Renault Petrol Cars in India (6)

I purchased a Kia Sonet 1.0 iMT in 2024 after owning Maruti Suzuki Dzire for around 11 years. I was so bored of driving it for more than a decade that I rushed to change. I wanted a compact SUV as an upgrade but settled for a sub-compact SUV due to budget constrain or may be due to lack guidance and understanding. Soon after buying it, I realized that this is not the car that I want to drive. I want a vehicle that looks and feels rugged but at the same time, is usable for daily commute with 80 - 90% city drive. I want to feel the same way I feel when I drive my Royal Enfield (strong and rugged). In less than 3 years, I am looking for a change again but this is time I don't want to make the same mistake. I have a few cars in mind but I am not sure which one should I go for. I have shortlisted Renault Duster Hybrid (upcoming), Tata Harrier AT (diesel), Thar Roxx AT (diesel), Toyota Hyryder Hybrid and Hyundai Creta AT (Diesel or Petrol). I drive around 1000 to 1200 km per month, mostly in the city but when I plan for long drives to mountains in Himachal, Uttarakhand or even Leh, I shouldn't have to worry about it. My budget is between 17 to 19 lakh (ex-Showroom). Please advise.

I’ve been driving a Maruti Ritz Diesel for approximately 7 years and am looking for a proper upgrade. My running is around 750-1,000 km/month, with 75-80% highway driving, and typical long trips of 200-250 km one way. My budget is roughly Rs. 19-22 lakh (on-road) in Bangalore. I generally keep my cars for a long time, so long-term reliability and highway performance matter more to me than just features. I have shortlisted Kia Seltos 1.5 Turbo DCT that is around Rs. 20.6 lakh. This is probably the most fun of all the options. The turbo feels strong and the DCT is quick and smooth. My concern is long-term ownership because it is a dry-clutch DCT, and I’m wondering about DCT/turbo-petrol reliability over 5+ years. It is also around Rs. 1 lakh cheaper than the diesel. Another shortlisted car is Kia Seltos 1.5 Diesel AT for around Rs. 21.6 lakh. This feels like the natural upgrade from my Ritz Diesel. It generates 250 Nm torque, highway performance and potentially better mileage that are better for my usage. But my running is only 750-1,000 km/month, so I’m wondering whether the extra 1L and diesel-specific considerations, particularly DPF, are worth it when I don’t drive that much in the city. Would love to hear from long-term Seltos diesel owners. Another shortlisted car is Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT Adventure that costs around Rs. 19 lakh. I’ve driven it multiple times and really like the way it feels. It feels more rugged and planted than the Seltos, with better suspension and less body movement at highway speeds. I can physically feel the difference in the heavier boot/doors and overall solidity. I know both cars are 5-star rated, so I’m not equating weight or feel with crash safety. The Duster has a wet-clutch DCT, unlike the Seltos dry clutch, which is another reason I’m considering it. The compromise is features and rear space as the Seltos has noticeably better knee/legroom. However, the Duster is still perfectly comfortable for my family’s height, so I can live with that. I have also shortlisted Kia Seltos 1.5 NA CVT/IVT that is priced around Rs. 19.65 lakh. I would select it for its simplicity. I know I’ll compromise significantly on torque as compared to the turbo and diesel, especially coming from a diesel Ritz, but a 4-cylinder NA petrol is a relatively straightforward option and potentially fewer powertrain-related headaches will be there compared to DPF and modern turbo/GDI systems. If I go this route, I may also wait for the Elevate facelift. Although the current Elevate’s poor thigh support is a major concern for me. My wife strongly prefers the Seltos, so realistically, my biggest dilemma is Seltos Turbo DCT vs Diesel AT. Duster is the wildcard because I personally like its ruggedness and driving character, while NA petrol is the fallback for its simplicity. I am looking for genuine 5-year ownership experience, highway performance, reliability, DCT/DPF experience, mileage and maintenance opinions rather than just brochure figures.

Hi Team Autocar, I currently drive a Ford EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost and am looking to upgrade to a petrol automatic, either a sedan or SUV, with a budget of Rs 20 lakh on-road. Since I am coming from a punchy turbo-petrol, performance and driving engagement are my top priorities. I plan to keep the car for at least eight years, so long-term reliability and a strong manufacturer commitment to India are also important. My driving split is roughly 70% city and 30% highway. Given my priorities, which car would offer the best blend of performance, strong build quality and long-term peace of mind?

I used to own a manual Ford EcoSport Trend Petrol model manual which I drove for 7 years. But as the service centre in Guwahati shut down recently, and also due to the lack of readily available spare parts, I was compelled to sell it. Recently, I had booked a Renault Duster Adventure 1.3L DCT and might get the vehicle delivered within a week. I have also taken the test drive and liked the power and comfort. But my concern comes from the fact that the sales figures have gone down from 512 units in July 2026 to zero in August 2026. So will it right to go ahead with the Duster, seeing their sales figures going down? As an alternative, I am looking for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7 turbo Petrol TC. My budget is within Rs. 17.50 lakhs.

Hi Autocar, I’m looking for a petrol SUV under Rs 18 lakh with a manual transmission. I live in a small town and travel to Bengaluru occasionally. Most of my driving is a mix of city and highway use, with some hill driving, and I expect to cover around 5,000–8,000 km a year. I’m not looking for excessive features, as I feel the more electronics and automation a car has, the higher the maintenance costs can be. My priorities are a strong SUV stance and commanding driving position, good safety, annual maintenance costs below Rs 10,000, decent mileage, good road presence, predictable handling and comfortable ride quality. I also go trekking and take part in other outdoor activities, so some light off-road capability would be useful. Nothing extreme, but enough ground clearance and confidence to tackle rough patches and uneven roads. At the moment, I’m considering the Honda Elevate and Renault Duster, but I’m slightly concerned about long-term maintenance and after-sales support. From what I understand, Honda parts are generally sourced through its authorised network, while the Duster is not particularly known for having strong after-sales support. Could you please suggest which SUV would be the better choice for my requirements? Any other recommendations would also be helpful.