Mumbai

•37w

I live in Bangalore. My primary use is an office commute (only 2 km) on narrow, congested roads, with occasional road trips. Our family is two adults and two children, and safety is my top priority. I want a car with strong driving experience and road presence. I previously used a Duster 110 PS and currently drive a Magnite, but am unhappy with its engine performance. My budget is ₹15 lakh, and I can stretch up to ₹20 lakh. Please suggest suitable cars.

•37w

Between Rs 15-20 lakh, the best choice for your needs would be the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI with the automatic DSG gearbox.

Being a mid-size SUV, the Kushaq gets plenty of practicality, but the highlight is its powertrain that has a 150hp turbo-petrol engine and a 7-speed DSG gearbox that is quick to shift.

Also, the handling manners and chassis tuning make it enjoyable on long trips and around twisty roads. The feature list is also impressive, and you get a lot of kit for the money. The sound system is worth a mention too, and the overall build quality is excellent. The Kushaq would be the right choice and a great replacement for the Nissan Magnite.

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Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.62 Lakh

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Magnite

from ₹6.53 Lakh

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•3d

My monthly running is around 800km, of which 60-70% is city driving. I do 3-4 long drives a year. We are a family of two with an average Indian build. I am confused between the Skoda Kylaq Prestige AT, Renault Duster 1.3 DCT Iconic, and Skoda Kushaq 1.5 DSG. My priorities are driving dynamics, suspension, long-distance comfort, and ownership experience. I plan to keep the car for more than six years. I am wondering whether I should go for the Kylaq, which would be easier in city traffic, or one of the other shortlisted options. ADAS is not a criterion.

•3h

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Prestige AT. With your usage pattern of 800km a month, mostly city driving with a few long trips a year, the Kylaq is the most sensible and enjoyable choice. The 1.0 TSI engine paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is well-suited to city traffic, offering smooth and predictable shifts, while being punchy enough for highway runs. This Skoda car also delivers a good balance of ride comfort and driving dynamics, making it comfortable for long drives without sacrificing the fun-to-drive element you are looking for.The Renault Duster 1.3 DCT is the enthusiast's choice with its stronger performance and excellent ride quality. You will have to spend a bit more for the added performance, and fuel efficiency will be on the lower side. The Skoda Kushaq 1.5 DSG is a fair bit pricier; hence it might not justify the stretch.Overall, the Kylaq is the sensible pick for a family of two.

I own a 2022 Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 GT MT and have driven around 56,000 km. Recently, I have been experiencing knee pain and possibly the early stages of arthritis. Considering the traffic in Gurugram, I am thinking of switching to an automatic transmission, but I am unsure whether the Taigun’s DSG gearbox would be a reliable option for long-term ownership. What would you suggest? I do not want to upgrade to a higher segment, but I also do not want to compromise on the level of performance I currently enjoy.

•20h

Given your knee pain and Gurugram traffic, moving to an automatic is the right decision. The Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG is a fantastic driver's car, but the DSG gearbox is not the most stress-free ownership proposition in the long term, especially in heavy stop-start traffic. If you want to stay in the same segment and not compromise on performance, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the 8-speed torque converter automatic is the best option. The 1.0 litre TSI engine will not be as peppy as your 1.5 litre Taigun, but for everyday traffic it is surprisingly good and lively enough driven at everyday speeds. You will not lose any performance in the city and the torque converter gearbox is far more robust, smoother and better suited to city traffic. It is also a genuinely enjoyable car to drive, so you are not giving up the driving experience you enjoy. If you want to save some money, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI with the same torque converter automatic is also worth considering. It is essentially the same mechanical package in a slightly smaller and more affordable body. The key point is that the torque converter automatic is the right solution for your knee and your city usage, and you do not have to compromise on performance to get it.

Hi team, I want to purchase a new car mainly for city use with 55 km daily running and highway driving very occasionally. I want a hassle free car for which I am considering Kushaq facelift classic plus model with post market modification, the new Sierra petrol model, Toyota Hyryder strong hybrid or Honda Elevate in a budget of 15 to 18 lakh. Please suggest.

•3d

We would recommend the Honda Elevate as it suits you best within your budget. In the city it is very smooth, quiet, and easy to drive, and the CVT transmission needs no effort in stop-go traffic. Steering is light, the ride handles bad roads well, and Honda's service network and long-term reliability are strong, which takes worry out of ownership. For your rare highway trips it cruises calmly, and the braking and high speed stability are reassuring. Also, the four cylinder engine is more powerful than the Kushaq and in the VX trim, you get the essential kit like parking camera with sensors, LED headlamps, powered tailgate and a single-pane sunroof among others.

Honda Elevate

Skoda Kushaq

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•5d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•5d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

•1w

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•6d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

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