Volkswagen cars in India (7)

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The Taigun 1.5's character is very different from the 1.0 TSI's. While the latter has some lag followed by a strong surge of performance, the 1.5 pulls in a more linear, consistent manner. That said, the 1.5's drivability as well as outright acceleration, is much stronger than the 1.0. Since your vehicle is only 6 months old (covered by factory warranty), we'd advise you against any performance modifications, which will void your warranty. But if you're keen on sprucing up the Taigun's performance, upgrade your car's air intake and exhaust system. These mods will ensure that your engine feels a bit livelier, while adding some aural drama too. If budget permits, you could consider an ECU remap - performance gain will be noticeable. Do keep in mind that not many tuners can tune the 1.5 TSI's ECU reliably, so do your research carefully before opting for it.

Volkswagen Taigun

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Get the Honda City petrol, V trim, because you already like how a City drives, and this keeps the same easy, calm feel with a telescopic wheel, simple cabin and Honda reliability. The screen is modest, and there are still proper buttons and knobs, so it does not feel like a tablet on wheels. It is quiet, comfy over bad roads, and the petrol is smooth and efficient in real life, around 12-17 kpl depending on traffic.Safety kit is strong with 6 airbags, ESC and ISOFIX, and Honda’s service network is painless if you plan to keep the car long. One honest catch: there is no diesel now, but with your usage, the petrol will suit you just fine.If top-tier crash rating matters more than anything, look at the Skoda Slavia or VW Virtus 1.0 with lower trims for fewer screens. They are 5-star rated and drive well, but their ride is a bit firmer and long-term ownership can be fussier than Honda.

Honda City

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

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Pick the Innova HyCross Hybrid ZX(O). If you have family on board often and spend lots of time in city traffic, the hybrid will cut your fuel bills noticeably, and the automatic transmission feels calm and smooth. It is also simply easier for parents and kids - more space, a comfier second row with captain seats, and a softer ride on bad roads. Keep it 6-8 years, and Toyota’s resale and hassle-free upkeep matter.The Tayron R-Line only makes more sense if you’re mostly four or five, you drive yourself, and you value a sharper, more fun feel on highways. It will feel livelier and more premium from the driver’s seat, but you’ll stop for fuel more, and you give up the HyCross’s people-carrying ease.One catch with the HyCross: it does not feel as exciting to drive as the Tayron, and the engine can sound a bit busy when you floor it.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Volkswagen Tayron

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Stick with the Seltos HTE (O) IVT at the revised Rs 13.71 lakh, because the Rs. 33,000 hike is annoying but gets you one of the few smooth automatics you can get near this price, and you already have a booking so you will get it sooner. For mostly city use, this powertrain is easy and stress free, and the Seltos gives you more cabin feel and safety kit than smaller crossovers.First ask your dealer if your booking qualifies for any price protection or old-price invoicing. Some batches do, some may not, but it is worth pushing.If this new price now feels tight or you want stronger highway punch, the next best fit is Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 AT or Skoda Kushaq 1.0 AT, but both generally cost more for similar variants. The Seltos HTE (O) IVT represents excellent value for money, even at the revised price, as it gets you one of the newest, most spacious and best-quality SUVs in the segment, with an automatic, at a great price.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

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Between the German twins, the choice largely comes down to personal preference, as they share the same engines, gearboxes and underpinnings. We slightly prefer the Kushaq for its cleaner design, excellent ride and handling balance and overall value proposition.As for the DSG, it isn't as big a concern as it once was. The current DSGs are far more robust than the earlier units, but if your driving is predominantly in bumper-to-bumper NCR traffic, a torque-converter automatic is still the smoother and more relaxed option over the long term. If you want to stay with a German SUV but avoid the DSG altogether, the 1.0 TSI automatic in the Kushaq and Taigun now comes with an 8-speed Aisin torque-converter, which is smooth, refined and better suited to heavy city traffic.Coming from the S-Cross Petrol, you'll notice a significant step up in performance, cabin quality, safety and driving dynamics with either car.

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

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Consider the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid. Your bumper-to-bumper use is where this car shines, sipping fuel while the automatic glides along, and it still feels relaxed on a 50-100 km highway run. It looks sharp, seats five fine, and the hybrid’s smoothness will spoil you after the Swift. The boot is smaller than rivals, and the hybrid variants sit near the top of your budget, but the city savings are real.Alternatively, consider the Kia Seltos IVT. It is roomy for 5 passengers, the IVT is seamless in city traffic, and fuel efficiency is good for this class, too. If you value a solid, fun drive, try the Skoda Kushaq or VW Taigun 1.0 automatics, though they will use a bit more fuel in the city.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

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As far as your query regarding the Virtus GT or Slavia goes, both cars are mechanically identical, and the difference between their ride quality, if any, is negligible. Pick the one that appeals to you more. For bad city roads, these cars ride better than you’d expect, with enough ground clearance and suspension travel to clear tall speed breakers and swallow most potholes. Also, stability is rock-solid, which inspires great confidence at highway speeds.Volkswagen will be launching the updated Virtus towards the end of this year. It is likely to get some cosmetic enhancements, new features, and, more importantly, an upgraded air-con unit for more effective cooling. If you can, do wait for that.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

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You don’t have to sell the Figo yet. If it’s healthy, keep it 1-2 years more; parts and service are still fine, and depreciation from here is slow. The Rs. 2.75 lakh offer is fair for a 2019 petrol at 65k km. Try direct sale or multiple portals and aim closer to Rs. 3 lakh-plus if the car is clean.Pick the VW Taigun 1.5 if you upgrade now, because it’s the only one on your list that truly feels like a step up from your Figo for daily drives and relaxed highway runs. The 1.5 is punchy, and the steering and body control make city and highway drives enjoyable. One honest catch: the automatic can feel a bit hesitant in crawl; the manual is more fun if you don’t mind a clutch. The Honda Elevate is nice, but it isn't as enjoyable as the VW/Skoda SUVs.With 500-600 km a month in the city and about 2,000km a year out of town, an EV like the Nexon EV won’t pay back quickly unless you have cheap home charging and your running shoots up.Go petrol. Don’t stress about E20/E30 - the VW-Skoda 1.0/1.5 are E20-ready, and should not pose issues if and when E30 is rolled out.

Volkswagen Taigun

Honda Elevate

Tata Nexon EV

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Honda City SV manual suits your 50 km daily run best. Its 1.5 petrol is the smoothest here and the clutch and steering are light, so long city commutes will feel easier. In real traffic you will usually see better economy than the other two, and the rear seat space and ride comfort are still the class benchmark for family use.Volkswagen Virtus 1.5 TSI is no longer available with a manual so your choices are either the 1.5 TSI DSG or the 1.0 TSI manual. They are the fun pick if you love strong mid‑range and highway performance. For daily stop‑go, though, the turbo’s appetite will make it a bit costlier to run.Hyundai Verna 1.5 manual is very smooth and well equipped, but the Honda City still remains the better car to drive and be driven in.

Honda City

Volkswagen Virtus

Hyundai Verna

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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