Autocar India
•36w

I wish to buy a new mid range automatic petrol SUV. Had been owner of Honda Amaze for 11 yrs. Low maintenance, less service costs, happy ownership. So planned to buy Elevate CVT but found it lagging in power. Test drove Citroën Aircross/Basalt Turbo AT, found them to be more powerful. But lack confidence to buy due to other ownership reasons. Can you suggest a Automatic SUV in range of 17 to 19 with usage of 80% Bangalore city drive?

Verified
•35w

If you are looking for something with similar performance to the Citroen Basalt/Aircross, you should consider the Volkswagen Taigun or the Skoda Kushaq with the 1.0 TSI and torque converter automatic. The facelifted Kushaq now gets an 8-speed automatic replacing the old 6-speed unit, and the Taigun will get the same when it is facelifted later this year.

The 1.0 TSI makes a healthy 115hp and 178Nm, which delivers better performance than the naturally aspirated engine in the Elevate and is on par with the Basalt. The 6-speed torque converter automatic was also smooth-shifting and very convenient to use, and we expect the 8-speed to be more of the same. With 80 percent of your driving in heavy Bengaluru traffic, this transmission will be a boon.

Prices for the facelifted Kushaq will be announced later this month, and we expect our first drive reviews to drop around the same time. Before you decide, take a test drive, of course.

Citroen Basalt

Citroen Basalt

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•3h

Hello, I am 51 years old. My wife, two teenagers, and my mother are a part of my family. Till now, I have only bought functional and not so expensive cars. I am at a stage where I can splurge on something more comfortable that comes with premium features. I can go upto 35 Lakhs and would be fine with a 5-seater or a 6-seater with captain seats. I mostly drive within the Mumbai city which includes long drive once in a month. I was thinking of a petrol or hybrid automatic car as it will deliver decent mileage while being environment friendly. I have shortlisted Kia Sorento Hybrid, Innova Hycross, Hyundai Alcazar, Kia Carens Clavis Turbo Petrol, MG Hector Tomohawk PHEV and Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel. All cars are automatic. For me, driving as well as back seat comfort are important. The car should have a good music system, features and should be comfortable to drive. I am not considering an EV because I do not have a home charger. What do you recommend?

Verified
•2h

The Kia Sorento best fits your requirements. It falls within your budget of Rs. 35 lakhs, comes with 6 or 7-seater options and has a premium, feature-packed cabin. The Sorento also has a comfortable ride quality and a smooth and responsive strong hybrid powertrain, featuring a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, an electric motor and a DCT gearbox. Since your running is mostly within the city with occasional long drives, the strong hybrid makes sense for you and gives you the benefit of greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions. While the middle row is spacious and comfy, the third row is best for children, so that's worth keeping in mind. Also, with your budget you might be restricted to the entry-level HTE variant and will miss out on certain feel-good features like a branded Bose audio system, ventilated seats, ambient lighting and more. But overall, it is the one that we would recommend for you.

VehicleKia Sorento

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