Q. Sonet petrol AT Vs DCT, please advise which one more effective in terms of performance and hassalfree?

Traditional Automatic Transmission(AT), also known as a torque-converter, this automatic transmission is one of the most common types of gearboxes that can be found on budget as well as expensive luxury cars. Instead of a clutch this gearbox uses a torque converter to spool up the power and it also has smooth and relatively quick gearshifts. The application for this gearbox is quite widespread. On the other hand, A dual-clutch transmission(DCT) uses two separate shafts with their own clutches for gear shifts: one shaft for odd-numbered gears and the other for even-numbered gears. This type of automatic transmission is purely a performance-oriented transmission that also delivers good fuel efficiency but comes at a penalty of higher manufacturing cost. If a problem arises they are also expensive to maintain. In case of Sonet, DCT is available with a turbocharged petrol engine and AT is available with a naturally aspirated Diesel Engine. The Sonet’s 7-speed DCT doesn’t particularly shine. It simply gets the job done. You’d be underwhelmed if you compared it to say Volkswagen’s DSG. That said, you would appreciate that the shifts are super smooth, and it’s rare that the gearbox gets confused or selects the wrong gear. You get a manual mode in case you want sprightlier acceleration, but there are no paddle shifters on offer. If your daily car usage is less and want a fun to drive car, you may go for Sonet DCT. The Sonet is currently the only vehicle to offer a proper torque converter paired with a diesel motor in a segment that offers just AMTs. As a bonus, you also get the Seltos’ engine tune with an additional 15PS of power and 10Nm. This drivetrain is best appreciated on long highway trips, where you’d want to cover over 500km a day. The smooth (but slightly slow) shifts from the automatic will keep fatigue at bay, while the diesel engine will ensure the wallet is happy by being frugal. For city usage, it feels responsive thanks to all that torque the engine has to offer. Do take a test ride in order to get better clarity. Check out authorised dealership details.