Renault cars in India (7)

My budget is around Rs 20 lakh, and I’m based in Bangalore. The car will be used for a mix of city and highway driving, with an approximate usage split of 60:40. Since this will be my first car, my priorities, in order, are comfort, long-term reliability, driving dynamics and overall cost of ownership, including fuel efficiency and maintenance. My current shortlist includes the Renault Duster Hybrid, Honda Elevate CVT and Kia Seltos IVT. Which of these would be the best choice for my requirements?

The Renault Triber has recently introduced a turbo-petrol variant. Is Renault planning to introduce an automatic transmission option for the Triber in the near future? Please share any updates on its launch plans.

Should I consider purchasing Renault duster hybrid as a first time buyer? My primary requirement is decent mileage and long term reliability.

I'm looking for a compact SUV that feels well-built and is enjoyable to drive. My driving is split roughly 60:40 between the city and highways in Bengaluru. I was considering the Tata Sierra and Hyundai Creta EV, but after multiple test drives, I realised the Sierra is too boxy for my taste and the Creta EV is too expensive. I hadn't seriously considered the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun before, but I really enjoyed driving them. They feel superbly built, do the basics of being a car very well and put a smile on your face while doing so. However, they lack auto-hold and consume a lot of petrol. I recently moved back to India, and this will be our first car. I hadn't given much thought to range until recently. I've already booked the Renault Duster hybrid without a proper test drive, but I want to test-drive the Duster 1.3-litre DCT and the Kushaq/Taigun 1.5-litre DSG versions as well. I expect to get a chance to test-drive the Duster hybrid in about a week or 10 days. What would your advice be at this stage?

I live in Bangalore and currently, I own a 2008 Swift Dzire. Now, I am looking for a mid-size SUV (around 4.3 m in length due to home parking constraints) under a budget of Rs. 18-20 lakh (+/- Rs. 2 lakh). I cannot opt for an EV or diesel due to my low usage and I cannot opt for a petrol-CNG hybrid, as I feel it is more suited for cabs and then, I will have to wait in very long lines at filling stations since I have observed around 30 cars in queue near my area. I am worried about the uncertainty around ethanol-blending issues, and low mileage of 1.5 litre engine. Petrol-electric hybrid cars are slightly over my budget. I have another year to finalise my new car, which may be my last car purchase, if all goes well. I am not interested in fancy ADAS features. I am confused between Hyryder Hybrid and Creta NA petrol engine. The car will be mostly used for outstation trips. Are there any other cars that you would recommend?