Mumbai

•4d

I own a 2022 Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 GT MT and have driven around 56,000 km. Recently, I have been experiencing knee pain and possibly the early stages of arthritis. Considering the traffic in Gurugram, I am thinking of switching to an automatic transmission, but I am unsure whether the Taigun’s DSG gearbox would be a reliable option for long-term ownership. What would you suggest? I do not want to upgrade to a higher segment, but I also do not want to compromise on the level of performance I currently enjoy.

•5m

Given your knee pain and Gurugram traffic, moving to an automatic is the right decision. The Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG is a fantastic driver's car, but the DSG gearbox is not the most stress-free ownership proposition in the long term, especially in heavy stop-start traffic.

If you want to stay in the same segment and not compromise on performance, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the 8-speed torque converter automatic is the best option. The 1.0 litre TSI engine will not be as peppy as your 1.5 litre Taigun, but for everyday traffic it is surprisingly good and lively enough driven at everyday speeds. You will not lose any performance in the city and the torque converter gearbox is far more robust, smoother and better suited to city traffic. It is also a genuinely enjoyable car to drive, so you are not giving up the driving experience you enjoy.

If you want to save some money, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI with the same torque converter automatic is also worth considering. It is essentially the same mechanical package in a slightly smaller and more affordable body. The key point is that the torque converter automatic is the right solution for your knee and your city usage, and you do not have to compromise on performance to get it.

Explore cars mentioned

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.62 Lakh

Skoda

Kylaq

from ₹8.77 Lakh

Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹12.98 Lakh

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•19w

Hi team, I want to purchase a new car mainly for city use with 55 km daily running and highway driving very occasionally. I want a hassle free car for which I am considering Kushaq facelift classic plus model with post market modification, the new Sierra petrol model, Toyota Hyryder strong hybrid or Honda Elevate in a budget of 15 to 18 lakh. Please suggest.

•2d

We would recommend the Honda Elevate as it suits you best within your budget. In the city it is very smooth, quiet, and easy to drive, and the CVT transmission needs no effort in stop-go traffic. Steering is light, the ride handles bad roads well, and Honda's service network and long-term reliability are strong, which takes worry out of ownership. For your rare highway trips it cruises calmly, and the braking and high speed stability are reassuring. Also, the four cylinder engine is more powerful than the Kushaq and in the VX trim, you get the essential kit like parking camera with sensors, LED headlamps, powered tailgate and a single-pane sunroof among others.

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•4d

Which is the better car between the Kylaq and the new Brezza 1.0-litre turbo? Most of my driving will be in the city, but on road trips, the car will cover around 600-700 km in a day. My priorities are decent suspension, good handling and drivability, along with confidence-inspiring highway manners. At speeds above 100 kph, which of the two offers better stability and performance?

•2h

Go for the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI. It is the better fit for your usage. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol engine is punchy and offers strong mid-range performance, which makes highway overtakes easy and the car feels stable and confident at triple-digit speeds. The suspension is well-tuned, offering a good balance between ride comfort and handling, and the steering is precise, which inspires confidence on long highway runs. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.0 turbo is a good car, but the Kylaq feels more engaging to drive and is better suited to your requirements. The only thing to keep in mind is that the Kylaq's boot is on the smaller side, so if you regularly carry a lot of luggage, that is something to consider. Overall, for your mix of city driving and long highway trips, the Kylaq is the better fit.

Skoda Kylaq

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•34w

Hi Team Autocar, Firstly, I wish to thank you for the advice you rendered earlier. Based on your advice, I have booked the Toyota Taisor. I now wish to ask for advice for my father, who is looking to replace his 2015 Skoda Octavia with something more compact and easy to drive. His daily commute isn't much, and he mostly drives around the city in Lucknow. His budget is Rs. 15-16 lakh on-road. I really liked the new Hyundai Venue. Is that a good choice? Could you also suggest some other vehicles in this price range?

•1d

Since your father has been driving an Octavia for a while, a good replacement would be within the family. The Skoda Kylaq is what we would recommend. The Hyundai Venue is also good, but the DCT gearbox isn't as smooth in the city. The Kylaq is compact, making it easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces and easy to park and it gets a strong 1.0-litre TSI engine with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The seat position too is comfortable, and getting in and out is rather easy. The steering is light, visibility is good, and within your budget you can get the top-spec Prestige+ trim with all the bells and whistles.

Skoda Kylaq

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•5d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•4d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

•1w

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•5d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

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