It was my colleague's car - a Kylaq Signature Plus variant with an automatic transmission.

BHPian Schnellby recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Here’s a nice sight during a morning stroll around my area. Quite nice to see the Kushaq and Kylaq together, in the same spec!

On that note, I would love to share my recent experience with the new Kylaq, this one loaded with a few optional extra trims on the grille and bumper.

A colleague recently got himself a new Kylaq Signature + in Tornado Red. It surprises me how this car feels quite large for a sun 4-meter. The interiors are amazing when it comes to feel and quality. Being the Signature +, it’s nice to have the digital dash and wireless car play. It still baffles me how they managed to have such a large interior space. Of course, how can I miss out on the feel of the nice Skoda steering!

The car has a nice feel-good factor and the TC mated to the 1.0L is flawless. Doesn’t have jerks of the DCT and is quite quick! Wish there was a little more heft felt while driving the car. It feels a little too light, but not something I would complain about.

Here are some pictures I took of the car.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

He is an IT professional, who has been working for around a year, and has a decent income.

BHPian mgastor2022grey recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hey BHPians, hope you all had a good week.

My friend's son, who is around 24 years, has now decided to buy himself a car. He is an IT professional, who has been working for around a year, and has a decent income.

He too is an enthusiast, and even though he is not a member, he follows the forum regularly. This post was requested on behalf of him. He is a person who loves driving MT cars. A bit of backstory: His dad (my friend) owns a Seltos IVT, and he drives it, just like when he is present (for the lack of a better word, like how a son drives his dad's car). He now desires a car for himself that he can enjoy. He is planning to pay all by himself (or at least 90-95%) and not rely on parents / relatives.

He has 3-4 cars on his mind, some are as below:

• Virtus / Slavia 1.0 MT: He absolutely loves both these, and is planning to go for the Highline / Ambition variant for the analog dials. But, his conundrum resonates with car number 2, as below.
• VW Taigun GT 1.5 MT: He is confused whether he should take the 1.5 MT. He is worried if it is too powerful for a first car, but he absolutely loves the engine. The only concern is, first car + 150 BHP = mess?
• Maruti Suzuki Swift: He is enthralled by the low seating position and sporty dynamics, but is slightly concerned by the engine. He has not taken a test drive yet, but he feels that turbo engines work better with him.
• Tata Altroz 1.5 Diesel: He likes the power and torque of the diesel mill, and it is a user friendly car too. But, he is worried about missing out on the turbo-petrols of the VAG.
• Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.0L Turbo: This is also a car he liked, and is willing to give it a chance too.

So, what are your views? What car do you think he needs to pick? Please do provide your insights on this matter, all help is greatly appreciated.

 Here's what BHPian GTO replied:

Please also have your friend screen our curated list of fun-to-drive cars - thread link.

Drop the Swift & Altroz from your list. He can clearly afford / buy better cars.

- The Virtus or Slavia 1.5L Petrol. Absolute joy to drive. Top choice here.

- Fronx 1.0 Turbo: Fast, fun, chuckable, compact...if he wants to save some cash over the Virtus.

- i20 N-Line or a fast EV like the Currv EV (test-drive it, you'll fall in love)

Have fun TD'ing all these cars and come back to us with post-drive feedback. Happy shopping to your friend, it's a great time to be in the market.

Here's what BHPian Samba replied:

As he has no particular choice on the body type and he is looking from hatchbacks to sedans to crossovers, my suggestion will be the Kylaq 1.0MT.

This car has proved itself in track timings too.
The Kylaq will be easy on the pocket, as it will be approximately 40% cheaper than the Taigun 1.5MT, but it will match more than 90% of the Taigun 1.5’s performance.

Plus the kylaq offers very good handling and comfort.

The shorter dimension will ensure that it will be easy to drive and park in congested cities.

On top of these, the 5* safety ratings can’t be ignored either!

Among the cars shortlisted by him, the Kylaq will be the most fun to drive car, barring the Taigun 1.5 MT.

Here's what BHPian self_driven replied:

Surprised to see no mention of the i20 N Line here. This nice little warm hatch will leave him grinning from ear to ear in MT guise. It is a great car to start with, and comes backed by Hyundai's strong after-sales too.

Mahindra turbo-petrols can also be considered if he's willing to look beyond hatchbacks and sedans. The 3-door Thar petrol is immense fun, and so is the XUV3xo. That said, AT is the way to go in case of Mahindra cars as their manuals can be really disappointing. If MT is non-negotiable, give Mahindra a pass and pick from i20 N Line or Fronx.

Here's what BHPian sharmanova replied:

The Maruti Fronx Turbo is a great first car, from both driving and financial (read: lighter wallet) POV .

If looking for a used car, Fronx would still be the top choice, and if he is looking specifically for a VAG car, Polo 1.0 TSi is also worth considering.

Here's what BHPian suhaas307 replied:

Having driven the Kylaq 1.0 TSI MT extensively during the press drive in Goa, I can confirm that it’s a fabulous car to drive and fairly light on the pocket to buy / maintain. The compact dimensions and added ground clearance is a big bonus, in terms of practicality.

Alternatively, he could consider the i20 N-Line MT, if he likes a little bit of drama (burbly exhaust note and firm+sporty ride.

If he is open to used cars, he should consider a Polo 1.0 TSI MT if he can find a lightly used example.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Other Mahindra models on sale in Australia include the XUV700, Scorpio-N and the 4x4 Pikup.

The Mahindra XUV 3X0 compact SUV will make its debut in Australia at the upcoming Melbourne Motor Show.

The 3X0 was launched in India last year as an updated version of the XUV 300. In India it is sold with three engine options; a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 109 BHP and 200 Nm, the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol ‘mStallion’ that makes 129 BHP and 230 Nm and a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel that puts out 115 BHP and 300 Nm. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed AMT.

The Mahindra XUV 3XO measures 3,990 mm in length (-5 mm), 1821 mm in width and 1,647 mm in height (+20 mm). It has a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. In Australia, it sizes up against the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Toyota Corolla Cross.

The feature list of the XUV3X0 includes a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, dual 10.25-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, a wireless smartphone charger, Level-2 ADAS, a 360-degree camera, 6 airbags, 3-point seat belts for all seats, all-disc brakes, and electronic stability control.

There is no confirmation on Australian specs and pricing, but Mahindra is expected to focus on the budget end of the market.

Mahindra Australia will likely position the XUV 3XO as an alternative to Chinese small SUVs like the Chery Omoda 5, GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZS.

Other Mahindra models on sale in Australia include the XUV700, Scorpio-N and the 4x4 Pikup.

Source: Drive.com Australia

A sub 4m car makes sense for occasional city use but wife is not high on another hatchback.

BHPian supertinu recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hey Folks, need some advice around what car to buy for my 2nd car. Let me set some context and background.

Current situation - We are a 2 car household. Primary car is our XUV700 D AT which we bought fairly recently 6m ago and its my daily driver as well as road trip companion. Our 2nd car is a 2012 Ford Figo which my wife uses mainly for school pickup/drop and once in a while errands.

Requirement - A sub 4m car makes sense for occasional city use but wife is not high on another hatchback, so after checking out small SUVs we did like the Skoda Kylaq. Usage of the car will be 100-200km per month max and I intend to keep the car for 15+yrs and hopefully with low maintenance so DSG cars are out of question. Despite being city car preference is to have something with 5 star safety rating and decent space for 4 adults. We could use it for airport hops or nearby day trips.

Now comes the confusion. Even then 2nd from top model of KYlaq in BLR costs around 15 lakhs and pricing of other SUVs like Nexon, Venue, Sonet are similar ranging from 15-18 lakhs on road. Top model of Punch EV LR is 15 lakh and so is Nexon EV MR.

What does the forum think? Would EV make more sense here given its more future ready, no emissions, hopefully lower maintenance? Would battery last 15yrs given that charge cycles will be less? My apt allows charging socket in parking which makes it easier to handle charging.

Here's what BHPian It's Magic replied:

With a monthly running of 100–200 km, I would recommend sticking with petrol cars and not opting for EVs. EVs make more sense for high usage, such as annual running exceeding 15,000 or 20,000 km.

Looking at your post, it seems you are more inclined towards the top-end variant of any car. In that case, you would need to be prepared to pay upwards of 12 lakhs for most of the compact SUV options available. If you both like the Skoda Kodiaq, you can go for it. It’s got a 5-star safety rating, which is essential for you, and it’s a very good car to drive. The only thing I would advise you to check is the proximity of a Skoda service centre to your location.

In my opinion, a hatchback suits your requirements better and would save you money as well. It would be easier to drive in the city. For long drives, you already have the Mahindra XUV700.

Best Wishes!

Here's what BHPian yedukrishnan199 replied:

Now, considering your requirements, a small EV doesn't make much sense if you are paying a premium for it over its ICE counterpart, so EVs like the Tiago.EV, Tigor.EV, Punch.EV, etc cost a lot more (at least 1.50 to 2 lakhs) than their ICE counterparts with similar feature sets and considering your low running, the extra investment isn't worth it. Moreover, considering decent space, the Comet EV is also out of the question.

That leaves ICE cars and a few EVs with prices similar to their ICE counterparts. So the cars like Nexon, Curvv, Creta, etc come up to the picture, but as they get more and more expensive when going towards the top-end variants, where the prices of the ICE and EV are the same.

For example, taking the Nexon as an example, the Nexon Creative 1.2 Petrol AMT costs 14.81 lakhs OTR, whereas the Creative 45 EV costs almost the same at 14.88 lakhs OTR in this case, the EV is a good option to consider owing to lower fuel costs. lower service costs and the like, but still the chance of it lasting 15 years is a question.

Similar is the case of the Curvv, where the Creative Plus Hyperion GDI Petrol DCA costs the same as the Accomplished 55 OTR, around 20.80 lakhs.

Ditto the Creta and the Creta EV as well.

So in these cases, although you could get an ICE or its similar EV counterpart for the same price on-road, where the EV seems a good option owing to lower fuel costs, your requirement for maintaining it for a long time, 15 years, is what makes the decision difficult for the EV.

EV technology is improving at a rapid pace, and the current EVs will get outdated in a few years, so they don't hold their value for long. Usually, EVs tend to last for around 8 to 10 years or more, but 15 seems a bit too much to expect.

So you could either go for these EVs, which are at par on price on the road with ICE cars, or you could go for ICE cars, which usually should hold their value for longer.

Regardless, here are the best options for your needs:

1. Tata Punch Creative Plus (S) AMT
It costs under 13 lakhs OTR and should be a better pick as compared to its EV counterpart, owing to the price difference of over 2 lakhs. a small, safe car (5-star GNCAP) that is an all-rounder and one of the best-selling cars from Tata.

2. Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT
At 15.36 lakhs OTR, the Kylaq is a small but fun SUV and should meet all your needs to the T.

3. Tata Nexon EV 45
The Nexon EV 45 is a great choice currently when compared to its ICE counterparts and is priced quite well, and is an option worth considering.

Other options are the XUV 3XO AT and Nexon AMT, which are quite expensive considering the higher-spec AT variants.

Here's what BHPian sharmanova replied:

Your requirements scream the Hyundai Exter AMT!

Sub-4M - check
Low maintenance - check
Reliability - check
Space - check

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan replied:

If you want to keep the car for another 15+ years there is no point looking at 1st generation EV products right now. If it absolutely must be an SUV, then do look into more practical options like the Jimny, Brezza etc. at the end of the day these are NA motors that will definitely have fewer issues than direct injection turbo charged motors. The Jimny is also one of the narrowest vehicles currently available to buy. That coupled with its looks (middle class g-wagon) makes it very popular amongst mothers and wives.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The 6-speed torque converter gearbox is smooth and never gave any sudden jerks while shifting.

BHPian Turbo1118 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Finally writing my first review instead of just reading reviews of others

October 2021:- The buying frenzy begins

My parents started to look for a replacement for our old workhorse; 2005 Tata Indigo Marina LX Dicor; who practically was tired after serving us well for over 16 years. She was a trusty steed who hauled us and our belongings from point A to B with ease; thanks to her overall dimensions and boot space. But after 50000 kms and multiple electrical issues; it was time to bid adieu to her.

The Search Begins:-

My parents had a simple but irreplaceable list of requirements for our next car:

• A considerable amount of bootspace
• It had to have a petrol mill paired with an automatic as my father was tired of driving a sluggish diesel-manual combo for the last 16 years.

Options considered by my parents:

1. Maruti Suzuki XL6
2. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
3. Renault Triber
4. Mahindra XUV 300

• Maruti Suzuki XL6

Pros:

• It was meeting most of our demands; A reliable petrol engine which was absolutely smooth and enough for our needs; an acceptable 4 speed torque converter (back in 2021) gearbox which was fine for everyday driving.
• The biggest USP of all was that it offered a 6 seater configuration; something that my father was craving for years. The captain seats in the second row offered an upmarket feeling at a reasonable cost.

Cons:

But it had its own set of problems which drive us away from it:

• The 4 speed torque converter was an ancient piece of machinary which Maruti Suzuki was holding dear to it and was offering it in pretty much all of their big cars back then. The jerks while it shifted were noticeable and it felt outdated while it was pushed to do an overtake.
• Safety:- Back then; safety of pretty much all cars in their lineup was questionable which was a big NO-NO for me. (My parents didn't mind it but I couldn't let go of the fact that it had an average build quality

• Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

It had the same fate as XL6 because it was basically the same car but with a bit different design and a 7 seat configuration.

• Renault Triber

Oh boy! It was almost booked by my parents as it had an attractive price and a balanced feature list which it offered back then.

Pros:

• The price point! It was basically taking on a fist fight with Ertiga at a price point which was meant for hatchbacks!
• The 7 seat configuration with Renault's "Modular Seating" model made it a deserving contender on our list.

Cons:

• The test mule which we drove had a negative impact on our buying decision.
• The AMT was one of the worst automatics that my father drove as it was jerky and not well tuned.
• The engine lacked refinement and sounded which was quite disappointing for us.
• The build quality was something which I couldn't fully agree with Renault as it has the same if not worse build quality than Ertiga. (I know many of the members wouldn't agree with me.)

• Mahindra XUV 300

One of the better cars that I had seen in this price bracket.

Pros

• Powerful petrol engine which screamed "DRIVE ME!'
• Had an automatic option but we'll comeback to it later.

Cons:

• The boot space was crammed to death in that car! Amere 285-liter boot space was not going to satisfy my parents even though it had a good heart.
• The AMT gearbox was again jerky like the other cars on the list and was rejected by my father.

Other cars considered:

• Skoda Kushaq
• Kia Carens
• VW Taigun

All of these were rejected for the same reasons; they were newly launched and my father didn't trust German cars they have to be maintained regularly; something he can't do as he is in Merchant Navy and sails for almost 7-8 months.

Buying Vanessa:- A truly unexpected move by my parents

As they were searching for our next upgrade; my mother stumbled upon a Ford Ecosport while she was coming back from her clinic.

She asked me about it and I was happy to share the details about the car. The recent news of Ford leaving India generated a sweet deal for us as this car was available to us a good price.

After discussing with the dealer; we met at a price which was acceptable for both the dealer and my parents. As the car was located in a dealership situated in Pune; we had to inspect it before the closing the deal as we live in Navi Mumbai.

The car was sold to us by Shivalik Ford, Pune and after inspecting the car; we closed the deal with them and brought her home.

1 December 2021:- The Day of Delivery

It was one the of smoothest purschasing experience given by the dealer. We signed the remaining paper and we were off to travel to our weekend house in Satara.

Pros:

It has a powerful petrol mill; with 121 bhp at your foot; it handles overtaking with ease and never felt like it was struggling to make power.

The 6-speed torque converter gearbox is smooth and never gave any sudden jerks while shifting. The sport mode is something that I enjoy whenever I am sitting with my father as it changes the overall characteristics of the engine. The engine holds the RPMs higher than usual and is great for overtaking big vehicles.

The boot space was acceptable by my parents which was cemented its buying chances.

The feature list:

It has a slew of features like 6-airbags, ABS+EBD, Traction Control, sunroof, vehicle telematics, automatic projector headlamps, rain sensing wipers, automatic climate control, cruise control, 9-inch touch screen infotainment system,etc.

The build quality of the car is exceptional and the door thud gives you an assurance that you are sitting in a good car.

Note:- Even though vehicle telematics was offered in Ford Ecosport; the remote engine start-stop through app was available only for Titanium Plus Automatic variant.

Cons:

The suspension of this car is something that is great for holding high speeds on the highway but is stiff for everyday use.

The mileage:

Boy! she is a drinker! She gives around 7-8 kmpl in city when the AC is set to 24*C, fan speed set to auto and driven in light traffic.

She gives around 14-15 kmpl when driven by a light foot on highway, speed set to 72 kmph and the AC set to 24*C auto.

Should you buy it in pre-worshipped condition?

Absolutely if you are okay with her stiff suspension and her drinking habit

Here are some of the pictures of her:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Here's a deep dive into all the variants of the Skoda Kylaq to help you identify the most valuable trim for your preferences

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Skoda entered the whirlpool segment of sub-compact SUVs in India with the Kylaq. It is available in a single turbo-petrol engine with manual and automatic transmission options. It is the most affordable entry into the brand. Here's a link to our full official review of the car - (Review Link).

Skoda Kylaq Variants Breakdown

There are a total of 4 variants on offer, of which only the base-spec trim is offered as a manual-only powertrain.

Classic

Top Features

• 16-inch Steel Wheels with Covers
• LED Headlights
• LED Taillights
• Roof Rails
• Roof-mounted Spoiler 
• Fabric Seat Upholstery
• Height Adjustable Headrests
• Tilt & Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Power Windows
• 3.5-inch MID
• 2 Tweeters
• 6 Airbags
• ABS with EBD
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Electronic Diffrential Lock
• 3-Point Seatbelts
• ISOFIX

Signature

Top Features Over Classic

• 16-inch Alloy Wheels
• Leatherette Steering Wheel
• Cruise Control
• Dual Type-C Charging Ports
• Rear AC Vents
• Cooled Glovebox
• 7-inch Infotainment
• Wired Android Auto & Apple Car Play
• 4 Speakers
• Steering Mounted Audio Controls
• TPMS
• Read Defogger

Signature+

Top Features Over Signature

• Shark-fin Antenna
• 60:40 Rear Seat Split
• Rear Center Armrest
• 8-inch Instrument Console
• 10.1-inch Infotainment
• Wireless Android Auto & Apple Car Play
• Climate Controls
• Connected Car Technology
• Hill Hold
• Rear-view Camera

Prestige

Top Features Signature+

• LED Projector Headlights
• 17-inch Alloy Wheels
• Leatherette Seats & Upholstery
• Ambient Lights
• Single-Pane Sunroof
• Powered Seats with Ventilation
• Auto-dimming IRVM
• Wireless Phone Charger

Conclusion

Although not completely loaded, the base variant of the Skoda Kylaq does come with a decent set of features. However, it is missing an infotainment, which is a bit of a let-down.

For Rs 1.7 Lakh more, the Signature trim offers a couple of more features above the base variant. Surprisingly, this variant does not offer a rear-view camera despite having decent infotainment. Rear AC vents, wired phone mirroring, and a cooled glove box are welcome features on this variant.

The Signature+ trim costs Rs 1.81 lakh more than the previous variant and offers more comfort and convenience features than the Signature. The top-spec variant costs almost Rs 2 lakh more than the previous trim. However, it offers all the bells and whistles, including ventilated seats, a sunroof, leatherette upholstery, and more.

We feel the mid-spec Signature offers the best value for money packed with all essential features. However, if you are considering making the jump, to get the most value, the Signature + is also a good option at Rs. 1.81 lakh more.

Do let us know what you think is the most value-for-money variant and also if you had to buy the Skoda Kylaq, which variant would you pick?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

We feel the mid-spec HTK+ variant of the Kia Syros offers the most value. It is packed with features for the price and most engine and transmission options are available on this trims

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Kia launched the Syros which competes against other compact SUVs including its own, the Seltos. However, the new model is targeted towards buyers seeking a more MPV-ish design. The Syros is packed with features and is offered in petrol and diesel engine options. Here's a link to our full official review of the car - (Review Link).

There are a total of 6 variants on offer, of which the bottom two trims are offered as manual-only powertrain options. Here's a deep dive into all the variants to help you identify the most valuable trim for your preferences.

Variants Breakdown

HTK

Top Features
- 15-inch Steel Wheels with Covers
- Shark-fin Antenna
- Halogen Headlamps
- Roof-mounted Spoiler
- Semi-Leatherette Seat Upholstery
- Front Center Armrest
- Height Adjustable Front Headrests
- Tilt & Telescopic Steering Wheel
- 4.2-inch MID
- Steering Mounted Audio Controls
- Manual AC with Rear Vents
- 12.3-inch Touchscreen
- 4 Speakers
- Wireless Android Auto & Apple Car Play
- 6 Airbags
- Rear-view Camera
- ABS with EBD
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Front & Rear Parking Sensors
- Electronic Diffrential Lock
- 3-Point Seatbelts
- ISOFIX

HTK(O)

Top Features Over HTK
- 16-inch Alloy Wheels
- Roof Rails
- Single-Pane Sunroof
- Height-adjustable Driver’s Seat
- 2 Tweeters

HTK+

Top Features Over HTK(O)
- Dual-tone Interiors
- Leatherette Upholstery
- 60:40 Rear Seat Split
- Rear Center Armrest
- Front & Rear Adjustable Headrests
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Drive & Traction Control Modes (DCT Only)
- Start/Stop Button (DCT Only)
- Paddle Shifters (DCT Only)
- All 4 Disc Brakes
- E-brake with Auto Hold (DCT Only)

HTX

Top Features HTK+
- LED Headlights, Tail-lights & DRLs
- Ventilated Front Seats
- Standard Start/Stop (Push Button)
- Rear Wiper & Washer

HTX+

Top Features HTX
- 17-inch Alloy Wheels
- Puddle Lamps
- Front & Rear Retractable Cup Holders
- 12.3-inch Instrument Cluster
- 5-inch Climate Control Display
- Ventilated Front & Rear Seats
- Wireless Phone Charger
- Single-Pane Sunroof
- Powered Driver Seat
- Auto-dimming IRVM
- Ambient Lighting
- Air Purifier
- Paddle Shifter
- 8-speaker Harman Kardon Audio
- Dual Camera Dashacam

HTX(O)+

Top Features HTX+
- Side Parking Sensors
- Level 2 ADAS
- 360-degree Camera

Conclusion

Kia’s packaging of the Syros variants feels customer-centric. However, strangely there is not a single variant that is offered with all the available engine and transmission options.

The base model is loaded with necessary and a host of nice-to-have features. However, what is a miss is the option of a diesel powertrain. For just Rs 1 lakh more over the base trim, the HTK (O) variant is available with petrol and diesel powertrain options, albeit with manual transmission options only. Apart from the choice of engines, there are alloy wheels and single-pane sunroof on offer as well.

The mid-spec HTK+ trim costs Rs 1.50 lakh more than the previous variant. Customers get to choose from options for automatic transmission on the petrol engine. The HKX higher mid-spec trim costs Rs 1.80 lakh more than the HTK+ and Ventilated front seats, rear wiper & washer and LED lighting; among others.

Now for the top two trims HTX+ & HTX+ (O) are automatic-only variants in both engine options. The HTX+ is priced at Rs 2.70 lakh more than the HTX trim. However, It is fully loaded to offer the maximum features sans the Level 2 ADAS and 360-degree camera, which is only available in the top-spec variant priced at Rs 80,000 more than the penultimate trim of the compact MPV.

We feel the mid-spec HTK+ offers the most value. It is packed with features for the price and most engine and transmission options are available on this trims. However, if you are planning to make the jump for more features and automatic transmission options we suggest the HTX+ trim, which is priced at Rs 5.5 lakh more the the mid-spec HTK+.

Do let us know what you think is the most value-for-money variant and also if you had to buy the Kia Syros, which variant would you pick?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

An owner shares his experience of owning a Kia Seltos diesel after driving it for 86,000km over 5 years

BHPian ashis89 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

5 years and 86,000 kms update

Coyote turned 5 today.

Insurance was already renewed few weeks ago. I took him for 110k general service over the weekend and while at it, I raised a few observations to see if they will be covered under extended warranty (which expired today).

On Saturday, I reached Epitome Kia by 7:30AM as per the appointment and work started by 8. By 10, the general service was over and work started on the complaints I had.

1. Rear seat lock was not working at times and seat back would tumble forward. This was found be a slightly misaligned and the folks at Epitome Kia were able to fix it back.

2. Steering mounted volume button needed a firm push to increase the volume. Every other button worked fine. The service advisor checked for himself, agreed and got it replaced under warranty.

3. Both the headlight DRLs had started turning yellow from the inner end and very slightly. DRL, indicator and the whole projector headlight is one single unit. When the LHS light was replaced post the minor accident, the old headlight DRL felt mismatched. The advisor took my cue and raised a request for replacement.

By 12PM, #1 and #2 were over. The headlight replacement proved tough as the warranty team was struggling to capture the "yellow"ing of the DRL on their phones. Then there was a new problem, HID wiring in the bay which they wanted to remove before taking videos of it. After spending couple of hours trying different options and even checking with all their technicians, the service advisor came to me apologetically that they can't change the headlight under warranty. They are unable to figure out the HID setup and hence, can't remove it. So I offered to get it removed, put back the original halogen bulbs and get it back to them. He checked with the warranty team and readily agreed. Warranty billing took some more time and I was finally out by 2:30PM.

Next I called up Anton to see if I could come back his shop to get the HID kit removed. With the kit removed and the stock halogens (which I had retained safely) back in the place, I went back to Epitome on Monday morning at 8:30AM. By 12PM, Coyote was delivered with a new headlight.

Got a bunch of pictures on the WA group which the SA had created but sharing a few

I had got the car washed before the service so opted out of the waterless wash

Clicked a few while I was waiting in the lounge

They were trying hard to click pictures of the DRL. Moved the car around three different places, turned off the bay lights, shadowed it, to see if they could get a better capture

Coyote was already dusty when I took him back again on Monday

Paid 7.7k for the 110k service

Somewhere along the way, I crossed the 86k mark. Also tanked up that day and Fuelio reminded that I was refueling the car after good 2.5 months!

Currently the car is sporting the halogen bulbs only and I am yet to fit the HIDs back. One of the halogen was misaligned as it was not seated properly. Fixed it myself today and now, the cutoff seems good. A small thought in my mind says I should try LEDs, now that they have gotten very superior and come in warmer temp options. Will do some research before deciding.

Overall, the year was uneventful except for a proactive OEM battery change and a minor accident repair. I was expecting tyre replacement but they will go on for some more time. Have been thinking of a paint correction and deep cleaning but need to figure out some time to get it done. Also thinking what could be a good update for the car as a 5 year gift.

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I don’t know what me do this, but once everyone slept at home, I took the car for a spin around my neighborhood.

BHPian Nexonite recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I have been meaning to key in my user review for the Nexon and finally here I am sharing my honest review cum journal of my buying/driving experience of a 2023 June Nexon XZA, bought prior to the current face-lift. Readers do take note that I am a first timer to driving a car but have been riding bikes since 2011. My rationale may not make sense to folks who have been driving around for years. These may not be the right way but I am just capturing my thought process back in time as it unfolded. I have clocked 17k KMS in the 1.5 years of my ownership. So this must be a proper ownership review from a first time driver.

This post might be a bit lengthy. I somehow like riding my bikes and only people around me know that I take those tightest of squeeze through gaps and somehow enjoy driving in traffic. My only prior driving experience is with the driving school vehicle as we didn't have car at our home in my childhood and it never really bothered me to have a car post my employment. Having a newborn kid at home started changing things with the need to travel around in rains and constant need to randomly visit hospital at odd hours. So, I started searching for a new car and it was quite a lengthy search looking through random car reviews and trying to get myself up to speed on things to consider. I had started with a hatchback in mind and slowly switched towards compact SUVs or as some may call it the raised hatch back as I live in Chennai and a constant fear of having to wade through water in case of incessant rains. This led me to the need to look for good ground clearance. I also wanted a wider car to have a good 2nd row space to fit in 3 adults. So that somehow eliminated Venue from my mind and I stuck only with between Brezza, Nexon and XUV300.

When I started looking both Brezza and Nexon were due for a face-lift and rumors of face-lift was in news. I somehow didn't like the pricing of Brezza and I had visited the model in person and somehow it didn't feel right to me for that price. I had eliminated XUV300 only for the fact that I may not have a better boot space. I didnt even visit this in showroom. So most of my decisions are done behind the keyboard.

This probably isn't right but at the end this is what I did. Nexon was actually not in my list until I had randomly taken a peek at a red Nexon at a traffic signal. It somehow caught my eyes and I started looking up for people reviews on the same. Like the classic narrative everyone paints, the reviews were mixed and everyone mentions the service is a hit or miss. The only rationale behind why I still chose Nexon is based on the fact that Nexon had been a best seller and somehow people are buying this for a reason and probably all these negatives mentioned are not major dealbreakers. By that time, I had been looking at the online reviews of cars, I had enrolled myself in a patch-up class at a nearby driving school as the last time I drove a car was in 2012 when I took my driving license. Having driven almost comfortably and having a good steering control, I had further confidence that I could drive a car but I did realize that owning an Automatic could ease things up. My primary purpose of car would be long drives between Chennai-Madurai/Kumbakonam and rare city drives as I mostly commute to office by bike.

Around April 2023, I decided to visit the Tata showroom and I knew the features even before visiting and exactly which model I had to buy. The only missing piece was whether I was ready to drive I discussed with the sales rep on the pricing and concluded on the best pricing as I didnt really need a briefing on the features. One another reason I felt Nexon was right fit was that it came with AMT against AT in Brezza which meant I had to spend 75k less than I had to for AT. So, I ended up requesting for a test drive and there was no vehicle immediately available and sales rep assured he would be get me one at my Home. As he promised, I had the vehicle but it came in only by 5PM and worst thing was it was a Manual. This was a brand new car as well. I saw a bit scared internally and somehow managed to do a TD but had moments where the person accompanying the drive must have definitely had his heart pumping high . I requested for an AMT variant for TD as I was not fully convinced that I was ready to own a car as I always felt that owning a car comes with a big responsibility as anyone on the road could be injured easily for my mistakes and could be lethal even in best case scenario. Once I got the AMT variant for TD by next week. I was much more comfortable and was pleasantly surprised how much is it to drive around in a AMT. Both my TD were like a driving session than a real TD. Somehow convincing myself that I could handle this beast, I went ahead with the booking. I did book a Red Nexon. So somehow I found no other color matches better than Red for a Nexon. I got my vehicle confirmed in about 2 weeks though the promised waiting time was 4 weeks. By this time, I had been reading on forums including Team-BHP on checklist for PDI. I was happy with PDI and had no major issues. On the day of delivery, I had requested for a driver to drop car at my home post the ceremony. In my mind, I was still not ready to drive in traffic. So literally, I had taken only TD of Tata nexon for my ownership and only visited Brezza in person.

By May 2023, I got keys to my Nexon XZA and was still wondering how am I going to drive and whether I would really go for long drives. I took delivery around 12 in the day and we reached home by lunch. I don’t know what me do this, but once everyone slept at home, I took the car for a spin around my neighborhood around the usual track that we had used in the last month during my patch-up driving sessions. I was literally driving in second gears and didnt exceed 30kmph as I was scared to do that. I ended up driving around 20kms on that drive and my wife called me up scared where I was and why I took car out without others around.

If I have to probably go back in time, If I hadn't been able to comfortably made this drive, I would have ended up with a 13 lakh machine gathering dust in my parking lot. So from here on, whatever happened was even surprising to me. Such is the level of comfort and confidence that Nexon brought into my driving. Maybe I was a natural driver but still Nexon gave me all the confidence when I had to drive it around. So having driven around nearby areas, we chose to take the car for our first long drive to Kumbakonam. We started early morning from Chennai and this was within the first 1000kms of the car. I still hadnt got through the fears of hitting the median and used to avoid the middle lane. Such was the level of confidence and fear of damaging my car. Once on the highway, I felt confident was able to reach Kumbakonam in a decent time. Towards the end of my trip I had my first incident, having driven all the way from Chennai to Kumbakonam bypass, this was a last thing I would have imagined to happen. I was driving behind a Town bus for about a good 5-10minutes in a 2 lane road. At a junction near the bypass road, the bus stopped for dropping/picking up passengers. Since it took some time for him to start back, I decided to overtake from stand still as there were no approaching vehicles. I had missed to notice my left fender and ended up scratching the bus and that to at a pace of about 10-15kmph. What bothers me is that I had driven all the way from chennai up to Kumbakonam bypass and ended up denting my brand new car by moving it from stand still while overtaking, such a rookie mistake of not noticing the fender. To date, this is the only scratch I did to my car and I should have been more careful. My wifey was rightly warning me by my side to be patient and avoid the overtake. There I gave her an easy reason to blame me forever and what happens when I dont listen to her words.

From here on, the fun with Nexon begins as I have taken the car for following trips since then,

• Several Madurai/Trichy- Chennai and Kumbakonam-Chennai trips. After the initial day trip, All my drives have been post 5 PM start from Chennai as I seem to like driving in night where the road becomes much clear without distractions and I could easily check vehicles from behind by looking only for a streak of light. Still my relatives are bothered by random dusty lorries without proper reflective stickers waiting for an accident. I somehow still find it comfortable to drive in the evening and reach destination by 11/12.
• First hill trip to Yelagiri as I wanted to see what was it like to drive around in a hill. This increased my confidence to take up my future hill rides. I was always feeling in control and felt there could be no better handler than Nexon.
• A long trip to chikmagalur with a stop at Hassan. I really enjoyed the drive between Chikmagalur- Sringeri-Horanadu-Hassan. By far the best drive I had as the roads were really hilly and scenic throughout. I drove about ~1700kms in 4 days in this trip.
• Drive to Kollimalai(Kolli Hills). Once in an Interview I had heard Mr.Velusamy from Mahindra mention Kolli hills to be straining drive for a vehicle. So I really wanted to take a drive when I had a chance. The drive was indeed a bit challenging and I had learnt a lot of discipline to follow in hill drives from this trip.

Mileage

When I bought the car, I had only planned for driving about 7k KMS in a year but ended up driving 12k KMS in my first year. Such was the fun I had with my car and I am now more composed and patient in my driving. I try to maintain a max of 90-100 kmph in my drives on highways.

Opinion on AMT

For those who are looking at AMT for their cars, I say maybe its a bit sluggish for those who drive ATs or DCTs or Manuals, but the sheer comfort it brings in with the little price overhead you pay is really worth it. Other than the slight power drop you may feel in shift from 1st to 2nd Gear, you wont notice anything while driving an AMT. Once you understand the AMT shifts, you would easily match your A pedal and plan for an upshift. Even the power drop I mention in 1st to 2nd can be easily masked if you know when the shift happens. After about 15+kmph, the shift happens and 6th gear switch can happen at about 72+kmph, knowing all this would also help to attain a better mileage. I try to mostly drive with single pedal in highways as I leave A pedal whenever there is onward slowdown. The best mileage I got in all my trips was about 16+kmpl in tank to tank method. I still have to try and control my speed to 80-90 band for an even better mileage, that’s a Work in progress.

Opinion on Service

All my service experience so far has been good and I did have a body shop repair for the dent on my left fender and was mostly delivered within promised timelines. I say the service experience is livable. I do understand all the services that I took are only scheduled services other than the body shop visit and I don’t have any first hand experience of how service is handled by other manufacturers. For an average joe like me, so far things do look good. So fingers crossed for any major breakdowns and hope the service experience is equally good there as well. I did take an extended warranty on my car to have peace of mind in my ownership and I do intend to own this longer than 5 years to ensure I get the maximum out of the money I have put in. Considering this as a depreciating asset, I was never fond of changing cars in a hurry. I like to own it as long as it is not practically driveable.

Handling

For a first time driver like me, I felt the car never let me out of confidence that I am losing control. I never had second thoughts about pushing into sharp curves at high speeds. I had always found the car to be in control. In all those moments that I had to come to sudden braking due to idiots on the road, the car did as I intended. I would rate that this is a good car with good driving manners and will not let you down.

I really wanted to write this out to ensure that anyone as a first time buyer looking for a compact SUV should highly consider the Nexon. I have never seconded my decision to buy Nexon in my ownership and hope it stays that way. Hope I have covered all the basics. Thanks for taking your time to read my opinion cum journal.

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Kia’s new compact SUV is expected to be positioned above the Sonet.

Kia has released a teaser of its upcoming compact SUV for the Indian market. The new sub-4 metre SUV could be called 'Syros' and is expected to go on sale sometime next year.

The teaser reveals an unconventional design inspired by the Kia EV9. The compact SUV has an upright front fascia with vertical LED DRLs and L-shaped LED taillights at the back. Other exterior details include flush-fitting door handles, blacked-out C-pillars and roof rails.

The new compact SUV from Kia is likely to feature a dual-tone interior with a 2-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel and dual screens. The car could get features like ADAS, front parking sensors, a panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control, ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera.

Kia’s new compact SUV is expected to be positioned above the Sonet and could be offered with both ICE and electric powertrain options.