Skoda cars in India (9)

autocar.india

•16h

The Hyundai Creta N Line is a sportier-looking derivative of the Creta. It gets revised front-end styling, red detailing, larger 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler and dual tip exhausts on the outside. The interior gets an all-black look with red detailing, which does give the cabin a sporty flavour. Unique to the Creta N Line is the option of a manual gearbox with the turbo-petrol engine. The steering has also been redone for more weight.The larger wheels and tweaks to the steering do make the Creta N Line feel slightly sportier to drive. However, the dual tip exhausts sound no different to the standard Creta's, and that's a downer. Further, the move to larger wheels comes with a firmer ride, which can get uncomfortable. Also, the 6-speed manual gearbox isn't the slickest or most enjoyable. We'd stick to the DCT.In a nutshell, while the N Line does look distinctive and attractive, it isn't the best Creta you can buy. The standard model feels comfier, and its lower price also makes it a better deal. If you want an enjoyable driving experience above all else, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG or VW Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG will satisfy you more.

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq

autocar.india

•5m

Buy the Toyota Camry. Its rear seat is genuinely lounge-like with a power recline function, the ride is soft, and the cabin is quiet. The petrol strong hybrid powertrain is one of the best around, feels refined and effortless in the city, and has enough power on the highway. You get the smoothness and efficiency of an EV without the stress of having to charge it. And Toyota's low running costs and excellent service quality will give you peace of mind too.It does not feel particularly thrilling to drive, and it is a sedan, so speed breakers or steep ramps need more care than an SUV. If you do want an SUV stance and a punchier engine, the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tayron are good upgrades from your Tucson. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is eager, and it cruises beautifully, and the ride is exceptional too. It's just that, being a turbo petrol in a large SUV, these two are not very fuel efficient.Sadly, there are no plans for Hyundai to bring in a new Tucson or Santa Fe. Kia, however, is looking at bringing in the Sorento, the Santa Fe's counterpart from its portfolio, later this year or early next year, possibly with hybrid power. If you aren't in a hurry, that might be worth waiting for.

Toyota Camry

Skoda Kodiaq

Volkswagen Tayron

Kia Sorento

autocar.india

•1d

The first thing to note is that with a Rs. 12 lakh budget, the Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia may be difficult to fit in unless you're looking at entry-level variants or stretching your budget. The Tata Nexon, on the other hand, sits much more comfortably within your range.Between a sedan and an SUV, we'd lean towards a sedan for your usage pattern. With your driving split evenly between city and highway and a relatively modest monthly running of around 1,000km, a sedan generally offers better ride comfort, superior highway stability and a more engaging driving experience. Coming from a Tata Tiago, a Virtus or Slavia will feel like a substantial upgrade in terms of refinement, space and overall quality.If your budget is firm at Rs 12. lakh, we'd suggest looking at the Skoda Kylaq Automatic or Honda Amaze CVT as well. The Kylaq offers SUV practicality, strong safety credentials and a fun turbo-petrol engine, while the Amaze provides the smoothest automatic experience and excellent long-term ownership appeal.The Tata Nexon remains a good all-rounder with strong safety credentials and a practical cabin, but if your heart is set on a Virtus or Slavia and you can stretch the budget, they are the more rewarding cars to own and drive.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

Tata Nexon

Tata Tiago

Skoda Kylaq

Honda Amaze

autocar.india

•23h

Pick the Hyundai Verna Turbo DCT. Not only is the powertrain smooth and quick, but it is likely to be a bit more efficient than the Skoda's despite the latter getting an active cylinder deactivation function. Additionally, Hyundai’s service reach brings peace of mind.Yes, the Verna lacks the Slavia's solidity and sure-footedness; however, the Hyundai makes up for it to a great extent by packing ADAS, which will make your drive more stress-free and safer. Overall, in terms of features and value-for-money, the Verna is the better option.

Hyundai Verna

Skoda Slavia

autocar.india

•2d

If you consider new tech and green energy, pick the Tata Curvv EV. With 40 km a day in the city, an EV makes the most sense - you can charge at home once or twice a week, spend far less per km, and enjoy a quiet, smooth drive in traffic. The big question is, do you have a dedicated parking spot with a plug at home or office? If yes, you’re set. You will barely visit public chargers for city use, and the range will easily cover a week of commuting.The Skoda Kylaq is still a sensible pick only if you cannot install home charging or you often do long highway runs. Petrol refuelling is instant, and planning is zero, so it is easier outside the city.One catch with the Curvv EV is its higher upfront price, patchy or busy public chargers on some routes, and a likely poor resale value. However, for your daily city use, though, Curvv EV wins.

Tata Curvv EV

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•4d

The Skoda Kylaq Automatic would be the recommendation here. Coming from a 2011 Alto, the Kylaq will feel like a significant upgrade in terms of comfort, safety, performance and overall refinement. It offers strong build quality, a spacious cabin for a family of four, excellent safety credentials and a smooth automatic gearbox that makes city driving effortless. It is also comfortable enough for the two long trips you undertake every year.If low maintenance and hassle-free ownership are your top priorities, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza Automatic is another excellent option. It may not feel quite as solid or enjoyable to drive as the Skoda, but it offers proven reliability, good fuel efficiency and one of the widest service networks in the country.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•3d

The Honda Amaze Diesel has served you well, but given your current usage pattern, a diesel would not be our first choice today.With a daily running of around 50km and just one long trip a month, both petrol and EV options make more sense. If you have access to home charging, an EV can significantly reduce your running costs. In that case, the Tata Punch EV Long Range would be a strong contender. It offers good safety credentials, smooth performance and more than enough range for your daily commute and occasional longer journeys.If you'd rather stick with an ICE vehicle, the Skoda Kylaq Automatic would be our recommendation. Its torque-converter automatic gearbox is smooth and reliable, the turbo-petrol engine offers strong performance and it has solid safety credentials. However, it won't match an EV for running costs.

Honda Amaze

Skoda Kylaq

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•4d

Coming from a Datsun Go, you'll probably appreciate a car that feels light, easy to manoeuvre and has a responsive engine rather than a large SUV. Given your relatively low monthly running of around 400km and the fact that most of your driving will be in Bengaluru, a petrol automatic makes the most sense.Our pick would be the Skoda Kylaq Signature AT. It is compact enough for city traffic, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine feels genuinely peppy and the torque-converter automatic is smooth and easy to live with. It also offers a substantial upgrade over the Datsun in terms of safety, refinement and overall quality.If you prefer a hatchback, the Hyundai i20 IVT is worth considering. It is easy to drive in traffic, has a smooth and refined powertrain and offers a premium cabin. While it isn't as punchy as the Kylaq, it remains one of the best all-round city cars in this price range.As for the Hyundai Bayon, we wouldn't recommend delaying your purchase for it. Even if Hyundai decides to bring it to India, it is likely to be positioned above your budget and could end up closer to the Creta in terms of pricing.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Bayon

autocar.india

•3d

The Honda Amaze CVT would be the recommendation here. Since this will be a secondary car primarily for city use in Delhi NCR, with monthly running of just 600-700km and a focus on long-term ownership, the Amaze makes a lot of sense. The CVT automatic is among the smoothest gearboxes in this price range, the petrol engine is refined and proven, and Honda's reputation for reliability and hassle-free ownership is hard to ignore. If you're planning to take the maximum warranty and service packages, it should be an extremely easy car to live with for many years.The Hyundai i20 IVT would be the second choice. It feels more premium inside than the Amaze, offers excellent fit and finish, and its IVT automatic is just as smooth in city traffic. It is also compact and easy to drive, making it a great urban runabout.If you're willing to stretch your budget slightly, the Skoda Kylaq Classic+ AT is worth considering. It brings the benefits of an SUV body style, a solid feel and a smooth torque-converter automatic. However, for your specific use case, the Honda and Hyundai edge it out thanks to their smoother powertrains and stronger reputation for long-term ownership peace of mind.

Honda Amaze

Hyundai i20

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•4d

Go ahead with the Skoda Slavia 1.0 automatic. For Bengaluru traffic and family use, it will be nicer daily, and the current car is E20-compliant too.The Slavia’s 6‑speed automatic is smooth in stop‑go, the cabin and boot are a clear step up from your i20, and its high ground clearance for a sedan handles bad roads and speed humps without drama. Skoda’s 1.0 TSI is built to run on E20, so you won’t harm the engine or void the warranty. You may see a small dip in mileage with higher ethanol and, versus your diesel, expect higher fuel bills.Since you’d booked the Kylaq, know this: it drives almost similarly to the Slavia with the 1.0 automatic. Pick it only if you really want the higher seating and compact dimensions. If your running is mostly in the city and if your family prefers a sedan, the Slavia makes sense.Rs. 18 lakh on road for Prestige is fair in Bengaluru, and Rs. 4.6 lakh for your i20 diesel at 1.15 lakh km is about par. Unless you’re happy to keep the i20 another year just to save cash, there’s no strong reason to wait.

Skoda Slavia

Skoda Kylaq