We even considered the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA as a possible replacement for our ageing Honda Brio.

BHPian msnarain recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

TLDR: Booked the Kushaq Style 1.0AT (Carbon steel)

It looks like our search for a new car is finally coming to an end. We have driven (and loved) the Brio VMT for a long, long time (me for 9 years and my wife for 6 years). We felt the need for a bigger car back in 2018. Back then, we test-drove the old Creta, the new Verna, VW Vento and the Jeep Compass. We didn't really feel the emotional connection with the Hyundais and the Vento. We loved the way the Jeep drove and wanted to book it, but the interiors felt underwhelming and the whole package, a little overpriced.

We booked the Kia Seltos (GTX 1.4M) in 2020 mid-pandemic, but we moved to Chennai from Mumbai once it became apparent that we would be working remotely. The Kia never happened.

We test drove the Compass facelift again in Chennai, but a 35L OTR for the automatic with 6 airbags felt like a LOT of money. We both love the Compass and it's a shame we will not be able to buy it. Maybe a pre-owned one in a couple of years.

I was keenly looking at the Harrier and Safari - it was hard to convince the wife. Plus the Safari stories and allegedly unresponsive management were hard to swallow.

We also paid the Korean showrooms a visit - a super long waiting period (Creta, Seltos, Sonet) was hard to digest. Plus we didn't feel any emotional connection with the Hyundais though the interiors were super luxurious!

We had an open budget and were also willing to move segments. We test drove the X3 and GLA a couple of months back. Both drove fantastic and was a MASSIVE upgrade from our humble Brio, but the overall package felt underwhelming - I guess it's either X5/GLC or nothing. The 3 was beautiful, but a sedan was out of the picture because one of the reasons we want to get a CSUV/crossover was because parents were struggling with ingress and egress in the Brio.

The Brio has been struggling a lot over the last few days - the i-Vtec is still a gem, but the car will be a decade old next October. So no point extending the misery - we still plan to retain the Brio for grocery runs and the occasional cross-city breakfast drives. We knew we had to find a middle ground - buy a car that didn't feel overpriced and we were okay to skimp on a few creature comfort features.

We test-drove the Taigun and Kushaq on Sunday - 1.0 auto. The Kushaq was marginally better inside purely thanks to the digital cockpit, but the Kushaq felt were more inviting for some reason. Kushaq also scored better on looks and some additional goodies.

Here are some observations from the test drives:

1. Both showrooms let us drive randomly with no pre-defined route - the only other such experience was with the big Germans. Surprising as many showrooms had a prefixed route. Is this common these days?
2. Both salespeople acknowledged and addressed my wife equally - a super rare occurrence - our experiences with Kia, BMW and Merc left a lot to be desired in this department. They would literally ignore her presence as if she was invisible. It is also refreshing to see women sales reps (VW and Merc both had knowledgeable and passionate women sales reps)
3. The 1.0 auto was super punchy and fun to drive - I have never driven the TSI before and was expecting a little more than sedate driving experience much similar to the Creta 1.5 CVT. But this little motor was a joy to the floor!
4. Some sore spots like the exposed sunroof mechanicals. I hadn't noticed that in other cars, so was a little surprised. Is that a regular thing?
5. Both had a couple of cars in stock - Skoda has the 6 airbags version in stock too, only two colours though. (I wonder how/why though)
6. The dealer claimed there is going to be no Montecarlo version coming out for the made in India cars. Pinch of salt - he probably wanted to close the sale. I didn't mind. I wouldn't have any regrets if there were a facelift or a higher variant in the next few months - the only improvements it could possibly have would be a panoramic sunroof and the digital cockpit from Taigun/Slavia. I can live without either.
7. They offered a cash discount of 20k for the 2 airbag version, but absolutely no discounts on the 6 airbag version since it was less than a month old. Understandable.
8. They did offer a discount on insurance add-ons - economy (b2b, consumables etc) and elite (return to the invoice) - seems like a decent offer. Haven't read through the fine print yet. Any thoughts on this?
9. There is a discount on the service pack too (16k against 25k) for the month of Nov.

Dealer has promised delivery within three days of making the payment. He assured me I could visit the yard for PDI before they send the car for registration.

We mentioned the A.S.S horror stories and the dealer was open about it - he said there were issues in the past, and they have come a long way in terms of service pricing transparency and training. It was probably part of the Skoda 2.0 training script, but the honesty was refreshing.

The service packs and extended warranty makes the giant leap of faith to the Skoda brand a little easier to justify.

We are looking to wrap up financing in the next few days - negotiating with Kotak and HDFC. We are hoping to drive out a brand new carbon silver Skoda Kushaq next week!

Will keep you guys posted.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Hyundai i20 is the only car in the segment with a DCT. Wide open throttle pulls to the redline are fun, but not as much as that explosive 1.0 TSI under the Polo's hood.

Hyundai i20 N Line

What you'll like:

• Aggressive styling with distinctive touches that set it apart from the garden-variety i20
• Punchy 1.0 turbo-petrol motor with 118 BHP on tap
• Firm yet compliant suspension coupled with a weighted steering + paddle shifters + fruity exhaust note that make the i20 N Line fun
• Tasteful N Line-exclusive steering wheel, gear selector, red accents etc liven up the interior
• Feature-rich equipment list includes cruise control, LED projectors, voice-activated sunroof, wireless charging & more
• Spacious cabin with a 311 liter boot makes this a practical yet fun-to-drive car
• Price premium over the regular i20 is totally justified by the additions & improvements
• Safety kit = ESP, 6 airbags, rear disc brakes, Blue Link SOS, Hill Assist…

What you won't:

• Although well-priced in relation to the i20 Asta variant, it is still an expensive hatchback
• Offering an iMT and not a proper MT on the i20 N Line is ridiculous!
• 1.0L DCT variant shows initial lag. Even otherwise, it’s not as explosive as VW’s 1.0 Turbo
• Some misses such as auto wipers, split folding rear seats…
• You absolutely need a tyre upgrade. The OEM rubber gives up easily
• This 3rd-gen i20’s styling can be polarizing, unlike the more neutral previous generation cars
• Dual-clutch ATs have had a troubled reliability record in India
• More of a warmed-up hatchback in terms of power & handling, rather than a “hot hatch” like an Abarth Punto

Review Link

Volkswagen Polo 1.0L TSI

What you’ll like:

• Fast & fun to drive. Begs to be driven hard!
• Brilliant 109 BHP 1.0L TSI engine is an enthusiast's delight. Mated to a slick 6-speed MT
• Mature suspension gives the Polo good road manners
• Still looks great. Old, but timeless, clean & classy
• Solidly built with an European feel that no other hatchback matches till today
• Among the safest hatchbacks in India - GNCAP rating of 4 stars
• Features such as cruise control, reach + rake steering, auto-wipers, driver armrest, tinted windows

What you won’t:

• Yet another Polo variant & engine. Enough already (related thread)!!
• 1.0 TSI’s refinement is poor at high rpm (it’s acceptable at regular revs)
• An 11-year old model. The next-generation Polo is already on sale abroad
• Limited rear bench legroom and a large floor hump. Your family won’t be pleased
• VW's sub-par dealership & service experiences
• Many missing features: keyless-entry-go, reversing camera, oldschool MID, boot light, split rear seat, projector / LED headlamps, basic 4-speaker ICE

Review Link

Here's what BHPian GTO had to say on the matter:

Tough choice between the i20 N Line and the Polo TSI, but I would go for the i20 N Line as it'll be a much nicer car to live with on a daily basis (contemporary, space, equipment, more family friendly etc.). But the Polo is a close 2nd. Like, very close. It has many advantages = a turbo-petrol that is far more enthusiastic in nature (lives for the redline), a torque-converter AT that might have better long-term reliability (but VW, so...), superior low end (i20 DCT has lag) and a GNCAP rating of 4 stars (i20 is untested & I'm not too optimistic seeing group cars like the Seltos).

The other quick hatchback is the Figo 1.5 Diesel and some dealers might have old stock lying around at killer prices. But with Ford's exit and its BS6 DPF issues, no way can I recommend it to anyone, even at a heavy discount. The Figo 1.5L TDCi to buy was the BS4, not this one.

Would've loved to include the Altroz here as it has truly impressive expressway manners. Very solid & mature at 100+ kmph. Also the best looking by a mile. But Tata gave its engines a lower state of tune (compared to the Nexon) and a 0 - 100 of 12.6 to 13 seconds (tested by others) is hardly anything to write home about.

For those on a lower budget, the quick hatch you can consider is the Grand i10 Nios 1.0 Turbo. Trust me, it'll leave you grinning. Very quick, very chuckable. I'm a big fan of quick + cheap + small.

Here's what BHPian Guna had to say on the matter:

Did not vote either of them.

I had taken a short test drive on the Polo TSI (1.0L) and was not impressed with the refinement of the engine (typical of 3 cylinder unit perhaps) and the lack of response at the low revs.
Recently I went to check a pre-owned Polo GT (1.2 L) and on the way got to briefly check out the i20 N Line as well.

I found the steering of the i20 to be very hard even at low speeds. It requires some effort to move it from the 'straight ahead' position and this makes it difficult to do fine steering corrections when you are driving straight IMO.

Also the car was dead at low revs and had sudden rush of power after certain point.

Short test drive of the used Polo GT (1.2) was a different story altogether. Steering had the right amount of weight, there was no perceptible lag, nor the unexpected rush and I liked the linear nature.

VW, if you are listening, bring the Polo GT+ with 1.5L evo engine, rear camera, 6 airbags etc and this can find buyers even at 15 L on-road.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

This is truly a hard choice. The Polo is annoyingly ancient looking and just not spacious enough. However, if I ever dive into this segment I know it’ll be a second car so I’d take the space compromise for the sheer dynamic and driving superiority of the Polo - the fact that I can have the VW with TC peace of mind is an added bonus.

If hypothetically its an only car, I’d pick the more practical and modern looking i20 N Line without much disappointment - such is the level to which modern day Hyundais have matured.

For the purpose of the poll, I voted Polo since I know it’ll unlikely be the only car in my garage.

PS: Personally, despite it being dated, from an external design standpoint, I find the classic natural lines of the Polo much more appealing than the overstyled “please look at me - I dressed up for you!” look of the i20.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

What you'll like:

• Most fun-to-drive C2 segment sedan on sale today. Begs to be driven hard!
• Brilliant 109 BHP 1.0L TSI engine is an enthusiast's delight. Mated to a slick 6-speed MT
• The Skoda Rapid's European build quality is more solid than the competition's
• VFM pricing. We feel that the Rapid is well-priced for what it offers
• Mature suspension offers a balanced ride & best-in-class dynamics
• Strong safety rating, 4 airbags & good brakes
• Still looks great. Old, but timeless, clean & classy
• Features such as rake & reach steering, cruise control, auto headlamps + wipers, adjustable driver armrest, tinted windows...

What you won't:

• The Skoda Rapid is a 9-old car based on the 11-year old VW Polo. Cabin feels outdated too
• Horror stories about Skoda's after-sales service
• 1.0 TSI’s refinement is poor at high rpm (it’s satisfactory at regular revs)
• Unknown long-term reliability of this complex turbo-petrol engine
• Horrible, cheap & buggy audio system in the Style & Monte Carlo variants. Replace it
• Tall rear floor hump will annoy the 5th occupant
• No diesel and no automatic in the Rapid (AT is expected in a few months though)
• Missing features: Android Auto / Apple CarPlay, keyless-entry-go, oldschool MID, LED headlamps, basic 4-speaker ICE, sunroof...

Click here to read Team-BHP’s detailed review.

Click here to read BHPian comments!

Last year, we had voted for our favourite 1.5L diesel engines, a size which has become quite the trend among oil-burners. Now, let's turn our attention to the small capacity, yet powerful and fun-to-drive turbocharged petrol engines that have been seen in Indian cars. Downsizing & ever tightening emission norms will only see this breed grow. We wish Honda had brought in their 1.0L turbo-petrol in the City (they sell it in Thailand).

Hyundai Kappa 1.0 Turbo GDI

Hyundai jumped into the fray in '19 with this 998cc, 3-cylinder unit. Introduced in the Venue, it puts out 118 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 172 Nm @ 1,500 - 4,000 rpm, and is coupled to a 6-speed MT or a dual-clutch AT. A less powerful version has been used to power the Aura & Grand i10 Nios. Hyundai's offering has the best refinement among the 1.0L turbo-petrols and it is quite an all-rounder. No wonder Hyundai is pushing it in all of its mass-market cars. Hyundai's Turbo GDI is not only practical, but it is also fun to drive!

Volkswagen / Skoda 1.0 TSI

The latest entrant into the club is Volkswagen's 999 cc, TSI engine that puts out 109 BHP @ 5,000 - 5,500 rpm and 175 Nm @ 1,750 - 4,000 rpm. This unit produces the most torque among all the contenders listed here and is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission (6-speed torque converter AT will be coming soon). It powers the Polo & Rapid today, and will be under the hood of a long list of VAG cars in the future. This engine is easily the most revv-happy & it does have a healthy top-end. Downside? The refinement levels at high rpm are poor. Knowing VW, we have our fingers crossed on its long-term reliability too.

Maruti-Suzuki 1.0 Boosterjet

This motor was used to power the Baleno RS. In typical Maruti style, they gave it a funeral before it had a fair chance to live (same fiasco with the S-Cross' lovely 1.6L diesel). The Boosterjet was based on the familiar K10 unit. With 101 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 150 Nm @ 1,700 - 4,500 rpm on tap, it is the least powerful of the engines listed here and the only one to be mated to a 5-speed manual. However, it had minimal turbo lag and an enjoyable mid-range. Disadvantages = not much of a top end, limited max revs and the price (1.5 lakhs over the 1.2L n/a petrol).

Ford 1.0L EcoBoost

This engine was the torchbearer of small turbo-petrols & introduced us to this trend almost a decade ago! It was used by Ford to power the EcoSport and while it has been discontinued now, with 123 BHP on tap, it remains the most powerful 1.0L turbo-petrol to be sold in India. Ford itself made the EcoBoost irrelevant by introducing that awesome 1.5L naturally-aspirated Dragon engine in the EcoSport. The 1.0L EcoBoost was also laggy, unrefined and delivered sub-par fuel economy.

Related Thread: Small turbo vs big N/A engines

Click here to vote.

Skoda has truly set the cat among the pigeons with the Rapid 1.0's launch. The base variant is cheaper than even some hatchbacks!

The refreshed Rapid with a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine and manual gearbox is priced at Rs. 7.49 lakhs (ex-showroom, base variant).

The top variants of the Hyundai Aura MT are priced from Rs. 7.30 to 8.55 lakhs depending upon the engine, while the top-selling Maruti Dzire has its top manual variants priced from Rs. 7.48 to 8.28 lakhs. It’s a similar story with the Honda Amaze and Ford Figo. Even the Tata Tigor’s top manual variant retails at Rs. 6.99 lakhs – just Rs. 50,000 shy of the Rapid.

Here's a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a Rapid Rider over the top-end variants of sub-4 m sedans.

Pros:

• Solid European build & handsome styling (despite its age)
• High safety rating – The VW Polo achieved a 4-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test. The Skoda Rapid is nothing but a Volkswagen Vento – the sedan version of the Polo. We can expect it to perform similar to the Polo in crash tests.
• Proper sedan looks – Say anything, but a sub-4 m sedan looks like a compromise. It seems like the manufacturer was forced to add an excuse of a boot onto a hatchback. No such problem with the Rapid. It is a proper sedan.
• The Skoda badge – At least in India, the Skoda badge has higher snob value than Asian brands. Many people aspire to own a "Skoda".
• Cabin has more space & better quality than many compact sedans which are built to strict costs.
• More power & torque – With 108 BHP and 175 Nm on tap, the Rapid is more powerful than any petrol sub-4 m sedan in India, including the turbocharged Aura.
• Better driving dynamics & high speed behaviour than the compact sedans.
• Larger boot – Since the Rapid is not restricted to under 4 metres in length, it gets more space to play with and as a result, a larger 460 litre boot than compact sedans.

Cons:

• Infamous Skoda after sales service! Skoda has a poor reputation when it comes to after-sales service, and many of its dealers are thieves. Its Asian rivals are way better on this front. Not only that, the company does not have as strong a presence in the country as say, Maruti or Hyundai.
• Long-term reviews of the Vento / Rapid show inconsistent reliability. Expect bigger maintenance bills, especially after the car crosses 60,000 - 70,000 km. Whatever happens, make sure you take the 6-year extended warranty offered by Skoda.
• Outdated looks – The Rapid dates back to 2011. While the car received updates to its exterior and interior with time, there is no denying that it is long in the tooth.
• Poverty spec feature list – Alloy wheels, foglamps, auto-dimming IRVM, leather wrapped steering wheel, MID, electrically foldable ORVMs, touchscreen head-unit, reversing camera and many more features are missing.
• Poorer resale value – The Rapid's base variant is unlikely to hold its value like a Maruti Dzire or Honda Amaze.
• No choice of automatic gearbox - The Rapid is available only with a manual gearbox. Most sub-4 m sedans are available with an automatic transmission.
• No diesel engine. VW & Skoda didn't do their homework for the BS6 emission norms.
• Limited colour choice – The Rapid Rider is available in 4 colours only. These include Brilliant Silver, Candy White, Carbon Steel and Toffee Brown. 

So, would you buy the Rapid 1.0 (base variant) over equivalently priced compact sedans (top variants)?

The Skoda Rapid is now available with a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. The car is is available in five variants - Rider, Ambition, Onyx, Style and Monte Carlo and prices start at Rs. 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

The new Rapid comes with LED daytime running lights, chrome trim around the windows and chrome door handles. It also gets a chrome surround for the radiator grille. The Monte Carlo comes with a black grille, smoked headlamps, black ORVMs and roof as well as a boot lip spoiler and dual-tone rear bumper. It rides on dual-tone alloy wheels. The Onyx variant comes black ORVMs and gloss black alloy wheels.

On the inside, the car gets an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment head-unit, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, cruise control, rain sensing wipers and rear view camera. The Onyx and Monte Carlo variants get flat-bottom steering wheels.

The new Rapid is powered by a BS6-compliant 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine that produces 109 BHP @ 5,000-5,250 rpm and 175 Nm @ 1,750-4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

The new Rapid is available in four colour options - Brilliant Silver, Candy White, Carbon Steel and Toffee Brown. The Montel Carlo comes in Flash Red and Candy White, while Onyx is available in Lapiz Blue and Candy White.

Variant-wise ex-showroom prices:

Rider - Rs. 7.49 lakh
Ambition - Rs. 9.99 lakh
Onyx - Rs. 10.19 lakh
Style - Rs. 11.49 lakh
Monte Carlo - Rs. 11.79 lakh