Citroen Basalt

autocar.india

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This usually happens because the engine and the automatic gearbox are cold. Right after a cold start, the engine idles a bit higher, and the gearbox oil is still thick. When you slot into reverse at that moment, the reverse clutch grabs with more force than it does when warm, so you feel a quick jerk. Once the engine settles and the oil warms up, the shift into reverse feels smooth.If the jerk is small and happens only on the first cold start, it is generally normal and not harmful. Try this: start the car, keep your foot firmly on the brake, wait 5 to 10 seconds for the idle to settle, then shift to R. Do not touch the accelerator while selecting reverse. This should remove the thud.If the jerk is strong, comes with a clunk noise, or keeps happening even after a short warm-up, get it checked under warranty. Ask the workshop to run a true cold-start test after the car sits overnight and to check a few simple things: gearbox oil level and condition, any transmission software updates, engine idle speed when cold, and the engine and gearbox mounts. These can also cause a harsh engagement.Based on what you described, it sounds more like normal cold behaviour than a fault. Try the short pause on start-up. If it still bothers you, have Citroen log it on a cold morning, and they can fine-tune or fix anything if needed.

Citroen Basalt

autocar.india

•34w

Thank you for your support. We're happy to help! Coming to your question, the Honda Amaze, while practical and comfy, does not have the driving thrill you would want. The Volkswagen Virtus, while impressive, will not fit in your budget apart from the base variant, which isn't too impressive. The Citroen Basalt X will be a good pick out of this lot. It has a punchy turbo-petrol engine that is lovely to drive, the ride comfort is excellent, and it has a large boot as well. Also, while it is feature-packed, it isn't unnecessarily complicated, and the functions are easy to use. The Basalt X would be our recommendation.

Citroen Basalt

Honda Amaze

Volkswagen Virtus

autocar.india

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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

autocar.india

•8w

The logical spiritual successor to the Volkswagen Polo for many owners has been the Skoda Kylaq, and we think it meets your needs as well. It retains that solidly built, fun-to-drive nature and also comes with a punchy 1.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine and has received a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating. In your Rs 13 lakh budget, you'll get a mid-spec Signature+ variant, which gets you all the essentials and not too many gimmick features.Another often-overlooked option is the Citroen Basalt X, which offers a similarly punchy engine, fun chassis and European solidity as the Skoda and Volkswagen, but is a size up and much more spacious. However, it also costs more, and in your budget, you'll get a lower variant with fewer features than the Kylaq.If you want to skip fuel-blend questions entirely and your driving is mostly city, look at the Tata Punch EV. It’s quiet, quick off the line, and fits the budget. Just remember, highway trips need a bit of charging planning.

Skoda Kylaq

Citroen Basalt

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•12w

You do not need to worry too much about E20 or future ethanol blends while buying a new petrol car today, especially if you are planning to keep it for 10 to 12 years. All modern petrol cars from major manufacturers, including the Kia Seltos, Citroen Basalt and Honda Elevate, are already designed to run on E20 fuel. More importantly, cars that are only E20 compatible cannot run on E85 or higher ethanol blends, because those require dedicated flex fuel engines with significant changes to the fuel system and engine calibration. This means fuel companies and the government will still have to continue supplying E20 compatible fuel alongside any future higher ethanol blends for flex fuel vehicles.For your usage, the Kia Seltos IVT is the best all round choice. Since most of your driving is in the city, the naturally aspirated petrol with the IVT automatic will feel extremely smooth and effortless in traffic, while the cabin feels genuinely premium and well insulated for long term ownership. It also strikes a very good balance between comfort, features and ease of driving, which is exactly what matters in a car you plan to keep for over a decade.The Citroen Basalt is the alternative if you are more budget conscious and want maximum practicality. It offers massive boot space, excellent rear seat room and a very comfortable ride, making it a superb family car for the money. However, it does not feel as polished, premium or as refined overall as the Seltos, especially inside the cabin and in terms of overall ownership experience. The Honda Elevate CVT sits somewhere in the middle with Honda’s strong reliability reputation and easygoing nature, but it feels less feature rich and not as plush inside as the Kia.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Citroen Basalt