Mumbai

Viji narayanan

•1w

I am looking for an SUV under ₹20 lakh. I love driving and live on a farm. I currently drive a Renault Kwid and cover around 10,000 km a year. Which car would you suggest?

Autocar India

•7m

Since you already own a Renault, the new Duster would be a great pick. With mostly rural roads, about 10,000 km a year and a Rs 20 lakh cap, you can opt for the Duster 1.3 turbo-petrol with either the manual or the DCT, depending on your preference.

The 1.3 petrol feels strong and punchy once you get past the initial turbo lag, and the DCT is almost torque-converter smooth. The manual has a satisfying clutch and shifter action, though turbo lag feels slightly more pronounced with this gearbox. It stays steady at speed and the steering gives good confidence, so it will feel like a big step up from your Kwid. Ground clearance is good and the suspension handles broken patches well, so you won’t have to slow to a crawl for every rut, yet it still feels tight and enjoyable on a twisty road.

Two things to note: it is not a true off-roader, so avoid deep slush and very uneven fields; and Renault’s dealer reach in smaller towns can be limited. Since you already own one, though, that should not be a major concern.

If your routes are very rough and you often need to go into fields, look at the Mahindra Scorpio N instead. It is tougher and sits higher, but it is not as nice to drive on smooth roads as the Duster.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

Scorpio N

from ₹15.90 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.43 Lakh

Renault

Kwid

from ₹5.12 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Zain

•3d

I love the Scorpio and want to buy one. However, the only concern I have is its mileage. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•2d

Please keep in mind that any large, heavy, body-on-frame SUV will consume more fuel than a small car. You could consider the Mahindra Scorpio N diesel 4x2 version, with a manual gearbox. This is likely to be the most fuel-efficient version in the range. It uses less fuel than the petrol, automatic, and 4x4 variants, while still delivering strong performance in both city and highway driving.To maximise fuel efficiency, drive with a light throttle, use the correct gear, maintain the recommended tyre pressures, and keep a steady speed on open roads.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Bibek Kumar Patro

•2d

I want to buy a petrol car under 20lac. Please suggest to me a few cars which have a 5-star safety rating, a powerful engine, and good mileage.

Autocar India

•2h

For under Rs. 20 lakh, petrol, a strong engine, and a 5-star crash rating, the Renault Duster would be a good option. The 1.3 litre turbo coupled with the automatic is a fun car to drive. The powertrain is quick, and the Duster feels nice and lively to drive, even when driven in a regular manner efficiency is decent too. As an option, consider the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 petrol. It too has a 5-star crash test rating, the 1.0 turbo feels quick enough and returns a good fuel efficiency too. Like the Duster, the Kushaq is also a fun-to-drive car.

Skoda Kushaq

Renault Duster

Rahul Rajbhoj

•1w

My weekday driving is around 120 km in the city, with occasional highway trips of 20-50 km. My budget is ₹10-17 lakh. I do not like naturally aspirated engines and am worried about DPF-related issues if I go for a diesel, even though I liked the Seltos Diesel AT. The Kylaq and Duster felt a little cramped to me. My priorities are safety, good ergonomics, and a fun-to-drive experience. Please suggest a good car. I am 6 feet tall.

Autocar India

•1d

With a long city commute, some short highway runs, a Rs.10-17 lakh cap and a clear dislike for non‑turbo motors, the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo petrol automatic suits you best. It gives you the strong low‑speed pull you want without any diesel DPF worries in stop‑go traffic. The front seats, steering reach and height make it easy for a 6‑foot driver to get comfy, and the cabin feels roomier than the Kylaq and Duster you found tight. It is also one of the nicer cars to drive in this price range, with direct steering and a calm, stable feel at speed, and it packs the safety features you’d expect.One thing to note: the DCT can hesitate a bit at slow speed. If that is an issue then consider the Sierra turbo petrol AT. It is also one of the roomiest in class so you should find it comfortable. Overall for your needs, the Seltos is a good fit.

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Popular discussions right now

Soumith Uppu

•4d

I am looking for a family car and am currently confused between the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT, Maruti Fronx Delta Plus AMT, and Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT. Could you please help me choose the best option?

Autocar India

•3d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

AVINASH PARWANI

I have booked the Kia Seltos turbo DCT. My monthly running is around 900 km, mostly in Chennai traffic. Should I wait for the hybrid version? Is it expected soon? Also, how much price difference can be expected between the turbo-petrol and the hybrid?

Autocar India

•3d

The Kia Seltos hybrid, as well as the new-generation Hyundai Creta with the hybrid tech, are both expected to arrive next year. If you can wait until then, it would be better to do so, as the hybrid would be far more fuel-efficient. As for the price difference, it's hard to pinpoint right now, but expect to pay about Rs. 50,000 extra over a turbo-petrol automatic.Thus, if the wait time and the premium are not ok with you, stick with the Kia Seltos. However, given that you are mostly driving in traffic, remember that a turbo petrol would not be very efficient, and for heavy, slow traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant at crawling speeds and can run warm in long jams. The Seltos with the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol with CVT is better suited to your use, as its smoother in the city, would be more fuel-efficient and would potentially be more reliable too.

Kia Seltos

Manik Walia

•1w

I want to buy a sedan. My usage will be approximately 25% city driving and 75% highway driving. My priorities are a fun-to-drive experience, good handling, strong highway stability, rear-seat comfort, and solid build quality. My budget is around ₹18-20 lakh.

Autocar India

•19h

With 75% highway use and a Rs. 18-20 lakh cap, the Volkswagen Virtus with the 1.0 turbo petrol with the manual is the best fit. It feels quick when you press the throttle, so quick passes on the highway are easy, and it stays very steady at speed with a nice, weighty steering, which makes long drives calmer. The rear seat is wide with good legroom and a well-angled backrest, so two adults will be comfortable for hours. It also feels solid inside and out, and its crash test score is strong, which matches your build quality ask.A couple of things to note: at low speeds, the ride can feel a bit firm over sharp bumps, and Volkswagen’s service reach is smaller than Maruti or Hyundai in smaller towns, so check your nearest workshop.If you want the same driving feel but a slightly richer cabin vibe, look at the Skoda Slavia with the same 1.0 turbo. It shares the core strengths of highway stability and safety, and some find its seats a touch softer.For your brief, the Virtus 1.0 manual lines up best. However, do note that a facelift is expected later this year.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

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Posted on: 17 May 2026

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I am looking for an SUV under ₹20 lakh. I love driving and live on a farm. I currently drive a Renault Kwid and cover around 10,000 km a year. Which car would you suggest?

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I am looking for an SUV under ₹20 lakh. I love driving and live on a farm. I currently drive a Renault Kwid and cover around 10,000 km a year. Which car would you suggest?

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