I want to buy a car with a budget of Rs 16 to 17 lakh. My yearly running is around 6,000 to 7,000 km, but I am a driving enthusiast and enjoy driving. Please suggest a suitable car.

Autocar India

•14w

Since you are an auto enthusiast and love to drive, we would recommend you look at a sedan car like the Skoda Slavia or the Volkswagen Virtus. They are both essentially the same car, built on the same platform or near identical in terms of drive feel.

For your budget of 16-17 lakh, you will get the smaller 1.0 litre TSi engine, and you will notice turbo lag; however, past that, the performance is lively enough, and the engine is quite rev-happy.

If you can stretch your budget a bit, opt for the larger 1.5-litre TSI engine. It delivers a very sprightly drive. Beyond the engine, both cars have a superb ride and handling balance.

Explore cars mentioned

Skoda

Slavia

from ₹11.70 Lakh

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.44 Lakh

Related questions you may find helpful

Ashish

•3d

Hi, I have a family of four and need a car for daily office commuting, along with around four outstation trips a month. My budget is ₹17 lakh. What would you suggest?

Autocar India

•5h

Pick the Skoda Slavia Sportline 1.0 TSI AT. For a family of 4 and monthly highway runs, it blends 5‑star safety, surefooted 100-120 kph stability, and comfy rear seating.Your daily office commute will benefit from the smooth 6‑speed torque‑converter AT, which reduces fatigue in traffic. With four outstation trips a month, the Slavia’s strong brakes and taut suspension feel planted at 100 kph on patchy roads, while over 500 litres of boot space fits all the luggage you would need for an outstation trip. The 1.0 TSI has ample mid‑range for quick overtakes with four onboard, and 6 airbags plus ESC are standard.The one thing you give up is Maruti/Hyundai‑level reach. Skoda’s service network is smaller, so in smaller towns you may have fewer workshops. The Sportline trim offers a sunroof, 16-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera with parking sensors, LED headlamps, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple and Android connectivity and more. It is a well-sorted car with lots of practicality, comfort and ease of driving.

Skoda Slavia

Shashank

•1w

Hello experts, I want to know if the new Duster 1L turbo engine will be good for city driving, or if it will feel underpowered, as my driving is 85% in the city.

Autocar India

•3h

The new Renault Duster 1.0 turbo-petrol should be acceptable in the city, but it is not the most effortless choice for predominantly urban use like yours.The 1.0 turbo makes about 99hp and 160-166Nm, and the torque comes in from around 2,000rpm, so performance at low revs will feel merely adequate rather than strong. You will need to work the gearbox to keep the engine in its power band, especially with a full load or on inclines, and that can get tiring in bumper‑to‑bumper traffic. The good bit is that the clutch is light and the engine reasonably refined, so it won’t feel cumbersome or heavy in daily use.However, there is no automatic with the 1.0 turbo. It comes only with a 6‑speed manual, which is a drawback for an 85% city‑running profile. If you prioritise smoothness and ease over outright punch, an automatic CVT in this segment will suit you better.The Kia Seltos 1.5 iVT offers seamless, jerk‑free power delivery and feels very smooth and responsive in typical city driving. Similarly, the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol CVT, which has the same gearbox as the Seltos, is another good option. Both the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta make urban driving more relaxing, even if performance is only adequate rather than exciting.

Dilip Kumar

What is your opinion on buying the Maruti Suzuki Invicto, a hybrid 7-seater?

Autocar India

•4h

The Maruti Suzuki Invicto is nowhere near as popular as its twin, the Toyota Innova HyCross, though both are virtually the same car. With the Invicto not being in as much demand, better discounts are possible, but you will also take a hit in resale value when you go to sell it. If you are comfortable with the Maruti-Suzuki badge, choose the Invicto Zeta+ (7‑seater) strong‑hybrid. It offers the most usable three‑row comfort, smooth city driving, and the widest service network.At over 4.7 m long and with about a 2,850 mm wheelbase, it offers real space across three rows. The strong‑hybrid setup keeps the city running very smooth, often shutting the engine off at low speeds and running on pure electric power. As a result, fuel efficiency is very good.The one thing you give up is ADAS features. The Invicto doesn’t offer lane keep, adaptive cruise, or AEB, which some rivals provide at this size. If you specifically want ADAS and more top‑end features, consider the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid ZX (O) instead. It adds active safety tech, but it will cost you more and involve longer wait periods.

Maruti Suzuki Invicto

Toyota Innova HyCross

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