Bargarh

•38w

Hello team, I read your blogs regularly and value your reviews. Please guide me on which car I should buy from my shortlisted options. This will be my first car, and I enjoy driving. My requirements are a minimalist design (not too many gadgets), a manual transmission, good comfort and space, and a roomy boot. I’ve shortlisted the Volkswagen Virtus, Honda Amaze, and Hyundai Basalt. My budget is ₹12–14 lakh. Please advise.

•38w

Thank you for your support. We're happy to help!

Coming to your question, the Honda Amaze, while practical and comfy, does not have the driving thrill you would want.

The Volkswagen Virtus, while impressive, will not fit in your budget apart from the base variant, which isn't too impressive. You can expect the Volkswagen Virtus mileage to be around 9 to 12 kpl in the city and 15 to 18 kpl on the highway.

The Citroen Basalt X will be a good pick out of this lot. It has a punchy turbo-petrol engine that is lovely to drive, the ride comfort is excellent, and it has a large boot as well.

Also, while it is feature-packed, it isn't unnecessarily complicated, and the functions are easy to use. The Basalt X would be our recommendation.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

Amaze

from ₹8.62 Lakh

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.43 Lakh

Citroen

Basalt

from ₹9.62 Lakh

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•6d

What is the best hatchback or small sedan for a senior citizen? My running is less than 1,500km per year. I currently have a Ford Figo Aspire Titanium, which is well built but not nimble enough for city driving and has a ridiculous turning radius.

•2d

With such low annual running, the priority should be ease of use, comfort and reliability rather than fuel type or performance.Consider the Hyundai Exter AMT. It is compact, has a good turning radius and is very easy to drive in tight city conditions. The light steering, good visibility and simple controls make it very senior-friendly. It is also reliable, inexpensive to maintain and has a comfortable ride for its size. The AMT isn't as slick as a torque converter automatic or CVT, but it does make city driving easy nevertheless.If you prefer a small sedan, the Honda Amaze CVT is a solid choice. The CVT is totally seamless, and its engine is very refined. Being a Honda car, it is reliable and well-made, and offers a comfortable cabin. If the CVT variants of the Amaze exceed your budget, then the Maruti Suzuki Dzire AMT is also an excellent choice. You will notice a small pause between shifts from its AMT, but it is still easy to drive and very fuel efficient.At 1,500km a year, petrol is the only sensible fuel choice. The focus should be on a car that makes every short trip effortless, so drive all of these and see which works best for you.

I’m a first-time car buyer with very limited driving experience. I’ve only driven an SUV like the Mahindra KUV100 a few times in the past and have never driven a sedan before. I don’t really need a car for my daily commute, but I’d like to have one for long drives, convenience and occasional trips. I’m strongly considering the new Skoda Slavia or Volkswagen Virtus 1.0L MT because I really like both cars. Given my limited driving experience and the fact that I’ve never driven a sedan before, does it make sense to choose one of these as my first car? Would the Slavia or Virtus be manageable for someone with my level of experience, particularly when it comes to judging the car’s size, parking, manoeuvring in traffic and driving on highways?

•15h

Yes, the Skoda Slavia or Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 TSI manual is a perfectly sensible first car, even with limited driving experience. Both cars are well-balanced sedans with good visibility, predictable handling and a forgiving nature, which makes them easy to live with. The 1.0 TSI engine is punchy enough for highway driving but not intimidating, and the manual gearbox is light and easy to operate.The main adjustment will be the lower seating position compared to an SUV like the Mahindra KUV100, which can initially make judging the car's extremities a bit trickier, especially in tight parking situations. However, both cars are not excessively large, and with practice, you will quickly get used to their dimensions. Parking sensors and a rear camera, which are available on higher variants, will also help build confidence. If you are genuinely concerned about parking and manoeuvrability, you could consider the Skoda Kylaq or Volkswagen Taigun / Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI instead. However, if you spend time practising, the Slavia or Virtus will not be difficult to get used to.

I want to buy a 6/7-seater car under Rs. 17 lakh. Which one should I buy?

•4h

Go for the Kia Carens. It is the most well-rounded 6/7 seater under Rs 17 lakh, offering a genuinely spacious third row, a comfortable ride and petrol and diesel engine options. This Kia car also feels more premium inside than most rivals in this price bracket, and Kia's service network is strong. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is the most sensible alternative, with low running costs and proven reliability, but the Carens is the better all-round family car.

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•4d

I am getting the Venue HX8 Turbo automatic for Rs. 15.40 lakh on-road, the Creta SX(O) automatic for Rs. 18.14 lakh on-road, with a discount of more than Rs. 1 lakh, and the Seltos HTK(O) IVT for Rs. 18.50 lakh on-road. My budget is Rs. 19 lakh. Which one should I buy for driving in Bangalore and occasional trips?

•4d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTK (O) IVT at Rs 18.14 lakh on-road. Your budget of Rs 19 lakh gives you enough room to get a large, spacious and well-equipped midsize SUV, and the Seltos is the sweet spot. The IVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to Bangalore traffic, while the 1.5 petrol is refined and reliable. The HTK (O) trim is feature-rich, so you are not compromising on equipment. The Seltos also offers better rear seat space and comfort than the others, making it a better choice for occasional family trips. The Creta SX (O) might sound like better value with a few more features, but the Seltos's larger size, better quality and new-age tech push it ahead overall. The Venue HX8 turbo automatic at Rs 15.4 lakh is a good deal, but it is a segment below, and you would be compromising on space and comfort.

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•6d

Go for the Kia Seltos diesel automatic. It is the most balanced choice under Rs 22 lakh. The diesel engine is strong, efficient, and well suited to both city and highway driving, while the automatic gearbox is smooth and easy to live with. If your usage is limited and you are open to a turbo petrol, this Kia car also gets the 1.5-litre turbo petrol with a DCT. The Seltos also offers one of the most feature-rich and stylish interiors in the segment, with a premium feel that stands out. This diesel car is a genuinely well-rounded package that delivers performance, comfort and a strong ownership experience.The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is also worth considering if you need more space and a stronger feature list, but it is a larger Mahindra car and not as easy to live with in the city.Overall, the Seltos diesel automatic strikes the best balance between performance, features, and long-term ownership satisfaction.

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•2d

Suggest a car Requirements: Daily city driving in Bangalore, with lots of potholes. I am open to either an SUV or a sedan. My budget is Rs. 25-30 lakh on-road. ADAS, cruise control, and hill assist are must-have features. I want a car that offers a comfortable drive, feels luxurious, and is fun to drive. An automatic transmission is a must.

•2d

Go for the Kia Seltos 1.5 T-GDi DCT. It is the best fit for your requirements. The Seltos turbo is genuinely fun to drive, with strong performance and a well-sorted chassis that makes it enjoyable on both city roads and highways. The 1.5 T-GDi engine paired with the DCT automatic is a highlight, offering quick shifts and a responsive driving experience. At the same time, this Kia car is comfortable over broken roads and potholes, with a suspension setup that strikes a good balance between ride comfort and handling. It also feels premium inside, with a well-built cabin and a solid feature set that includes ADAS, cruise control and hill assist. The only thing to be aware of is that the DCT gearbox can feel a bit clunky in stop-and-go traffic, but overall it is a well-rounded package that delivers exactly what you are looking for. If you want something a bit larger, the Mahindra XUV 7XO turbo-petrol is a good alternative, but it will feel large and cumbersome in Bangalore city traffic, and its fuel economy is very poor.

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