Hello, I have a family of 5 adults and 1 child. Should I go for a 5-seater SUV or a 7-seater car? My preference is for a petrol automatic car with good safety and fuel efficiency. The car will mainly be used for city driving with 2-3 people, along with occasional full-load highway trips. I have shortlisted 5-seater options including: * Tata Sierra Pure Petrol - feels underpowered * Kia Seltos - concerned about its length for city driving * Renault Duster - good car, but concerned about rear-seat space * Skoda Kushaq - like it a lot, but rear-seat space is a concern 7-seater options that I have shortlisted: * Tata Safari - like it for safety and mileage, but it is out of budget * Mahindra XUV 7X0 - low fuel efficiency and slightly out of budget * Kia Clavis - concerned about safety * Maruti XL6 - good mileage but safety is a concern My budget is Rs. 15-17 lakh for a 5-seater and can stretch up to Rs. 20 lakh for a 7-seater.

Autocar India

•2d

City-first use, low yearly running and a focus on safety and easy parking point to two picks from your list: Mahindra XUV 7XO AX3 and Kia Carens Clavis HTK+.The Mahindra XUV 7XO suits you if you want a strong safety focus and a calm, smooth drive. It feels steady on bad roads, gives a clear view out, and the light steering at low speeds helps in traffic and tight lanes. Parking aids available on the 7XO help slot a big car into small spaces.The Kia Carens Clavis is the easiest to live with in the city. It has light controls, a relaxed petrol engine, and it sips less fuel in stop-go use. The low floor also makes getting in and out very easy for the family, and the third row is better than the 7XO's.With 6,000 km a year, pick petrol. Diesel costs more, and short city runs don’t suit it. Only choose diesel if you do frequent long highway trips.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•2d

For your needs, consider the Kia Carens Clavis diesel as a logical upgrade from your Honda BR-V diesel. The Kia has a refined and efficient 116hp, 1.5 diesel engine that can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. The MPV has a comfy and spacious cabin with a genuinely usable third row, which makes it ideal for long drives, and it has light controls, which means it'll be easy for your parents to drive as well. The Carens Clavis is also not a particularly large car, so driving in narrow lanes and parking will not be an issue either.

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•22h

For your requirement, we would pick the Mahindra XEV 9e. It feels the most complete package here, with a large battery, strong real-world range and a cabin experience that genuinely feels special and premium. It also benefits from Mahindra’s much stronger sales and service footprint compared to a new entrant like VinFast.The Tata Harrier EV QWD is undeniably quick and impressive, but its range is meaningfully lower than the XEV 9e, which makes the Mahindra the easier long-term ownership proposition if range matters to you. Tata’s service reach is strong, but consistency can still vary depending on your city and dealership.The VF7 AWD is the wildcard. It is quick, fun and interesting, but VinFast’s sales and service network in India is still very limited compared to Mahindra and Tata, which makes it a harder recommendation when reliability and support are explicitly your top priorities.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Tata Harrier

Vinfast VF7