Hi Autocar team, I am going to purchase my first new car. My daily driving is around 160 to 170km, mainly in the city. I need comfortable seating for my family of four, including one 5-year-old child. I am also looking for a highly safe car that can comfortably handle bad roads and is suitable for the rainy season. Which car should I consider? Please recommend 4 to 5 cars and the best among them. I am not looking for an electric car due to the unavailability of charging space in my society.

Autocar India

•1d

If you like the Tata Curvv and its design, you should opt for it. It has secured a 5-star crash test rating from Bharat NCAP and is equipped with all the necessary safety kit. Given your usage, the extra outlay for the diesel automatic does not seem worth it, and the turbo petrol engine should feel like a good mix of performance and fuel economy for you.Downsides of the Curvv, however, are a DCT gearbox that can be jerky at low speeds, limited rear-seat space and poor cabin ergonomics. Plus, it has been known to suffer software glitches, and Tata's service quality is reportedly not as good as some other brands.Another option you could consider is the new Renault Duster. Its boxy shape may not be anything like the low-slung Curvv's, but it is quite appealing in its own right, and its 1.3 turbo petrol engine and DCT combination is a good mix of smoothness and performance.

Renault Duster

Tata Curvv

Autocar India

•3h

We'd trim the shortlist to the Skoda Kushaq and Renault Duster. The Skoda Kushaq remains fun to drive as before, but 2026's updates have enhanced the package. The 8-speed Aisin automatic transmission delivers power in a smoother manner without losing the sporty nature of the old 6-speed unit. Skoda has also upgraded the AC, and the cooling performance is significantly better than before. It's no longer a deal breaker. A rear seat massage function has been introduced on higher-spec versions, but aside from this, there haven't been any changes to seating at the back. Legroom and headroom are decent, but the cabin isn't the widest, so the rear seat continues to be best for two passengers. The new Renault Duster drives fantastically. Handling is neat, there's a great feel at the steering and body control is really good. We have yet to experience the 1.0-litre engine, but the 160hp, 1.3-litre unit is very enjoyable. It's punchy and great fun when paired with the manual gearbox. On our first drive experience, we were satisfied with the cooling performance, too. Rear seat comfort is decent but not class best.

Renault Duster

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•31m

The Kia Seltos HTX(A) 1.5 NA CVT suits your use case, which is predominantly city driving. The CVT gearbox is super smooth and helps the engine deliver its power in a seamless manner. In fact, in stop-and-go city driving, the experience is smoother than the DCT which is offered with the turbo-petrol engine. Performance is also fine for the city and decent on open roads and highways, as long as you drive in an easy-going manner.Enthusiastic drivers or those with more highway driving, however, will be better served by the punchier turbo-petrol engine and quick-shifting dual-clutch auto combo.

Kia Seltos