I’m confused between the 2026 Tata Sierra and the 2026 Volkswagen Kushaq. My everyday commute won’t exceed 20 km in city traffic, and my monthly highway riding will be up to 200 km. I’m looking for a reliable and trouble-free automatic with long-term reliability. Please help me choose the best vehicle.

Autocar India

•4d

Since you are looking for reliability and a trouble-free ownership, we would recommend the Skoda Kushaq over the Tata Sierra. The Sierra is an all-new car; thus, its reliability remains to be seen, though indications are good.

The Kushaq is also a bit smaller than the Sierra, and this will help you in your city driving. For fewer highway rides, too, the Kushaq will offer up a good ride and handling balance and a secure feel on the highway.

Explore cars mentioned

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.42 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

SYD

•1d

Hi Autocar expert.. I am planning to buy new car it will be my 1st car. My budget would be around 25 Lakhs. I have a confused between Kia Seltos, Tata Sierra and Toyota Hyryder. Want to opt for top end automatic transmission. Also help me which engine should I go for petrol/diesel? My montly run would be around 200-300kms roughly not daily use tho.

Autocar India

•1h

With your limited running, a petrol-engined vehicle would be advisable. Since you are looking at a top-end automatic version, the Tata Sierra and Kia Seltos are both good options. The Hyryder is good, but it is the oldest of this trio and you won’t see much benefit from its hybrid system with your limited running.Between the Sierra and the Seltos, it depends on where your priorities lie. Both offer refined and powerful 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines, but the Sierra uses a six-speed torque converter gearbox, which is smoother in the city, while the Seltos uses a 7-speed DCT that is quicker to shift but can sometimes hesitate in traffic. The Sierra is the pricier of the two but also has the roomier cabin and more features.It is worth noting that Tata’s service experience can be hit or miss, while Kia’s is generally regarded as among the best in the segment. If the roomier cabin, features and the sheer road presence the Sierra offers are important to you, then it is the one to have. But if service experience is a priority, then the Seltos is the safer bet. However, before deciding, do take a test drive of both SUVs.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

Harish

•3d

I'm stuck between the Skoda Kushaq and the Tata Harrier diesel. I drive daily 75km, with nearly 20km in the city and the remaining on the highway. Family size of 4 or occasionally 5. And I love exploring and travelling to forests and mountains by car. Previously used Ford Ecosport and was very happy with it. Now, suggest to me a good car among these two.

Autocar India

•2d

While the Skoda Kushaq is a fun-to-drive SUV that would make a suitable successor to your Ford Ecosport, given your requirements and usage, it's not the right choice for you. The cabin is a tight squeeze for five passengers, and considering you drive as much as 75km per day, its petrol engine's fuel costs might add up over time.The Tata Harrier diesel is a larger SUV with a bigger boot that should be well-suited to your exploratory drives out of the city with your family. Its strong diesel engine will handle these trips well and return reasonable fuel economy. It is also quite fun to drive and has very comfortable suspension. Do note, however, that it is a segment above the Kushaq, and the diesel version especially will be considerably more expensive.

Skoda Kushaq

Venkatesh Naidu

•2d

With a budget of 25L, I'm looking for a 5-seater car. It should be fun to drive and provide a comfortable ride. Safety, reliability and after sales service should be too-notch. I'll be driving this 60% in city and 40% on highways. It should also have a good interior and features including ventilated seats, wireless carplay/android auto, panaromic sunroof, 360 degree camera.

Autocar India

•4h

With a budget of around Rs 25 lakh and your priorities of fun to drive performance, comfort, safety and strong after sales support, the Kia Seltos fits your requirements very well. The current Seltos is larger than before, spacious and very comfortable for daily driving. Interior quality is among the best in the segment and it comes loaded with premium features, including the ones you have mentioned such as ventilated seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof and a 360 degree camera. The 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine paired with the 7 speed DCT transmission offers strong performance while remaining refined and smooth in city use. It also fits comfortably within your budget and Kia’s after sales service network is generally reliable.If you want something different, the Tata Sierra with the turbo petrol automatic is another good option. It offers even more cabin space than the Seltos and its wider body makes it a more comfortable five seater. The ride quality is also very comfortable and it comes with all the features you are looking for. The downside is that it is about Rs 1.5 lakh more expensive than the Kia, and although Tata’s after sales service is improving, Kia still has the stronger reputation in that area.If you want something larger, you can also consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 within your budget. Even though it is a seven seater, with the third row folded it becomes a very spacious and comfortable five seater. It gets a powerful 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine producing over 200 hp paired with a smooth six speed torque converter automatic that delivers effortless performance. The handling is good, the ride is comfortable and it comes with most of the features you want. The only notable omission compared to your list is ventilated front seats. If you can live without that feature, it is another strong option to consider.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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