I want to buy an automatic 7-seater with ventilated seats but no sunroof. My daily travel is about 50 km in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

autocar.india

•2d

With a family of six and a Rs 20 lakh budget, the Carens Clavis is worth considering before the Safari. It offers genuinely usable space across all three rows, a comfortable ride and a proven 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. For a buyer prioritising reliability, low maintenance and reasonable running costs, it is a more natural fit.The Safari is the more SUV-like choice, with a spacious cabin, good ride comfort and strong highway manners. Although the Safari itself has not been tested, the Harrier uses the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and returned just 6.17kpl in the city and 12.49kpl on the highway in our testing. The Safari is heavier, so expectations of fuel economy should be realistic. The diesel is more efficient than the petrol, but it is not particularly frugal either, especially in city use.The Clavis therefore makes more sense if mileage and running costs are important. The Safari becomes more attractive if you specifically want the larger SUV experience, higher seating position and stronger highway character.

Kia Carens Clavis

Tata Harrier

Tata Safari

autocar.india

•15h

There are a few more criteria to clarify, but all things equal, for Mumbai city driving with less than 1,000km per month, an electric car is the most sensible choice. Diesel and hybrid cars ask you to spend more than what your usage justifies, and are available in very few vehicles today at the upper end of the spectrum. Modern diesel cars also require regular highway runs to regenerate the DPF, and assuming your Mumbai drive is purely urban, that will require extra effort. A Petrol car is not without its problems, chiefly that it is the most expensive fuel per unit, and its vehicles are the least efficient, so while the purchase price may be the lowest and the choice in vehicles the widest, in terms of pure running costs, it could end up the highest. EVs aren't without their shortcomings, chief of which is the dependence on a home charger, so make sure that is possible at your home. Outstation trips, should you need to do them, become limited by infrastructure and the vehicle's range, but again assuming you mean urban Mumbai driving only, the fact that they offer minimal running costs and the lowest maintenance, makes them best suited for your use. And while they may be expensive to purchase compared to their ICE equivalents, they're available in many shapes, sizes and price points today, so it's quite easy to find something that fits your needs. What's more, an EV remains the smoothest and most refined driving experience money can buy, which is ideal for an urban environment like Mumbai.

autocar.india

•16h

With a daily running of 50km, you are looking at around 18,000km a year, which is right in the sweet spot where a diesel starts to make financial sense, especially if a significant portion of your driving is on highways. At the same time, you are also looking for a car that is safe, fuel-efficient, and reliable over a 7-8 year ownership period, all within a budget of Rs 20 lakh.The Kia Seltos diesel is the recommendation here. It has a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, and the diesel engine is both efficient and well-suited to your kind of running. This Kia car is also spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped, making it a strong long-term ownership proposition. You should also get a reasonably high-spec variant within your budget of Rs 20 lakh.If you are open to petrol, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is worth considering. It, too, has a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating; the hybrid system delivers excellent fuel efficiency, especially in city driving, and Maruti's service network and reliability are big advantages over a long ownership period. However, given your running, the diesel Seltos still makes more financial sense.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris