Which car to buy, Jimmy or Skoda Kushaq? I live in Manali and want to have some luxury too.

Autocar India

•10m

The choice of model depends on your usage. If you go for trips outside Manali and need off-road ability, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny is the right pick for you. It is a superb off-roader and will let you explore trails around Manali. The 4x4 capability will also come very handy in the rain when it tends to get slushy and in the winter when you'll have snow to deal with. The Jimny's narrow width also makes it manageable on tight, hilly roads. On the flipside, the turning circle is large, so you'll need to put in more effort on narrow winding roads. What also works against the Jimny is its engine's performance. It lacks punch and can feel frustratingly underpowered.

If you don't intend to use your vehicle for off-road adventures and will only use your car in fair weather, the Skoda Kushaq is easily the better everyday choice in terms of performance, comfort and features. Its turbocharged 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines deliver punchy performance, which you will appreciate on hilly roads. The Kushaq is also significantly roomier than the Jimny.

Do note, the Jimny is a four-seater while the Kushaq can accommodate five passengers in reasonable comfort. The Kushaq also packs in more features and technology, giving it a more premium feel.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Jimny

from ₹14.56 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.66 Lakh

Got a suggestion for Pradyuman?

Add a Comment

More questions on similar cars

Shruti

•3d

Which of the following is the best option, considering mainly city driving, daily 30km, once-a-month highway drives, and a family of four: Skoda Kylaq, Venue, Citroen Basalt, Maruti Jimny, and Kia Sonet.

Autocar India

•2d

For your usage of mainly city driving (30km daily) with occasional highway trips and a family of four, we would suggest going for the Skoda Kylaq.The Kylaq offers a comfortable ride, a spacious cabin for four adults, and the torque converter automatic is smooth, which makes it very easy to drive in city traffic. It is also compact enough, so parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces won’t be an issue. On highways, too, it feels stable and enjoyable to drive.The Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue are good options for the city as well, but both use a DCT automatic, which is not as smooth at low speeds as a torque converter, especially in stop-and-go traffic.The Citroen Basalt is actually great value for money and offers excellent cabin space, making it very comfortable for a family. However, it is a larger car, so it won’t be as easy to park and manoeuvre in the city. If you prioritise space and comfort over ease of driving, it is definitely worth considering.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is not suitable for your needs. It is primarily an off-roader, has heavier steering, and is not as easy to drive in the city. The ride is also bouncy, and overall, practicality is limited for family use.

Rohan Chakraborty

Hey Autocar team, I probably posted this question before, but could not find it, so I am asking again. I am a 26-year-old, 5'8" guy with a budget between ₹13-16 lakh looking for a new car. I have been driving for the last 8 years, multiple cars, including the Tata Vista 1.2L diesel, the i10 Nios 4-cylinder petrol AMT, and the Syros (recently) in the family, and I am now looking for my first car to own. I am inclined towards cars with good handling, a peppy engine, predictable steering, supportive seats, decent fuel efficiency, and a strong AC. Fancy features like a sunroof, cooled storage, and a 360-degree camera are not my requirements. I had shortlisted the Kylaq Signature manual and the XUV 3XO GDI MT, but with the new Duster and the updated Kushaq in the mix, I am confused again. I haven’t tested these new cars yet, but I wanted to know if the Duster is as good in handling and dynamics as the Kylaq and 3XO, and whether the Kushaq’s issues with the back seat and AC have been resolved, along with the new 8-speed Aisin AT. My monthly running is around 1,000 km, with 60% in the city. Any other suggestions are also appreciated. Could you please help?

Autocar India

•1h

We'd trim the shortlist to the Skoda Kushaq and Renault Duster. The Skoda Kushaq remains fun to drive as before, but 2026's updates have enhanced the package. The 8-speed Aisin automatic transmission delivers power in a smoother manner without losing the sporty nature of the old 6-speed unit. Skoda has also upgraded the AC, and the cooling performance is significantly better than before. It's no longer a deal breaker. A rear seat massage function has been introduced on higher-spec versions, but aside from this, there haven't been any changes to seating at the back. Legroom and headroom are decent, but the cabin isn't the widest, so the rear seat continues to be best for two passengers. The new Renault Duster drives fantastically. Handling is neat, there's a great feel at the steering and body control is really good. We have yet to experience the 1.0-litre engine, but the 160hp, 1.3-litre unit is very enjoyable. It's punchy and great fun when paired with the manual gearbox. On our first drive experience, we were satisfied with the cooling performance, too. Rear seat comfort is decent but not class best.

Renault Duster

Skoda Kushaq

NITHISH

•1d

I am confused between the new Skoda Kushaq MT base model and the Seltos base model MT. Both come in a similar price bracket. Usage: Family, occasional driving, hardly 3 to 5k km in a year, as I already have one daily driving car. The Alto K10 was driven 22k km in 8 years, so the old car will remain. We are not selling it. The new car will be used on occasion. Road conditions: Mostly bad roads, rarely good roads.

Autocar India

•22h

Go for the Skoda Kushaq Active 1.0 TSI MT. Since you are going in for the base models, you will find the Kushaq a little better equipped with features like automatic climate control versus a manual AC on the Kia Seltos, rain-sensing wipers, rear defogger and a rear washer and wiper.Also, for your 3-5k km a year on bad roads, it delivers a sturdier suspension, and the 1.0 TSI engine delivers a more than adequate level of performance. The one thing you give up is boot volume: Kushaq’s 385 litres versus Seltos’ 433 litres. However, the Kushaq boot is well-shaped, and you can easily get 6 cabin bags inside, which should be more than enough for your occasional family drives.

Skoda Kushaq

Kia Seltos

View all Posts