurance Cost: What Quotes Show

For insurance, quotes from PolicyBazaar on May 11, showed the petrol Punch ranging from Rs 16,715 to Rs 19,490 for a first-year comprehensive policy, depending on the insurer. The CNG variant came in at Rs 17,859 to Rs 21,313, and the Tata Punch EV at Rs 18,059 to Rs 23,064. Premiums vary by insurer and add-ons. Buyers should compare before accepting the dealer's bundled quote.

Five-Year Running Cost

At 30 km a day, you cover roughly 10,950 kilometres a year, or about 54,750 kilometres over five years. This is where the real differences show up.

Petrol in Delhi stands at Rs 94.77 per litre today, as per IOCL. The Punch petrol delivers around 15 km per litre in real city conditions, based on owner data from CarWale and Team-BHP. That works out to Rs 6.32 per km, or Rs 3.46 lakh over five years.

CNG in Delhi is priced at Rs 77.09 per kilogram, as per Indraprastha Gas Limited. Owners report real-world mileage of 23–24 km per kg in city conditions. At 23 km per kg, the running cost drops to Rs 3.35 per kilometre. Roughly half the petrol cost, amounting to roughly Rs 1.83 lakh over five years.

The electric variant's running costs are dramatically lower. Under the DERC Tariff Order 2024-25, Delhi households in the 201–400 unit monthly slab pay Rs 1.50 per unit after the Delhi government's 50 per cent subsidy. At approximately 7 km per unit of electricity in real-world city driving, charging costs just Rs 0.21 per km, which is about 30 times cheaper than petrol. The total five-year charging bill comes to roughly Rs 11,500.

Scheduled Maintenance Over Five Years

Scheduled maintenance adds another layer of difference. The petrol Punch requires five services over five years, covering oil changes, air and fuel filter replacements, spark plugs, and brake fluid. This costs approximately Rs 40,500 at an authorised Tata centre, as estimated by auto research platform V3Cars based on authorised service centre schedules.

The CNG variant costs slightly more at around Rs 43,700 because the gas system requires its own filter and valve changes every year.

The EV, with no engine oil, no spark plugs, and no fuel system to service, costs just Rs 17,000–Rs 22,000 over the same period. These are scheduled service costs only and exclude tyres and unexpected repairs.

Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: The Full Picture

Cost Head	Petrol (Smart MT)	CNG (Smart CNG MT)	EV (Smart 30 kWh)
On-road price (Delhi)	Rs 6,21,137	Rs 7,59,835	Rs 10,14,534
5-yr fuel/charging cost	Rs 3,46,000	Rs 1,83,500	Rs 11,500
5-yr maintenance	Rs 40,500	Rs 43,700	Rs 19,000
5-yr insurance (est.)	Rs 90,000	Rs 97,500	Rs 1,02,500
Total 5-year cost	Rs 10,97,637	Rs 10,84,535	Rs 11,47,534

Add everything up, including purchase price, fuel or charging, maintenance, and insurance. The CNG Punch is the cheapest at around Rs 10.85 lakh over five years. Petrol comes second at Rs 10.98 lakh. The electric Punch totals approximately Rs 11.48 lakh, because its higher purchase price is not fully recovered within five years at today's fuel rates.

But that gap closes every time fuel prices rise. Given the current global supply situation, that may not take long.

Resale Value: The Variable Nobody Can Ignore

The five-year running cost is only part of the story. Resale value is the other half.

The petrol Punch is the safest bet here. According to a joint study by Autocar India and used-car platform Spinny, it loses roughly 25 per cent of its value in the first year. This is better than most hatchbacks.

The EV is less predictable. Indian electric cars currently retain just over 50 per cent of their original value after three years, compared to around 60 per cent for petrol cars, according to EV research platform EVLife. Data on EV resale values in India is still limited. Buyers in the used market worry about battery health; there is no standardised way to certify remaining battery capacity, and rapid model upgrades can wipe out value overnight.

Tata does offer a partial fix. The Battery as a Service variants of the Punch EV come with an assured buyback through a third-party insurer. 60 per cent of the value after three years, 40 per cent after five. It adds to the upfront cost but removes the guesswork. This applies to BaaS variants, which are priced lower upfront but carry a per-kilometre battery rental charge. It is a different product from the standard variant compared throughout this article.

The CNG Punch sits in the middle, used prices are slightly below petrol because the boot-eating gas cylinder puts off buyers outside major cities.

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Which Fuel Type Should You Choose?

There is no single right answer. The cheapest option over five years on current numbers is CNG, but it depends on having reliable access to CNG pumps near where you live and work. The electric variant has the lowest running costs by far, but its higher purchase price takes longer than five years to recover at today's fuel rates, and its resale value remains an open question. Petrol remains the most straightforward option for buyers who prioritise flexibility and a predictable used-car market.

Three questions worth answering honestly before you decide: Do you have access to home charging or a CNG pump near your home? How many years do you plan to keep the car? And how much do rising fuel prices factor into your household budget?

Toyota To Make FJ Cruiser At Its New Maharashtra Plant In 2029

Somnath Chatterjee — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:34:12 +0530

Toyota Motor Corporation has announced plans to establish a new manufacturing plant in Bidkin, Maharashtra, with an annual capacity of 100,000 vehicles. To have 2,800 employees, this new plant will produce the new FJ Cruiser for India. The FJ Cruiser is a new ladder frame SUV which would form the entry point for the Land Cruiser range. The FJ Cruiser would be built here.

Positioned Below The Fortuner

The FJ Cruiser will come with a petrol engine only, and it will be an off-roader that could be positioned below the Toyota Fortuner. Size-wise, the FJ Cruiser is actually much smaller than the Fortuner, but with the new generation Fortuner coming in and being more premium, the FJ Cruiser will be positioned below it.

The FJ Cruiser is smaller than the Fortuner and has a length which is around the same size as the Mahindra Scorpio N. The FJ Cruiser will add to the SUV range in India and would be an off-roader, which is more of a lifestyle offering.

Lifestyle SUV With Strong Potential

It is less practical than the Fortuner but will be a tough lifestyle SUV, while the name will also draw buyers. We can expect a hybrid powertrain to be added further to the range too, while we expect pricing to be around ₹30 lakh starting, which is less than the Fortuner.

While being some time away, the new FJ Cruiser, while being a niche lifestyle product, has potential for the Indian market, being a tough Toyota SUV for less money.

Mahindra Planning Hybrids To Add To Their Range With 7XO

Somnath Chatterjee — Mon, 11 May 2026 10:42:06 +0530

Mahindra currently has EVs and diesels plus hybrids, with diesel being very popular. However, with stricter norms coming soon, hybrid technology is something that is needed since diesel sales are a backbone for the carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra. Mahindra sells more diesel SUVs, and with the market changing, hybrids are the way to go. Mahindra, with its new platform, is already ready for EV and hybrid, plus it is future-proof, but for its big SUVs, a hybrid could be added soon as well.

Hybrid Tech Could Be The Next Big Step

Currently, the XUV 7XO has a turbo petrol and diesel, while the XEV 9e is, of course, a born EV with an electric powertrain. The hybrid powertrain will most probably be on the XUV 7XO and will come with an electric motor, which enables you to drive at low speeds in complete silence.

In EV mode, the XUV 7XO hybrid will mostly be driven at city speeds, which is the main highlight of a hybrid. Along with that, the XUV 7XO hybrid will have much more fuel efficiency that is yet to be seen on any petrol Mahindra.

Better Efficiency, More Volumes

Thus, it will help in more fuel-efficient Mahindra cars and, along with its EVs, help in meeting stricter norms, and improve the fuel efficiency drastically.

Current Mahindra petrol engines, which are big on performance, have lower fuel efficiency, but a hybrid will change that and add more volumes to the SUV sales range.

We expect the XUV 7XO hybrid to be launched first, and most likely, it will be the first hybrid Mahindra offering.

New Skoda Kodiaq Update 2026 Review

Somnath Chatterjee — Sat, 9 May 2026 13:13:35 +0530

The Skoda Kodiaq is the flagship Skoda that we are fond of due to its mix of practicality and luxury, but here is the 2026 version with some tweaks and updates. The Kodiaq range includes the 5-seater Lounge variant, Sportline and the top-end L&K that you see here.

ADAS And Feature Upgrades

The biggest update is the inclusion of new ADAS features which includes LED Matrix Headlights with AFS (adaptive front light system), adaptive cruise control, front Assist with warning and braking reaction, lane keeping system, lane change system, rear traffic Alert and exit warning system.

The same ADAS package is also now available on the Sportline while it also gets some styling elements from the L&K including a 360-degree camera. The inclusion of ADAS makes driving easier now and the system works on our roads without being too intrusive.

The Adaptive cruise control worked well also along with the lane keep on well-marked roads. We like the fact that the system isn't too sensitive which means you won't turn it off.

Driving Experience And Cabin Comfort

The 2.0 TSI turbo petrol and the DSG automatic remain, which lends the car a pleasant driving experience with a surprisingly peppy nature. You don't expect a large SUV to handle or be this exciting, but it is, while the gearbox is slightly edgy at low speeds being a dual-clutch unit.

There are paddles which adds a fun factor. The Kodiaq has enough ground clearance too and the ride flattens the road surface at high speeds with only a slight firmness at lower speeds.

The cabin remains luxurious with enough tactile physical buttons too and we like the ergo massage seats the most.

Verdict

The extra addition of ADAS completes the Kodiaq equipment list and it remains a 7-seater luxury SUV which is good value provided you are ok with the fuel bills being petrol only. The Kodiaq overall maintains its value-for-money quotient.

New Hyundai EV SUV Localised For India Debut In 2027

Somnath Chatterjee — Fri, 8 May 2026 22:23:24 +0530

Hyundai will add two new nameplates in its product range by FY 2026-27 with the launch of its first localised EV SUV and another midsize SUV.

The localised EV SUV would be based on the E-GMP electric platform and will be the most affordable electric Hyundai car.

It will be slotted below the Creta EV and will be a rival to the Punch EV.

Features

It is a boxy SUV and it will likely be positioned between the Venue and the Creta.

Expect 42 and 49kwh battery pack which would be NMC as well with a single motor configuration.

The styling would be futuristic and would be spacious for its size as well. There will be pixel design elements as well and the interiors would be similar to the new Venue.

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Funky alloy wheels and flush door handles are expected to be there too on the car.

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The first EV would be a major important addition to the range and it will expand the electric market share in India with a volume based product.

We also expect aggressive pricing while the other product is expected to be a midsize SUV above the Alcazar.

The small EV SUV would be a Punch/Nexon rival of sorts and it has been seen testing on Indian roads.

Range for the EV is expected to be around 400-500 km per charge. Hyundai it seems to be charging up to launch its first and most affordable EV in India.