Initially I decided on the Polo. I went to the dealer but was informed by the dealership that the Polo is not getting produced now.

BHPian buzzlightyear recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi everyone,

Need advice in buying my next car.

My requirements:

• Fun to drive petrol turbo-manual.
• Good handling and driving dynamics.
• Comfortable and safe.
• Budget: 10-15 lakhs. Good after sales service experience.

Initially I decided on the Polo. I went to the dealer but was informed by the dealership that the Polo is not getting produced now. And they have no idea if it’s going to resume anymore.

So I started looking at the XUV300, Kushaq and Taigun.

The VW dealer was more interested in selling me an automatic version and even couldn’t arrange the manual for test drive. However I drove both, the Taigun and Kushaq on the same day. I felt the Taigun’s suspension is more sportier than the other sibling. And in my budget , only the mid variant of both the cars were possible. And frankly, the Kushaq mid variant has lot more usable features than the Taigun mid variant.

The XUV300 is good overall. I have a couple of doubts on the  XUV300. One being how good the car is to drive after 4-5 years. Is there any decrement in performance and comfort? How’s the after sales service? Second being how good is it if compared with the Kushaq on the basis of electronic safety features such as EDS, XDS , MSR, ARP etc.

Please help me decide.

Here' what BHPian Raghu M had to say on the matter:

If you want to compare the 3OO with Skoda and VW brands, it will definitely be a fun to drive car after 4 to 5 years. M&M is miles ahead in terms of service and after sales. I own the 3OO top trim and trust me, it's a superbly refined vehicle. The interiors are premium and it has a good list of features. Go for it.

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

If in your place I would go for the Kushaq:

• Fun to drive Petrol turbo-manual - Kushaq.
• Good handling and driving dynamics - Kushaq.
• Comfortable and safe - Both should be safe.
• Budget: 10-15 lakhs.
• Good after sales service experience - Mahindra mostly (though I am super happy with Skoda after sales experience in Bangalore).

Here's what BHPian akash_v12 had to say on the matter:

I'll list down my recommendations using your requirements:

• Both engines are good to drive, but IMO no one gets it better than VAG especially with respect to turbo-petrols. So, the Kushaq and Taigun win here.
• Again, all 3 are good. But, from my observations as well as the Team BHP reviews, the Taigun wins here.
• The XUV3OO is nothing but a shortened Ssangyong Tivoli and so to meet the sub-4m category, space is obviously at a premium. The Kushaq and Taigun being 4.2m long get the win here as well.
• This depends on your dealer. For example, here in Pune, I've never had a problem with my VW dealer. Great guys to work with and they get the job done. But, from what I've heard, the Skoda dealers have run into problems every once in a while. This time, it's the XUV3OO that takes the crown.

So, the basic difference between the XUV3OO and the VAGs is space and the after sales. It's upto you as to which you'd prefer. If it was me in your position, I'd probably would have gone for the Taigun (but that might be slightly biased considering we own a Vento).

Here's what BHPian Akshay 6988 had to say on the matter:

I feel we should not label any VAG car (rather any other car) as "safe" unless and until it is crash tested by any authority. Time and again I've seen this notion that VAG cars are safe, but never saw any NCAP crash rating reports for the VAG cars which are made for Indian market or made in India ! Till there are no crash test results I'd rate all non tested cars as same, as simply there's no proof how these cars would fare in a mishap ! Sure the build is solid and there's this famous "thud" associated with VAG cars but there's no crash ratings

Coming to OPs query, if you are fine with little to nill boot space and can live without it, definitely go for the XUV300, it is a hoot to drive. The  Kushaq is a competent car but when the Skoda is showing tantrums, I don't think it's worth it.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information

Use the same mobile number that was used for the My Volkswagen Connect app to activate this app too.

BHPian Gokrish recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

How to use the Jio dongle in the Volkswagen Taigun:

I don’t know how many have been using the Jio dongle found in the Taigun for Wi-Fi connectivity.

However, for the uninitiated, the following are the steps to be followed to activate the same:

• Install the JioMotive app from Play Store or App Store.
• Use the same mobile number that was used for the My Volkswagen Connect app to activate this app too. If you are not using the My Volkswagen Connect app, then use the mobile number that was given to the dealer at the time of car registration. Once the JioMotive app is activated, the initial screen is displayed as shown below:

• Select your name & vehicle number displayed at the top as indicated by the arrow above in point #2.

• In the screen shown in point #3 above, select “Manage” under Wi-Fi settings.

• Under “Manage Device”, switch on Wi-Fi. SSID and password details can be found on the screen. Use this credential for connecting car Wi-Fi.
• No need to use the mobile hotspot to download apps or to listen to Gaana.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Volkswagen Taigun is sold as the T-Cross in Mexico.

Volkswagen has started exporting the made-in-India Taigun to overseas markets. The first batch of 1,232 cars are being shipped to Mexico from the port of Mumbai.

The Volkswagen Taigun is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform. In Mexico, the car is sold as the T-Cross.

The VW T-Cross is offered in three variants: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. Unlike the Indian version, the T-Cross is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine that produces 108 BHP and 155 Nm. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Volkswagen has been exporting vehicles from India since 2011. Today, made-in-India products are shipped to 61 countries across South America, Central America, Africa, Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries & the Caribbean region.

The digital display seems like a half baked attempt for the sake of giving one. Would have seriously preferred the Kushaq's analog display.

BHPian differential recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Took delivery of our Taigun Topline AT in December 2021 in the Cherry Red. This car is going to be primarily driven inside the city and is a replacement for our 7 year Polo GT TSI.

The car has completed about 900 km so far. The drives were a mix of city, highway and hills.

We were a confused between the Topline AT and the GT Plus and finally went with the Topline AT.

Observations after 900 km:

Pros:

• The car is super spacious and the boot size is deceptive. The boot can hold a lot.
• The suspension is on the firmer side and the ground clearance with full load is good. Didn't scape even once over huge potholes and speed breakers with full load. The car is sorted at speeds of 100- 110kmph and the brakes are good.
• The car has enough and more creature comforts and is on par with the competition.
• The TC gearbox has a jumpy start, but is comfortable for city use and bumper to bumper traffic.
• Steering is light, making city drives and parking easy. Outside visibility is good with a fair range of seat adjustment.
• Wireless CarPlay and wireless charging seem to be working as advertised and is convenient.
• Ventilated seats, though noisy at max setting - work well. This is a first for me, never used one before. But its nice.

Cons:

• Quality and feel seem lower than the Polo.
• HU audio quality is very average.
• The 1.0 TSI is not the engine for spirited driving and is more suited for cruising. The engine struggles with full load and 4 passengers to reach cruising speeds. Once u reach speeds of 100-110 kmph it cruises comfortably. The gearbox shifts to 6th gear only around 70 to 80 kmph when the engine reaches around 2000 rpm.
• Fuel efficiency is not a strong point. B to B crawling traffic on our regular commute is around 9 kmpl. Highway efficiency with 80 to 110kmph speeds is around 13 kmpl.
• The digital display seems like a half baked attempt for the sake of giving one. Would have seriously preferred the Kushaq's analog display.

Cars considered:

Kushaq / Taigun.

Why?

Most of our cars are VAG and we didn't actually consider the Korean twins.

Why Taigun instead of Kushaq?

This is going to be my wife's car and she liked the Taigun better and wanted to stick with the VW brand. I liked the looks of the Kushaq mainly because of less chrome and analog dials. The Taigun's rear lights look better. Honestly, I liked both equally and couldn't differentiate much between the 2 cars mechanically and drive wise.

If this was our primary car I would have hands down chosen the 1.5 L with the DSG. The 1.5 also has a fair bit more torque and power. Yes, the DSG has its own problems. But having used DSGs in over 5 VAG cars, I still feel its performance is in a different league. And we have had DSG problems with one car and its been addressed satisfactorily.

Why 1.0 TSI?

Though jumpy at the start, its actually better to drive in city traffic. Our yearly mileage for this car will be less than 7000 km and 95% will be city traffic. And we are planning to hold on to this car for at least 7 years.

What would I like to have been better?

Audio / speaker quality. Though not an audiophile, the sound quality is very very average. Looking at speaker swap options.

The AC seems to take it own time to cool. This is not summer yet. Have to wait to see the actual performance in summer and with more usage.

All the above observations are my personal views over 1 month. I might be biased regarding the driving experiences as my comparisons are with the Polo GT TSI 1.2L and Octavia vRS.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I've driven the Taigun 1.0 MT and found it to be a great drive except the handling seems be too light compared to either the Duster or the Ecosport.

BHPian sid3091 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone,

I just sold my Ford Ecosport, and are looking for a suitable replacement.

We also have a 2015 Renault Duster AWD which we'll be looking to trade in (or sell if the trade in values are crap).

Our plan is to buy a new car in the 20 lakh range and a cheap second hand car in the 2-3 lakh range as a spare car.

Choices so far:

• Skoda Kushaq 1.5 MT/AT.
• VW Taigun 1.0 AT/MT or 1.5 AT.
• Tata Harrier XZ+ (if the dealer's exchange values are good).

I'm at a loss on what to get. I've driven the Taigun 1.0 MT and found it to be a great drive except the handling seems be too light compared to either the Duster or the Ecosport.

I haven't driven the Harrier yet, but considering its size, I won't really be pushing its limits too much.

I like the looks and the equipment on offer of the Kia Seltos, but two things are holding me back from considering it further. It's safety rating, and the fact the few times I sat in it, I found the ride quality to be rather stiff.

What would you guys advise? I have this feeling the Kushaq and Taigun lineup will both see a rejig and I'd be fuming if I bought one now and there's a new variant in 2 months which has more features. I don't mind buying a used Tata Tiago/Honda Jazz and waiting around 3-4 months to make a purchase.

Here's what BHPian ninja09 had to say on the matter:

I’ve been looking for a car for more than a month now. Sharing my two cents:

• Škoda Kushaq: I’ve cancelled my booking and will recommend to wait for the facelift. Lots of people have shared sub-par experience due to ECP issue and other testing related issues. There is a dedicated thread on this on Team BHP.
• VW Taigun: It’s pretty much the same car under different skin.
• Tata Harrier: Baring few minor issues, it’s a solid car but will cost you 25L. Take a TD and decide for yourself.

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

My suggestions:

• Creta/Alcazar - fits budget and nothing specifically wrong except DCT but since you have Skoda in list so its same AT.
• XUV700 - Any variant in your budget. I find base petrol great value.
• New Scorpio - Wait for it to launch.
• Jeep Compass.
• Hyundai Tucson petrol. Drive a hard bargain on current model as new one about to launch.

My only advice buy a car that appeals to heart even if little over budget. I agree with what GTO said somewhere that buy a little out of budget vehicle if it appeals to heart as in long term it will appeal a lot and keep you invested.

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

Graduating from an Ecosport, there are not too many cars which would feel like a great update. Because it has a solid build and fantastic handling. Plus you say you had Duster also which would have spoilt you with its ride quality.

Since you are open to a manual, I would recommend the Jeep Compass. It will feel like an upgrade in all aspects from the Ecosport more than the Taigun / Kushaq. It has great build and offers a fantastic driving experience. The main sore point is the sluggish transmission but the manual feels punchy enough.

Consider the Sport or Longitude (O), the later has nearly 1.75-2 lakh discounts for the 2021 model, which will bring the price to near Taigun level.

The only miss from the list you stated above will be 6 airbags. Test drive a Compass before you make your choice.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I switched to the Taigun 17 days later. Neither of the dealerships I visited tried to upsell me the Taigun. It just happened organically.

BHPian throttleflick recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I took delivery of a white Taigun 1.0 Topline AT on the 9th January.

Took it straight to Lonavala temple after the delivery from Autobahn Vashi. I paid 17.31 OTR. BH series, my employer having offices in more than 4 states has made it possible for me.

I had visited the Thane dealership in November to check out the matte gray Polo but was disappointed to learn that the color was only available in the GT and not Highline Plus. I ended up booking a white Polo Highline Plus with a delivery time frame of 2-4 months. I wasn't in a hurry with the delivery anyways so the time line suited me.

I switched to the Taigun 17 days later. Neither of the dealerships I visited tried to upsell me the Taigun. It just happened organically. I was getting tired with the bike rides wearing me down and wanted to have a car that could be easy to manage in city and on the highways.

Both Polo and Taigun were satisfying my criteria of being well mannered cars, with the Taigun and its ventilated seats going an extra mile to pamper the primary occupants. I honestly can't say much about the build quality of both the cars as both seemed pretty solid to me.

The car hunt began in 2020 as a joke, as a consequence of not being in the right timeline to end up with a Punto Abarth, day dreaming of the next best thing - a Polo TSi, and come December 2021, I found myself doing a PDI of a car I never thought I'd buy. I hope my dreams never come true.

I love the Taigun exactly for the same reasons as the Polo:

• Cruise control: I wanted to try this especially because a friend who drives an AT verna also has cruise control and choses not to use it. I set it up at 79km/hr on the Mumbai Pune expressway and just focussed on the road. I can't wait to do this again.
• TC gearbox: I briefly looked at Renaults offerings in the Polos price range, but didn't want to go the non TC gearbox route. Driving my uncles 2021 Baleno CVT also didn't instil excitement. TC was the way to go without having any benchmark to base this decision on. I was tired of driving our 2007 Innova MT and wanted an automatic car as my first car.
• A potent engine with a scope for DIY - this was for Polo. I've religiously followed BHPian fluidicjoys diy threads and was blown away by the kinda potential Polo holds for mods. I'm also glad that I'm not going to have to do any of those now that a Taigun stands in the garage. I'm all for "built not bought" (but "built after I bought" really) and I am the primary service advisor, head mechanic, chai wala and chief accountant when it comes to the maintenance of my 2017 Dominar, having added functional and aesthetic mods on it. But I want a break from all that diy and focus on the driving a bit more this time.
• Everything that the Polo doesn't have is an add on on the Taigun and I don't have particular excitement over the value addition of these features except for the ventilated seats. Mom was surprised to know that such a thing exists and was happy and comfortable throughout the lonavala drive on delivery day. The paddle shifters are an addon I was going to add to the Polo but happy for it to come as standard on the Taigun, although I am waiting to cross over 1-1.5k on the odo to use them.

However, the Polo has a lot of character over the Taigun. This will never stop being true for me.

The allure of the sunroof quickly faded away now that our car has it. The Innova which stands in the garage doesn't have a sunroof and both my mom and I used to wonder what it'd be like to have a car with a sunroof. Uncle with his XUV500 encouraged putting the head outta the sunroof when the car stood still and the experience was pleasant. Now that there is one on the Taigun, I don't think we've looked up more than once through it. We just end up removing the roof liner cover and that's that. It just sits there, we're happy it is there but we'd be indifferent if it weren't.

I love the wheel setup as well. On a smooth tarmac, the car glides. As if riding on an aircraft. The road noise is absent and I just love the way it drives. On concrete tarmac, the story is a bit different. There is a fair amount of road noise, the undulations are felt in the cabin and it starts making sense as to why the 16 inch tyres are a better swap for this car. Not that I'm going to right away or later as well, but it did debunk a thought I had in my mind when I used to read about most of the folks preferring the 16 inch wheels over the 17 inch setup.

I also find it weird that the car on PDI and on delivery day seemed so tall, and now that it is with me and among other cars, it just feels short. Like me.

I love the gearbox but can only talk so much about it right now. I've done around 288 km, 77 was the odo meter mark when I took delivery. U-turns are scary. Probably because I'm not willing to floor the car right now hence a mild panic sets inside of me trying to negotiate a u-turn with a sense of calming urgency. Will I make it, will I not? Will the truck driver uncle curse at me, will he not? Or maybe because when I press the accelerator, the car has a noticeable delay until it darts forward (probably in d2) and pushes me back into the seat.

The headlight setup is a miss for me. I wish for something more powerful. It reminds me of my struggle with my Dominar. It looks good when I'm alone on the road. I can scare insects, owls, and make the moon blush on a full moon day, but if a halogen power guy comes in the opposite lane, I'm sure to miss a bump or a pothole. These lights also perform poorly for me when someone with a powerful setup is behind me, the effect of my headlights gets cancelled and blends with the more powerful setup.

I've always thought these LED headlights with the kinda temperature Dominar has to be a problem and the ones on the Taigun will inspire no confidence on that front. Good to have the fog lamps in an aesthetically out of sync color temperature. I've had my eyes tested and my doctor said I have a good vision. As long as I could see her, it was 6/6.

The car does hold gears properly. On the TD car, I felt it did spend a fair amount of time in D2 even at lower speeds but that doesn't seem to be the case with the car I've got.

How and why I went in for a Polo and came out with a Taigun in a span of 2 months is something that is in the works on the assembly line. Hope to cover a lot of the things other than what I've mentioned on the post.

However, I have a lot of gratitude towards BHPian sameer_vwagner, soumyajena whose virtual presence has made me buying my first car a smooth experience. I couldn't have done it without Sameer's encouragement and Soumya's help moving to a different dealership in the Mumbai area. These two among other gents have had a significant impact on me and the kinda human I aspire to be. Thank you guys.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Although I had already made up my mind for the VW Taigun, I felt it looks more car-ish. On the other hand, the Kushaq looks bigger & more masculine, like it's a smaller Karoq.

BHPian njaustin123 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

First of all, let me thank everyone for helping me in this decision process.

The selection process

I sold my 5-year-old Ecosport (Diesel) in Sep 2021 as the company lease just got over by then. Was looking at an upgrade in the 15L price range.

Options considered

• XUV 700 - I was one of the first 25k people who booked it in the first hour of booking. I don't really need that big a car, but the launch pricing made me greedy for it, but finally, the estimated delivery date in Jul 2022 drove me away from it.
• Creta/Seltos - Somehow I am not a big fan of the Koreans. I know they offer the best VFM and feature set, but still.
• Taigun - For my budget, I have to go for the 1.0 TSI here. Initially, I was worried about whether this will be an underpowered car. But on taking a test drive it felt better than Creta's 1.5 NA in both dynamics and power.

The Kushaq twist

So I made my mind for Taigun and was waiting for the delivery of the Highline variant. But there was something I felt missing in Taigun - the looks. Both Kushaq/Taigun are a little bit smaller than Creta/Seltos in all dimensions. But both Koreans have a good road presence. After making up my mind for Taigun, I started observing Taiguns and Kushaqs on the road. Most of the time Taigun felt more car-ish than an SUV. Mainly the front look, which makes it look like a bigger Polo. The backside too though youthful with a full LED strip, didn't appeal to me much (Sorry all current and future owners of Taigun, no offense meant - just my taste).

But with the exact same dimensions and most parts shared, Kushaq looked bigger and more masculine - mainly with the typical Skoda grill. It looks like a smaller Karoq or so. Back side also is more classy than Taigun. Though not as butchy as the Koreans, Kushaq seemed good to me. And while I was undergoing this great confusion between Taigun and Kushaq, Skoda dealer (EVM Kochi) came up with an irresistible offer for me - a discount of 50K+15K (Corporate) plus some discounts on Insurance. So I went through a heated-up set of discussions with my family, called up my friends - some who are Skoda owners and others who are auto experts. Finally made the decision to go for Kushaq and an Ambition MT 1.0 was available in Carbon Steel immediately.

My quick review

So after the usual wait time for registration and some painting/de-chroming/coating work, I got delivery of the Kushaq last Friday. On the next day, made a weekend trip to Kanthalloor. My current review is fully based on that. ODO is at 400 KM after the trip.

Coming from Ecosport, I was kind of spoilt with its dynamics and ride quality. Luckily Kushaq feels like a worthy upgrade with similar qualities in terms of comfort and rolling a much better car. It really feels very stable and rooted to the road. Things like braking and cornering are really good too. I am also happy with the features that I get as part of Ambition trim. The nice display and audio, ambient light, projector HL etc. I even liked the MID with the way it displays gear status and recommendations on gear up/down, song details, call details etc. The two spoke steering simply feels superb. Wireless Android Auto worked fine too.

Small niggles

• Yes, the ORVMs are small. They should have been longer or more square-ish.
• AC Temp and Fan controls look fancy with the touch controls. But practically not so great. You can't accurately control it without spending at least 10 secs of looking at it. So better off with a one-time temp setting and putting it on Auto rather than trying to adjust the fan, air suction etc. on the go.
• Jio Dongle says provisioned but shows an error saying device not connected. Hence wasn't able to use the connectivity feature. Need to take it to Skoda once and probably needs a re-insertion of the device.

Overall

Very Happy! Need to try some more road trips to evaluate, but overall looks like a nice upgrade. Old Skoda owners might call it only 75% Skoda due to localization. But still better than many other cars in the price range, I would say, in terms of both build and ride quality.

FE shows 12.3 after the Kanthalloor trip. 5.5 hours one side and half of its high range. Yet to check with full tank method. So expecting some 10-11 in the city and 14-15 on highways which is pretty much OK. Overtaking in 3rd gear is fun. Accelerating more in 2nd and 3rd gear produces some good amount of sound thanks to 3-cyl and no sealing of hood. But it is not disturbing and in fact a sporty vroom sound.

Now some pics of my 'Graphene Dark Edition' Kushaq.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Clean lines of the Taigun will leave lasting impressions. It is like the Polo GT of hatchbacks. Seltos is more like the Swift.

BHPian CkmGowda recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Background: My Nissan Terrano will be completing 8 years in a few weeks. I am considering to buy a new SUV using the company lease option.

Budget: Upper limit of my company lease plan is 22 lakhs on road (Bangalore). This will include Ex showroom price + registration charges + insurance + TCS.

Usage: My usage will be around 2000 km per month. Around 600 km in Bangalore city and 1400 Km on highway (Bangalore to Chikmagalur). Occasionally to Mangalore.

Requirements:

• Great to drive.
• Automatic transmission.
• Useful modern-day features.
• Safe Car.
• Good looks.
• Good mileage.
• Good ground clearance (hilly area drives).
• Good resale value (I am planning to see in 3 or 4 years after the lease plan ends).
• Good boot space (Terrano spoilt us).
• No nonsense service and maintenance.

I have finalized two cars which will closely meet my requirements – Taigun GT plus and Seltos GTX Plus.

Drive: Both are good at ride and handling, but Taigun feels little better. It also feels quick for overtaking. NVH is also better in Taigun (because of the petrol engine). Seltos has better seating position (sitting high).

Transmission: Both automatic transmissions are good, but Taigun is little better in Sport mode.

Features: Seltos wins hands down. In addition to everything that the Taigun offers, the Seltos has:

• 360-degree camera.
• Blind View Monitor.
• Bose audio system with 8 speakers.
• Ventilated and powered seats.
• Heads Up Display (HUD).
• LED fog lamps.
• Auto headlamps.
• Driver One Touch Auto up/ down with Anti Pinch function.
• Rear door sunshade curtain.
• Rain sensing wipers.
• All 4-disc brakes.
• All black sport interiors.

Safe Car: Although the Taigun is not NCAP rated, I am assuming it to be better than the Seltos given its history of making solid (safe?) cars.

Looks: Looks are subjective, but the Taigun GT wins hands down (personal preference). There is simply no car which matches the class and elegance of the Taigun under 25 lakhs (considering average price of the Jeep Compass is above 25 lakh). Not saying that the Seltos is less of a looker, but it falls into the mass category. Clean lines of the Taigun will leave lasting impressions. It is like the Polo GT of hatchbacks. Seltos is more like the  Swift.

Mileage and running costs: Here the Seltos come out as the winner. Yearly saving of 50k on fuel expenses alone.

Ground Clearance: No significant difference here (190 mm of Seltos vs 188 mm of Taigun).

Resale: I have a feeling the Seltos will be better here.

Good boot space: The Seltos has better boot space on paper, but I felt the Taigun will hold more luggage in real. Taigun boot space is deep.

Service and maintenance: Although the Hyundai group has better track record, I am willing to believe VW’s commitment on improving service and maintenance experience for Indian customers.

Wildcard: If the Work from Home continues, I am willing to wait till Q2 2022 for the all new Scorpio.

What do you all think?

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

Picking a car today has one major factor - delivery times. I don't know which one of these is available for delivery as per your requirements.

Second is price. And then servicing availability in your area.

My take regarding the features:

• 360-degree camera - not a must. But helpful.
• Blind View Monitor - Helpful.
• Bose audio system with 8 speakers - Good.
• Ventilated and powered seats - Good.
• Heads Up Display (HUD) - Good to have.
• LED fog lamps - not an advantage, exp if these are cool white..
• Auto headlamps - Good to have.
• Driver One Touch Auto up/ down with Anti Pinch function. Good to have.
• Rear Door Sun-Shade Curtain - Good to have.
• Rain sensing wipers - Good to have
• All 4-disc brakes - Not necessary. I have 4-disc brakes on my vehicle. But rear drum is sufficient.
• All black sport interiors - Personal choice.

Running costs: What you have mentioned is indicative. Actual numbers will be known after you start using it.

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

I just bought a Seltos DCT last month and so far I am satisfied as the whole package does add to the ownership experience, but I am not sure how many of those features I will use on a regular basis.

If you are looking at the Seltos, you may want to also consider 2 aspects (other than the safety which you already mentioned), which I also considered but still ended up buying it:

• It is a very common car. There is no exclusivity. While it is nice to buy a tried and tested product, but I would have preferred slightly more exclusivity.
• Facelift is long overdue. Since the car is selling so well, Kia is holding back on launching an update. They did one last year, but that was fairly limited. Consider the Creta as a comparison, they are going launch the 3rd variant (from the time Kia originally launched the Seltos) in India.

Looks are subjective. Honestly, I prefer the Seltos' SUV type body structure more (its not a true SUV, hence, play with the words) and it offers more in cabin space as well. With VW, I am just not sure what is the thought process they have in terms of launching and maintaining their product portfolio. They are quite abrupt in terms of discontinuing products (case in point, T-Roc, Karoq, Kodiaq, Taigun, which I can remember) or continuing with older gen products (Polo, Rapid, Vento selling forever).

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

No point considering the Seltos because of the crash test rating. All those feel good features aren’t saving anyone in a crash. 20 lakhs is a lot of money to compromise on safety, especially when there are other options available. I would say wait. You don’t need a new car asap so wait. Even if you got one home tomorrow ,with the rapid rise in cases you probably aren’t going to risk a long drive anywhere. By then there might be a better idea if the Taigun’s safety. Plus the new Scorpio and the 5 door Gurkha will be out. They might just give you the best of both the Taigun and Scorpio.

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

I don’t see the point of spending 20L on a Seltos, a vehicle which barely managed a 3 star GNCAP rating with an unstable chassis. No amount of features can compensate for that, especially when you plan on doing plenty of highway running. Secondly, you are overestimating the 1.4 turbo petrol’s mileage. The engine is extremely sensitive to throttle inputs and FE figures tank very easily. The VW is at least as efficient, if not more, in real world conditions. It’s ride and handling is also better. The Seltos boot may be bigger on paper, but it’s shape doesn’t make it very useful. Neither car can accommodate anywhere near as much luggage as your Terrano.

I see the Tiguan and Kushaq as the best overall 4.3m SUVs in the market today, as long you seat only 2 people at the back. Mighty fine cars, these. If you are inclined to wait, I’d rather you wait for the Skoda Slavia. Mainly for the much bigger boot. Don’t see how the new Scorpio will work for you. It will be much less efficient and more cumbersome to drive than the smaller and lighter monocoque crossovers.

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Done with 4K on my Taigun. Have now reasonable sense on how the car consumes fuel with different driving modes.

BHPian vinitbarve recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Taigun real world fuel efficiency numbers for my car (GT1.5).

Done with 4K on my Taigun. Have now reasonable sense on how the car consumes fuel with different driving modes.

Case1 (worst): Daily city drive/ home to office commute; 3 km takes 10-20 mins, one stretch of bad traffic.

FE: 6.5KMPL to 8.5KMPL.

Case2a: Long city drive; 20 km in 40 mins, mix of signals and moderate traffic and excellent driving (no over taking, less strong accelerations and braking).

FE: 15KMPL to 16KMPL.

Case2b: Long city drive; 20 km in 40 mins, mix of signals and moderate traffic and fast driving (over taking, intermittent accelerations and braking).

FE: 12KMPL to 14KMPL.

Case3a: Highway drive; avg. steady 60-80 kmph,

FE: 22KMPL to 24KMPL (On Pune-Mumbai stretch which involves slope, this can touch 25 for the full drive, attached pic was post navigating a km long queue at Vashi toll).

Case3b: Highway drive; Fast/ overtaking. (bordering permissible limits or beyond).

FE: 15KMPL to 17KMPL.

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

Thanks for sharing. So, this is in tune with the preview that with a heavy foot, there is significant drop in FE, particularly for short drives.

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

These are good figures. My VWT 1.0L car is <10 days old, 310 kms on odo, with 70 km of it on highways. I have seen averages between 5.6 to 15kmpl. My commute is 20 kms one way. I just did a full tank this morning with a mix of different petrols. Let's see in 2 weeks or so how this turns out.

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The Hector is nothing extraordinary in terms of driving pleasure. However, it's a superb all rounder for the family.

BHPian dh.harshal recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello experts,

I've been in the market for a mid size SUV, having sold my Vento 1.2 TSI automatic recently.

Below are some requirements:

• Safe car.
• Automatic transmission (Petrol/Diesel).
• Space for 4 adults and child seat for toddler(similar to 5 adults).
• Primary vehicle for daily city drive with single occupant (500 km/month) and occasional highways drives, once/twice a month with 4 adults and a toddler (500-600 km/month).
• Balanced suspension for family comfort.
• Essential features for safe & enjoyable family journey (360 camera, TPMS, 3 point seatbelt for all, good music system).
• Don't care much about bling features like voice commands, connected car, etc.

Cars considered:

Kushaq/Taigun: Waited for the VAG twins launch, but was disappointed on what they offer. Yes, they will satisfy my thirst for driving, coming from the superb Vento driving experience. But family won't enjoy them much with cramped space and almost no features.

Seltos/Creta: Both are good all round family cars, however safety bothers me a lot given we'll mostly travel with our baby.

XUV700: Probably the best for us, but the waiting period is beyond imagination and no 3 point seat belt for middle passenger (important for us, because we will travel with 4 adults and a baby).

Safari/Harrier: They have to improve a lot on the interior quality, fit & finish. Also reading horrible stories of after sales service on each of the owner's forums.

Jeep Compass: Excellent product overall. Is cramped space in the rear for 3 people seated. Also, rattling noises are a given in the new 2021 model. Another issue is the diesel automatic comes only with 4*4 and petrol automatic is nothing to brag about.

MG Astor: Another excellent product, rejected only because of cramped rear seats.

Hyundai Tucson: Probably the best of the lot for me. But the family vetoed it out only due to dull & age old interiors.

MG Hector: Nothing extraordinary in terms of driving pleasure. However, it's a superb all rounder for the family. Good features and tons of space. CVT is little slow, cornering is not good, mileage is poor - but again I guess, I'm not going to test the car's full driving potential given my family & especially our baby will always be in the car

Now, I'm getting Hector delivered in the next 3-4 weeks if I book within this week. Our baby will be 2 months then and we would want to welcome her back home in a new car.

Questions to the experts:

• Does Hector make sense considering my requirements?
• Shall we wait for ADAS to be introduced in Hector? No timelines yet and I don't fancy ADAS except the adaptive cruise control. Besides prices will likely go up by around one lakh next year with ADAS.
• Does it make sense to book in December and get delivery in January? Car is likely to be 2021 manufactured.

Please provide your expert advise.

Thank you!

Here's what BHPian abhishek46 had to say on the matter:

The MG Hector has not been crash tested. We do not know how safe/un-safe it would be in reality.

The XUV700 should be the best selection from the above. The best Engines, best Safety, best Features.

You should use a child restraint system (baby seat) and fix it using ISO FIX mounts. When your child grows up, you should use a booster seat with either 3 point seat belt OR a lap-belt.

Personally, I have observed difficulties with 3-point seat belt when small kids are strapped in, even with booster seat. The upper belt passes near the neck area in small kids, which I did not like. This is the reason, I prefer lap-belt with booster seat arrangement for my kid (7y.o).

Here's what BHPian mpod11 had to say on the matter:

I was in the same boat as you 2 months back. Had to replace my ageing VW Vento with a feature rich SUV that felt value for money and the big car feel. After a gazillion test drives, I went ahead and bought the MG Hector CVT. I am 1000 kms into my ownership journey and mostly it has been a positive experience. The car is a relaxed cruiser and feels good quality for the most part. Mechanically it doesn’t seem to have any problem. Mileage has improved since the first few days and I am getting around 7.5-8 kmpl. My usage is 100% within the city in bumper to bumper traffic. My only grouse with the car is that the electronics aren’t that great. My key battery has been replaced already once and the voice commands have a mind of their own. It’s also impossible to turn off the navigation voice. It’s a great car as such and my family loves it. I would have gone with the 5th gen Honda city but got outvoted. Don’t regret it a bit!

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

I own a Hector diesel 2021 for last 6 months and have driven 12K+ km. You won’t regret and will look for excuses to go on drives. It’s a superb cruiser, high on comfort specially for passengers. My teen boy refuses to join me on the front passenger seat as he loves its rear seat comfort. My biggest satisfaction is that my family loves drives in it and it’s quality fit & finish leaves the competition behind. The other most important factor is good after sales service. In terms of quality and reliability, I don’t have any negative experience, have driven it 5K+ km on week long holidays including 1300kKm non-stop, not a single problem or observation whatsoever.

Here's what BHPian SM.Turbo had to say on the matter:

This is a perspective from an owner who has no qualms of over close close to one year of ownership experience with the Hector Plus DCT. I have mentally prepared on the mileage part and hence, no sweat on getting an 8.8 kmpl average on a 9K old odometer (Tankful to tankful).

My previous rides are the Ecosport and Linea and both are a dream to drive. Now, given a choice of going back and changing the decision, would I opt for something else, well, the answer is NO. Will pick up a Hector again. Its a solid all rounder and good family car (Don't want someone to contest SUV credentials ) with build and service quality being pretty good and a great "price and size proposition". Now, if you are wondering what my previous rides are to do on this post, well, I have a decent understanding on what handling means and I have not been bothered by the Hector on my highway stints where I have averaged 80 kph on 400 km not stop trips. By the way, one of my previous rides was Thar CRDI (first gen) and was never comfortable above 90 even on a fabulous 8 lane expressway, and I have driven the new Fortuner which is equally a not so great confidence inspirer around the corners and I did not expect it to behave differently, it being an SUV (though not a 4 wheel drive ). I guess we need to cut some slack for tall bodies.

Well, I own it, drive it and can fairly say am happy about it, including the soft suspension, quiet cabin, which is apt for my daily city commute and cocoons from outside city chaos. Not bad on expressways either where I always drive at max legal limit, that's why there is not much difference in my city and highway mileage. In the world of perspectives, this is the perspective of a guy who has been living with it for the last 340 days. All the very best on your new ride, which ver you eventually own. Cheers!

Well, I wish there was a diesel duto and would be miserable the day MG launches one.

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