I have loved manual-transmission cars since childhood. I grew up watching people drive manual cars, and my love for cars and driving has only grown over the years. However, people keep telling me that driving a manual car in heavy city traffic can be difficult and tiring. I genuinely enjoy driving and feel that a manual car gives me a more engaging driving experience. So, what should I do? Should I accept the realities of heavy city traffic and buy an automatic, or should I follow my heart, buy a manual sedan and accept the inconvenience of driving a manual in heavy traffic? I am currently considering the Skoda Slavia 1.0 MT. Does it make sense to choose the manual given my love for driving, or would an automatic be more practical for city use?

autocar.india

•36m

Both the Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are mechanically identical, so you get the same strong 1.5 TSI engine, the same DSG gearbox and the same excellent highway stability. The differences are purely cosmetic. The 2026 Slavia will be launched soon, and we'd recommend you to consider it simply because it comes with an upgraded air-con unit which is more powerful and more effective than the outgoing unit - something you will appreciate in the summer. The Virtus with the same updates will follow a few months later.

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

autocar.india

•5h

With a budget of Rs 25 lakh and a monthly running of just 350- 400 km, petrol is the clear recommendation. At this usage level, the cost savings from diesel simply will not materialise, and petrol engines are quieter, smoother and generally easier to live with in the long term. As for transmission, go for an automatic. Modern automatics are smooth, stress-free in traffic and make everyday driving far more comfortable, especially in city conditions.Now, on the car itself. At Rs 25 lakh, a strong recommendation would be the new Skoda Kushaq, which has just been refreshed. It gets a lot more features, like ventilated seats in the front, a panoramic sunroof, massage seats in the back, and a decent amount of room as well.However, it is also very nice to drive, and since your priorities are performance, it will definitely do the job perfectly for you. Driving between cities and on highways, it is extremely stable. It is light and convenient in the city, and it is planted on the highway. The 1.5-litre TSI engine is the one we recommend, which blends performance and refinement. In your budget, you can get the top-spec Monte Carlo trim that comes loaded with all the bells and whistles and still save a good amount of money. However, if you want an even bigger car with a lot more power and three rows of seating, then the Mahindra XUV700 in its AX7 guise is a good consideration. It comes with a more powerful engine, a lot more features, and a lot more space as well. If you don't mind a large car, then that is a good choice, but if you want to stick to the compact dimensions, then the Kushaq is a preferred option.

Skoda Kushaq