Hi, I am planning to buy a new car for my daily commute to office in Gurgaon (30 kms daily) and occasional highway driving (500-700 km every alternate month). As of now, I am considering only petrol automatic variants. The budget can be stretched up to 20 lakh for the right car. I am considering Duster, Seltos, and Kushaq. I enjoy driving, so I do not want a dull car, plus want some advanced features. I am considering the current ecosystem of offerings. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•23h

Consider the Hyundai Venue 1.2-litre MT in the HX6 trim. It has recently received a full five-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP and comes with six airbags, ABS with EBD, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol offers sufficient performance, along with good refinement and efficiency. The official claimed fuel efficiency is 18kpl, and you should get reasonably close to that on a steady highway cruise.Alternatively, if you are looking for a larger car, consider the Kia Seltos HTE with the 1.5-litre NA engine and manual combination, which also offers good efficiency for its size.On the test drive, check if the pick-up from the engine is satisfactory and whether the cabin feels comfortable for longer journeys.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•2d

Choose the Renault Duster 1.3 Techno MT if you specifically want a tough, manual SUV and like driving.The new Duster’s suspension is one of its big strengths: it rides beautifully over broken roads, has 212 mm of ground clearance, and feels robust, which really suits Indian conditions and frequent highway use. It has a very large boot and is well-equipped for the price, making it a solid family and touring car.The 1.3 turbo-petrol is among the most powerful engines in the segment, so performance is strong once the turbo is on boost. However, in the manual, you will feel some turbo lag at low revs, and you do need to downshift to keep it in the meat of the powerband, especially in slow city traffic or on inclines. The gearbox itself is light, with positive shifts, and the clutch effort is friendly enough for daily use.

Renault Duster

Autocar India

•15h

For your usage, which is 90% city driving, the Kia Seltos IVT automatic is still the more sensible and easier-to-live-with choice. The IVT gearbox is smooth, creep-friendly and very well suited to stop-and-go traffic, making daily driving stress-free.Your concern about the naturally aspirated engine’s mid-range is valid, but in city conditions, it is not a major issue. You are rarely operating in that 40-80 km/h band where the lack of punch is most noticeable, and for regular driving, the engine feels smooth and predictable. For the occasional highway trip, it will cruise comfortably, though you will need to plan overtakes a bit more.The Renault Duster turbo, on the other hand, will definitely feel stronger in terms of performance and mid-range, and it will be the more engaging car to drive. It will also likely offer a more comfortable ride over bad roads. However, for predominantly city usage, it may not feel as effortless or smooth as the Seltos IVT.So the choice comes down to priorities. If you want a smooth, easy and low-stress daily driver, the Seltos IVT is the better fit. If you value stronger performance and a more engaging drive, and are willing to compromise slightly on ease of use in traffic, the Duster turbo is worth considering.

Renault Duster