I'm considering purchasing a city car with an automatic transmission and am evaluating options like the Maruti Suzuki Alto, Celerio, and Tata Tiago. Should I also explore used car options in addition to new ones? I have my parents' Volkswagen Virtus for highway drives.

Autocar India

•4h

Both are excellent choices, but do bear in mind that the on-road prices of both SUVs would work out to over Rs 19 lakh. As for picking between the two, we would lean more towards the Kia Seltos HTX 1.5 IVT. It's the newer and more modern option with more advanced onboard tech, it is larger and has a far more spacious cabin with comfier seats and higher-quality materials, and its 1.5-litre petrol engine is more powerful than the Toyota's, which will come in handy both around town and on your occasional highway trips. Though the Hyryder is comfy enough, the new Seltos is comfier still and feels more stable at higher speeds too. In terms of long-term ownership, both SUVs should have good resale value, and Kia and Toyota offer a strong aftersales and service experience. What works in Urban Cruiser Hyryder's favour is, its slightly lower maintenance costs from the Maruti-sourced powertrain, and better fuel efficiency too. On balance, however, we feel the Kia Seltos is the better all rounder, and the one you should pick.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•6h

The Honda Elevate manual/CVT seems to be the better fit for you. It feels light and easy in traffic, the petrol motor is smooth, and the steering is quite light, so daily drives are calmer. It also costs less to buy, and its routine service is likely to be cheaper than a big diesel. On the highway, it stays steady and performance is strong, so it feels friendly and confident.The Tata Harrier diesel base is great if most of your use is on wide highways. But in the city, it feels big, the manual needs more clutch work, parking is harder, and overall, it isn't as easy to drive as the Honda.If you can wait, the Elevate facelift is expected in the second half of 2026. If not, pick the outgoing version.

Honda Elevate

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

•10h

If performance is your top priority and you want something that feels genuinely quick and engaging, the 2024 Volkswagen Taigun GT Plus 1.5 at Rs 14 lakh is the stronger choice here.It's 1.5 TSI paired with the DSG (twin-clutch automatic) delivers sharp, rapid shifts and a lively, responsive character that suits an enthusiast driver. The Taigun also feels more agile and composed in corners, while still being easy to drive in the city. At roughly Rs 4 lakh less than the new Duster, you also have room to budget for an extended warranty, fresh tyres, or even preventative maintenance, which is important when buying a used, performance-oriented car.There are a couple of caveats. In heavy, crawling traffic, the DSG can feel slightly jerky, and like most dual-clutch setups, it prefers consistent movement over prolonged inching. The ride is also on the firmer side, especially over broken surfaces.On the other hand, the new Renault Duster 1.3 Techno is the better choice if you prioritise ride comfort and robustness over outright performance. Its 1.3 turbo-petrol is strong and tractable, and the car feels more planted on rough roads. The Duster’s dual-clutch transmission is a wet-clutch unit, which is inherently smoother and better suited to stop-go traffic, though it doesn’t feel as quick or as sporty as the Taigun’s DSG.Overall, if your brief is clearly performance-first, the Taigun GT Plus makes more sense.

Volkswagen Taigun

Renault Duster