Hi, I want to buy a new car or SUV. We are a family of 4: husband, wife, and 2 kids. I live in the Uttarakhand mountains. My yearly driving is around 6-7 thousand km, as we travel from the mountains to relatives living in cities like Delhi, Kanpur, etc. The usage is mostly on highways and in hilly areas. My budget is between ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh. Currently, I own a Baleno Delta 2015 diesel, which has run around 1,05,000 km.

Autocar India

•14h

The new Renault Duster 1.3 DCT feels like the most natural upgrade. You already know and appreciate the Duster formula, but this new one moves the game on significantly. The big advantage is the wet clutch DCT, which is smoother and better suited to Indian traffic than the dry clutch DSGs in the VW and Skoda. Ride comfort is another big strength, and if you do long-distance touring, the Duster’s absorbent suspension and SUV character will feel instantly familiar, just in a far more polished package. The only real downside is that rear seat space is not class-leading.The Volkswagen Taigun GT and Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo are both excellent cars to drive. That 1.5 TSI is a strong engine, and both feel quick, polished and in some ways more sophisticated than the Duster. Between the two, the choice largely comes down to taste because mechanically, they are nearly identical. The Taigun has a more understated personality, while the Kushaq Monte Carlo feels a touch sportier. The caveat is the dry clutch DSG, which is brilliant once on the move, but not as naturally comfortable in heavy stop-and-go traffic as the Renault’s wet clutch setup.

Renault Duster

Volkswagen Taigun

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•13h

The new Renault Duster 1.3 turbo manual is the enthusiast’s choice. It will be the most enjoyable to drive of the lot, feels robust, rides very well and has that proper SUV character many buyers still love. If your fiancé enjoys driving, we completely understand the appeal. Your concern is valid, though. Resale value is unlikely to be as strong as a Kia, Toyota or Maruti-backed product, and Renault’s aftersales network is not as wide or as confidence-inspiring as Kia or Toyota.The Kia Seltos is the balanced all-rounder here. It feels more premium inside, is easier to recommend from a resale and ownership confidence perspective, comes with a richer feature set and is simply a very polished product overall. It may not have the same rugged SUV flavour as the Duster, but as a first car for a young couple, it is probably the easiest to live with.The Toyota Hyryder takes a different route. If long-term ownership, reliability and fuel efficiency are high on your priority list, it makes a lot of sense. But if you are comparing the naturally aspirated petrol against the turbo Duster or even the Seltos turbo, it will not feel nearly as exciting or as effortless from behind the wheel.

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•1d

Your observations are quite right, and given your requirements, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic seems to be the best fit. It takes care of your ethanol worry because diesel avoids that issue entirely, and your regular highway trips will keep the diesel particulate filter (DPF) healthy. Your family already likes its comfort and smooth, steady feel, and on the highway, it has strong enough pull for quick passes. As you have noted, it won’t feel as eager as the Renault Duster or the VW turbo petrols when you floor it, and the 1.5 diesel - though refined amongst rivals - is a bit louder than a petrol overall. Also, higher tech features come on costlier trims, so a top-spec trim could push that Rs 22 lakh limit on the on-road price.If driving fun is the top priority and you rarely use the back seat, the Renault Duster 1.3 turbo automatic still makes sense over the hybrid, which is as yet untested, but will likely sacrifice some punchiness given its naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle petrol engine. If the hybrid lands around Rs 24-25 lakh, it may not add enough value for your use. As for the rear seat, the Duster doesn't offer as much as rivals despite its grown dimensions (it seems to have gone into the boot), and the hybrid's battery could even hamper this further. Overall, for your requirements, the Seltos diesel auto still feels the better choice.

Kia Seltos

Renault Duster