I am planning to upgrade from a Polo. Should I go for the Citroen Basalt X or the Tata Sierra? My priorities are good build quality, driving dynamics, looks, and decent features.

Autocar India

•11w

While roughly in the same segment, the two cars you have listed are very different from one another and are at opposite ends of the price spectrum. However, both will meet your requirements, albeit at different levels.

The Citroen Basalt X, with its lower-powered 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, rides high off the ground but is closer to a sedan in concept. It has received a 4-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating and feels solidly built, but crucially, it has tight driving dynamics and is fun to drive. Its aggressive pricing also makes it an excellent value for money, especially with the upgrades introduced on the X variants.

The Tata Sierra is a larger, more expensive, and altogether more premium product. It doesn't yet have an NCAP rating, but it feels strongly built and will likely get a full 5-star rating, judging by Tata’s track record. Though the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine of this Tata car is considerably more powerful than the Basalt X's 1.2, it doesn't feel punchy or exciting, and instead is very calm in its responses. Similarly, while its suspension is comfortable like the Basalt's, it doesn't feel tied down and suffers from lots of body roll. It has far more space and features than the Basalt X, though that also comes at a much higher price.

We would recommend the Citroen Basalt X overall, but since you are upgrading from a Polo, consider waiting for the Volkswagen Taigun facelift launching early next year, which will offer more features and aligns well with your preferences.

Explore cars mentioned

Citroen

Basalt

from ₹9.24 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹12.33 Lakh

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