Skoda Kushaq Prestige 1.5 TSI DCT

Autocar India

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Pick the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 automatic. It suits Delhi city life the best while keeping you cool and fresh, and it still makes those every-two-month highway runs easy.In your traffic, the 1.0 with the automatic is smooth and stress free, has light steering, good visibility, and a suspension that takes broken roads well. On hot days, the AC now cools quickly, and the higher trims give you ventilated seats that actually help in NCR summers. It is also one of the safest in your list with a strong body and the full safety kit, so handing it to your father later will feel right. It is compact enough for tight parking, yet feels stable and confident at high speeds so its safe and you will not get bored or tired.A couple of the others come close. The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid is super efficient and very easy in the city, but feels less lively on the highway.

Skoda Kushaq

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

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If your biggest complaint with the MG Astor CVT is performance, then we would look at something with a proper turbo petrol engine and a stronger automatic gearbox.Our first recommendation would be the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT. The turbo petrol engine is genuinely punchy, the wet clutch DCT is smoother and better suited to Bangalore traffic than many dry clutch DCTs, and the car has an excellent balance of ride comfort and handling. The only real drawback is that the rear seat is not as spacious as some rivals.Another excellent option is the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG or the mechanically similar Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG. The 1.5 TSI is one of the most enjoyable petrol engines in the segment and will feel like a huge step up from the Astor. If outright driving enjoyment is your priority, these are among the best options available. The caveat is that the dry clutch DSG is not as naturally happy in heavy stop go traffic as the Renault's wet clutch setup.

Renault Duster

Volkswagen Taigun

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

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Go for the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI. It feels the most “EcoSport-like” today. It offers a firm, well-damped suspension that handles bad roads easily, a steering with real feel, and a turbo petrol engine that pulls a lot like your EcoBoost. Thanks to the recent update, the Kushaq's AC performance is now strong, and the higher trims have a clean, rich-sounding audio system with a subwoofer. The catch is that Skoda service can be hit-or-miss in smaller cities, and the rear seat is not the roomiest.If smooth city driving and mileage matter more than driving feel, look at the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong hybrid. It glides around town on electric power often, rides softly, has strong AC and a nice sound system in top trims. Just know it will feel much calmer than your Ford on a fast highway run. The Volkswagen Taigun drives like the Kushaq, so pick it if you prefer VW's styling and have a dealer nearby.

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

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Buy the Kia Seltos; it hits your mix of big-city commuting in Hyderabad/Mumbai, and 1-2 highway runs a month better than the others. The 1.5 petrol with the automatic is easy in traffic, returns sensible mileage, and the light controls make it a painless jump from the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. Cabin space and boot are genuinely family-friendly for 4-5 with luggage, and higher trims add city-friendly kit like the 360 camera and ventilated seats that you will actually use in summer. The only real trade-off is a slightly firm low-speed ride, and that top trims can stretch the budget.The Hyundai Creta is a close second if you prefer a softer, comfier feel. The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are the most fun to drive, but the rear seat and boot are tighter for five. The Honda Elevate is simple and efficient, but it feels a step behind on features.About waiting: the next-gen Hyundai Creta is expected early next year. Test mules have been spotted in India, which usually means it is in the final testing stages. It will move to the current Seltos K3 platform, which should mean a roomier cabin. It will also feature a new design language and a significantly improved interior. It's worth remembering that new launches are frequently delayed, and it's hard to be certain until an official confirmation from Hyundai. If you need a car soon, then get the Seltos now.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Autocar India

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Get the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic. It fits within Rs. 18-20 lakh, is compact enough to be easy in Mumbai traffic, and the turbo-petrol with the smooth automatic has the kind of mid-range shove that makes quick gaps, and flyover overtakes feel natural after an XUV500. You also get auto AC, central locking, power windows and a reverse camera in the Ambition/Style trims.What makes it work in the city is the clean, creep-friendly automatic and light steering, without the heat worries some dual-clutch setups can have in bumper-to-bumper. On the highway, it feels stable and confident, and the 1.0 turbo pulls stronger than most 1.5 NA rivals, so you won’t feel shortchanged when you need to get a move on.It isn’t as wide or roomy as your old XUV500, and fully loaded hill climbs won’t feel as effortless as a big diesel, but for daily Mumbai use with regular weekend runs, it strikes a good balance within your budget.If you want even more punch, consider the Renault Duster. Its wet-clutch DCT is smoother than the dry-clutch units found in cars such as the Kia Seltos, and it is less prone to overheating in stop-and-go traffic. On the downside, fuel efficiency is not particularly impressive, and rear seat space is more restricted than in the Skoda Kushaq.

Skoda Kushaq

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

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For your brief, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG would be our first recommendation. Coming from a Grand i10, it will feel like a massive upgrade in performance, sophistication and overall driving experience. The 1.5 TSI is genuinely fun, the DSG is quick and smooth once on the move, and the Kushaq still manages to be comfortable enough for family duty. The rear seat is also more accommodating, which matters when you are dealing with a child seat and all the associated family luggage on longer trips.A slightly more value-focused but equally appealing alternative is the new Renault Duster 1.3 turbo DCT. It is also genuinely enjoyable to drive, rides brilliantly, and the wet-clutch DCT is actually better suited to Bangalore traffic than the dry-clutch DSG in the Skoda. The only caveat is rear seat space, which is not as generous as the Kushaq, so if rear seat comfort with a child seat is a big factor, the Skoda has the edge.

Skoda Kushaq

Renault Duster

Autocar India

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Given your requirements, you should consider the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 turbo petrol automatic. The Skoda's punchy 150hp engine paired with a quick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox makes it great fun to drive. It's also small enough, so driving in the city and parking will not be an issue, and it stays stable and planted at highway speeds, which you'll appreciate. The Kushaq also strikes a great balance between ride comfort and handling. The rear seat, though not as spacious as some rivals, will easily be comfy enough for your kid and rather uniquely, the top-spec Kushaq also comes with a rear seat massaging function, which just adds to the comfort factor. So for your mix, the Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG lines up best.

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

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Since you are upgrading from a Fiat Punto Evo, you should consider the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG. Coming from the Punto, you'll appreciate the Skoda's European build quality and solid ride and handling balance. It also comes with a punchy 150hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, so you'll enjoy driving it. Safety is also taken care of, as it comes with 6 airbags, and the pre-facelift Kushaq has also received a 5-star crash safety rating. Given your budget of Rs 20-30 lakh, you can go for the top-spec Kushaq Monte Carlo, which comes with features like a panoramic sunroof, rear seat massage and much more.

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

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If strong performance is high on your priority list, we would be cautious about the Renault Duster 1.0 Techno. While we have experienced this 1.0 turbo petrol engine in the Magnite, where it feels punchy and capable, the Duster is a significantly larger and heavier SUV, so we do not expect it to feel particularly quick or effortless, especially if you are looking for a meaningful upgrade from a Kwid in outright performance.If your heart is set on the Duster, the smarter move would be to stretch slightly for the 1.3 turbo petrol, which sits only a little above your budget and will feel substantially stronger and more satisfying to drive, especially on rural roads where effortless overtaking and usable performance matter.If you are open to alternatives, the Skoda Kushaq Classic+ 1.0 TSI is a very strong option. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy, the Kushaq is genuinely nice to drive, has good rear seat space, solid build and safety credentials that you are looking for.If fuel efficiency matters more than outright performance, then the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol HTE(O) is worth considering as well. It will not feel as punchy as the turbo petrol options, but it is the most premium feeling of the lot, more efficient in everyday use and a very sorted family SUV overall.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

Renault Duster

Renault Kwid

Nissan Magnite

Autocar India

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The new Renault Duster 1.3 DCT feels like the most natural upgrade. You already know and appreciate the Duster formula, but this new one moves the game on significantly. The big advantage is the wet clutch DCT, which is smoother and better suited to Indian traffic than the dry clutch DSGs in the VW and Skoda. Ride comfort is another big strength, and if you do long-distance touring, the Duster’s absorbent suspension and SUV character will feel instantly familiar, just in a far more polished package. The only real downside is that rear seat space is not class-leading.The Volkswagen Taigun GT and Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo are both excellent cars to drive. That 1.5 TSI is a strong engine, and both feel quick, polished and in some ways more sophisticated than the Duster. Between the two, the choice largely comes down to taste because mechanically, they are nearly identical. The Taigun has a more understated personality, while the Kushaq Monte Carlo feels a touch sportier. The caveat is the dry clutch DSG, which is brilliant once on the move, but not as naturally comfortable in heavy stop-and-go traffic as the Renault’s wet clutch setup.

Renault Duster

Volkswagen Taigun

Skoda Kushaq