Autocar India
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Scientist

•6w

I am planning to buy an SUV for myself and my family. My daily driving will be around 80 km, and I plan to do occasional off-roading once a month. My average monthly driving is about 2,000 km. I am looking for a powerful, safe, and secure vehicle with 7 seats that is also economical. I am open to electric, hybrid, petrol, and diesel options, but not CNG. Since I have high running, I am also looking for low running costs. Please suggest, as I plan to make the purchase within the next 2 months.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•6w

Go for a diesel 7-seater SUV or MPV, and shortlist the Kia Carens Clavis or Toyota Innova HyCross depending on your budget. These are the most practical and economical choices for your usage.

The Kia Carens Clavis diesel is the most practical starting point. It is comfortable, easy to drive daily and efficient for long distances. The diesel engine is well suited for your high running, and this Kia car is stable enough on highways while remaining manageable in the city. It is also one of the most sensible family 7-seaters available today.

If you can stretch your budget, the Toyota Innova Hycross hybrid is the best overall choice. It offers excellent comfort, much better space across all three rows and very low running cost for a large vehicle thanks to its hybrid system, which delivers high efficiency for city and highway use. It is also among the most reliable long-term ownership options.

Now, since you mentioned occasional off-roading, you need to be realistic. Cars like the Carens Clavis and Hycross are not meant for serious off-roading. If your off-road use is mild, like rough roads or trails, they will manage. If you want proper off-road capability, then something like the Mahindra Scorpio N diesel is the better fit. It is rugged, has strong torque and proper SUV capability, while still being usable daily.

The trade-off is clear. The Scorpio N is tougher and more capable off-road, but less comfortable and less efficient than the Carens or Hycross.

Kia Carens Clavis
Kia Carens Clavis
Mahindra Scorpio N
Mahindra Scorpio N
Toyota Innova HyCross
Toyota Innova HyCross
AP

Alpesh patel

•6w

Go for ev if u have solar rooftop.and ev with 75kw

New car launches to explore

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More questions on similar cars

AG

Aditya Gaur

•1d

I have a VW Taigun 1.5 GT Plus (automatic) and a Skoda Rapid. I'm planning to go for a new, bigger car in 6-9 months. My budget is 26-28 lakhs. It has to be automatic (petrol or EV), have 3 rows, and have excellent after-sales. The primary use would be as a family car that can seat 5 comfortably. I like the 7XO, but somehow the fit and finish felt worse than my Taigun. Great after sales is a key consideration. For this, I can stretch my budget by 10-15% if no good options exist.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Buy the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid automatic. It is the only other bigger 3-row with space that will feel like a real step up from your Taigun. For a family of five, it is superb - wide, airy, comfy second row, and the hybrid makes city driving smooth and quiet while keeping running costs low. Toyota service, parts availability, and resale are about the best you can get at this price, and the cabin fit and panel consistency are better than those of the 7XO you sampled.The catch is the price and waiting period. The sweet-spot VX (O) and ZX trims push beyond Rs 30 lakh on road, and waiting periods can be long, so keep that in mind. Also, it will not feel as sharp to drive as your Taigun 1.5 TSI.If that's too far out of budget, two other options you can consider are the Hyundai Alcazar petrol or the Kia Carens Clavis EV. The Hyundai gets you the SUV body style, a punchy petrol-DCT combo, and comfy seating for 5 with the option of two smaller seats in the third row. The Clavis EV, meanwhile, may have a less desirable MPV shape, but it actually has more interior space and an equally well put-together cabin. Both Hyundai and Kia offer an excellent after-sales experience.

VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleVolkswagen Taigun
VehicleHyundai Alcazar
VehicleKia Carens Clavis EV
KP

Kartik Pancholy

•3d

I own a Skoda Slavia 1.5 and a Nissan Kicks Turbo but am planning to sell the Nissan Kicks and replace it with either an electric car or a hybrid. Our budget is around Rs. 40 lakh. My daily commute is approximately 60 km. We are a family of four adults, a baby, and a puppy. Which car would be the best fit for our requirements?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

Pick the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid. With four adults, a baby and a puppy, it is the one that effortlessly takes people, pram, diaper bag and a dog together, and still feels easy to drive in the city. Your 60 km daily run suits its strong hybrid well - expect real city mileage in the mid teens, so fuel costs drop sharply without any charging hassle, and long trips are a breeze.It also complements your Slavia 1.5 nicely. Keep the Slavia for the fun drives, let the HyCross do family duty with a quiet, smooth automatic and a big, usable boot. Fold the third row and you get a flat, huge space for a dog bed or crate plus luggage.

VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleSkoda Slavia
LS

Latesh Soneta

•12h

Hi Autocar team. I am looking for a car for my daily office commute for 60km, which is 70% city traffic and 30% highway and occasionally inter-city travel of 350 kms. Also, I am looking for an EV car with a sunroof. Can you suggest a practical car with a long-term ownership mindset? Is Creta ev perfect for this requirement?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4h

Yes, the electric Hyundai Creta will suit you quite nicely. The car has a very well-tuned electric drivetrain that is easy to drive. In the city, controls are light enough, and the ride is good. To support the additional weight of the battery, the Creta Electric’s suspension is stiffer than the ICE version’s, but it doesn’t translate into an uncomfortable ride. You can feel some firmness at low speeds, but road shocks are well in check, and what’s nice is that the stiffness has eliminated unnecessary (secondary) body movements, and even at highway speeds, the Creta Electric doesn’t lose its poise. So on your long trips, too, you will enjoy the driving experience. In true Hyundai fashion, the car is also well equipped and feels nice, and it feels nice and airy inside.

VehicleHyundai Creta Electric

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Popular discussions right now

JD

Jayvir Deol

•6d

I want to buy an SUV, and my budget is around 20 lakh. I have seen the MG Hector, the Mahindra XUV and the Tharr Rox. Which car should I buy, and given the current scenarios on the govt policies, should I go for petrol or diesel?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•5d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO. At around Rs. 20 lakh, it gives you the best mix of space, strong performance and safety, and it is far easier to live with every day than the Thar Roxx while being a better value than a low or mid Hector variant. You also get both petrol and diesel choices, so you can match it to your running.Fuel choice is simple. Go petrol if most of your use is in the city or your running is under about 1,200 km a month. It is quieter, has fewer policy worries, and resale stays safe even if some cities tighten diesel rules. Pick diesel only if you drive long highway distances often, want a longer tank range, or haul a full family with luggage regularly.The only real downside with the XUV 7XO is that the fanciest features push you beyond Rs. 20 lakh, and there may be a wait period. If you mainly want a rugged toy, the Thar Roxx is great, but for family life, the XUV 7XO fits better.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleMahindra Thar Roxx
VehicleMG Hector
AD

Abhishek Das

•1w

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car and am confused between the Honda Amaze ZX CVT and the Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT. My usage will be around 90% city driving, primarily for office commuting between Dwarka, Delhi and my office near IFFCO Chowk, Gurugram (approximately 25 km one way). However, I will not be driving daily, as I often use the Metro as well. The car will also be driven by my 69-year-old father, so ease of driving, comfort, visibility, ingress/egress, and reliability are important considerations. Our previous car was an Alto K10 Manual, so this will be our first automatic car and a significant upgrade. Considering my usage pattern, family profile and the fact that we intend to keep the car for a long period for around 10 years, which of these two would you recommend?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•6d

Based on your requirement, we would recommend the Honda Amaze ZX CVT over the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The reason is that your priorities are not outright performance or driving excitement. You are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its life in city traffic, will also be driven by your 69-year-old father, and is expected to stay with the family for around 10 years. In that context, Amaze's strengths line up perfectly with your requirements. The CVT is smoother than the Kylaq's torque converter automatic in stop-and-go traffic, visibility is excellent, the car is easy to place on the road, ingress and egress are straightforward, and Honda's long-term reliability record is hard to fault. Coming from an Alto K10, it will already feel like a substantial upgrade in comfort, refinement and features.The Kylaq Signature Plus AT is the more desirable car from an enthusiast's perspective. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol has more punch, the higher seating position is nice, and the overall package feels more substantial. However, it is also a larger vehicle to manoeuvre, and while the automatic is good, it is not quite as seamless in everyday traffic as Honda's CVT.Another point in Amaze's favour is that the ZX variant gets Honda Sensing ADAS, which adds useful safety features without making the car complicated to operate. Since your father will also be driving it, that extra layer of safety is a nice bonus.

VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
AS

AS

•2d

I am confused between buying Skoda Kylaq and Kia Seltos. Please suggest.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

Buy the Kia Seltos. It is simply easier to live with for most buyers, thanks to a much wider service network and many more variant and powertrain choices, including good automatics across a wider price range. For daily city runs with the odd highway trip, the Seltos will feel like the more complete package and it has a more spacious and premium cabin. The Skoda Kylaq will suit you only if you really enjoy driving. It feels tighter and more confidence inspiring on the move, and the steering has more feel. If you plan long, frequent road trips and care more about how it drives than gadgets, that’s where the Kylaq shines. The flip side is fewer dealers and fewer variant choices.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleSkoda Kylaq

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Posted on: 26 Apr 2026