VR Tech Times

The Kia Sorento is now on sale in India as the Korean carmaker’s flagship ICE-powered SUV. It contends in the three-row premium SUV segment, directly rivalling the likes of the monocoque-based Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron, and Jeep Meridian. Additionally, the Sorento’s pricing overlaps with that of the ladder-frame-based Toyota Fortuner , which is one of the most popular SUVs in the Rs 30 lakh-50 lakh price bracket. While the Fortuner isn’t as up-to-date or premium as the Sorento is, the Toyota SUV has accrued a reputation for toughness, reliability, and off-road prowess. Below, we’ve put together the top-spec diesel variants of the Sorento and Fortuner – the HTX(A) and 4x4 AT NeoDrive 48V, respectively – to see which one delivers more bang for your buck. Kia Sorento vs Toyota Fortuner: Top-spec variant dimensions Sorento is longer and wider, while Fortuner is taller   Sorento HTX(A) Fortuner 4x4 AT NeoDrive 48V Length (mm) 4,815 4,795 Width (mm) 1,900 1,855 Height (mm) 1,785 ...

Simple Energy , which has been a regular in the monthly top 10 electric 2W OEM listing since February 2026 with its Simple One performance EV scooter, has clocked cumulative sales of over 10,000 units in the first eight months of this year. As per Vahan, between January and August 2026, the Bengaluru-based EV startup registered deliveries of 10,429 units, which is 203 percent more compared to last year’s 3,436 units for the same period. This momentum comes just as Simple launched its most affordable scooter yet, Wave , priced at Rs 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Bengaluru) and its entry into the family scooter segment. Wave makes the brand more accessible with a lower Rs 1.10 lakh ex-showroom price Brand has consistently averaged as the top nine EV seller in India since February 2026 Wave is expected to be the sales topper for Simple The family EV scooter is based on One, but more practical With the Wave, Simple Energy is hoping to make, well, waves in the family e-scooter segment, which ha...

Two-wheeler retail sales in India rose 19.69 percent year on year to 17,14,610 units in August 2026, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). The segment recorded its highest-ever August sales, although volumes declined 5.70 percent from July, when dealers retailed 18,18,289 two-wheelers. August 2025 sales stood at 14,32,537 units. Retail sales reach 17.15 lakh units, highest for an August Share of EVs in two-wheeler sales crosses 10 percent in a non-festive month Honda leads the market as dealers turn optimistic ahead of the festive season FADA attributed the strong year-on-year growth to healthy rural demand and improved affordability following the GST 2.0 rollout. The month-on-month decline was attributed to the seasonal monsoon slowdown, rainfall in some regions and the inauspicious Shravan/Aadi period. Rural two-wheeler retail grew 20.25 percent year on year in August, slightly ahead of the 19.07 percent growth recorded in urban markets. Compared wit...

The Simple Wave is an interesting proposition in the increasingly crowded electric scooter space. Its rounded, smooth looks certainly grab attention and, as we found out, it is comfortable, spacious and offers brisk performance. There’s plenty to like here, so let’s dive right in. Simple Wave Design and quality - 8/10 Looks unique and features many chassis changes over the One Design is subjective, of course, but the Wave looks good to my eyes with its smooth, rounded edges and distinctive silhouette. It’s got a good level of finish too, and the brighter colour options - red and blue - help it stand out. Simple has designed the Wave as a more accessible, family-oriented scooter, without making it look or feel built down to a cost. It has a quirky design and surely stands out, especially in the brighter colour options. Compared to the sporty Simple One, the Wave’s chassis is quite different. The rear subframe has been reworked to accommodate the bigger boot and twin shocks (which repla...

If any single car could kickstart the electric revolution, it would be the Creta . An electric version of the ‘king of the SUVs’ – and India’s second-largest-selling car in 2025 – would seem like a panacea for the EV world, except it hasn’t really been that. As we found out in the many months we’ve had it, though, the problem is a perception one and not really the product.  Let me begin with the non-electric bits. It’s a Hyundai, so it’s very well equipped with goodies like a Bose sound system, climate control, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof and even thoughtful details like sun blinds and fold-out tables at the rear. Then, it’s a Creta, so you get an SUV that’s mid-sized, which has proven to be the perfect fit for India; not too large to be unwieldy in our crowded cities, but not too small with tight interior space either. Besides a spacious interior, it’s also a very comfy place to be in. The seats feel just right, and unlike many EVs, which force rear occupants into...

TVS has a new variant for the Jupiter 110, their family scooter, called the Dual-Tone Edition. Offered in two exclusive Spectral Blue and Spectral Copper colours, the new variant sits at the top of the range at Rs 89,825 (ex-showroom, Delhi). If the colours and the price appeal to you, here are some things you need to know before deciding to buy one. 1. How is the Dual-Tone Edition different from the SmartXonnect Disc variant? The obvious difference is in the colours, with the new variant sporting dual-tone colour scheme with two colours over SmartXonnect’s single colour scheme, offered in three colours at the moment. Besides that, the dual-tone variant gets colour co-ordinated inner panels, new seat colour, and partial chrome mirrors. The Spectral variant offers two new features, an integrated backrest and sequential indicators, the latter is a segment-first. 2. How many variants are there in the TVS Jupiter now? At the moment, TVS Jupiter has six different variants across a Rs 15...

Kia has a new flagship ICE SUV in India in the form of the Sorento. The Korean carmaker has thrown quite a lot at it, offering it with a wide variant lineup with strong-hybrid and diesel engines, front wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, and both 6- and 7-seater configurations. In the executive SUV space, the Sorento finds itself in the company of the Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron and Jeep Meridian, and uniquely, it’s the only one to come with a strong-hybrid powertrain. If you have your eyes set on the Sorento, here’s everything you need to know about Kia’s latest three-row SUV.  1. What’s the price range of the Kia Sorento? 2026 Kia Sorento variant-wise prices (in Rs lakh, introductory, ex-showroom)   Diesel 7-str Diesel 6-str Strong-hybrid 7-str Strong-hybrid 6-str HTE 27.99 - 29.49 - HTE(O) 29.49 - 30.99 - HTK 32.49 32.69 33.99 34.19 HTK(A) 33.49 33.69 34.99 35.19 HTX (AWD) 37.49 37.69 38.99 39.19 HTX(A) (AWD) 38.49 38.69 39.99 40.19 The Kia Sorento is pri...