Delhi

•17h

Hi, I want to buy a car within Rs 30 lakh that has space for five. I’ll use it mainly for a 30 km daily commute in Bengaluru traffic. I’m scared of EVs. I currently drive a Volkswagen Ameo 1.5 DSG and have loved it for ten years. My dilemma is that I want features like those on the Mahindra XUV 7XO, such as the automatic gearbox and the advanced suspension, but I can’t handle a vehicle that big. I’m also worried about E20 fuel. I’m a fan of Volkswagen and thought I’d go for the Taigun, but the lack of ADAS disappointed me. I compare power and torque curves, and I’m nervous that a new car will disappoint me compared with what I drive now. Which car would you recommend?

•10m

Given your experience with the Volkswagen Ameo 1.5 DSG and your preference for strong performance, good driving dynamics and a comfortable ride, the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT would be our recommendation. Its 163hp, 280Nm turbo-petrol engine offers strong performance, while the six-speed DCT provides quick shifts. The Duster's biggest strengths are its excellent ride comfort, high-speed stability and engaging handling. It should also be more manageable in Bengaluru traffic than a larger SUV such as the XUV 7XO.

The Nissan Tekton T280 DCT is worth considering too. It shares the same engine and gearbox, but has a more contemporary cabin and a slightly different character. It feels more premium inside and offers good practicality, while the Duster has the edge in ride comfort and overall driving dynamics.

Neither will match the fuel efficiency of your Ameo diesel, and both are turbo-petrol SUVs, so running costs will be higher.

Explore cars mentioned

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.17 Lakh

Nissan

Tekton

from ₹12.17 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.23 Lakh

•4m•

Tigun is a great car to drive no question sasked. Maintain services periodically.. Roughly 14kmpl to 18kmpl milage.

More posts on similar cars

•3d

I am planning to upgrade from Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo 1.0 AT (2020) to a family-friendly SUV. Considering the new Renault Duster Hybrid and Hyundai Creta IVT/Turbo Petrol. With ageing parents and a 9-month-old baby, my priorities are easy ingress and egress, spacious rear seats and good boot space. My annual running is around 5,000 km which mostly involves city driving. Which SUV would you recommend?

•1d

The Renault Duster (non-hybrid) has a large rear boot and the car is also newer and fun to drive, however your priorities of spacious rear seats and easy ingress/egress would be better met in the Creta and we would suggest the IVT as its smoother than the DCT autobox for everyday family use. Given that an all new Creta is around the corner you should bargain hard for a good deal and you could have a significantly lower purchase price too.

Renault Duster

Hyundai Creta

•3d

I need your advice to decide between Duster Hybrid and Byd Atto 3. Please note that I have a 9 KW solar plant at home.

•1d

Given their difference in the fuel, the choice between the two cars really comes down to what your usage is like. If you have some long drives out of the city then the Duster hybrid would be better as you would not have to plan your trips around EV chargers or have to wait in line or spend time charging. The hybrid offers you more flexibility in that sense, however is your drives as mostly short distances then the EV would make sense especially since you have a solar plant at home and on the few outstation trips just make sure you plan your rest breaks along with charging points too.

Renault Duster

•2d

I’m thinking of buying a hybrid. Which would be the better choice: the Honda City Hybrid or the new Renault Duster Hybrid? Setting aside the body style for a moment (one is a sedan and the other an SUV), which would you recommend for reliability and long-term ownership? In terms of interior comfort, both cars seem similar to me, apart from a few small differences.

•2d

Go for the Duster Hybrid for its excellent driving manners. If you are self-driven, the Duster will be the better pick; even during long drives, you will appreciate its high ground clearance and overall rugged feel over bad and broken roads. In comparison, the Honda City hybrid will feel more refined and smoother to drive, particularly in the city, and its real-world efficiency is likely to be better too. Further, the City has a comfier backseat and larger boot. The only downside being that the sole hybrid variant is priced Rs 2 lakh above the top-spec Duster hybrid, making it a bit hard to justify the premium.

Renault Duster

Honda City

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Is ADAS worth paying extra for in a car?

Popular discussions right now

•2d

What are Mahindra’s plans for an ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO? Specifically, does Mahindra plan to launch any ICE SUVs in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket?

•1d

Mahindra has not yet confirmed an all-new ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket. However, there are some interesting developments on its future product roadmap. The company has outlined plans for 10 new ICE models by 2031, including nine new nameplates, with several expected to use its upcoming NU_IQ platform. The Vision X and Vision SXT concepts are among the products to watch, although their final positioning and specifications are yet to be revealed. A more immediate development is the possibility of a strong-hybrid version of the XUV 7XO, which Mahindra is evaluating and could introduce around 2027. This would potentially sit above the current petrol and diesel variants, offering better fuel efficiency and a more sophisticated powertrain. Mahindra is also working on a coupe-styled hybrid SUV, internally codenamed W623, which could arrive around 2028, although its positioning is not yet clear.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•17h

I’m a first-time car buyer and I’m confused between the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Delta (Rs 12.7 lakh on-road), the Brezza VXi automatic (Rs 11.4 lakh) and the Brezza ZXi manual (Rs 11.5 lakh). I’m not sure how much of my driving will be in the city and how much on the highway. If I choose the automatic, I’ll miss out on many features that come with the Brezza ZXi and the Grand Vitara Delta. Is it okay to give up those features and choose the VXi automatic?

•1h

It is a tricky choice, but we would lean towards the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi automatic. In today's increasingly congested traffic conditions, the convenience of an automatic transmission is something you will appreciate every day. The additional features on the Brezza ZXi manual or Grand Vitara Delta may seem attractive initially, but over the years, the ease of driving an automatic is likely to matter more.The Brezza VXi AT is not poorly equipped either. It gets a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, six airbags, ESP and hill-hold assist. You will miss out on features such as cruise control, a rear parking camera and a sunroof, but some convenience features can be added later through accessories.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

•1w

improve the grammar and write it in a paragraph - Hi Autocar, Iam looking to book a car this week. I have narrowed it down to one of 3 cars. Petrol Automatic IVTs. My running is mostly going to be 95% city (office to work in Mumbai traffic). Daily commute is around 15km, so I don't want a turbo in traffic. That's roughly 5k annual running. I am 6ft tall so wouldn't want something that is cramped 1. New Seltos HTK(O) 2. New elevate VX 3. Bayon HX 8 All of these are close to the 16L ex showroom price. I've driven the Seltos and Elevate. I really liked both of them. The Seltos feels more premium from the inside and I feel like that is something worth having in a daily car. The elevate is brilliant, but it seems cheap on the inside. No pani sunroof too, although I would maybe use it 1 day in year, it's priced the same as the Seltos, so that felt a miss. I know Honda engines are top, but at my running and limited enthusiast journey, I'm not sure if that does justice to need. Now comes the bayon. I have not done a test drive yet as its not available, but the bayon pricing at Hx6 and hx8 seems very close to the Creta currently.. I am tempted to go for the hx8 as it as a 360 camera,( I think that might be usefull for parking etc as I am coming from a hatchback ) but I am getting a "lesser car" vs the Seltos here I wonder.. Which one would you recommend? I am keen on booking before diwali, will see if there are any discounts on the Seltos (unlikey though)

•6d

All things considered, the Kia Seltos is the better fit for your needs. Since you are on the taller side, you will appreciate the extra room it has to offer compared to the Hyundai Bayon. Opting for the Bayon does get you a higher variant with a 360-degree camera, which can be helpful in tight spots. However, once you get used to the size of the vehicle, you might find yourself using the camera less often.As for the Honda Elevate, as you rightly mentioned, the Seltos feels more premium inside and costs about the same. The Elevate does offer a bit more performance from its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, but since 95% of your driving is in slow-moving Mumbai traffic, the added performance won't really make much of a difference.Overall, the Seltos is the right fit for your needs.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Bayon

Honda Elevate

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