Mumbai

•2d

I am looking for a car with at least 4 -5 star safety rating. My preference is a 7-seater car as occasionally I travel with my extended family. My daily commute is from Dadar to Malad in peak traffic and I return late from work at night. We have a second house in Virar where we travel over the weekend and therefore I need a bigger car, mostly an suv. My average running is approximately between 700 km and 1000km. I am also concerned about the E20 fuel since I am planning to use the car for minimum 8 to 9 years. In worst case situation, I am ready to compromise to a 5-seater car with spacious rear seats and am giving serious thought to an EV as well. I currently own a 2021 Kwid RXT AMT petrol and need to upgrade as it is very small and it is difficult to travel to long distances with full load. Also, I am not sure whether ADAS would work in bumper-to-bumper traffic or highway, but at least a blind view monitor or alerts would be helpful. Please suggest best options as I am flexible to stretch my budget upto 22 lakhs at max.

•8m

Based on your requirements, the Kia Carens Clavis petrol DCT is the most sensible recommendation. Your running of 700-1,000 km a month does not justify a diesel, and the Carens is a comfortable 7-seater that will serve you well over an 8-9 year ownership period. The one downside with this powertrain is that the DCT can feel a bit hesitant, which you will notice on your commute.

If you can install a charger at home, the Clavis EV is a superb fit for your needs. It has the same practical cabin as the ICE car, but the electric car will feel a lot better to drive in stop and go traffic. Your budget will only get you the 42kWh battery which should give you a real world range of around 300-320km.

If you aren't going to use the third row that often then the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Strong Hybrid is a great choice for your needs. In heavy traffic it will run on EV mode cutting down fuel cost significantly. It is also very easy and smooth to drive in bumper to bumper traffic.

On the E20 fuel concern, modern petrol engines are engineered to handle E20 blends, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage. The main impact is a slight reduction in fuel economy.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.30 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.39 Lakh

Kia

Carens Clavis EV

from ₹19.09 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•7h

I have been driving a Renault Triber RXZ AMT for a long time. However, the transmission feels sluggish, and the car feels underpowered. My driving is 80% on highways and 20% in the city, with an annual running of approximately 8,000 km. Safety is a major concern for me. Please suggest the best 7-seater family car options under Rs. 20 lakh.

•38m

Given your usage pattern of 80% highway driving, the Renault Triber's limitations are understandable. The AMT gearbox is not the most responsive and the engine does feel underpowered.Go for the Kia Clavis HTK+ Turbo DCT. It is a comfortable, spacious seven-seater which delivers strong performance that you will certainly appreciate on your long drives. The HTK+ is well-equipped too, and the interior feels quite premium too. As far as safety goes, the Clavis is equipped with all standard features like 6 airbags, ESP, hill-start assist, ABS with EBD, etc. Overall, it'll feel like a huge step up over your Renault Triber AMT.

Renault Triber

Kia Carens Clavis

•2d

Hi Autocar, I am looking at the XUV 7XO base diesel variant. I do not want heavy features like a sunroof, ventilated seats, etc., as they are a waste of money in my opinion. Please suggest whether it is a good choice or if there are any alternatives in the Rs 18-20 lakh on-road budget. Also suggest whether I should go for petrol or diesel, and whether any other 7-seater options are available in this budget.

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel base variant. It is one of the best value-for-money 7-seaters in your budget range, and the base variant is actually a smart choice because it offers the strong fundamentals of the car without paying extra for features you do not want. The diesel engine is the right choice here; it is a strong, refined unit with plenty of torque, and it makes the most sense for a large 7-seater SUV, especially if you do a mix of city and highway driving. The petrol is a good engine too, but it won't be as efficient as the diesel.If you are open to alternatives, the Kia Carens Clavis is worth a look. It is a more practical, family-focused 7-seater with a genuinely usable third row, but it does not have the same SUV appeal or road presence as the XUV 7XO.Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel base is the best fit for your requirements. It gives you a strong engine, a genuinely spacious 7-seater layout and good value for money without paying for features you do not want.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

•4d

I have a 2016 Hyundai Verna Diesel, which I have driven well past its prime, and I am now looking to replace it with a new car. My budget is around Rs. 20 - 25 lakh. My daily running is around 40 km, along with 200 - 300 km on weekends. I would prefer a car with slightly higher ground clearance, as my Verna scrapes a lot on Bengaluru's roads. I also want to know whether buying a diesel car is still a good choice, considering my current usage. When I bought the Verna, my daily running was around 75 km.

•2d

With your running of 40 km daily plus 200-300 km on weekends, you are still a strong diesel candidate, especially given your highway usage. Diesel remains a sensible choice for high-mileage owners, and there is no reason to avoid it purely because of future uncertainty. The bigger issue with the Hyundai Verna was ground clearance, so moving to an SUV is the right call.The Kia Seltos diesel AT is the best fit. Its engine is refined and offers good performance, and it has significantly better ground clearance than the Verna, making it well suited to Bengaluru roads. This Kia car is also a genuinely premium product with a spacious cabin and a strong ownership proposition.If you are looking for a three-row vehicle, then the Carens Clavis and Mahindra XUV 7XO are strong choices too. The key point is that diesel still makes sense for your usage, and the Seltos is the most complete upgrade in your budget.

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

I am looking to upgrade from my Hyundai Creta to a 7-seater SUV. My annual running is only around 6,000 km, and my budget is up to Rs. 25 lakh. Is the Hyundai Alcazar a good option for my usage? I have also considered the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari, but I am concerned about their relatively low fuel efficiency. Which 7-seater SUV would you recommend?

•6d

With a yearly running of just 6,000km, petrol is the sensible choice, and the Hyundai Alcazar is a good option. It is a comfortable, easy-to-drive family SUV with a hassle-free ownership experience, and the 1.5 turbo petrol engine paired with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is powerful enough and relatively efficient too. Plus, since you're coming from a Creta, you'll be familiar with the Hyundai network and could even ask for a loyalty discount. However, the Alcazar’s third row is not as spacious as some larger cars in the segment, so if you genuinely need a proper 7-seater, it may not be the ideal solution. What's more, if your Creta is the 2020 or newer model, you'll find the Alcazar perhaps a little too familiar on the inside.The Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus are good options that offer more space. However, as you have noted, they're not fuel efficient at all, and moreover, in your budget, you will only get a low to mid-spec variant, whereas you will get a fully-loaded Alcazar. Another option to consider, though not an SUV, is the Kia Carens Clavis. Its MPV shape is more space-efficient, and you actually get more passenger and luggage room than the Alcazar, with the same efficient engines, for around the same price.

Hi, I am a teacher and a first-time female driver with a budget of Rs. 11.5 lakh. I am looking for an automatic car that I plan to keep for the next 15 years, but I am confused about whether to buy a petrol AMT, CNG AMT, or an EV due to the uncertainty surrounding ethanol blending. My daily commute is 46 km, of which 22 km is on the highway, 18 km is on normal roads, and 6 km is on bumpy village roads in poor condition. Please recommend the most suitable fuel type that will keep my overall cost of ownership low.

•6d

We'd recommend a petrol automatic. With a daily running of around 46km and an ownership period of 15 years, it offers the best balance of low ownership costs, reliability and ease of use for a first-time driver.We wouldn't let E20 fuel influence your decision. Modern E20-compliant petrol cars are designed to run on it, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20. It isn't a reason to avoid buying a petrol car today. A CNG automatic will certainly reduce your fuel bills, but the higher purchase price, reduced boot space and limited automatic options make CNG car less attractive unless fuel savings are your overriding priority. An electric car will have the lowest running costs, but at your budget, you'll have to compromise on size or features, and recovering the higher upfront cost will take time.Given your budget and usage, we'd look at the Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift automatic which will launch soon if you can stretch slightly, or the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+ AGS if you want to stay within budget. Both are easy to drive, have good ground clearance for the 6km of rough village roads and come backed by Maruti Suzuki's extensive service network. If you prefer a smoother automatic, the Hyundai Exter SX AMT is also worth considering.

Hi, my brother and I are planning to buy a new family car. Our budget is RS. 10 lakh, and our maximum monthly running will be around 500 km. Our priorities are a reliable engine, good performance, and fuel efficiency. Please suggest the best all-rounder car within our budget.

•3d

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible recommendation here. It is spacious enough for family use, has a proven and reliable engine, and is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. Maruti’s service network and low maintenance costs also make it a very easy car to own over the long term.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze is worth considering. Honda’s engines are known for their reliability and refinement, and the Amaze is a comfortable and well-built sedan.Overall, the Baleno is the most balanced choice. It offers the best combination of space, efficiency, reliability and low running costs, which is exactly what you need given your usage and budget.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Honda Amaze

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