Baran

•3m

Cross-shopped the Kylaq and the Basalt this month. Resale value expectations in this segment are honestly still a guessing game for both.

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•1w

Hi I am currently using an S-Presso manual car and planning to upgrade to an automatic sub-4-metre SUV. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh, and my annual usage is around 6,000 km, with 60% highway and 40% city driving in Chennai. I am also planning to take solo trips twice a year. Please suggest a car that offers good mileage, low maintenance costs, and strong safety.

•2d

With your 6,000 km annual running, a petrol automatic is the right choice. Your 60% highway usage and solo trips suggest you need a car that is stable at speed, comfortable over long distances, and easy to live with in the city. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic fits this brief well. It uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth in traffic and relaxed on the highway. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is reliable, easy to maintain, and well suited to your running. This Maruti Suzuki car also has a comfortable ride, good ground clearance and a stable highway manner, making it a significant upgrade over the S-Presso for long drives. Maruti's service network and low maintenance costs are a clear advantage too. If you want something more fun to drive, the Skoda Kylaq is worth considering. This Skoda car offers a more powerful turbo petrol engine, but the Brezza remains the safer long-term ownership bet. Overall, the Brezza automatic is the most balanced recommendation for your usage and budget.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

Skoda Kylaq

•1w

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?

•3d

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.

Hi. I am looking to buy a car for myself and am confused between Kylaq 1.0 prestige plus vs Kushaq 2026 prestige. I need to travel from Hoskote to Whitefield in the morning, then return to my office at Varthur Kodi, and after work, travel back home to ITPL, Whitefield. This is my schedule from Monday to Saturday. I also have to take intermittent night duties as I am a doctor. I have a Honda Elevate in family and am concerned regarding turbo lag with Kylaq 6-speed. Is it advisable to upgrade to Kushaq 1.0 AT by spending additional 5.5 lakh. I also came across a social media post claiming that the Kylaq’s 6-speed automatic can be difficult to manoeuvre in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Please guide me on which would be the better choice for my usage.

•3d

The Kylaq 1.0 TSI Prestige+ AT makes more sense for your requirements. Your daily commute involves significant city driving, so the compact dimensions and torque-converter automatic make it easier to manage Bengaluru traffic. The 1.0 TSI does have some initial turbo lag, but it isn't significant enough to be a deal-breaker. Once the turbo is on boost, the engine has good mid-range performance, while the automatic makes progress smooth and effortless.The Kushaq 1.0 AT is the more mature and comfortable car, and its new 8-speed torque-converter automatic is a considerable improvement, particularly in low-speed traffic. It also offers more space and feels more substantial. However, spending around Rs 5.5 lakh more is difficult to justify when the Kylaq already meets your requirements well. The presence of an Elevate in the family also reduces the need to pay extra for the larger SUV.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Kushaq

Honda Elevate

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•6d

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?

•6d

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.

I am a driving enthusiast and am looking to buy my first car. I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI MT Signature and the Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI MT Highline Plus. Which one should I choose?

•6d

Both the Kushaq and Taigun are mechanically identical and offer the same 1.0 TSI engine paired with a manual gearbox, so the driving experience is essentially the same. The two are also similar in price, and the main features offered are the same too. Thus, base your decision on your personal preference in terms of the styling - outside and inside - and on the deal that you are getting from the respective dealerships. Also look into the dealer reputation in your area and factor this into your purchase decision too. From a driving pleasure point of view, the two cars are essentially the same. If you are looking for an alternative, consider the Renault Duster, which also offers an entertaining driving experience.

Hello, given the DPF concerns and upcoming CAFE III regulations, with my driving pattern being 60% highway and 40% city and covering around 15,000 km annually, would a 1.5L diesel (automatic or manual) still be a worthwhile choice?

•4d

Yes, a 1.5-litre diesel is still a worthwhile choice for your usage. At 15,000 km a year with 60% highway driving, you are well within the sweet spot for diesel ownership. The DPF concerns are often overstated - modern diesels are designed to regenerate the filter during sustained highway runs, and your usage pattern is ideal for that. CAFE III regulations are pushing manufacturers towards cleaner engines, but they are not making diesels obsolete; they are simply making them more efficient and cleaner. The bigger question is whether diesel still makes financial sense. With the narrowing price gap between petrol and diesel, the payback period is longer than it used to be, but at your mileage and highway bias, it still adds up. If you are keeping the car for 5-7 years, you will see the benefit. As for automatic versus manual, go automatic if you want ease of use in city traffic; modern torque converter automatics on diesels are smooth and reliable in cars like the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta. Overall, diesel is still the right choice for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

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Posted on: 31 Aug 2026

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Cross-shopped the Kylaq and the Basalt this month. Resale value expectations in this segment are honestly still a guessing game for both.

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