Which is the best car in terms of safety, reliability, driveability, and fuel efficiency? The options I am considering are the Thar, Taigun, and Kushaq. Also, is it okay to go for a diesel car?

Asked by: Anil Pais

The Mahindra Thar is a bit of an outlier among these three options. It’s the only 3-door model, the only one built on a tough body-on-frame chassis, and the only one that comes with a diesel engine. Going for a diesel SUV is absolutely fine, in fact, the lack of diesel options in the Taigun and Kushaq petrol variants can be a disadvantage if you value fuel efficiency and torque for highway or off-road driving.

If the Thar is going to be your second or third car that will be used occasionally for off-road trips or wilderness drives, then it’s a compelling choice, and the 1.5-litre diesel is significantly cheaper too.

However, in terms of refinement, comfort, driveability, and on-road sophistication, the Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are far superior. They are smoother, more comfortable, and easier to drive daily, making them better all-rounders for city and highway use.

Volkswagen Taigun

Volkswagen Taigun

Answered by

Autocar India Team

Oct 22, 2025

Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts

Help and Support

Latest questions

Asked by: rohit kothari I am confused between the XEV 9S and the XUV 7XO. My monthly running is around 1,500 km, and I have my own parking space. Please advise. The new Mahindra XEV 9S and upcoming XUV 7XO will be closely related in many ways, sharing their body panels, interior layout and features. However, the two will be very different under the skin, with the 9S coming built on Mahindra's new-age INGLO electric architecture.If the majority of your usage will be in the city and you have the option to install an EV charger in your parking, the Mahindra XEV 9S would make more sense. For starters, running costs will be significantly lower than the petrol/diesel XUV 7XO, and there's also the other advantages you get on an EV - near silent running and supremely smooth performance. What's more, with the benefits available on EVs, the final price will not be much more than a comparable Mahindra XUV 7XO.The 7XO promises to build on the XUV 700's strengths by adding more features like a three-screen layout. The petrol and diesel engines will be carried forward from the XUV 700, but that's no bad thing because they are powerful and refined. That said, consider the XUV 7XO only if you undertake long-distance journeys frequently, where the lack of reliable public EV chargers can play spoilsport.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

Asked by: Ssa I want to upgrade to a seven-seater, but I am confused between a new Triber or Ertiga, and a used XL6. My usage is mostly in the city with occasional highway trips. My priorities are low maintenance and good mileage. Please suggest. Also, I would like to know what good automatic car options are available under Rs 8 to 9 lakh. Thank you. The Maruti Suzuki XL6 is a more premium version of the Ertiga, and it is based on the same platform. However, the XL6 is a 6-seater, thus consider between the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga or the Renault Triber, both of which are 7-seaters.The Renault Triber is a sub-4m MPV, though, so while it is more affordable, it is smaller than the Ertiga, and the 1.0 litre engine is not powerful, especially so when fully loaded.As for your query about a good automatic car under Rs 9 lakh, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, or if you would like an SUV body style, the Nissan Magnite would be a good choice.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

Asked by: SUKETU G PATEL I want to buy a car with a budget of Rs 16 to 17 lakh. My yearly running is around 6,000 to 7,000 km, but I am a driving enthusiast and enjoy driving. Please suggest a suitable car. Since you are an auto enthusiast and love to drive, we would recommend you look at a sedan car like the Skoda Slavia or the Volkswagen Virtus. They are both essentially the same car, built on the same platform or near identical in terms of drive feel.For your budget of 16-17 lakh, you will get the smaller 1.0 litre TSi engine, and you will notice turbo lag; however, past that, the performance is lively enough, and the engine is quite rev-happy.If you can stretch your budget a bit, opt for the larger 1.5-litre TSI engine. It delivers a very sprightly drive. Beyond the engine, both cars have a superb ride and handling balance.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

Asked by: Akshay Patil Hi team, my monthly driving is around 1,000 km. I want to buy a diesel car, and my budget is Rs 17 lakh. Please help me select the right vehicle. I am open to both manual and automatic options. There are quite a few diesel-manual options available within your budget. You could go for a smaller but more feature-equipped vehicle or a larger, more powerful but less-equipped vehicle. Of the smaller vehicles within your budget, the Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO should be on your shortlist. Among the larger vehicles, the Hyundai Creta and Mahindra XUV700 are worth a look. As for automatic gearbox options, the best pick would be the Kia Sonet diesel GTX+ AT. The refined 1.5-litre diesel engine and smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission work really well together to deliver a premium driving experience. Hyundai also offers the same combo on the new Venue, though you'll need to up your budget to get a feature-equipped model.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

View all questions

Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts

Help and Support