Hi Team, confused between the Duster 1.3 Turbo and the Seltos 1.5 Turbo Petrol. Which one should I prefer if my priority is an enjoyable driving experience along with comfort for passengers?

Autocar India

•19h

With a 40km daily commute, fuel efficiency, refinement and ease of ownership become more important than outright performance. The naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol in the Kia Seltos is smoother in stop-start traffic, easier to drive and should return better real-world fuel economy than the Duster's 1.3-litre turbo-petrol.The Renault Duster's strengths lie elsewhere. It feels tougher, rides better on poor roads and has a more robust SUV character. The 1.3 turbo-petrol also delivers noticeably stronger mid-range performance, making it the more enjoyable car on highways. However, turbo-petrol engines generally reward a lighter right foot and tend to consume more fuel when driven enthusiastically.For weekend family trips, the Seltos also scores highly with its spacious cabin, feature-rich interior and overall refinement. The HTX trim offers a strong equipment list without stretching the budget, and the Seltos remains one of the most rounded family SUVs in the segment.

Kia Seltos

Renault Duster

Autocar India

•1d

If your biggest complaint with the MG Astor CVT is performance, then we would look at something with a proper turbo petrol engine and a stronger automatic gearbox.Our first recommendation would be the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT. The turbo petrol engine is genuinely punchy, the wet clutch DCT is smoother and better suited to Bangalore traffic than many dry clutch DCTs, and the car has an excellent balance of ride comfort and handling. The only real drawback is that the rear seat is not as spacious as some rivals.Another excellent option is the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG or the mechanically similar Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG. The 1.5 TSI is one of the most enjoyable petrol engines in the segment and will feel like a huge step up from the Astor. If outright driving enjoyment is your priority, these are among the best options available. The caveat is that the dry clutch DSG is not as naturally happy in heavy stop go traffic as the Renault's wet clutch setup.

Renault Duster

Volkswagen Taigun

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•43m

Yes, that combination actually makes a lot of sense if the roles are clearly defined. For the Seltos, the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol is perfectly adequate if it is going to be your city car. It is smooth, refined, easy to drive in traffic and ownership costs are reasonable. You do not really need the turbo petrol if the car's primary duty is urban commuting. The NA petrol may not feel particularly exciting, but for city use it will feel relaxed and effortless. Even in its lower variants, the Seltos is surprisingly well equipped, so it does not feel bare bones.As for the Thar 3-door, if it is purely a weekend fun vehicle, the base model can make sense from a value perspective. However, it is worth remembering that the Rs. 9.99 lakh ex-showroom variant is a 4x2 model, so you do not get the full off-road capability that most people associate with the Thar. If your idea of enjoyment is primarily the lifestyle, road presence and occasional beach or trail drives, it will still do the job. However, if you genuinely want to explore tougher trails and off-road terrain, it is worth stretching to a 4x4 variant.

Mahindra Thar

Kia Seltos