Renault Manual Cars in India (4)

autocar.india

•9w

With a 40km daily commute, fuel efficiency, refinement and ease of ownership become more important than outright performance. The naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol in the Kia Seltos is smoother in stop-start traffic, easier to drive and should return better real-world fuel economy than the Duster's 1.3-litre turbo-petrol.Currently, the Duster is offered with two turbo-petrol engines: a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder unit from the Kiger and a 1.3-litre 4-cylinder direct-injection turbo-petrol engine. The Renault Duster mileage ranges from 17.75kpl to 19.41kpl. The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol manual returns 19.41kpl, while the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol delivers 17.75kpl to 18.45kpl, depending on the transmission.The Renault Duster's strengths lie elsewhere. It feels tougher, rides better on poor roads and has a more robust SUV character. The 1.3 turbo-petrol also delivers noticeably stronger mid-range performance, making it the more enjoyable car on highways. However, turbo-petrol engines generally reward a lighter right foot and tend to consume more fuel when driven enthusiastically.For weekend family trips, the Seltos also scores highly with its spacious cabin, feature-rich interior and overall refinement. The HTX trim offers a strong equipment list without stretching the budget, and the Seltos remains one of the most rounded family SUVs in the segment.

Kia Seltos

Renault Duster

autocar.india

•10w

The new Renault Duster 1.3 turbo manual is the enthusiast’s choice. It will be the most enjoyable to drive of the lot, feels robust, rides very well and has that proper SUV character many buyers still love. If your fiancé enjoys driving, we completely understand the appeal. Your concern is valid, though. Resale value is unlikely to be as strong as a Kia, Toyota or Maruti-backed product, and Renault car’s aftersales network is not as wide or as confidence-inspiring as Kia or Toyota.The Kia Seltos is the balanced all-rounder here. It feels more premium inside, is easier to recommend from a resale and ownership confidence perspective, comes with a richer feature set and is simply a very polished product overall. It may not have the same rugged SUV flavour as the Duster, but as a first car for a young couple, it is probably the easiest to live with.The Toyota Hyryder takes a different route. If long-term ownership, reliability and fuel efficiency are high on your priority list, it makes a lot of sense. But if you are comparing the naturally aspirated petrol against the turbo Duster or even the Seltos turbo, it will not feel nearly as exciting or as effortless from behind the wheel.

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

autocar.india

•15w

The Tata Sierra is a big, heavy car, and the petrol engine, being a naturally aspirated unit, feels just about adequate, especially once you load it up or hit the highway. The diesel, on the other hand, suits the car far better with its stronger low-end pull, making overtakes easier and long-distance driving far more relaxed.That said, with your low annual running of under 6000 km, the petrol still makes sense if your usage is mostly in the city. It will feel smoother, easier to live with and perfectly adequate for everyday driving, even if it lacks that effortless punch on highways. The Tata Sierra price is between Rs 11.49 lakh and Rs 21.29 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), and you can choose from 24 different variants.If you are open to alternatives for a better petrol manual experience, the Renault Duster with its turbo petrol engine is a strong option. It feels far more effortless to drive, while naturally aspirated options like the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta offer a more refined and effortless experience than the Sierra petrol.

Tata Sierra

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•16w

With mostly Pune city use at about 1,000 km a month and an occasional 600 km highway run, the Renault Duster Techno Plus 1.3 Turbo Petrol DCT is the best of all your shortlisted cars under 20 lakh. It suits your mix because an automatic will take the strain out of traffic, the 1.3 turbo petrol feels smooth at city speeds yet punchy when you need it to be, and the Duster feels sturdy and stable on the highway.Coming from a base Kia Seltos diesel manual, you will notice easier driving in stop-and-go traffic, better features, and a more comfortable ride. This version should sit close to your budget. Do check the current on-road prices in Pune. One trade-off to keep in mind is that a petrol will consume more fuel than your current diesel Seltos. However, given your usage pattern, petrol makes more sense than diesel.The Renault Duster mileage is claimed at 19.41kpl for the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol manual, while the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol delivers 17.75kpl to 18.45kpl, depending on the transmission.You could consider the strong hybrid Maruti Suzuki Victoris, or even the new-gen Kia Seltos, which is a big upgrade from your 2019 model, but they won't offer as much bang for your buck in your budget. A second-hand luxury SUV under Rs 20 lakh is tempting, but upkeep and repair costs can be high. Only consider it with a full service history and a strong warranty. Overall, for your city-heavy use and budget, the Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT lines up best.

Renault Duster

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•16w

The 150-160hp turbo-petrol manual midsize SUV is a dying breed due to limited demand, and more brands are offering only an auto, or, in the case of the Kia Seltos, an iMT. It's a shame Hyundai only offers it in the top-spec Creta N10 variant, because you end up paying for more features, and the N Line treatment, neither of which you may necessarily want.In terms of driving experience, it is a huge step up from the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol manual, with punchier performance, better response, and a more engaging feel. The engine is punchier and even has a sportier sound. That said, the 1.5 NA is the better all-rounder, mixing decent performance with smoothness and fuel economy. The standard Hyundai Creta also rides noticeably softer than the N Line thanks to its smaller wheels, and yes, service costs could be slightly lower than for the more complex T-GDi engine.If you're a driving enthusiast, the N Line N10 is definitely worth the stretch as one of the last remaining powerful turbo manuals in the segment.However, there is one more, and that's the Renault Duster. Its 160hp 1.3-litre turbo petrol is more than a match for the Hyundai 1.5-litre T-GDi unit, and in fact makes a bit more torque. Better still, Renault offers this powertrain from a much lower variant, so you don't have to pay for extra features if you don't see any value in them. Ride quality is better than the Creta N Line, and there's more boot space too, and it imparts that typically European confidence when you're at the wheel. The only area in which the Creta edges ahead is with a better rear seat and a wider service network.

Hyundai Creta

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos