Skoda Kushaq

The 1.5TSI versions of the Skoda Kushaq, Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Taigun and Volkswagen Virtus, will certainly bring a smile to your face with their performance as well as dynamic prowess.

All these feel similar from behind the wheel, so pick the body style you prefer -  sedan or SUV. Out of these, the Kushaq is likely to get updated in the coming weeks, so you may want to check that out before making your decision.

On the other hand, if you want a car that looks sporty, drives well, and has features like ADAS, you could also consider a Hyundai Creta N Line and Verna.

It's hard to recommend a car without knowing more about your requirements, like space, mileage, number of seats, etc. However, within your specific budget, no US options are available. From the European manufacturers, only the Skoda and Volkswagen cars are there.

We would recommend you look at the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun, which are essentially the same SUV. Also, if you would prefer a sedan, the Skoda Slavia and its sister car, the Volkswagen Virtus, are the options.

These sister models of Skoda and Volkswagen are essentially the same, sharing all their mechanical components and a lot of the exterior and interior bits too. Thus, choosing between them would come down to the level of dealer support in your area and your own preference in terms of the individual car's style.      

We suggest you wait for the refreshed Skoda Kushaq, which will be launched next month. It comes with strong engines, a good balance of ride and handling, and is one of the most fun-to-drive SUVs for the money. It has solid build quality and is also high on safety. Y

ou could opt for the 1.5 TSI mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed DSG automatic, which will make weekend drives an absolute pleasure. 

The most fun-to-drive SUVs in your budget are the 1.5-litre Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq twins, which are very engaging thanks to their brilliant dynamics and a powerful, punchy engine. 

Both are due for a facelift, and the upgraded Kushaq is just around the corner and scheduled to launch on January 20th 2026. The Volkswagen Taigun facelift will come a month later. Both these SUVs will see some significant enhancements to the air conditioning and interiors. 

Top-end variants will come with rear massage seats, a first in the segment. However, one weakness is the rear seat space, which is relatively narrow and best for four. 

Therefore, if this is a deal-breaker for you, you could consider the Tata Sierra. It is fantastically spacious, has superb ride and handling and an all-new 1.5 petrol engine, which is smooth, punchy and fairly efficient too. 

The Sierra is not as engaging to drive as the Kushaq and Taigun, as it is heavier and has a relaxed power delivery. We would rule out the MG Hector in your case as it is too big, it's not a very engaging car to drive, and as you said, it guzzles fuel.
 

We suggest you wait for the new Skoda Kushaq, which will be launched next month. It has more features and is great on the highway and twisty roads. 
Your budget may limit you to the 1.0 TSI engine, but that’s a really punchy engine mated to a smooth 6-speed automatic box. The Honda Elevate works well as a city car, but it's nowhere near as good as a Kushaq or even a Skoda Slavia on a twisty road. 
 

Since you want to upgrade from your Tata Nexon to a fun-to-drive manual car, you should consider the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI MT. The Taigun is one of the best handling midsize SUVs, and its 150hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol is one of the punchiest around. 

You could also consider the Skoda Kushaq or the Skoda Slavia/Volkswagen Virtus, but none of those get a manual gearbox option with the 1.5 TSI engine - only a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.