Delhi

•3d

Hi, I’m planning to buy a new car, and it will be the first car in our family. I’m looking for safety, a strong and refined engine, and good comfort for rear-seat passengers, since my family members are about 5 ft 5 in tall on average. After multiple test drives, I’m confused between the Nissan Tekton 1.3 manual, the Renault Duster 1.3 manual, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 and 1.0, and the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 and 1.0. I’m mainly looking at the top-end variants. Which one would you suggest? If none of these, which car should I consider?

•2m

If you prefer a manual gearbox and are looking for strong performance, we would suggest choosing between the Nissan Tekton 1.3 turbo manual and the Renault Duster 1.3 turbo manual. These more powerful engine options are available with a manual gearbox, unlike the 1.5 TSI versions of the Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, which are offered only with a DSG automatic. The 1.0 TSI manual versions of the Kushaq and Taigun are good enough for everyday use, but they won't offer the same performance as the 1.3 turbo engines.

Both the Tekton and Duster are also enjoyable to drive and offer a comfortable ride. Given your family's average height of around 5.5ft, rear seat space in either car should be adequate. Between the two, the decision would largely come down to which brand, styling and overall cabin experience you prefer.

Explore cars mentioned

Nissan

Tekton

from ₹12.17 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.17 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.41 Lakh

Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹12.76 Lakh

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•3d

I currently drive a 2022 Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI Monte Carlo and am planning to upgrade to a new car sometime next year. I am particularly interested in hybrid vehicles, with the upcoming JSW Combat and the next-generation Kia Seltos Hybrid being the two options I am keeping an eye on. My primary requirements are excellent fuel efficiency, a spacious and comfortable cabin, and practicality. I need a car that can comfortably accommodate my family while also serving my work requirements, including carrying equipment and occasionally travelling to operational sites in hilly areas. Considering these requirements, which of these two vehicles would be the better upgrade from my current Kushaq? I would appreciate a comparison of their expected real-world mileage, cabin and boot space, comfort, performance on steep and hilly roads, reliability, maintenance and overall value for money. Since both options may not have confirmed specifications or launch details yet, I would also like to know what information is currently available and whether it would be worth waiting for these hybrids or considering other alternatives.

•32m

The JSW Combat (based on the Jetour T2) and the next-generation Kia Seltos Hybrid are unlikely to be direct competitors, with an expected price difference of around Rs 15 lakh. The Combat will be a much larger SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and considerably more performance, while the Seltos will be a conventional strong hybrid aimed at better fuel efficiency.As an upgrade from your Kushaq 1.5 TSI, the JSW Combat would be the more substantial step up, provided budget isn't a constraint. Its larger dimensions, more powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain and greater capability should make it better suited to carrying equipment and travelling to hilly operational sites. The Seltos, on the other hand, will be a more practical and affordable upgrade. It should offer a more premium and spacious cabin than your Kushaq, along with a significant improvement in fuel efficiency. However, in terms of outright performance and the sense of an upgrade, it may not feel like a major step up from your current 1.5 TSI.

My wife and I, both senior citizens, want to buy an automatic transmission car that we will drive ourselves. Our usage will be occasional in Kolkata, along with some long weekend highway trips. Our key selection criteria are safety, automatic transmission performance, driver and passenger ride comfort, balanced city and highway handling, and sufficient boot space to hold 3 to 5 days of luggage. Which cars would be most suitable for us?

•6h

We're not aware of your budget so we would recommend a mid-size SUV like the Skoda Kushaq. It meets your requirements of safety, ride comfort and good handling in the city and highways. This Skoda car will also meet your requirement of good performance of the automatic gearbox as it is a torque convertor autobox; these are the smoothest types to have and offer a very seemless drive experience. We would recommend the 1.0 litre engine as the performance is more than adequate for the city as well as highway drives. The boot space is also sufficient for your luggage requirements. As an alternative you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5 litre variant. The gearbox is also a torque convertor unit and the ride in the city is very plush. However the highway stability and the boot would be just a bit smaller.

Skoda Kushaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•2d

Hi, I am looking for hybrid options. Until now, I was getting convinced by the Hyryder, but the Duster has changed my mind. However, I am not happy with the rear seat row of the Duster. Should I wait for the Hyundai Creta Hybrid if it is launching? My monthly running is 600-700 km, with 90% city driving (for office commute) and highway trips once every 3 months.

•1d

With a monthly running of just 600-700km, we would not rush into buying a strong hybrid purely for fuel savings. Your usage is predominantly urban, which suits a strong hybrid car, but the low annual running of around 7,200-8,400km means the price premium over a regular petrol SUV will take a long time to recover. Since you are not happy with the Duster's rear seat, there is little reason to compromise on an important aspect of the car just for its hybrid powertrain.The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara are also worth considering, as both offer strong hybrid powertrains and a more accommodating rear seat than the Duster.The next-generation Hyundai Creta is expected in 2027 and the Kia Seltos too is expected to get it. Our suggestion would be to wait for the new Creta, but don't expect the hybrid to pay for itself through fuel savings at your current running. Buy it if you value the refinement and efficiency of a hybrid, rather than purely for lower running costs.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

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•4d

I am planning to buy the top-end Hyundai Creta Turbo Petrol DCT variant. My daily running is around 50–100km, which adds up to approximately 25,000–30,000km annually. I am looking for a car that offers strong performance and quick acceleration, along with a comprehensive set of comfort and convenience features. Should I buy the current Creta Turbo Petrol DCT top variant or wait for the 2027 Creta? For context, I currently own a 2024 Maruti Suzuki Dzire Hybrid and a Volkswagen Virtus GT 1.5 TSI.

•3d

The 2027 Hyundai New Creta will be thoroughly updated inside-out, and it'll have more tech and features. If you don't mind waiting, it makes sense to get the 2027 new-gen model. Do note, its powertrain options are likely to be carried forward from the current version. If you can't wait, but still want the performance as well as the latest in terms of tech and features, consider the Kia Seltos turbo-dct instead, which packs in more or less everything the next-gen Creta is likely to offer.

Kia Seltos

•4d

Which SUV would you pick for a family of 5?

•4d

I’m planning to buy a new car, and my annual running is around 40,000km, primarily involving highway drives and ghat sections. I have shortlisted the Kia Seltos Diesel HTX and the upcoming facelifted Toyota Innova Hycross ZX. I’m considering two approaches: either buy the Innova Hycross and keep it for the next 10 years, given its reputation for longevity and the expectation that its engine can last at least 4 lakh kilometres, or buy the Seltos, drive it for around 2 lakh kilometres over 4–5 years, sell it and upgrade to a brand-new Seltos or another car of a similar price and size. On paper, the Innova Hycross Hybrid seems like the better choice, considering its long-term reliability and features such as the Ottoman reclining seats. However, I’m concerned that I might get bored of it after four years or that it may start feeling outdated as newer technologies and features enter the market. This makes the second option appealing, as it would allow me to upgrade to a brand-new car every 4–5 years. Which approach would make more sense in the long run, considering my high annual running and ownership costs?

•3d

It seems like you're leaning towards the Kia Seltos Diesel HTX, and we think it is a good choice. The diesel engine feels adequately powered for highway usage and ghat driving, and it is likely to return respectable efficiency too. Moreover, despite being modern with all the latest tech and features, the Seltos will be substantially more affordable than the Toyota Innova Hycross hybrid. So unless you need the Innova's extra space, or you frequently travel with six or seven passengers, the Kia Seltos diesel is your best bet.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Innova HyCross

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