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

•1d

The Vinfast VF MPV 7 is a fundamentally sorted car, that is spacious, and is fitted with a large battery which promises a healthy real-world range. Do read the buyback fine print carefully. Check the guaranteed value and tenure, the yearly kilometer limit, battery health requirement, full service history rules, any finance tie-in, damage exclusions, and whether the offer transfers if you move cities. If you are within those boxes, the offer is useful.The Kia Carens Clavis is an excellent alternative, which has a more inviting interior with excellent fit-finish and quality, and despite being smaller in dimensions, it is surprisingly spacious and comfortable. Also, while the Clavis has a smaller battery, it is very efficient, hence you can expect over 350km on a single charge. Moreover, the Clavis will be cheaper to buy, making it much better value than the VF MPV 7.

Vinfast VF MPV 7

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•12m

In terms of an elevated seating position and ease of getting in and out, the Tata Punch is the best fit within your budget. Its doors open wide, and the seats are comfortable and set high, so you step into it rather than down into it. The drawbacks are that the engine isn’t the most refined, and Tata’s service experience can be hit or miss in some areas.Alternatively, the Hyundai Exter automatic is a good choice too. The high, chair-like seats and wide-opening doors make getting in and out easy. The seating position isn’t quite as high as the Punch’s, so it is worth trying both to see which works best for you. On the plus side, the engine is very refined, the AMT is one of the smoother-shifting units in the segment, and Hyundai has a strong reputation for after-sales service.If you want something that is even easier to live with on a tight budget, look at the Maruti Wagon R AMT. The tall-boy design is excellent for seniors. Just know that while it is a great city car, it is not particularly well-suited to highway driving.

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

•3d

None of the 6 or 7-seater cars under Rs. 18 lakh ex-showroom, have both, panoramic sunroof and ventilated seats. If you're willing to sacrifice ventilated seats, you can get both, Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ O and Hyundai Alcazar Prestige DCT, both in their turbo-petrol DCT avatars, in your budget. However, since both these features are a must-have, you will have to settle for 5-seater instead. You could consider a Kia Seltos HTX Turbo-Petrol DCT (ex-showroom price is Rs 17.7 lakh), which gets the two features that you're looking for, along with a lot more modern niceties. The car is spacious, comfortable, and its cabin feels upmarket too. Also, opt for the turbo-petrol, as it will deliver effortless performance, especially during your occasional highway trips.

Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Alcazar