Delhi

•1d

Planning to buy my first car in 2027 with budget of ~20L? But really confused with buying EV or Hybrid. especially after Renault duster hybrid. Living in Chennai. My daily commute to office around 30KM a day and occasional round trip to my home town will be 1000 kms. Please clarify which one to go and what are the upcoming Hybrid launches planned in India for 2027 ?

•3m

For your usage, we would lean towards a strong hybrid rather than an electric car, especially since you occasionally undertake 1,000km round trips. Your daily commute of around 30km in Chennai is well suited to an EV, but the longer highway journeys would require charging stops and some route planning. A strong hybrid car offers the convenience of a conventional petrol car while delivering better fuel efficiency, particularly in city traffic.

The Renault Duster Hybrid is worth considering, but since you are buying only in 2027, we would also wait for the expected Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos hybrid versions. Our recommendation would be to wait and see how the hybrid options shape up in 2027.

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•1d

My budget is around Rs 20 lakh, and I’m based in Bangalore. The car will be used for a mix of city and highway driving, with an approximate usage split of 60:40. Since this will be my first car, my priorities, in order, are comfort, long-term reliability, driving dynamics and overall cost of ownership, including fuel efficiency and maintenance. My current shortlist includes the Renault Duster Hybrid, Honda Elevate CVT and Kia Seltos IVT. Which of these would be the best choice for my requirements?

778

•1d

Considering your requirements, the Renault Duster hybrid will be a good choice for you. The hybrid Duster is the most powerful car against its rivals and is genuinely impressive to drive and handle. The new Duster also gets FDD (Frequency Dependent Dampers) that improve ride and handling. What also works well is the multi-mode gearbox that gives it smooth performance in the city and stable and refined driving on the highway. Being a strong hybrid, its efficiency is also much better in comparison to the Honda Elevate and the Kia Seltos. The Duster also has a 7 year warranty for the car and an 8 year warranty for the battery adding peace of mind. The only downside maybe Renaults service network which isn't as established as Honda or Kia. However, if there is a showroom near you, this should not be a problem.

•5d

I'm looking for a compact SUV that feels well-built and is enjoyable to drive. My driving is split roughly 60:40 between the city and highways in Bengaluru. I was considering the Tata Sierra and Hyundai Creta EV, but after multiple test drives, I realised the Sierra is too boxy for my taste and the Creta EV is too expensive. I hadn't seriously considered the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun before, but I really enjoyed driving them. They feel superbly built, do the basics of being a car very well and put a smile on your face while doing so. However, they lack auto-hold and consume a lot of petrol. I recently moved back to India, and this will be our first car. I hadn't given much thought to range until recently. I've already booked the Renault Duster hybrid without a proper test drive, but I want to test-drive the Duster 1.3-litre DCT and the Kushaq/Taigun 1.5-litre DSG versions as well. I expect to get a chance to test-drive the Duster hybrid in about a week or 10 days. What would your advice be at this stage?

254

•2d

With your requirements, the Renault Duster Hybrid would be the ideal choice against the Volkswagen and the Skoda. The Duster is enjoyable to drive, and its hybrid powertrain also offers good fuel efficiency. Since 60% of your driving is in the city, the Duster Hybrid would be idealIt isn't a typical hybrid with a CVT that can whine when you accelerate on the highway. Instead, it has a proper gearbox that feels a lot more adept at triple-digit speeds, making highway drives more enjoyable. Boot space is also quite good for a hybrid, so there isn't much of a compromise in practicality. You miss out on things like a spare wheel as standard and a 360-degree camera, but otherwise, the cabin is well equipped.Back seat space is not exactly class best, but cushioning and support from the seats are rather good. The only other issue might be after-sales service. Check where Renault dealerships are in your area and if it's not a problem then the Duster would be the ideal choice to get for your requirements.

•5d

I live in Bangalore and currently, I own a 2008 Swift Dzire. Now, I am looking for a mid-size SUV (around 4.3 m in length due to home parking constraints) under a budget of Rs. 18-20 lakh (+/- Rs. 2 lakh). I cannot opt for an EV or diesel due to my low usage and I cannot opt for a petrol-CNG hybrid, as I feel it is more suited for cabs and then, I will have to wait in very long lines at filling stations since I have observed around 30 cars in queue near my area. I am worried about the uncertainty around ethanol-blending issues, and low mileage of 1.5 litre engine. Petrol-electric hybrid cars are slightly over my budget. I have another year to finalise my new car, which may be my last car purchase, if all goes well. I am not interested in fancy ADAS features. I am confused between Hyryder Hybrid and Creta NA petrol engine. The car will be mostly used for outstation trips. Are there any other cars that you would recommend?

258

•2d

Since diesel, EV and CNG are out of contention, a petrol-hybrid actually gives you the best of what you need. The new Renault Duster Hybrid is an ideal choice given your requirements and your budget. It gets a 1.8 L engine that is mated to a battery pack, making it a strong hybrid with very strong efficiency. It is also around 4.3 m in length.It's also a good-looking car with a lot of ground clearance so bad roads will definitely not worry it. Also, despite being a hybrid boot space is actually usable. For your outstation trips you're not going to struggle too much.Between all the options the Duster Hybrid is the best choice. The starting price is Rs. 17 lakhs but given your budget that can stretch slightly above 20 lakhs. You can actually opt for the top spec model as well. It gets a good amount of kit but it does not get ADAS, which you anyways don't want. The only thing that you would find missing is a spare wheel and a 360° camera. You can get the spare wheel as an optional extra and there is space under the boot floor to store that as well.All things considered I think the Duster Hybrid would be a good choice for you.

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•2d

I am planning to buy the top-end Hyundai Creta Turbo Petrol DCT variant. My daily running is around 50–100km, which adds up to approximately 25,000–30,000km annually. I am looking for a car that offers strong performance and quick acceleration, along with a comprehensive set of comfort and convenience features. Should I buy the current Creta Turbo Petrol DCT top variant or wait for the 2027 Creta? For context, I currently own a 2024 Maruti Suzuki Dzire Hybrid and a Volkswagen Virtus GT 1.5 TSI.

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•1d

The 2027 Hyundai New Creta will be thoroughly updated inside-out, and it'll have more tech and features. If you don't mind waiting, it makes sense to get the 2027 new-gen model. Do note, its powertrain options are likely to be carried forward from the current version. If you can't wait, but still want the performance as well as the latest in terms of tech and features, consider the Kia Seltos turbo-dct instead, which packs in more or less everything the next-gen Creta is likely to offer.

•6d

Hi, I am planning to buy a sedan and am confused between the Volkswagen Virtus 1.5 DSG GT Chrome for Rs 21.5 lakh (June-manufactured, due for delivery in November) and the facelifted Skoda Slavia Prestige 1.5 for Rs 22.70 lakh. Is it worth paying extra for the Slavia, or should I go with the Virtus?

3.9k

•5d

If you're set on the 1.5 TSI engine, the Volkswagen Virtus GT Chrome at Rs 21.5 lakh makes more sense if savings matter, while the facelifted Skoda Slavia Prestige is worth the extra Rs 1.2 lakh if you want its additional features. Unlike the 1.0 TSI versions, where the Slavia's new eight-speed torque converter automatic is a meaningful mechanical change from the older six-speed automatic, the 1.5 TSI versions retain the same basic engine and seven-speed DSG combination. So you're not paying extra for a different powertrain.The Slavia Prestige adds meaningful equipment, including a 360-degree camera, larger digital displays, ventilated and electrically adjustable front seats, and a rear-seat massage function. It also gets improved air-conditioning hardware. These are useful additions, particularly if you plan to keep the car for several years.

•6d

I am planning to buy either Kia Seltos HTX ivt or Tata Sierra EV empowered 75. Since there is concern on petrol availability/pricing and ethanol blending in the future, which option would be better for our monthly usage of around 500km within the city which will also include 2 trips outside the city every year. If I take Seltos, I am concerned about its resale value in 5 to 10 years and more for an EV as it is more expensive as compared to Deltos and its infrastructure problems. What do you suggest?

1.3k

•6d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. Your usage pattern of around 500km a month in the city with only two outstation trips a year does not justify the premium of the Tata Sierra EV Empowered 75. The Seltos IVT is a smooth, refined and reliable petrol automatic that will handle your city driving effortlessly, and Kia’s service network and ownership experience are strong. Concerns about petrol availability and ethanol blending are largely overblown - E20-compliant engines are designed to handle the fuel, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage. The Sierra EV is a very impressive product with a premium cabin and strong range, but it is significantly more expensive and you will not recover that premium through fuel savings at your level of usage. The Seltos is the more sensible and cost-effective choice for your requirements.

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