Volkswagen Taigun

Autocar India

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Opt for the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong hybrid if your priority is low running cost and stress-free ownership, but there are a couple of alternatives depending on what you value more. At your age and usage, frequent Gurgaon to Chandigarh runs plus city driving, the Hyryder makes a lot of sense because it is extremely efficient and very easy to live with. The strong hybrid system can deliver excellent real-world efficiency and even run a significant portion on electric power in traffic, which keeps costs low, and it is smooth, comfortable and reliable over long distances.That said, it is not a very exciting car to drive. The focus is on comfort and efficiency rather than performance, so if you enjoy driving, it may feel a bit dull on highways.If you want something more fun and engaging, look at the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun. Both are great to drive on highways like Gurgaon to Chandigarh and feel more solid at high speeds, but they will be less efficient and slightly higher to maintain.If you want a more premium and feature-rich option, the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta are strong alternatives. They offer better interiors, more features and a more modern feel, but again, fuel efficiency will not match the hybrid.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Autocar India

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If you found the Hyundai Creta the most comfortable but too dated, the obvious answer is the new Kia Seltos. It gives you that same relaxed, easy-going ride but is more spacious than the Creta and feels more modern and upmarket inside, which will make your frequent Jaipur-Delhi runs nicer to live with.Given your usage is mainly highway with the Polo handling city duty, we would strongly recommend the 1.5 turbo-petrol Seltos. It has a strong mid-range punch, plenty of torque for effortless overtakes, and cruises very comfortably, which is exactly what you want for long, fast runs.The new Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and Renault Duster are all very good to drive on the highway and dynamically more engaging, but as you’ve noticed, their rear seats are tighter for three adults across, and that’s a compromise on long trips with family. That’s where the Seltos scores: it strikes the best balance between space, comfort and a properly fresh cabin.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Renault Duster

Autocar India

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After driving your Vento for over 15 years, it’s easy to see why you value the solid, planted feel of a German car. Given your age, highway usage and preference for a large boot and higher seating, moving to a German SUV is a very logical next (and final) step.The Volkswagen Taigun remains the most straightforward upgrade. The 2026 facelift, which will be unveiled on April 9th, brings refreshed interiors and the new 8‑speed torque‑converter automatic for the 1.0 TSI, while the 1.5 TSI with DSG still delivers that strong, confident performance you’re used to. It will feel familiar enough coming from a Vento, but with better access, visibility and luggage space.If you’re willing to stretch the budget, the newly launched Volkswagen Tayron R‑Line is the one that truly feels like a “last car”. It’s a larger, three‑row SUV positioned above the Tiguan, with a big 850‑litre boot (with the third row folded), a powerful 2.0 TSI engine, 7‑speed DSG and all‑wheel drive for outstanding high‑speed stability and safety. The cabin is modern and feature-packed, and the driving manners are very much in line with what you like about your current VW.You mentioned electric as a preference, but given your running (under 12,000 km a year) and the state of charging infrastructure and costs, a refined turbo‑petrol like the Taigun or Tayron remains the more practical and stress‑free solution for the next 10-15 years.

Volkswagen Taigun

Volkswagen Tayron

Autocar India

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The Kia Seltos with the 1.5 NA petrol engine is a nice pick if you are not necessarily looking for exciting performance. Power delivery is smooth, refinement is good, and there's enough performance for average city driving. There is enough power for gentle cruising on the highway, too. You will miss the punch from the engine when you want a fast overtake, though. The 1.5 NA petrol engine works particularly well with the IVT auto gearbox. If it's a punchy performance you are looking for, the Seltos with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is worth a look. Alternatives include Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, whose 1.0-litre/ 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines feel strong and exciting.

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Autocar India

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A 360-degree camera on the facelifted Volkswagen Taigun is highly unlikely. The recently revealed facelift of its sister model, the Skoda Kushaq, does not get a 360-degree camera either. Since both cars share the same platform and usually have almost identical feature sets, it is unlikely that Volkswagen will introduce that feature only on the Taigun.What the Taigun facelift is more likely to get are the same updates seen on the Kushaq. These could include features such as rear seat massage, a panoramic sunroof, Google Gemini integration in the infotainment system and a larger 10.1-inch digital instrument cluster.Apart from these feature additions, the core mechanical package with the 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo petrol engines is expected to remain unchanged.

Volkswagen Taigun

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

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In terms of lowest maintenance, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara will top the list. It doesn’t come with ADAS at all, so you can opt for the top Alpha+ variant with all the bells and whistles and still skip ADAS. If you choose the strong hybrid version, it delivers superb fuel efficiency in the city, while all versions have a comfortable ride and spacious cabin.Among your other picks, the Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq also don’t get ADAS and are otherwise well-equipped, particularly the newly facelifted Kushaq, though maintenance may be a bit more expensive.The Honda Elevate gets ADAS on the top ZX variant, which means you will have to opt for the VX and miss out on some other features. For your needs, the Grand Vitara is the best fit, but do test drive all these cars before making a decision.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Volkswagen Taigun

Honda Elevate

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

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If you are looking for something with similar performance to the Citroen Basalt/Aircross, you should consider the Volkswagen Taigun or the Skoda Kushaq with the 1.0 TSI and torque converter automatic. The facelifted Kushaq now gets an 8-speed automatic replacing the old 6-speed unit, and the Taigun will get the same when it is facelifted later this year.The 1.0 TSI makes a healthy 115hp and 178Nm, which delivers better performance than the naturally aspirated engine in the Elevate and is on par with the Basalt. The 6-speed torque converter automatic was also smooth-shifting and very convenient to use, and we expect the 8-speed to be more of the same. With 80 percent of your driving in heavy Bengaluru traffic, this transmission will be a boon.Prices for the facelifted Kushaq will be announced later this month, and we expect our first drive reviews to drop around the same time. Before you decide, take a test drive, of course.

Citroen Basalt

Citroen Aircross

Volkswagen Taigun

Autocar India

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Since you are coming from a Volkswagen Virtus, you will naturally appreciate the Volkswagen Taigun or Skoda Kushaq, as both SUVs carry the same DNA of solid build quality and excellent driving dynamics. Between the two, the Kushaq, which has just been updated with fresher looks, more features and a stronger aircon, would be the better option.You can opt for the 1.0 TSI variant with a six-speed automatic transmission, which is well-suited for city driving. It’s not the most fuel-efficient SUV in the segment, but considering your monthly running of around 200km, that shouldn’t matter too much.However, do note that the back seat of the Kushaq (and Taigun) isn’t the most spacious. If you are looking for better rear seat comfort and slightly better efficiency, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol with the CVT automatic is another good option to consider.

Skoda Kushaq

Kia Seltos

Volkswagen Taigun

Volkswagen Virtus

Autocar India

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If you enjoy driving your Polo and it is running well, there is no real reason to replace it right now.Your 2013 Polo GT TSI uses a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine that is still smoother and more refined than many of today’s three-cylinder units, including those in cars like the Hyundai i20 N Line. With around 80,000km on the clock and good maintenance, it has plenty of life left and should easily serve you until your retirement in 2029 without major trouble.There is also the value angle to consider. The Polo GT TSI still commands good resale today. If you sell it now, you will get a stronger price than you likely will in 2029. That money could go towards newer midsize SUVs such as the upcoming Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun facelift, which offer similar performance along with clear gains in space, comfort and features.

Volkswagen Taigun

Autocar India

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The MG Astor is a decent all-rounder amongst the mid-size SUVs, but it doesn't excel in any particular area. You're right to observe that its 1.5-litre petrol engine won't feel punchy enough for highway overtakes, and moreover, it doesn't give you that confident, planted feel at high speeds. Design aside, both the Tata Nexon and the Kia Sonet will feel cramped compared to other SUVs available at this price.Given your priorities, you should definitely stretch for the Volkswagen Taigun Topline, as it seems to perfectly align with your needs. The 1.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine has loads of punch, the SUV feels superbly planted at highway speeds, and on top of that, it is comfortable as well.It has a 5-star Global NCAP rating, so safety shouldn't be an issue, and since it is the Topline variant, it has plenty of features. There is a facelift of the Taigun coming later this year, but the price you are getting this 2025 example is too good to ignore, so we feel you should go for it.

Volkswagen Taigun

Kia Sonet

Tata Nexon

MG Astor