Mumbai

Vivek

•23h

I need advice regarding my next car purchase. I am currently confused between the following options: Skoda Kushaq 1.5L DSG Monte Carlo Volkswagen Taigun 1.5L DSG GT Renault Duster 1.3L Iconic DCT I currently drive a 2016 Renault Duster Diesel 110PS AMT. After test-driving all three cars, I found the Kushaq and Taigun to be more engaging and enjoyable to drive. However, they miss out on features like ADAS and adaptive cruise control, which the newer Duster offers.

Autocar India

•8m

The Renault Duster is the only one of the options shortlisted to get Level 2 ADAS, specifically adaptive cruise control.

So if these are a must-have for you, then go ahead with the Duster. It is a good option with excellent ride comfort, and a large boot, similar to your outgoing car. The steering now feels lighter, the cabin feels modern, the turbo-petrol engine is strong and the DCT is smooth, with the only downside being fuel efficiency which won't be as good as your outgoing car.

Renault Duster

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More questions on similar cars

Srujanansh Das

•1d

Hello Autocar India Team, I am planning to buy a new family car with a maximum on-road budget of ₹13-14.5 lakh and would love your recommendation. My requirements include strong engine performance, good features, ample cabin space, 5-star safety, good fuel efficiency, comfortable ride quality, and solid build quality. I currently own a Renault Kwid and am looking for a car that would be a significant upgrade in every aspect, including performance, comfort, safety, and overall driving experience. My usage will be approximately 65% on rural roads and 35% in city driving, so ride comfort, ground clearance, and durability are especially important to me. I am particularly interested in the new Renault Duster Techno 1.0 variant and would like to know whether it would be a suitable choice for my needs. If not, please suggest other cars within this budget that you believe offer a better overall package. Thank you for your guidance.

Autocar India

•1d

If strong performance is high on your priority list, we would be cautious about the Renault Duster 1.0 Techno. While we have experienced this 1.0 turbo petrol engine in the Magnite, where it feels punchy and capable, the Duster is a significantly larger and heavier SUV, so we do not expect it to feel particularly quick or effortless, especially if you are looking for a meaningful upgrade from a Kwid in outright performance.If your heart is set on the Duster, the smarter move would be to stretch slightly for the 1.3 turbo petrol, which sits only a little above your budget and will feel substantially stronger and more satisfying to drive, especially on rural roads where effortless overtaking and usable performance matter.If you are open to alternatives, the Skoda Kushaq Classic+ 1.0 TSI is a very strong option. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy, the Kushaq is genuinely nice to drive, has good rear seat space, solid build and safety credentials that you are looking for.If fuel efficiency matters more than outright performance, then the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol HTE(O) is worth considering as well. It will not feel as punchy as the turbo petrol options, but it is the most premium feeling of the lot, more efficient in everyday use and a very sorted family SUV overall.

Dalbir Singh Sidju

I am replacing my 14-year-old Honda City. My usage is 80% city driving with a monthly running of around 600-700km. Is a hybrid worth it, or should I stick to ICE? I am considering the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Toyota Hyryder. What is your suggestion?

Autocar India

•10h

Considering your usage, we would skip the hybrid and go for either the Seltos IVT or the Creta IVT, with a slight lean toward the Kia Seltos. At your kind of running, the fuel savings from the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong hybrid will take a very long time to justify the higher upfront cost, so buying it purely for efficiency does not make much sense.The Seltos IVT feels more premium and richer overall as an upgrade from a 14-year-old Honda City. The cabin feels more contemporary, the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in traffic, and the overall driving experience is effortless in daily city use. It also feels a bit more special inside than the Hyryder.The Hyundai Creta is equally good mechanically and rides slightly softer over rough roads, so if comfort is your absolute top priority, it remains a very strong option too.The Hyryder hybrid only really starts making stronger sense if you specifically want the silent EV like feel in traffic and intend to keep the car for a very long time. Otherwise, for your usage pattern, the Seltos IVT is the sweeter all-around package.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai Creta

Viji narayanan

•1w

I am looking for an SUV under ₹20 lakh. I love driving and live on a farm. I currently drive a Renault Kwid and cover around 10,000 km a year. Which car would you suggest?

Autocar India

•3d

Since you already own a Renault, the new Duster would be a great pick. With mostly rural roads, about 10,000 km a year and a Rs 20 lakh cap, you can opt for the Duster 1.3 turbo-petrol with either the manual or the DCT, depending on your preference.The 1.3 petrol feels strong and punchy once you get past the initial turbo lag, and the DCT is almost torque-converter smooth. The manual has a satisfying clutch and shifter action, though turbo lag feels slightly more pronounced with this gearbox. It stays steady at speed and the steering gives good confidence, so it will feel like a big step up from your Kwid. Ground clearance is good and the suspension handles broken patches well, so you won’t have to slow to a crawl for every rut, yet it still feels tight and enjoyable on a twisty road.Two things to note: it is not a true off-roader, so avoid deep slush and very uneven fields; and Renault’s dealer reach in smaller towns can be limited. Since you already own one, though, that should not be a major concern.If your routes are very rough and you often need to go into fields, look at the Mahindra Scorpio N instead. It is tougher and sits higher, but it is not as nice to drive on smooth roads as the Duster.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Renault Duster

Renault Kwid

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India

•3d

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

Skoda Kylaq

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Nirmil Shah

•2d

I am interested in the BYD Seal, but I’m concerned about its low ground clearance of the car. Is this a serious issue on Indian roads, speed breakers, and basement ramps?

Autocar India

•2d

The low ground clearance of BYD Seal is something you can live with, especially if you're used to driving sedans. Its nose sits low and the distance between the wheels is long, so tall, badly built breakers and sharp ramp crests can make it touch, especially with four or five people and luggage. However on regular speed breakers, it is likely to clear if you slow right down, and you don't necessarily need to take them at a slight angle.The underbody and battery are protected, so even if it scrapes a few times, it should not be a cause of concern, however, it will feel gut-wrenching to hear the underbody scrape over the unscientifically-built speed humps.Before finalizing, if your daily route has extra-tall breakers or a tricky ramp, take a test drive on that exact path. If it clears there, you’ll be fine in regular use.

BYD Seal

AVINASH PARWANI

•1w

I have booked the Kia Seltos turbo DCT. My monthly running is around 900 km, mostly in Chennai traffic. Should I wait for the hybrid version? Is it expected soon? Also, how much price difference can be expected between the turbo-petrol and the hybrid?

Autocar India

•6d

The Kia Seltos hybrid, as well as the new-generation Hyundai Creta with the hybrid tech, are both expected to arrive next year. If you can wait until then, it would be better to do so, as the hybrid would be far more fuel-efficient. As for the price difference, it's hard to pinpoint right now, but expect to pay about Rs. 50,000 extra over a turbo-petrol automatic.Thus, if the wait time and the premium are not ok with you, stick with the Kia Seltos. However, given that you are mostly driving in traffic, remember that a turbo petrol would not be very efficient, and for heavy, slow traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant at crawling speeds and can run warm in long jams. The Seltos with the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol with CVT is better suited to your use, as its smoother in the city, would be more fuel-efficient and would potentially be more reliable too.

Kia Seltos

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