Delhi

•32w

I am a 26-year-old engineer, thinking of buying my first car. My monthly salary is around ₹90k-1 lakh. My budget is around ₹16-17 lakh max. My travel will be 30+ km daily, and on weekends I will be travelling up to 500 km on average. I am looking for an automatic car with a good safety rating and low maintenance. I was thinking of the Tata Curvv Creative Plus S model, which has a 360-degree camera as well as a sunroof, along with good safety, and I like the coupe design especially. But do let me know if the Tata Curvv is the perfect choice for me, or if I should consider another car as well. Also, I am confused about whether to opt for a petrol automatic or a diesel. If I opt for diesel, I will have to pay more but will get better mileage, so do let me know your thoughts as well.

•32w

If you like the Tata Curvv and its design, you should opt for it. It has secured a 5-star crash test rating from Bharat NCAP and is equipped with all the necessary safety kit. Given your usage, the extra outlay for the diesel automatic does not seem worth it, and the turbo petrol engine should feel like a good mix of performance and fuel economy for you.

Downsides of the Curvv, however, are a DCT gearbox that can be jerky at low speeds, limited rear-seat space and poor cabin ergonomics. Plus, it has been known to suffer software glitches, and Tata's service quality is reportedly not as good as some other brands.

Another option you could consider is the new Renault Duster. Its boxy shape may not be anything like the low-slung Curvv's, but it is quite appealing in its own right, and its 1.3 turbo petrol engine and DCT combination is a good mix of smoothness and performance.

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Renault

Duster

from ₹12.17 Lakh

Tata

Curvv

from ₹11.16 Lakh

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•1d

I am planning to buy the first car for our family, with a budget of Rs 20-25 lakh. After researching and test-driving several cars, including the Renault Duster 1.3 turbo manual, Nissan Tekton 1.3 manual and AMT, Volkswagen Taigun 1.5, Skoda Kushaq 1.5 and 1.0, Tata Sierra diesel manual and AMT, and Mahindra XUV 3XO, I have narrowed down my choices. I mostly prefer a top-end manual variant. I am now confused between the Nissan Tekton 1.3 manual, Renault Duster 1.3 manual, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq 1.0 and 1.5. My priorities are performance, safety, rear passenger comfort and an engaging driving experience. Which car would you recommend from these options? If there are any other cars in this segment that I should consider, please let me know.

•1d

Out of the cars you have mentioned, the Renault Duster 1.3 with a manual gearbox would be our suggestion. The 163hp engine has good punch, and while the third gear is rather tall, other factors like ride and handling make it a much better car to drive. The Nissan Tekton features the same setup with a different design, so between the two it boils down to design preference and proximity of a dealership. Both Renault and Nissan cars offer limited touchpoints, so ensure there is a dealership near you. Within your budget, the Duster in its top-spec guise will fit right in, and it also offers a good amount of equipment. The suspension and ride comfort are segment best, and the steering has good consistency to make it fun around corners. The VW and Skoda cars mentioned above fall short in ride comfort compared to the Duster and Tekton.

Renault Duster

Nissan Tekton

•4d

Hi, I’m planning to buy a new car, and it will be the first car in our family. I’m looking for safety, a strong and refined engine, and good comfort for rear-seat passengers, since my family members are about 5 ft 5 in tall on average. After multiple test drives, I’m confused between the Nissan Tekton 1.3 manual, the Renault Duster 1.3 manual, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 and 1.0, and the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 and 1.0. I’m mainly looking at the top-end variants. Which one would you suggest? If none of these, which car should I consider?

•1d

If you prefer a manual gearbox and are looking for strong performance, we would suggest choosing between the Nissan Tekton 1.3 turbo manual and the Renault Duster 1.3 turbo manual. These more powerful engine options are available with a manual gearbox, unlike the 1.5 TSI versions of the Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, which are offered only with a DSG automatic. The 1.0 TSI manual versions of the Kushaq and Taigun are good enough for everyday use, but they won't offer the same performance as the 1.3 turbo engines.Both the Tekton and Duster are also enjoyable to drive and offer a comfortable ride. Given your family's average height of around 5.5ft, rear seat space in either car should be adequate. Between the two, the decision would largely come down to which brand, styling and overall cabin experience you prefer.

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 ?

•3d

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.

Renault Duster

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

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•6d

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.

•4d

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.

Kia Seltos

•6d

Which SUV would you pick for a family of 5?

•5d

I’m planning to buy a new car, and my annual running is around 40,000km, primarily involving highway drives and ghat sections. I have shortlisted the Kia Seltos Diesel HTX and the upcoming facelifted Toyota Innova Hycross ZX. I’m considering two approaches: either buy the Innova Hycross and keep it for the next 10 years, given its reputation for longevity and the expectation that its engine can last at least 4 lakh kilometres, or buy the Seltos, drive it for around 2 lakh kilometres over 4–5 years, sell it and upgrade to a brand-new Seltos or another car of a similar price and size. On paper, the Innova Hycross Hybrid seems like the better choice, considering its long-term reliability and features such as the Ottoman reclining seats. However, I’m concerned that I might get bored of it after four years or that it may start feeling outdated as newer technologies and features enter the market. This makes the second option appealing, as it would allow me to upgrade to a brand-new car every 4–5 years. Which approach would make more sense in the long run, considering my high annual running and ownership costs?

•5d

It seems like you're leaning towards the Kia Seltos Diesel HTX, and we think it is a good choice. The diesel engine feels adequately powered for highway usage and ghat driving, and it is likely to return respectable efficiency too. Moreover, despite being modern with all the latest tech and features, the Seltos will be substantially more affordable than the Toyota Innova Hycross hybrid. So unless you need the Innova's extra space, or you frequently travel with six or seven passengers, the Kia Seltos diesel is your best bet.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Innova HyCross

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