Buying a car for the first time, but confused about which are the best, or top cars for first-time buyers in India, and which option to choose? Let’s look at the Hyundai Creta 2024 and Volkswagen Taigun, and find out which of their variants will be the best for you.
In this first-time car buyers’ guide, we will share
- What a first-time buyer should look for in a car
- Hyundai Creta 2024 vs Volkswagen Taigun – an in-depth guide to their variants, features, cost, and driveability
- How to pick the right car for you
So, are these affordable cars for first-time buyers in India? And which variant of these models is the right car for a first-time car buyer? Let’s find out.
What a First-time Car Buyer Looks for in a Car
This is what a first-time buyer should look for in a car:
- Safety – What safety features does the car have? What is its safety rating?
- Affordability – The car should be well within budget and affordable.
- Fuel efficiency – The car should have good fuel efficiency, thereby reducing its running cost.
- Ease of driving – The car should be easy to drive, with features that help in driving and offer convenience for new drivers.
For most first-time car buyers, affordability is the top priority along with decent features and solid safety equipment. Reliable after-sales service provides peace of mind.
They prefer no-frills, low maintenance variants that are easy to drive daily over more powerful or feature-packed trims. The idea is to get a worry-free, value-for-money ownership experience.
Good fuel economy, visibility and manoeuvrability also make drives hassle-free for these new buyers.
Why Hyundai Creta 2024 and Volkswagen Taigun are popular
Both the Creta and Taigun score highly as good starter vehicles. Hyundai’s aggressive pricing starts from just ₹10.44 lakhs on the Creta making it very affordable for new buyers. Volkswagen isn’t far behind either with the Taigun starting at ₹10.50 lakhs.
Their fuel-efficient engines returning around 18 km/l combined economy help keep running costs low too. Generous safety equipment including up to 6 airbags give peace of mind. Cabins offer decent space for four and ride height handles broken roads well. Additionally, Hyundai’s widespread service network ensures support across India.
For all these reasons, both SUVs make practical and hassle-free first cars.
Hyundai Creta 2024 and Volkswagen Taigun variants shortlist in Rs 10-12 lakh range
For Hyundai Creta 2024, we have:
| Variant | Price (INR) as on 20 February 2024 |
| E | ₹11 lakhs |
For Volkswagen Taigun, we have:
| Variant | Price (INR) as on 20 February 2024 |
| 1.0 TSI Comfortline | ₹11.62 lakhs |
Hyundai Creta E
The base E variant itself offers essential safety like 6 airbags, vehicle stability management, rear sensors, tilt steering, front power windows and more at an affordable budget price for new buyers. Worth considering as a no-frills first car. If you’re a gadget lover, you can check out our comparison of the Creta 2024 with Honda City.
Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI Comfortline
The mid-range Comfortline strikes an ideal balance between price and features. While undercutting the Creta E, it packs in auto headlamps, climate control, rear AC vents, electric mirrors etc. improving the overall package for new buyers without crossing budget. Provides more value. If you’re budget-conscious, you can read our comparison of the Taigun with Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara.
Our Pick for the Best variant among Hyundai Creta 2024 and Volkswagen Taigun for First-time car buyers
The Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI Comfortline variant priced at ₹11.62 lakhs makes a strong case as the best first car choice when considering its ideal mix of pricing and features.
While sharply undercutting the Hyundai Creta E by over ₹60,000, the Taigun packs segment fundamentals like dual airbags, electronic stability control, ISOFIX mounts, hill start assist etc. ensuring safety is not compromised. Comfort and convenience features like auto headlamps, climate control, rear wash wipe further maximise the value making daily drives hassle-free. 20 km/l mileage ensures low running costs.
Plus, the convenience of a smooth manual transmission lets new drivers learn car controls through a forgiving light clutch without worrying about automatic transmission maintenance. Peppy turbo-petrol performance also makes city commutes easy.
For all these reasons, the brilliantly-packaged Taigun Comfortline strikes a winning balance between affordability, features, drivability and peace of mind for first car buyers. Making it our top choice.
The 2 Variants Compared
| Attribute | VW Taigun Comfortline | Hyundai Creta E |
| Price (₹ lakhs) | 11.62 | 11 |
| Airbags | 2 | 6 |
| Infotainment screen | 7-inch | None |
| Automatic transmission | No | No |
How to Pick the Right Car for You
- The Taigun Comfortline leads the pack by blending essential safety, comforts, driving ease and reliability into an attractive ₹11.62 lakh pricing – just right for new owners without cutting corners.
- The Creta E maximises safety and spaciousness at an entry-level ₹11 lakh sticker price – perfect for tight budgets prioritising caution and value. Compromises on features expected.
If you’re interested in reading more such face-to-face comparisons of popular car variants, head over to our Buying Advice section.