Citroen Cars Under 25 Lakh in India (4)

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•5d

Go for the Citroen Aircross X 5-seater automatic. This Citroen car is a genuinely comfortable long-distance car with a spacious cabin and a very absorbent ride. The discounts make it excellent value, and you are getting a larger, more comfortable car for the same money as a smaller SUV like the Kylaq or Venue. Citroen's service network is not as extensive as Maruti, Hyundai or Kia, but it is improving, and the Aircross X is not a complex car. If you are in a major city, service and parts availability should not be a deal-breaker. The Kylaq and Venue are both good cars, but they are smaller and less comfortable on long highway runs. The Aircross X is the better fit for your usage and budget.

Citroen Aircross

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai Venue

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•2w

Go for the used Citroen C5 Aircross diesel at Rs 11 lakh. It is the better fit for your priorities. The C5 Aircross is one of the most comfortable SUVs in its segment, with a genuinely plush ride and a refined diesel engine that offers strong mid-range performance and good highway manners. At 45,000 km and as a 2022 model, it is still relatively fresh, and you are getting a lot of car for the money.The Toyota Fortuner is a different proposition altogether. It is a rugged, reliable workhorse with excellent resale value and a reputation for longevity, but at 98,000 km and Rs 25 lakh, you are paying a significant premium for that reliability. It is also not as comfortable or as refined as the C5 Aircross, especially on long drives. The ride is firmer, and while the engine is strong, the overall driving experience is more utilitarian than premium.If your priorities are driving comfort and good pickup, the C5 Aircross is the smarter choice. The only caveat is Citroen's smaller service network than Toyota's, so make sure you have a service centre reasonably close by. If you are looking for a long-term ownership proposition with minimal hassle, the Fortuner still makes sense, but for your requirements, the C5 Aircross is the more intelligent decision.

Citroen C5 Aircross

Toyota Fortuner

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•10w

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis - your budget will get you a mid-spec HTE EX, which is well equipped with all the essentials, seats 7, and has a genuinely usable third row. About the Hyundai Stargazer, there is no official India launch confirmation, so we wouldn't advise waiting for it. In fact, the Stargazer shares its K2 platform and 1.5 NA powertrain with the Clavis, so you're not really missing out.One thing to note about the Clavis: while the 1.5 NA is a refined and efficient engine, it may feel underpowered when the vehicle is fully loaded. If you are frequently travelling on highways with a full load, the 1.5 turbo will make overtaking a lot easier. The turbo-petrol also brings with it the option of a DCT, should you want one.If you were eyeing the Citroen Aircross automatic for more space and power, it does give you that and usually still fits within your budget. However, Citroen's dealer network is thin, and resale values are weak, so only pick it if you have a strong nearby dealer and plan to keep the car for a long time.

Kia Carens Clavis

Citroen Aircross

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•12w

Considering your usage, we would recommend the Toyota Uran Cruiser Hyryder S Petrol over the Citroen Basalt X Turbo Max, even with the attractive discount on the Citroen.Your daily running of around 30km in bumper-to-bumper traffic and a 300km highway trip once a month doesn't justify a turbo-petrol purely from an efficiency standpoint. Since you're already finding your Taigun 1.0 TSI thirsty, the Basalt's 1.2-litre turbo-petrol is unlikely to deliver the kind of fuel economy improvement you're looking for, even though it offers a comfortable ride and excellent value at the discounted price.The Hyryder S Petrol with its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine and mild-hybrid system is likely to be more fuel efficient in your usage, while also offering Toyota's reputation for reliability and low maintenance. It may not feel as punchy as the Citroen Basalt Turbo, but it is smoother and should prove to be the more economical long-term ownership proposition.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Citroen Basalt