We live in a joint family with my brother and parents. We currently own a Kia Seltos (iMT), a 2014 Toyota Innova, and a 2017 Hyundai Creta. My Creta has done about 150,000 km and is showing increasing maintenance issues, so I want to replace it. My daily run is around 30 km, and I do not want an electric or petrol car. Which replacement options would you suggest?

Autocar India

•2d

With 70 percent city use, some highway trips, a family of four, and a strict manual requirement, the Volkswagen Taigun GT Plus Sport 1.5 TSI manual is a good upgrade from your Maruti Suzuki Swift. However, the manual transmission on the 1.5 TSI was discontinued earlier this year and has not returned with the recent facelift. This means the car you are considering is a pre-facelift version that may have been sitting at the dealer for a while. Moreover, Rs 28 lakh also seems very steep, as the last recorded on-road price of the 1.5 GT Plus Sport MT in Chennai, as per our records, was around Rs 22-23 lakh. Haggle hard if you proceed, do a very thorough pre-delivery inspection, and push for an extended warranty.As for the vehicle itself, the 1.5 petrol with the manual is an excellent choice. It feels quick and smooth, pulls cleanly from low speeds so you do not have to shift constantly in traffic, and has strong performance for safe highway overtakes. It is not too big for city lanes, the higher seating position improves visibility, and it feels stable at speed. Cabin quality and the overall safety focus are clear steps up from your Swift.Two things to note for your usage: the clutch is heavier than your Swift’s, and fuel consumption and upkeep costs will be noticeably higher.Alternatively, you could consider the Hyundai Creta N Line manual or the Renault Duster 1.3 manual, both of which are great options for keen drivers.

Volkswagen Taigun

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•3d

For your priorities, we would suggest the Renault Duster 1.3 turbo DCT. Coming from an Ignis AMT, this will feel like a massive upgrade in every meaningful way. The wet clutch DCT is a big advantage in Bangalore traffic because it is smoother and less prone to overheating than the dry clutch DCT setups used in rivals like the Seltos and Creta, while still delivering quick responses when you want to drive enthusiastically.More importantly, the Duster is genuinely enjoyable from behind the wheel. It feels involving to drive, has strong performance from the 1.3 turbo petrol and the ride quality is very absorbent and comfortable, which matters on Bangalore’s mixed road conditions. The one trade off is rear seat space, which is not as generous as some rivals in this segment.If rear seat space matters more, the new Tata Sierra 1.5 turbo petrol automatic is also worth considering. It is practical, spacious and still nice to drive, though it is not quite as driver focused as the Duster.If your absolute priority is playing it safe from an ownership familiarity perspective, the Kia Seltos turbo DCT is the safer mainstream pick.

Renault Duster

Tata Sierra

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•2h

If you can stretch your budget slightly, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder S hybrid will meet your requirements of a reliable, very efficient replacement for your outgoing car. Also, being automatic, it will make the drive more convenient and minimise driving effort.But if you can't stretch your budget even slightly, consider a Kia Syros Diesel Automatic. Sure, its design will divide opinions, but if you can look beyond that, its cabin is extremely spacious, it is feature-rich, quality is top-notch, and the diesel-automatic combination is smooth and frugal too. Alternatively, you could look at a Seltos Diesel too, although you are likely to get an entry or mid-level variant for less than Rs 18 lakh.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Syros