[lina]

Originally Posted by mvr

Thanks. Going by the earlier suggestion to avoid AMT if possible, and considering the features (safety, comfortable 5 seater, automatic transmission; below 20L) that I am looking for, it looks like Skoda Kushaq and the starting/mid variants of Tata Harrier or MG Hector seem to be options. Any other/further recommendations/suggestions?

As mentioned earlier, my suggestion is the MG ZS EV (24L). I know it is more than 20L but so will the Kushaq/Taigun for a 1.5 automatic. Test drive it regardless.

If not for the ZS EV, my choice would be the XUV700 and then the Kushaq/Taigun.

[mvr]

Originally Posted by lina

As mentioned earlier, my suggestion is the MG ZS EV (24L). I know it is more than 20L but so will the Kushaq/Taigun for a 1.5 automatic. Test drive it regardless.

If not for the ZS EV, my choice would be the XUV700 and then the Kushaq/Taigun.

I was looking into EVs earlier (had a great interest in the launch of Mahindra XUV 400), but I had to take a back step because 1) this would be our only car, 2) there will not necessarily be too much of city driving and 3) the charging infrastructure (not to mention the charging time) on highways is not as good as it should be. Putting up charging points even in housing communities could be a hassle.

I had XUV 700 in my list, but the waiting time (that I heard/read is 16-18 months) is a major put off.

[lina]

Originally Posted by mvr

I had XUV 700 in my list, but the waiting time (that I heard/read is 16-18 months) is a major put off.

Got it. I guess Kushaq/Taigun would be your best choice then!

[mvr]

Originally Posted by lina

Got it. I guess Kushaq/Taigun would be your best choice then!

Thanks. Considering only the dimensions, would it be fair to say that there doesn't seem to be much of a difference between a subcompact SUV (such as Nexon) and a compact SUV (such as Creta/Kushaq/Taigun)? I did notice other additional features in the compact SUV, but I am not sure of the advantage the additional 250-300 mm of length compact SUVs provide. Can you (and other members) please throw some light on this aspect?

[Auto_guy_101]

Thanks for your take. I'm actually in two minds now - keep it or change it. And the test drives I had weren't really satisfactory. Going to look at the used market too.

But yes - I'm considering waiting upto the 10 year mark.

Apologies for my late reply... guess its very difficult to login and view from mobile.

[Auto_guy_101]

Originally Posted by NarediAni7518

The hyryder is a compelling package, do take a test drive of the same. Also, do check out the MG Astor as well. And even though you’re preferring an SUV/crossover this time, but still I would advice you to check out the Honda city hybrid strongly.

Did a TD with the GV mild hybrid - engine response seems very poor (compared to my vento MPI)
MG Astor: did a TD. Genuinely impressed and considering this. 22 L OTR for the turbo seems a tad bit high though
City hybrid: not considering. I'm not a real sedan person and even if I'm looking for sedans, the Slavia/ Virtus are too good to pass up

[Auto_guy_101]

Originally Posted by Tanu3000

Hi,
Lets assume you had a 100 Rupees to spend on your hypothetical new car. How many rupees would you spend on each of the below aspects of your new car?

• Performance - All aspects
• Safety - Perceived or Proven
• Brand Value
• Rear Seat Comfort
• Interior Feel
• Reliability
• Feature Distribution
• Service Experience
• Total Cost of Ownership

Cheers.

• Performance - All aspects: 20
• Safety - Perceived or Proven: 10
• Brand Value: 0 (other aspects are already based on the brand)
• Rear Seat Comfort: 10
• Interior Feel: 10
• Reliability: 20
• Feature Distribution: 5 (bluetooth, wireless carplay, cruise control are good enough for me. Ventilated seats, leather, sunroof, dual tone are just nice to have and not required. ADAS and AI features seem a waste mostly)
• Service Experience: 10
• Total Cost of Ownership: 20

An MG astor's interiors with a TC and Kushaq's 1.5 L and build would be my ideal car. Take away the leatherette seats, sunroof and viola - 20 L OTR. Alas, there's no car like that.

[Auto_guy_101]

Originally Posted by bijims

Considering the options listed, here are my suggestions:

Thanks. I've had a chance to TD most

1. Taigun/ Kushaq: Awesome driver's car with worse seats than a budget hatch. Even the 1 L is good until you hit 3-digit speeds. Paddle shifters make it even better. TC auto starts at 17.5 OTR - which seems slightly high (making the TC topend and DSG variants seem more reasonable)
2. The korean twins: haven't TDed yet. But the pricing is bad. 19.x L OTR for the AT (imt is a gimmick) is too much. DCT variant is lovely - but again 22.x L OTR seems excessive for this.
3. Nexon: I drove the electric. Impressed but 250 Km range is an issue
4. XUV700: Yet to TD. ATs are expensive and mileage/ size would be an issue.
5. GV/ Hyrider: TD of mild hybrid. Engine is poor (wrt 8 yr old vento) and interior fit/ finish is avg (I'm coming from a german experience).
6. Thar: Yet to TD. I'm willing to wait for a 5 door. Only issues seem to be mileage and Mahindra's service reliability (not sure how they are)
7. MG Astor: 4.5/5 car. Even the CVT is pretty good. 17-19 L OTR is good too.
8. Nissan Kicks: Showroom has 1.5 MT for 11.3 L OTR. Big car but below avg in everything else at best. The TD vehicle's clutch got burned getting it into my parking lot
9. MG Hector: Lovely seating position. Had this been not a 4.7 m car, this would've been my bet

If you think my pricing thoughts are biased, I got my vento topline (MT topend in 2014) for 9.7 L OTR. So spending more than twice and not getting a top end seems a bad deal.

[Tanu3000]

Originally Posted by Auto_guy_101

• Performance - All aspects: 20
• Safety - Perceived or Proven: 10
• Brand Value: 0 (other aspects are already based on the brand)
• Rear Seat Comfort: 10
• Interior Feel: 10
• Reliability: 20
• Feature Distribution: 5 (bluetooth, wireless carplay, cruise control are good enough for me. Ventilated seats, leather, sunroof, dual tone are just nice to have and not required. ADAS and AI features seem a waste mostly)
• Service Experience: 10
• Total Cost of Ownership: 20

Looking at the three 20's above, you want a balance between performance/reliability/total cost of ownership. Looking at the three 10's above, you want a balance between safety/rear seat comfort/interior feel.

Your requirement has MG Astor (Turbo petrol with TC) written all over it. You get a lot of car for the money. It looks decent and drives well (1.3 Turbo Petrol is very smooth and almost imperceptible). The Indian car hasnt been crash tested yet, but the global one is 5 star rated. The rear seat is decently comfortable, but seating 3 is still a "slight" squeeze. The Interior feel is the best in the segment I dont have enough info on its service cost though.

Originally Posted by Auto_guy_101

An MG astor's interiors with a TC and Kushaq's 1.5 L and build would be my ideal car. Take away the leatherette seats, sunroof and viola - 20 L OTR. Alas, there's no car like that.

You spent Rs50 on the Interior (MG Astor Interior) and Rs50 on the engine (Kushaq 1.5 TSI). You dont have any money left for the rest of the car

Do let me know what you think of the suggestion. I own a Taigun GT+ and MG Astor was on my radar when it came out as well.

Cheers.

[Tanu3000]

Originally Posted by Auto_guy_101

Thanks. I've had a chance to TD most

1. Taigun/ Kushaq: Awesome driver's car with worse seats than a budget hatch. Even the 1 L is good until you hit 3-digit speeds. Paddle shifters make it even better. TC auto starts at 17.5 OTR - which seems slightly high (making the TC topend and DSG variants seem more reasonable)
2. The korean twins: haven't TDed yet. But the pricing is bad. 19.x L OTR for the AT (imt is a gimmick) is too much. DCT variant is lovely - but again 22.x L OTR seems excessive for this.
3. Nexon: I drove the electric. Impressed but 250 Km range is an issue
4. XUV700: Yet to TD. ATs are expensive and mileage/ size would be an issue.
5. GV/ Hyrider: TD of mild hybrid. Engine is poor (wrt 8 yr old vento) and interior fit/ finish is avg (I'm coming from a german experience).
6. Thar: Yet to TD. I'm willing to wait for a 5 door. Only issues seem to be mileage and Mahindra's service reliability (not sure how they are)
7. MG Astor: 4.5/5 car. Even the CVT is pretty good. 17-19 L OTR is good too.
8. Nissan Kicks: Showroom has 1.5 MT for 11.3 L OTR. Big car but below avg in everything else at best. The TD vehicle's clutch got burned getting it into my parking lot
9. MG Hector: Lovely seating position. Had this been not a 4.7 m car, this would've been my bet

If you think my pricing thoughts are biased, I got my vento topline (MT topend in 2014) for 9.7 L OTR. So spending more than twice and not getting a top end seems a bad deal.

I note, you dont have any negatives for the MG Astor

Cars have become expensive. We cant compare prices from yester years any more. To give you an example I purchased my Polo petrol highline in end 2014 for 7.5Lakh OTR (Bangalore). I purchased the Taigun GT+ in end May 2022 for 22.9Lakh OTR (Bangalore). This makes the Taigun GT+ thrice the price of the polo objectively. But is Taigun GT+ thrice the car the polo was? Definitely not.

But my wife was looking at purchasing a polo last year (Sept 2021). A polo petrol highline AT was coming to 11.5Lakh OTR (Bangalore). So if you see Polo at 11.5 Lakh OTR and Taigun GT+ at 21.5 Lakh OTR (Sept 2021) are now more comparable. The Taigun GT+ is definitely twice the car compared to the Polo.

"Rising Input Costs, Inflation" be blamed

Hope this view helps you make peace with the money outflow. Food for thought.

[Auto_guy_101]

Originally Posted by Tanu3000

Do let me know what you think of the suggestion. I own a Taigun GT+ and MG Astor was on my radar when it came out as well.

I'm sold on the Astor. Only consideration for me now is: wait and buy something better in 1-2 yrs or settle on an Astor/ Taigun GT - very confused between the 2.

Why I would wait: I'm 25 and my lifestyle could change considerably in 1-2 yrs. Also I get to enjoy the Vento 😅

[Tanu3000]

Originally Posted by Auto_guy_101

I'm sold on the Astor. Only consideration for me now is: wait and buy something better in 1-2 yrs or settle on an Astor/ Taigun GT - very confused between the 2.

Why I would wait: I'm 25 and my lifestyle could change considerably in 1-2 yrs. Also I get to enjoy the Vento 😅

You have test driven both the Astor and the Taigun GT+. And if you are still confused, then get the MG Astor. The Taigun GT+ is a pure driver's car with compromises on everything else. You are not its target customer. I test drove the Astor and the Taigun GT+. I chose the Taigun GT+ and I happily listen to my family complain about the car every day

I have my own personal take on the current automotive situation worldwide and in India.

• We have already passed the peak for NA ICE engines (No more massive W16, V12, V10. V8's themselves are rare).
• We are at the peak of the turbo ICE engines (Small petrol engines with twin/quad turbos in performance cars).
• We are at the beginning of the EV revolution (Lead by Tesla)

So technology wise, you will get the best turbo petrol cars that you will ever get, right now. If you wait a few years more for a purchase, these cars may be phased out. But if you want to get an EV, the future is bright and there will be better EVs in the market.

So depends on what you want.

• Want an ICE? Now is the right time to purchase it, if you wait a few years, you may get different models but definitely not better engines. And obviously they will be more expensive (Courtesy Inflation )
• Want an EV? Wait. The Nexon EV is just the beginning. Mahindra is bringing a full range in and so is probably everybody else.

Cheers.

[Auto_guy_101]

Thanks for your take. I've loved EVs since the roadster launch event ��. However, shoping under a 20-25 L budget, I'm very worried about range anxiety.

(most of my trips have been 150 km round trip to next district and longer trips of 700/1000 round trip. And EVs are not very highway friendly).

[Auto_guy_101]

Originally Posted by Auto_guy_101

I want a decent performer with decent mileage and trouble-free maintenance. The budget is around 20L but can be pushed for a good deal. But AT is a must. Preference for SUVs.

Hi All,

Thanks to advice from the forum and a few test drives, I’ve decided to keep my Vento for 1-1.5 years more. I also realized that few cars under 20L can actually match up to the Vento and none surpass the experience. Hence, I’ve also reconsidered my requirements and budget. I also felt this is a good time to start looking for a replacement.

I’m now looking at a 30-35L (new) or 20L (used) budget. And the car must be comfortable, fun to drive, AT, and needs to be trouble-free ownership. My usage will be largely for weekend trips and highway drives with occasional use in Bangalore or Kochi traffic. My usage will be at most 8000-10000 Km/yr. There will be mostly no daily commute at all. The following are some cars I’m considering although I haven’t test driven most of them

1. Octavia: A real VAG upgrade that would bring a grin every time I accelerate. This would be my 1st choice if not for the maintenance costs and low GC.

2. The M&M’s (diesel): XUV700 and Scorpio N are some of the most Value for money offerings in the market. The premium for 4X4, poor high-speed handling (vs Octavia), and frequent niggles with them don’t convince me though

3. Hycross Hybrid: Solid vehicle that’s a tad bit large and not that sporty. I also don’t need a 7-seater.

4. The EVs: BYD atto 3, MG ZS, Hyundai Kona. Their instant torque, decent range, and overall build have me sold. EVs are generally low on maintenance too. Their low running cost also makes them suitable for short city runs. I think a 500km real-world range and 2-3L price drop could happen in this space.

5. The lower segment hybrids: Hyryder and City eHEV. These are very practical, a little less fun, and very economical to maintain. I do feel they are about 2L overpriced though.

6. Jeep Compass (diesel): A car I love but also one that is expensive to maintain and not the most reliable. The 4X4 AT is severely overpriced, especially considering Jeep historically made 4X4s.

7. Reliable used: Fortuner diesel and Camry hybrid. Too many reasons to love them. They’re a bit large though.

8. Luxury used: c-class, a-class, 3 series, X1, A4, Q3 (preferably diesel). I’m not much into its snob value (they’re base luxury cars). But I don’t want to spend say more than 30K/ year in service or 2L in parts over 5-year ownership.

I’m also not very keen on features. All LED lamps outside, wireless apple carplay + android auto, cruise control, ventilated seats, decent audio, and climate control are good enough.

I know I have too many options. I would really like to hear your opinions and advice.
Thanks in advance!!

[sumeetchawla]

Hello everyone!

I have been an avid reader of TeamBHP for almost a decade now. Back then, I landed on this site thanks to a sticker I saw. Kind of regretted not landing sooner as I just purchased a manual Grand i10 asta back in 2014. So I promised myself that whenever I plan to purchase a new car, I am going to drill deep into the forums and learn as much as possible. Here is a picture of my car. Going to be 9 this August!



To be honest, my car has been great. I still don't feel the "need" to buy a new car at all. Even though the car is well maintained, small issues keep propping up. So in November, 2022, I checked the value I would get on Spinny and other sites. It was showing around Rs 3 lakhs which looked like an amazing deal for me! (I got the car for Rs 5.85 lakhs in 2014).

I have been on the lookout for a new car since then. My budget started at 10 lakhs + whatever get for my current one. But I just couldn't decided what to get. Dropped the plan by December end in the hope of checking out the new Creta.

So here are the ones I checked out, researched and my entire experience of selecting a new car. Disclaimer, these are my personal opinions and don't mean to offend anyone's car choice.

Brezza
I really liked it's look in December 2022. I tested out the automatic version but didn't enjoy it much. The punch I had in the manual Grandi10 was missing somehow. Also, didn't think the interiors were premium enough for a 15 lakh car.

Nexon
It's pretty popular and for good reasons! The biggest thing all reviews pointed out was the fit and finish was not as good as Hyundai and the infotainment unit was bad. But it provided a lot of features in my budget so I booked a test drive. It felt nice to drive too. But the demo car was in such a bad condition. The knobs were shaky, the car was so dirty from the inside. The SA told me it's a demo car that's why. The car was available (I forgot which variant) for 12.5 lakhs and instant delivery. But I didn't like the AMT and the entire experience was kind of a let down, so I decided against it. Also, I don't like the rear of the Nexon much.

I have always been a fan of the Nexon Electric. But I live in a gated society with an open parking. The parking is in front of my block and I could never comprehend how I will charge the car. So dropped the idea of getting a fully electric.

XUV 300
As per my research, people love this car's performance and very fun to drive. But I really hated the interiors of this car. It felt just like my 9 year old Grandi10 but with a screen infotainment instead. Just my personal perspective of course. Given the interiors of XUV700, I don't know why they couldn't do something similar in the 300 as well.

Sonet
Then I finally checked out the Sonet. Loved the interiors and the DCT experience. The car too felt very premium in fit and finish. My mom liked the car too. Dropped it because the rear seat wasn't very spacious and most importantly the DCT was costing almost 16+ lakhs. It felt a bit over priced for the size of the car.

Now that I was considering 16 lakhs for Sonet, I thought why not just wait for the new Creta about to come in January? As Creta Facelift never launched, my decision to buy a car just kept pushing.

Now recently, I started watching videos of the Tata Curvv and the new Nexon spy shots (DCT, new steering wheel etc). Got me excited all over again. Meanwhile, my friend called me up saying he is planning to buy his first car. We thought why not buy it together. May be get more discounts?

I shared my experience with my friend and asked him to test out all the cars. He instantly decided to buy Venue N line n6. It was within his budget, had DCT and looks very nice!

I was already interested in the Grand Vitara. So one evening decided to checkout GV, Creta and the Venue N Line. Went to the Hyundai show room first. Sat in a Creta SX(O) Knight edition. I instantly fell in love with the premium feel inside. The back seats were so comfortable! Given that I was testing out sub compact SUVs till now, this was a completely different experience. Then the SA opened the panoramic roof shade (it was slightly drizzling). Both mom and I were instantly convinced that panoramic roof is something we want! Couldn't test drive it then and booked test drives for Venue and Creta both.

Grand Vitara
Then we went to the Nexa show room. The Grand Vitara does look great. The strong hybrid is an amazing piece of tech and allows to drive in both electric and ice. Best mileage ever. I read here that someone drove from Delhi to Mumbai in one fill tank at a mileage of 34.5kmpl. Though, I never considered a full hybrid because my running is very very low and it was over 22 lakhs anyway. Anyway, so I tried out the GV. I didn't find the interiors premium enough for an 18 lakhs car to be honest. Also had serious doubts about some parts. Like I raised the driver's window. When it touched the top of the door, the entire door moved slightly. This was a shocker to me. So decided going against it at this price point.

Venue N Line
The car looks lovely. The rear's connected light is definitely an attention grabber. The interiors look very minimal and clean. The DCT is very smooth to drive. But mom didn't like the rear seat comfort and we felt the space behind is less. I have a dog too and the rear space is definitely a big point to consider. The N6 is coming at around 14 lakh on road. So definitely within budget, DCT automatic and latest model too. Very tempted.

Then launched the new Verna!
Verna
Test drove the turbo manual and just loved the car! It lagged a bit in the 2nd gear pickup at slow speeds but that is something may be I felt? My grand i10 can easily go over speed breakers in the 2nd gear. The interiors looked amazing. The entire car gave such a premium feel (both exterior and interior). It's SX manual was coming at around 15-16 lakhs and I definitely considered this more than the Venue. The biggest drawback was that it's a sedan. I have already been driving a hatchback for 9 years now which had a similar ground clearance. Even mom preferred a SUV over sedan.

Alcazar
It's base variant was at par or less than the Creta top variant. Had most of the features but is a manual. We are a small family of mom, myself and Buddy. So I think a 7 seater car will be an overkill.

Creta SX Manual
The Creta SX manual finally arrived for a test drive. Driving it was a pleasure! The gear shift was smooth. The entire feel while driving it at this height was something I never experienced before and made me feel very comfortable. Buddy (my dog) should have enough room at the back. Mom already loves this car. My heart was bent more towards getting an automatic as driving a manual in city traffic is tiring. Already driving a manual for so long.

Then the SA WhatsApped me the wrong quote for the manual 15.3 lakhs instead of 16.3 lakhs. This made me think that why should I even consider Venue at 14-15 lakhs? May be I can compromise with the manual transmission as the price was definitely very value for money. We decided to go for this and went to the showroom to discuss further.

To my surprise, the SA admitted he sent the wrong quotation. This changed the entire equation again. I came home and I thought of increasing the budget a bit more. Started considering the SX IVT variant instead of the manual.

We have bumper to bumper traffic in Kolkata and some streets are very crowded with cycles and rickshaws. The extra amount for the automatic was totally worth it! The SA didn't have the SX IVT so brought the SX(O) IVT instead.

Test drove it and have definitely decided to go for an automatic instead of the manual.

So now comes the tricky part. The SX IVT is quoted at around 17.9 lakhs. The SX(O) is at around 19.3 lakhs. The SX(O) does provide a lot of extra stuff which I think are somewhat worth it? Like ventilated seats (can do without it). The digital instrument cluster, the black interiors (Buddy loves travelling in the car) in the knight edition, high line TPMS, Piano black glossy dashboard.

I am torn between the decision to increase the budget and go for the SX(O) as I am definitely planning to keep the car for 8 years minimum. The SX instrument cluster and the dashboard plastic looks very dated. This is also why I thought let me increase the budget instead of regretting later. The Grandi10 also was the Asta variant and I realised it has such amazing features that are still great and only available in many new top end variants.


Now came another twist. While browsing TeamBHP, I saw a spied picture of the new Kia Seltos which is supposedly coming next month. It also has a panoramic sun roof. The current Creta will soon be an older generation as the new face lift comes. So the Kia Seltos also sounds very exciting as it will a face lift version.

So my biggest confusion is what to do? Should I go ahead with a Creta Knight Edition SX(O)? Or should I wait for the Kia Seltos reveal? Should I also checkout XUV700? I never even considered it as I felt it's super expensive and pretty huge. But I know it's a lovely car!

I am only considering Creta and Seltos because we definitely love the panoramic roof.

Or should I want for the new Creta? I know it won't come this year but don't think waiting another year for a new car will make sense.

I am not too keen on super performance or something. My driving requirement will be very less and mostly within the city.

Sorry for such a long post. I really wanted to share my researching and car selecting experience. In today's market, buyers are spoilt for choice when it comes to SUVs. It's so hard to decide.

Also, this is my first post on TeamBHP after browsing this site for 9 years haha. Please let me know if this is not the correct forum to post this.

Thank you so much. Really looking forward to your views.