Autocar India
3h

I am planning to buy a new vehicle for myself and my parents. I have seen the new Audi Q3 2026 and am quite interested in it, but I am not fully convinced about the petrol-only option. I was hoping for a hybrid version, especially considering fuel efficiency at this price point. Secondly, I am also looking for a 4x4 and am currently waiting for the new Fortuner. However, I am confused because many people are suggesting the new Scorpio N or Thar Roxx, saying that if the primary purpose is off-roading, there is no need to spend so much on a Fortuner. Please suggest what would be the better option for my requirements.

Verified
22m

The Audi New Q3 is a good choice if you want a premium, comfortable SUV, but I would not buy it expecting a hybrid. The India-spec Q3 is expected to use a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 204hp, a 7-speed DCT and quattro AWD, with no confirmed hybrid version for India.

If your requirement is genuine 4x4 capability, the Toyota Fortuner remains a very different proposition. The next-generation Fortuner is already being tested and is expected in India by early 2027. It is expected to retain petrol and diesel engines, 4x4 capability and the ladder-frame construction, while gaining a much more modern cabin and ADAS.

The Mahindra Scorpio N is the sensible alternative if you want a capable 4x4 without spending Fortuner money. The Thar Roxx makes more sense if off-road ability is the priority, but it is less comfortable and practical as a family SUV.

For parents, the Q3 will be considerably easier to live with in the city, while the Fortuner is better suited to long-distance touring and serious rough-road use.

Audi New Q3

Audi New Q3

3m

What will be your daily running and driving pattern?

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4h

I am planning to purchase a new SUV for my family and would appreciate your expert recommendation. I am currently considering the Skoda Kushaq, Skoda Kylaq, Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Hyundai Creta, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Kia Sonet. My usage will primarily involve family trips, weekend drives, vacations and outstation or highway travel, as I do not use the vehicle for daily office commuting. Family comfort, safety and long-term reliability are my key priorities. I am particularly looking for a vehicle with low maintenance and service costs, good after-sales support and a strong service network, especially in Bengaluru, along with comfortable seating for four to five family members on long drives, good safety ratings and build quality, decent highway fuel efficiency, and strong resale value after five to seven years of ownership. Based on these requirements, could you please recommend the most suitable model and explain why, suggest the variant that offers the best value for money, highlight any common issues or ownership concerns I should be aware of, and provide your top three recommendations ranked in order of suitability for my needs?

Verified
1h

For your usage, the Hyundai Creta is the best overall fit. Since the car will primarily be used for family trips and long-distance travel rather than daily commuting, its spacious cabin, comfortable ride, refined engine, and mature highway manners make it better suited than the smaller SUVs on your list. It also has a well-established service network in Bengaluru and a long ownership history in India.The Skoda Kushaq would be the second choice if driving enjoyment and highway dynamics are more important. It has excellent ride and handling and a strong 1.0 TSI, but the rear seat is not as accommodating for three adults. The Kylaq is similarly enjoyable to drive and has a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, but its rear seat is better suited to two adults, making it less ideal for regular family road trips.The Mahindra XUV 3XO is worth considering if you want maximum features, strong performance and excellent safety, but its 295-litre boot is a significant limitation for holiday trips with four or five people and luggage.

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4h

I’m confused between the Kia Seltos HTK Optional 1.5 NA IVT and 1.5 Turbo DCT. I plan to keep the car for 5-8 years. For the first 1-2 years, it will stay in my Tier-3 city for my parents for their daily use. Later, I may take my car to Pune for my daily commute. Overall, I expect around 80% city and 20% highway/outstation driving with occasional Pune-Vadodara trips, Goa/weekend trips, holiday road trips, and sometimes 4-5 people with luggage. My main questions are for the NA IVT. Does the 1.5 NA feel underpowered in the Seltos, especially with 4-5 people and luggage? How good is it for highway overtaking and quick acceleration? How useful are the paddle shifters/Sport mode for improving responsiveness? When accelerating hard, how noticeable is the high-RPM engine noise/CVT drone, and does it become annoying on highways? For the Turbo DCT, how does it behave in prolonged bumper-to-bumper/crawling traffic? Is clutch heat/wear or low-speed jerkiness/hesitation a genuine long-term concern over 5-8 years? What is the best way to drive it in heavy traffic to minimize clutch wear? How significant are the differences in real-world city mileage and long-term maintenance cost? Considering this usage pattern, which transmission would you recommend and why? I’m particularly interested in the real-world ownership experience rather than just performance figures.

Verified
2h

For your 80 percent city usage and 5–8 year ownership, the NA IVT is the better fit. The 1.5-litre engine is not particularly powerful on paper at 115hp and 144Nm, but the IVT masks its weaknesses well in normal driving. It is smooth, jerk-free and relaxed in traffic, while the new Seltos has a much more comfortable ride than the previous generation.With four or five people and luggage, it will feel slower, particularly when overtaking on the highway. The CVT rubber-band effect does appear when you accelerate hard, but it is less pronounced than in many other CVTs. Sport mode and the paddles do help by keeping the engine more responsive, although they cannot turn it into a performance SUV.The turbo DCT is considerably quicker and is the obvious choice if spirited highway driving is important. However, for your predominantly urban use, the IVT's seamless low-speed behaviour is a significant advantage. A DCT can feel hesitant at crawling speeds, whereas the IVT avoids that characteristic.The IVT also returned 10.3kpl in the city and 14.2kpl on the highway in testing, with better efficiency than the turbo DCT.

VehicleKia Seltos

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