I currently drive a 2022 Tata Nexon XZ+ (HS) petrol manual and want to upgrade to a manual car that feels like an enthusiast’s car with great throttle response and engaging driving dynamics, since I find the Nexon’s response laggy. My budget is around ₹20 lakh. I have shortlisted the VW Virtus GT 1.5 and the Skoda Kushaq. Are there any other manual cars I should consider?

Asked by: Koustubh

Since you want to upgrade from your Tata Nexon to a fun-to-drive manual car, you should consider the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI MT. The Taigun is one of the best handling midsize SUVs, and its 150hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol is one of the punchiest around.

You could also consider the Skoda Kushaq or the Skoda Slavia/Volkswagen Virtus, but none of those get a manual gearbox option with the 1.5 TSI engine - only a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Volkswagen Taigun

Volkswagen Taigun

Answered by

Autocar India Team

Dec 10, 2025

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