I tried looking for the Mahindra Thar Roxx MX3 Petrol AT, but my parents refused because it hurts their backs, as both are 60+, and the Thar has noticeable body roll. I am now considering the Volkswagen Virtus 1.0L engine as an alternative. My core requirements are strong safety, a reliable vehicle, fun to drive, and good performance on a mix of highways, mountain roads, and bad roads, with very good power. My budget is below ₹18 lakh on road. Please suggest how I should go about this.

Autocar India

•1w

For your aged parents, the Mahindra Thar Roxx can indeed be uncomfortable. Getting in and out requires effort because of the high step-in height, and since it’s based on a body-on-frame chassis, the ride tends to be bumpy. There is noticeable body roll as well, which can make senior passengers uneasy, especially on rough roads.

The Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 TSI is a sensible alternative within your ₹18 lakh on-road budget. It offers strong safety credentials, solid build quality and is genuinely fun to drive. The 1.0 turbo-petrol has good low- and mid-range punch, making it enjoyable both on highways and mountain roads. It’s stable at high speeds and feels planted in corners.

On bad roads, you will need to be a bit careful, as it’s still a sedan, but the ground clearance is decent enough for most situations if driven sensibly. If your usage is a mix of highways, hills and occasional rough patches, and you want a safer, more comfortable and still engaging option, the Virtus is a well-balanced way to go.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹14.40 Lakh

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.23 Lakh

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Mukesh

•1w

What about Nissan gravitia

Latest questions people are discussing

Shivathmaja PS

•2d

I am looking to buy a car for my parents, who do not drive, so it will mostly be chauffeur-driven. My main priority is rear seat comfort. We are upgrading from a 2011 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire. The car will mainly be used for highways and long trips, with minimal city usage. However, I would prefer an automatic transmission in case I need to use it occasionally in the city (Bengaluru). Before starting test drives, I wanted your suggestions on some suitable vehicles. Based on my initial research, I have shortlisted the following options: Honda City ZX CVT Kia Seltos HTX iVT Honda Elevate ZX CVT Škoda Slavia 1.5L Sportline DSG or 1.0 Monte Carlo AT Volkswagen Virtus Topline AT My budget is around ₹20–21 lakh. Which option would you recommend, especially considering rear seat comfort and highway usability?

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Honda City ZX CVT. For chauffeur‑driven parents, it offers the comfiest rear bench, ample legroom, and a smooth CVT for Bengaluru traffic within your ₹20-21 lakh budget.Rear comfort is its strength: the 2,600 mm wheelbase helps knee-room, the rear seat is well-cushioned with good thigh support, and the ride is tuned soft for long trips. The 506‑litre boot easily swallows luggage for highway runs. ZX adds 6 airbags and ADAS with adaptive cruise control, useful on long highways. The CVT’s smooth creep and no shift‑shock make occasional city use easy. Versus your shortlist, Elevate’s rear bench feels upright, while Slavia/Virtus ride firmer and are more driver‑centric for back‑seat comfort.The one thing you give up is ground clearance in comparison to the Elevate. Also, if getting in and out is a concern, the Elevate's high-set seats would make it easier. A test drive should sort that out. For now, we recommend the City for its hassle-free ownership experience, reliability and most of all, a refined and comfortable cabin.

Shiv Singh

I am looking for a new car recommendation for my work commute. My budget is 13 Lakh, and my monthly running is approximately 1,500-2,000 km. My typical schedule involves travelling from Mumbai to Goa and rural Konkan for three weeks out of the month, with the remaining week spent in Mumbai or Pune city traffic. My driving split is roughly 70% highway and 30% city traffic. Since I travel alone for work, my top priorities are low running costs and decent build quality. I have shortlisted the following options: 1. Kia Seltos (Base Diesel HTE) 2. Hyundai Venue (HX5 Automatic TC) 3. Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG 4. Mahindra Thar RWD Please let me know if you suggest any of these or if there are other vehicles I should consider. Additionally, given my travel patterns, would you recommend a manual or an automatic (TC) transmission?

Autocar India

•32m

From the options you listed, we would recommend going for the Kia Seltos diesel manual. Even in the base variant, the Seltos still gets most of the essential features. Being a larger car, it will also feel more comfortable and stable on long highway drives. The diesel engine offers good performance and will feel effortless on the highway, which suits your usage pattern well.From a pure efficiency point of view, it makes sense to go for the manual transmission. Torque converter automatics tend to reduce fuel efficiency slightly, and with diesel efficiency already coming down due to tighter emission norms, the manual will help maximise mileage. Also, since 70 percent of your driving is on the highway, the manual transmission should not feel inconvenient.If the lowest running cost is your main priority, then the Maruti Suzuki Victoris LXi CNG is worth considering. The running cost will be much lower than that of even diesel engine cars. Thanks to smart packaging of the CNG tanks under the boot floor, the boot space, unlike most CNG cars, is not compromised.However, compared to diesel cars like the Seltos, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine will not feel as effortless on the highway. Also, it does not come with a spare tyre, only a puncture repair kit, which is something to note, considering you spend most of your time on the highway.The Mahindra Thar will prove to be uncomfortable for your usage. Its ride quality tends to feel quite bumpy, especially on our less-than-perfect Maharashtra roads. Also, the amount of driving you do, it will become tiring over long distances. For your usage pattern, the Seltos diesel manual would be the better choice thanks to its comfort and strong highway performance. If your focus is purely on minimising running costs, then the Victoris CNG is the alternative to consider.

Kia New Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Yogesh Gautam Kamble

•2d

I need a car for my daily commute, and my travel will be around 50-60 km every day. Most of my driving will be within the city, along with occasional highway drives on weekends. My budget should allow for an EMI of less than ₹20,000 per month. Considering my usage, should I go for a diesel or a CNG car, and which option would you recommend?

Autocar India

•5h

With your daily running of around 50-60 km, your monthly usage will easily cross 1,500 km, so choosing a fuel with low running costs makes sense. In this case, CNG is generally a better fit than diesel, especially since most of your driving is in the city.One of the better options to consider is the Tata Nexon CNG. Unlike most CNG cars, the Nexon uses a turbo-petrol engine, which means it still feels reasonably strong and comfortable even on the highway. The turbo engine produces good torque, which helps maintain performance despite running on CNG. This makes the Nexon CNG a good balance between low running costs for the city and decent highway performance for weekend drives.Another practical option is the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG, particularly the LXi or VXi variants. The Brezza uses a 1.5-litre engine with factory-fitted CNG. It is known for being smooth and reliable while still offering good mileage and reasonable performance.

Tata Nexon

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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