VR Tech Times

Ventilated seats have become a popular and must-have feature in mass-market cars in recent times. After its presence was seen only in front row seats for a while, it has now made its way to the second row of seats to cater to chauffeur-driven customers. A feature once meant for luxury cars is now common to see on mass-market cars, and a great thing to have, especially during our harsh summer months. The following is a list of the most affordable cars with second-row seat ventilation. Interestingly, all the vehicles in this list comprise only SUVs. 5. Mahindra XEV 9S Available from the Pack Three trim onward, priced from Rs 27.35 lakh The Mahindra XEV 9S is the only and most affordable electric vehicle on this list with second-row seat ventilation. The feature is only available in the top top Pack Three and Pack Three select trims with the 79kWh battery pack. The SUV produces 286hp and 380Nm of torque and comes with a packed feature list, including a triple screen setup, a powere...

Suzuki has just announced pricing for its first electric scooter in our market, the much anticipated e-Access. We've compared it against rivals with comparable battery capacities to see how its range and charging times stack up in the competitive EV landscape. This includes the Bajaj Chetak 3001 (3.0kWh), Ather Rizta S (2.9kWh), TVS iQube (3.1kWh) and the Vida VX2 Plus (3.4kWh).  Suzuki e-Access vs rivals: range comparison VX2 Plus offers 47km more range despite similar battery size With a claimed IDC range of 95km, the e-Access sits at the bottom of this comparison despite having a larger battery than some rivals. The Ather Rizta S, with a 2.9kWh battery – smaller than the e-Access's 3.07kWh pack – delivers a claimed 123km range, which is 28km more.  The TVS iQube 3.1kWh, with a battery capacity nearly identical to the e-Access, also offers a claimed 123km range. Moving up, the Bajaj Chetak 3001's 3.0kWh battery delivers a claimed 127km IDC range – 32km more than the ...

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Tata Motors has now introduced its new Hyperion petrol engine, which debuted on the Sierra, in the Safari . The carmaker’s flagship ICE SUV, sold exclusively with a diesel engine since its 2021 launch, sees no exterior changes but gains a new variant with more features. Read on as we break down everything from the petrol Tata Safari's price list to its key rivals. What is the Tata Safari petrol price? Rs 13.29 lakh-24.85 lakh Tata Safari petrol ex-showroom price list (in Rs, lakh)* Variant MT MT Dark edition AT AT Dark edition Smart  13.29 - - - Pure X 16.49 17.01 17.91 18.52 Adventure X+ 17.75 18.27 19.35 19.88 Accomplished X 20.84  21.36 22.50 23.02 Accomplished X+  22.73 23.07 24.15 24.48 Accomplished X+ 6-seater 22.83 23.16 24.25 24.58 Accomplished Ultra  23.33 - 24.75 - Accomplished Ultra 6-seater 23.43 - 24.85 - ...

The Royal Enfield Bullet has been in continuous production for nearly a century, making it synonymous with the Royal Enfield brand itself. It was one of the last to be updated to the J-platform, sharing its mechanical components with the Classic 350. If you're considering the Bullet 350, here's what works in its favour and what might give you pause. Reasons to buy Bullet 350 Smooth, characterful engine The Bullet 350 is powered by Royal Enfield's refined J-platform 349cc single-cylinder engine producing 20.2hp and 27Nm. If you aren't intent on living life in the fast lane, this is about as good as engines get at this price point. The engine is torquey, easygoing, smooth, brimming with character and churning out a great exhaust note. That laidback character is backed up by the chassis too, which offers great ride quality and does a top job of keeping you well isolated from the mess underneath. While this is definitely no corner carver, like the Classic, it is pretty ...

Take a wild guess... 10,000 kilometres on, what remains the most-discussed aspect of our Slavia ? It’s the Tornado Red paint! The lustre, the intensity of colour, the reflective index – it really does grab eyeballs. What also helps; the near perfectly aligned ‘A Class’ surfaces and the high quality of the stamped body panels. And then what adds contrast are the shiny black roof and the blackened chrome bits like the grille, badges, alloys and mirrors. Only the Skoda badge up front is in chrome. Add in the Monte Carlo badge, and the Slavia looks special. Love the black mini spoiler and that mini faux diffuser at the rear. Black treatment looks really slick on the red body shade. As a regular custodian of this car, what I’d always look forward to when getting back in the Slavia is the tough build of the car, the high-quality cabin and the good insulation. This car just feels so much more grown up, so much more sophisticated than the competition at this price point. Take a close loo...

To say the Vida Dirt.E K3 falls well outside the box most motorcycles fit in is quite apt. Weighing just 22kg and barely coming up to my waist, it is a tiny thing. But to look at the K3 through the same lens as conventional motorcycles would be a mistake. Allow me to elaborate. The K3’s adjustable frame allows you to set it up in three different sizes using just an Allen key. These days, EVs keep setting the bar higher when it comes to new tech and features, and the Vida K3 follows suit. But unlike most new features that feel like one-time-use gimmicks – designed more to bolster the brochure than to enhance the user experience – everything here is actually helpful. Frame adjustment is a quick and simple process. For instance, Vida has come up with a very ingenious solution so that a child doesn’t outgrow the K3 – unlike they do with everything else – in too short a time frame. You can adjust its height via three notches in the frame and the rigid fork with just a solitary Alle...

The Indie is the sole offering from Bengaluru-based startup River. While it has a few strengths that tip the scales in its favour, there are also two reasons why you may want to consider other options. 3 reasons to buy the River Indie Spacious and practical What truly sets the River Indie apart—aside from its quirky design—is the sheer amount of storage it offers. With a cavernous 43 litres of underseat boot space and an additional 12 litres of front-apron storage, running out of space on the Indie is unlikely. However, if you do manage to fill all 55 litres of onboard storage, River also offers accessory panniers and a top box. The mounts for these come standard on the scooter and double up as crash guards. Unique style and presence Another aspect working in the Indie’s favour is its design. Yes, it’s quirky and unconventional, but the response to it has largely been positive. Despite featuring a large, boxy front apron instead of the flowing panels seen on most scooters, the I...

It is not usual for me to pick an EV over a conventional internal combustion car from our long-term fleet. However, this time around, when the MG Windsor drove into our long-term garage, I was genuinely curious to see how this fully electric, part-MPV, part-hatchback would be to live with. After spending a couple of weeks with the MG Windsor, I have realised that this is a car that constantly reminds you just how modern it is. Sometimes that works in its favour, and at other times, it tests your patience. The first thing I engage with every single time I get into the Windsor is the massive 15.6-inch touchscreen. There is no escaping it. It certainly looks impressive, but the issue is that MG has routed almost every important function through this screen. Air-con controls aside, every other function is routed through the touchscreen. In daily use, this can be frustrating. Basic things like adjusting the rear-view mirrors require digging through menus. These are actions I in...