Delhi

•2d

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?

•21m

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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•3m•

I will suggest you have double check on Either Khushaq or Taigun as well . Do the test ride in city and highway . And then decided accordingly. PS : Creta facelift is coming soon .

More posts on similar cars

•1d

I’m looking for a car mainly for my parents. It will be driven by both me and a driver. I’m deciding between the Honda Elevate V CVT (Rs 16.5 lakh) and the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT Evolution (Rs 17.5 lakh). I’ve ruled out the VW-Skoda twins (Taigun and Kushaq) because their rear seat backrest angle isn’t comfortable at all. I enjoy driving enthusiastically, but I’m also giving some importance to rear-seat comfort (if the difference is marginal, it can be ignored). Please help me choose, or suggest any other car that suits this category. My maximum on-road budget is Rs 18 lakh.

•4h

Go for the Honda Elevate V CVT. Since the car will primarily be used by your parents and rear seat comfort matters, the Elevate makes more sense. It offers generous legroom and headroom and is comfortable for two adults in the back. The Duster has a stronger turbo petrol engine and a more engaging performance character, but rear seat space is one of its weaker areas. The Elevate’s naturally aspirated engine and CVT won’t be as exciting when driven enthusiastically, but its predictable handling and smooth gearbox make it easy to live with.

Honda Elevate

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•21h

Hi Autocar, I’m unable to decide between the Renault Duster 1.3 petrol DCT Iconic and the Duster Hybrid Emotion. While I like what the hybrid has to offer, the current discounts on the petrol variant put the on-road price difference at close to Rs 3 lakh, which makes me question whether the hybrid’s additional upfront cost will ever pay off. My usage would be around 60 percent highway and 40 percent city, and I expect to drive about 7,000 km a year. Beyond the pure price equation, is there anything about the hybrid that should make me consider it?

•7h

With your annual running of just 7,000km, the Duster Hybrid's extra Rs 3 lakh is unlikely to be recovered through fuel savings alone. However, the hybrid does have a significant advantage in city driving: based on our tests, the real-world fuel efficiency difference between the 1.3 turbo petrol DCT and the hybrid can be around 10kpl in the city. That is a substantial gap, especially if a third to two-fifths of your driving is in town.The hybrid also has advantages beyond economy. Its 160hp powertrain is more powerful and refined, delivering strong acceleration while keeping the ride and handling excellent. It's also a good highway cruiser, so you're not sacrificing performance for better mileage.However, because you cover 60 per cent of your distance on highways, the fuel saving will be smaller than it would be for someone who drives mainly in the city. The petrol DCT is also significantly more efficient on the highway than in town, returning 13.47kpl in our test, but its overall tested average was 10.47kpl.If you value the hybrid's refinement, performance and city efficiency, it is worth considering. But at just 7,000km a year, the Rs 3 lakh premium is difficult to justify on fuel savings alone.

Renault Duster

•1d

I am using a 2019 Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol Manual NA and am happy with this car. I am planning to change the car. I am considering buying the Duster hybrid now and am also considering waiting for Seltos/Creta hybrid by the end of 2027. We are a family of 3 so the current Seltos is perfect. I use an HTK variant as we are not into extra features. I am a driving enthusiast and have an inherent passion for fast acceleration, perfect handling and highly engaging car that is also easy to maintain and extremely reliable over a period of 7-years. What should I do? I also have a garage limitation of 1700mm height for any car.

•1d

Since the Renault Duster hybrid is already on sale, it deserves a serious test drive before you decide whether to replace your Seltos or wait for the next generation of Seltos or Creta hybrid. For a driving enthusiast, the Duster hybrid is an unusually appealing option. In our review, its 160hp powertrain delivered strong acceleration, while the steering, high speed stability and ride comfort impressed us. We also saw 16.9kpl in city driving. The main compromise is practicality. The Duster hybrid's rear seat is less spacious than the Seltos, and its boot shrinks to 372 litres because of the battery. Since you are a family of three and already find the Seltos' space ideal, check whether these compromises matter to you.

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Is ADAS worth paying extra for in a car?

Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•5d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

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•3d

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?

•3d

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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•3d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

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