Khora

•3d

I am a driving enthusiast and am looking to buy my first car. My priorities are driving experience, safety, and features. I am currently confused between the Volkswagen Taigun Highline Plus 1.0 MT and the Duster Evolution 1.3 MT. Which one should I choose?

•3m

Go for the Volkswagen Taigun Highline Plus 1.0 MT. As a first car, it strikes a better balance between driving enjoyment, safety, and features. The 1.0 TSI is a punchy, characterful engine with a strong mid-range, and the manual gearbox is slick and satisfying to use. This Volkswagen car is also a well-sorted driver's car with a solid chassis, good body control and a genuinely engaging feel from behind the wheel. It is also a proven product with a strong safety record and a more reassuring ownership proposition for a first-time buyer.

The Renault Duster Evolution 1.3 MT is the more powerful and more exciting car on paper, and its ride quality is genuinely excellent. However, while the 1.3 turbo petrol is characterful and powerful, it's not particularly engaging to drive. And though comfortable and solid-feeling, this Renault car feels a bit ponderous compared to the tighter-wound Taigun, and for an enthusiast, isn't quite as fun. For a first car, the slightly more compact Taigun will also be easier to get to grips with from behind the wheel.

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Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹12.54 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹11.96 Lakh

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•3d

I am planning to buy an automatic car for a family of four next year. My budget is around Rs 8 lakh, and the car will be used mostly in the city, with occasional trips twice a year. Please suggest some good options. I am considering the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Sportz IVT, Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta AMT, Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT, and Tata Punch Pure Plus AMT. I am also open to other suggestions.

•1h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta AMT as it is the most sensible choice. The Baleno offers a spacious cabin, a comfortable rear seat, and a large boot, making this Maruti Suzuki car well suited to family use. The AMT is smooth enough for city driving, and Maruti's service network and low maintenance costs make it a stress-free long-term ownership proposition.The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Sportz AMT is also a good option, but the Baleno offers more space and should be more efficient too. This Hyundai car is solid, but it won't fit in your budget, and the Baleno offers better value for money. The Tata Punch Pure Plus AMT is a good city car with a higher seating position, but the Baleno is the more complete family car. Overall, the Baleno Zeta AMT is the best fit for your needs.

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•4d

I currently own a 2021 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga petrol, which has covered around 85,000 km and delivers approximately 7-8 km/l in city driving. Due to rising fuel costs, I am considering switching to a CNG car. I plan to sell my Ertiga before buying the new car. Since my children are now in college, I no longer need a 7-seater. I am specifically looking for a CNG + AMT combination, as I am 48 years old and feel an automatic transmission would make frequent city driving less tiring. The cars I am considering are: Tata Punch Adventure S CNG AMT, Tata Altroz Creative S CNG AMT, Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi CNG, and Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta CNG The Tata Punch is currently my preferred choice. I also considered the Brezza, but its lack of a proper spare wheel concerns me, as I have experienced several tyre punctures in the past. My maximum budget is Rs. 14 lakh. I am also unsure whether an EV would suit me within this budget, as I do not want to deal with range anxiety at this stage. Based on your road tests, which car would you recommend? Is the Tata Punch Adventure S CNG AMT the best choice for my requirements, or should I consider another option?

•2h

Given your requirements, the Tata Punch Adventure S CNG AMT is a sensible choice. The Punch is a well-packaged city car with a rugged stance and a practical CNG installation. Its AMT gets you the convenience of an automatic, especially for city use. Sure, outright performance isn't very strong, and you will have to carefully plan fast overtakes on the highway. However, if you're a sedate driver and generally drive at speeds below 90kph, the Punch CNG AMT will serve your needs well.If you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is also an excellent option that'll easily fall into your budget. The electric car’sperformance will be stronger and more seamless. Your running costs will be lower than the CNG version, and it should easily give you a real-world range of 280- 300 km, which should be more than adequate for your daily commuting.

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•21h

Hi, I’m planning to buy my first car under 15 lakh. I am a new driver and am still learning to drive. I’m confused between Creta S(O) IVT and Seltos HTK(O) IVT. I will be mostly driving within Mumbai city with occasional weekend trips. I am planning to keep the car for next 8-10 years so I want a reliable car with low maintenance. I went to different dealers and got final quotation of Rs. 15.8 lakh for Creta S(O) and 17 lakh for Seltos HTK(O). The features offered by Seltos are hard to ignore. So, now I am confused between these two cars. Seltos offers leather upholstery, ventilated front seat, driver power seat, front parking sensors and a big infotainment screen. These features are missing in Creta S(O) model. Please help and suggest whether I should spend 1.2 lakh more for these additional features.

•12h

Go for the Seltos HTK(O) IVT and spend the extra Rs 1.2 lakh. For a first-time driver who will predominantly drive in Mumbai and plans to keep the car for 8-10 years, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol with IVT is a very sensible combination. The IVT is smooth and easy to drive in stop-go traffic, while the engine is refined and well suited to relaxed city driving.The extra equipment on the Seltos is also more than just a list of gimmicks. Ventilated seats, powered driver's seat and front parking sensors are features you can genuinely appreciate over a long ownership period, particularly in Mumbai. The larger infotainment screen and leatherette upholstery add to the everyday experience as well. The Seltos also has a slightly more spacious cabin and more premium feel.The Creta S(O) IVT remains a very good choice and saves Rs 1.2 lakh, but the price difference isn't large enough to justify choosing the lower-equipped car if you already value these features.

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•2d

I currently drive a Grand i10 Manual petrol and am now planning to buy a new compact SUV that is comfortable, fuel efficient and has low maintenance. My usage is 35km of daily office commute in Delhi-NCR traffic. Please advice which option is best fit amongst Hyundai Venue HX 6T, SONET HTK+O and XUV 3XO.

•1d

Go for the Hyundai Venue. With your daily 35km commute in Delhi NCR traffic, comfort and low maintenance are key, and the Venue delivers on both. The 1.2 NA petrol is smooth, refined and easy to drive in stop-start conditions, while Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The HX6T variant also gives you a good balance of features without pushing the budget too far.The Sonet HTK+O is mechanically very similar, but the Venue is a newer model and offers a more spacious cabin. The XUV 3XO is also a good option, but its turbo petrol engine won't be as efficient as the Hyundai’s.Overall, the Venue is the most sensible upgrade from your Grand i10 for daily city use.

I am planning to buy a new car under 20-25 lakh for the next ten years. I have considered two cars Seltos DCT GTX(A) and Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo DSG but am afraid of the mileage and if I go with an EV, I am afraid that infrastructure will not be that good. I drive daily for 10-15 km and take 2-3 trips in a year on highway. Should I buy the car now or wait for Seltos Hybrid? Will it cost an additional 2-3 lakh or will it be value for money for my driving. Should I consider another car?

•4d

With a daily running of just 10-15 km and only a few highway trips a year, fuel efficiency and long-term reliability should be your top priorities. The Seltos DCT GTX+ and Kushaq 1.5 DSG Monte Carlo are both excellent cars, but their turbo-petrol engines and dual-clutch gearboxes are not the most efficient or the most stress-free choices for predominantly short city runs. The DCT/DSG gearboxes are at their best on open roads, and in stop-start city traffic they can feel a bit jerky and are not as smooth or as durable as a torque converter automatic over the long term.The Seltos hybrid is worth waiting for if you are not in a hurry. It is expected to be priced roughly Rs. 2-3 lakh above the equivalent petrol variant, and for your usage pattern it will make more sense than the turbo-petrol DCT. Hybrids deliver their biggest efficiency gains in city driving, and over a 10-year ownership period the fuel savings and smoother driving experience will more than justify the premium.If you want to buy now, the Kia Seltos IVT (naturally aspirated petrol with CVT) is the better choice for your usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to city driving, and you will not be paying a premium for performance you will rarely use. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the torque converter automatic is another good option if you prefer a more engaging driving experience, but the Seltos IVT is the more refined and hassle-free choice.EVs are not the right fit for you at the moment given your concerns about charging infrastructure and your low daily running. The savings are not significant enough to justify the compromises.

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•5d

I’m planning to buy my first car and would appreciate some suggestions. My budget is around Rs. 13-15 lakh ex-showroom, and I’m planning to register the car under the BH series. Safety is my top priority, so I strongly prefer a car with a 5-star safety rating, preferably from Global NCAP. An automatic transmission is a must. The car will mainly be used for weekend family trips and highway drives rather than daily commuting. Since it will be a family car, I’d prefer something that looks classy and elegant while offering good comfort. A premium-looking interior would be a plus, and features such as leather/leatherette upholstery and ventilated seats would be nice to have, but they aren't deal-breakers. At the same time, I don’t want a car that is purely comfort-oriented. I enjoy driving, so I’d like something with a good engine, enjoyable handling, and a fun-to-drive character. Good rear-seat comfort and reasonable luggage space for family trips would also be appreciated.

•4d

Based on your requirements, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the recommendation. It strikes the right balance between safety, driving enjoyment and family usability. The 1.0 TSI engine is strong, the handling is engaging, and the car feels solid and confidence-inspiring on the highway. The interior feels premium, and while it may not be the largest in its segment, overall comfort is quite good. If you prefer the look of the VW Taigun, it offers largely the same experience as the Kushaq. The Renault Duster 1.3 DCT is also a strong alternative, offering excellent driving dynamics and a larger cabin. Overall, though, the Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the car that best aligns with your requirements.

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