Mumbai

•7w

I want to upgrade from my 12-year-old VW Vento to a comfortable SUV. My driving is not much, around 300-400 km per month. My budget is Rs 18-20 lakh, and I intend to keep the car for a long time. Which one should I go for?

•7w

Since you own a VW Vento, you are already familiar with VW's sales and service experience; hence, you could consider getting the Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 8AT. It is a solid mid-size SUV that is likely to feel very similar to your outgoing vehicle in terms of driving manners, but at the same time it packs in all the niceties, as well as a more powerful turbo-petrol engine with a modern 8-speed automatic. The Skoda Kushaq is also an option you could consider, which is the Taigun's mechanically identical Skoda counterpart.

Alternatively, you could consider a Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT too. It is a bit larger, more spacious, comfier and better equipped than the two VW-Skoda SUVs From a long-term perspective, the Kia car mentioned above deserves serious consideration.

Explore cars mentioned

Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹12.98 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.62 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

•7w•

@autocar.india Don't touch the Taigun. My 1L MT has 2 clutch failures within 400 kms. No responsibility taken by VW under warranty. Buy at your own risk.

•7w•

@manisha.2 Go for Taigun because

•6w•

@manisha.2 If comfort is your priority means definitely go for Kia Seltos

•6w•

@manisha.2 Seriously, we don’t really have an option. You can’t honestly say the current VW quality is a worthy replacement for what we had before. But unfortunately, we don’t have much choice either.

•7w•

I own a 2018 2nd edition Creta E+ 1.4 Diesel with 40K on the Odo. I want to switch to a new Diesel mid size SUV with a budget between 20~25 L. Please suggest options.

More posts on similar cars

•16h

Hi Autocar, I am planning to buy a new car and have test-driven several models. I have narrowed my choice down to the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo and have already booked one. I currently own a Hyundai Venue 1.0 Turbo manual. Most of my driving is within Chennai city, and I will primarily use the car for my office commute, around 25km each way. Both the morning and evening drives involve moderate to heavy traffic, with frequent crawling movement. My main concern is the DSG gearbox and its behaviour in heavy traffic. I have read about potential heating issues with DSG transmissions during prolonged stop-and-go driving, and I am wondering whether this should be a significant concern for my usage. Should I reconsider the Kushaq 1.5 DSG and look at another car instead? I really like the performance of the 1.5-litre Kushaq, and it feels like a genuine upgrade over my current Venue. However, the concerns around the DSG in heavy city traffic are making me hesitant about going ahead with the purchase. Could you please advise whether the Kushaq 1.5 DSG would be suitable for my usage, particularly from a long-term ownership perspective?

•12h

The Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI DCT is a genuine upgrade from the Hyundai Venue, particularly in performance, and the Kushaq is an excellent highway car. However, the concern about the DSG is relevant for your specific usage. Your 50km daily commute involves moderate to heavy Chennai traffic, 3–4 days a week, so the gearbox will regularly spend time at very low speeds. The current 7-speed DSG is considerably more robust than earlier generations, but it is still a dry-clutch unit and repeated crawling places more heat and wear on the clutches.If the priority is peace of mind in Chennai traffic, the Kushaq 1.0 TSI AT is the better fit. The newer 8-speed torque-converter automatic is smoother and more relaxed at crawling speeds, while the 1.0 TSI remains adequate for city use and occasional highway trips. The trade-off is clear: it will not deliver the effortless 150hp performance that makes the 1.5 feel like a substantial upgrade from the Venue.If the 1.5 DSG is the reason for buying the Kushaq, keep the booking. If avoiding any gearbox-related worry is more important, switch to the 1.0 TSI AT. The 1.5 DSG is not a deal-breaker, but the 1.0 AT is better suited to your Chennai commute.

Skoda Kushaq

Hyundai Venue

•1d

I am looking for car suggestions around the Rs 20 lakh price bracket, but I am happy to increase my budget. I want a comfortable family car that is also fun to drive while offering good mileage. I had booked the Seltos Turbo DCT, but I am now worried about its mileage and future running costs if my running increases. My current running is around 1,000 km a month in the city, but with the car, I plan to do long-distance trips of around 600-700 km every three to four months. Should I consider an EV or wait for the Seltos Hybrid? I dropped the Hyryder from my list because I did not like its interior.

•1d

For your current 1,000 km monthly running, occasional 600-700 km trips and preference for a comfortable family car that still feels enjoyable to drive, the Kia Seltos 1.5 NA IVT is the better choice than the Turbo DCT. It is smoother in city traffic, more relaxed to drive and should have lower running costs over the long term. You give up some outright performance, but for predominantly city use, the NA engine is the more sensible match.The Seltos Turbo DCT is certainly more fun, but its real-world city efficiency is around 9-10kpl. If running increases substantially in the future, the fuel bill will become a bigger consideration. An electric car would bring much lower running costs, but with your relatively modest daily usage and occasional long trips, there is no compelling need to switch to an EV unless home charging is convenient and you are comfortable planning longer journeys around charging.The Seltos hybrid is worth waiting for only if there is no urgency to buy, since the hybrid is expected in 2027 and pricing and specifications are not yet confirmed.

Kia Seltos

•1d

I am 56 years old and am thinking of upgrading to an SUV. I currently own Maruti Suzuki Baleno that I had purchased in June 2016. The car is in good running condition and has completed 88,000 km till date. Should I upgrade my car now or wait for another 2 years to get a new vehicle? Should I dispose off the old one and go for new one now? Please suggest accordingly.

•1d

At 56, you are at a stage where comfort, ease of use and long-term reliability become more important than chasing the latest technology. Your Baleno has completed 88,000 km and is still running well, which suggests you are a careful owner and the car has plenty of life left. If it is mechanically sound and you are comfortable with it, there is no pressing need to upgrade purely for the sake of a new model. Cars today are not changing radically every two years, and waiting does not guarantee a significantly better product.The decision should be driven by your needs. If you are finding the Baleno low to get in and out of, or if you want a more comfortable ride and better visibility, then an SUV upgrade makes sense now. If you are happy with the car and it is not giving you any trouble, you can easily keep it for another couple of years.As for the upgrade, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a sensible choice. It offers a higher seating position, good ride comfort and Maruti's proven reliability and service reach. If you want something a bit more premium, the Kia Seltos is a good step up, but only if it fits comfortably within your budget.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Kia Seltos

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Popular discussions right now

•20h

Hi, I am planning to buy a CNG SUV and am considering the Tata Nexon CNG and Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG. I will be driving around 150km every day for office, so my main concerns are fuel economy and maintenance costs. Many people have suggested the Brezza because of its mileage and lower running costs, but Tata is also a large company and has a wide service network. So, why do buyers generally recommend the Brezza over the Nexon CNG? I personally prefer the Nexon, but I am confused about whether it would be the right choice for my daily usage. Which one would make more sense for my requirements?

•11h

Go with the Tata Nexon CNG if that is your preference. At 150 km daily, CNG is the right fuel choice, and both the Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Brezza are factory CNG cars, so reliability and safety are not a concern. The Nexon CNG is a strong product with good performance, a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The reason many people suggest the Brezza is Maruti's reputation for low maintenance costs, wide service reach and a long-standing reputation for hassle-free ownership. The Brezza CNG is also a very reliable and efficient package. However, the Nexon CNG is the more modern car and feels more premium inside.At 150 km daily, the key is to choose the car you will enjoy driving every day. The Nexon CNG is a solid choice, and there is no reason to change your decision.

Tata Nexon

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•3d

I want to know the launch date of the new Toyota Innova Hycross model.

•3d

The Toyota Innova Hycross facelift is expected to launch in early 2027. Toyota has already been testing the updated Hycross in India, with spy shots showing a revised front end, new lighting elements and a redesigned bumper. The facelift is expected to bring some interior and feature updates as well, while the existing 2.0-litre petrol and strong hybrid powertrains are likely to continue. Toyota has not announced a confirmed launch date yet, so early 2027 is the current expectation rather than a firm date.

Toyota Innova HyCross facelift

•6d

Hi, I want to buy my last car as I am 66 years old. I have been driving a Honda City for the last 12 years without any major hiccup. The Honda City engine and its reliability is excellent although its ground clearance is an issue. I have looked at Elevate and given its ground clearance as an SUV, I am impressed although the issues on E20 and abrupt blending issues are surely technical issues. Windsor EV was a great test drive but all controls on screen could be a bottleneck for me at my age and am planning to move to an automatic. Please recommend as experts. My monthly running will not be more than 500 km. Should I also look at Seltos. I will appreciate a feedback from experts. I want a reliable, easy to drive car with low maintenance cost and good family value with. There won't be any great pick ups or many highway drives will not be there.

•5d

Given your 12 years of trouble free City ownership, the Elevate is the most natural replacement. It retains Honda’s simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, adds substantially better ground clearance and gives you the easier ingress and SUV driving position you liked. The CVT is also very well suited to your low speed, low running usage and should make the transition to an automatic easy.On your E20 concern, we would not treat it as a reason to avoid the Elevate. Honda says all its cars manufactured in India since January 2009 are E20 material compatible, and the current Elevate is officially certified for E20. Honda also says E20 should not cause durability concerns or require any component changes. There can be a marginal reduction in fuel economy because ethanol contains less energy than petrol, but with your 500km monthly running, that is unlikely to be significant.The Seltos is worth a look, particularly if you want a more feature rich and premium cabin, but given your priorities of reliability, easy driving, low maintenance and long term ownership, the Elevate fits your requirements more naturally. The Windsor EV is also an interesting option, but at just 500km a month, there is little financial reason to move to an EV, especially when you have concerns about its touchscreen heavy interface.

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