Mumbai

•3h

I currently own a Hyundai Verna (2019, manual transmission). My wife would prefer an automatic vehicle, and it will be her first car. I am also planning to upgrade to a luxury vehicle in the future. However, instead of purchasing two vehicles immediately, I am considering buying one car for my wife first, allowing her to get comfortable with it for about a year, and then purchasing another vehicle later. My plan is to sell the Verna, buy a new car for her, and share the same vehicle for some time. I am considering Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Renault Duster, Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet. Among these, I am looking at the automatic variants. My budget is up to Rs. 20 lakh, although I can stretch it to Rs. 25 lakh if the car is particularly compelling. The primary use case will be daily office commutes of around 8-15 km, including dropping off my son on the way, so ISOFIX child-seat mounts are essential. We also take occasional highway trips, typically once every three months. Considering these requirements, which option would you recommend?

•10m

The Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol IVT would be the recommendation here. Since this will be your wife's first automatic car and you'll both be sharing it for some time, ease of driving should be a key consideration. The Seltos' naturally aspirated petrol engine and IVT automatic combination is exceptionally smooth in city traffic, making it very beginner-friendly. It is also spacious, comfortable on long drives, comes with ISOFIX mounts and feels premium enough that you won't feel the need to upgrade immediately.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Mild Hybrid Automatic is another strong option. Its naturally aspirated petrol engine and torque-converter automatic are smooth and dependable, while Toyota's ownership experience is among the best in the business. However, it doesn't feel quite as premium or feature-rich as the Seltos.

The Renault Duster Turbo DCT is appealing if you enjoy driving. It offers strong performance, a solid feel and excellent road manners. However, the DCT transmission is not as smooth in stop-start city traffic as the Seltos' IVT, which is an important consideration for a first-time automatic driver. It is also likely to be less fuel efficient than the Seltos in everyday use.

The Volkswagen Taigun remains a great driver's car, but for your specific use case, the Seltos is the more rounded family package. The Sonet is a good SUV, but it feels a size smaller than the others on your shortlist.

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•4m

@pranav.8 I would probably lean towards the Hyryder strong hybrid or the Seltos CVT. Both are easy to drive, comfortable in the city, family-friendly, and great for occasional highway trips.

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More questions on similar cars

•5h

I am currently driving a Honda Amaze (2022 model), and I really like its engine and CVT automatic transmission. However, I have been disappointed by its low ground clearance, which once resulted in the oil sump getting damaged. Another concern has been shock absorbers, as I had to replace it twice in four years. I also feel that the ride quality is not very smooth on pothole-ridden and rough roads. I am now looking to buy a new sedan or SUV that offers the strengths of Amaze, but with better ground clearance, a more comfortable ride on rough roads, and a 4 or 5-star safety rating. My budget is between Rs. 15 lakh and Rs. 18 lakh. Which models would you recommend?

•40m

The Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol IVT would be the recommendation here. Since you've enjoyed the refinement and smoothness of the Amaze's petrol engine and CVT, the Seltos feels like a natural upgrade. The IVT automatic is smooth in city traffic, the cabin feels significantly more premium and the higher ground clearance means you won't have to worry about scraping the underbody or damaging the oil sump on rough roads. It also offers a comfortable ride and a much more feature-rich cabin than your current car.If you'd prefer to stay within the Honda family, the Honda Elevate CVT is also worth considering. It offers excellent ground clearance, a comfortable ride and Honda's reputation for reliability. However, compared to the Kia car, the engine and transmission combination doesn't feel quite as refined, and the cabin lacks the premium feel and feature-rich experience of the Seltos.

I am a first-time car buyer. My regular commute will be around 20 days a month, primarily on highways, with a round-trip distance of approximately 130 km per day. I have shortlisted the Renault Duster Techno 1.3 Turbo and would like to know whether it would be a good choice for my requirements. I am also open to other recommendations. Additionally, could you please suggest some good diesel cars within a similar budget?

•1h

The Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo is a good choice, especially if you enjoy driving. The turbo-petrol engine offers strong performance, effortless overtaking ability and makes long highway commutes far more enjoyable than most naturally aspirated rivals.However, your usage pattern is quite demanding. A daily round trip of around 130km for 20 days a month works out to nearly 3,000km every month. In our real-world fuel efficiency tests, the Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT returned 7.47kpl in the city and 13.47kpl on the highway. While those figures are acceptable for a performance-oriented turbo-petrol SUV, your monthly fuel bills will be fairly substantial given the distances you cover.For that reason, it may be worth waiting for the Duster Hybrid, which should offer significantly lower running costs while retaining much of the Duster's practicality and appeal.You should also consider the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid. They may not be as engaging to drive as the Duster, but they are exceptionally efficient and are likely to save you a considerable amount in fuel costs over the years.If you'd prefer a diesel, the Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic and upcoming Tata Sierra Diesel Automatic are worth looking at. Both should be considerably more fuel efficient than the Duster petrol and are well suited to high-mileage highway use.

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•1d

Hi, I learned to drive as a teen and have been driving my dad’s Maruti Alto for years now. I also drive a Maruti Dzire. I want my next car to be at least a bit fun and engaging to drive. I’m based in Kolkata and planning to buy a new car with a budget of around Rs. 16 lakh. Currently, I’m looking at: Kia Seltos Manual (as it comes within this budget), Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI, and Kia Sonet Turbo DCT. However, I’m not completely convinced about the Seltos at this price point, mostly because I’m not a big fan of its shiny front grille. Considering my budget, preference for a fun driving experience, mostly city usage, and one or two highway trips a month, which one would you recommend?

•21h

The Skoda Kylaq has the most enthusiastic driving character of the three. Its turbo-petrol engine feels punchy, the steering is well judged, and the overall chassis feels more eager and involving than the Seltos or Sonet. The torque-converter automatic gearbox is also very well calibrated, making it both enjoyable on open roads and effortless in city traffic. Given your usage, it is worth stretching to the automatic rather than opting for the manual.The Kia Sonet Turbo DCT would be the second choice. The turbo-petrol engine is lively and the DCT adds to the fun factor, while the feature list is impressive. However, rear-seat space and ride quality aren't quite as accommodating as the Skoda's.The Kia Seltos Manual is the more mature and spacious option, but if you're already unconvinced by its styling, there's little reason to force the issue. It is a great family SUV, but it doesn't feel as engaging to drive as the Kylaq.

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Buy the Kia Seltos. It is simply easier to live with for most buyers, thanks to a much wider service network and many more variant and powertrain choices, including good automatics across a wider price range. For daily city runs with the odd highway trip, the Seltos will feel like the more complete package and it has a more spacious and premium cabin. The Skoda Kylaq will suit you only if you really enjoy driving. It feels tighter and more confidence inspiring on the move, and the steering has more feel. If you plan long, frequent road trips and care more about how it drives than gadgets, that’s where the Kylaq shines. The flip side is fewer dealers and fewer variant choices.

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•2d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

•1d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

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