The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are indeed good options, and the fact that they have a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP is a big plus. The absence of a 360-degree camera and ADAS is not a deal-breaker, and they’re still worth considering for their strong engines, smooth gearboxes and excellent driving dynamics.
Do note, however, that both cars are still a few months away, with the Kushaq facelift expected to launch in March, and the Taigun facelift a few months after that. If not those, you could also consider the new Kia Seltos. It hasn’t been given an NCAP rating yet, but its smaller sibling the Syros has received a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, and as the Seltos is built on a new-gen platform, we expect it to get one too. The Seltos impresses with its features list, which includes a 360-degree camera as well as ADAS with Level 2 Autonomous driving.