Hi team, I owned a Harrier XT Plus six months ago and am now planning to buy a new car. My budget is ₹10 to ₹15 lakh. I have shortlisted the Mahindra XUV 7XO base variant and the Roxx base. My usage is 500 to 800 km per week. Please suggest if these are good options, considering the base models, and advise on any other suggestions.

Autocar India

•2d

For your requirement of a car with a large engine, we would suggest going for the Mahindra XUV 7XO turbo petrol. It comes with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, which is strong and effortless for both city and highway use. More importantly, it offers a very comfortable ride and excellent high-speed stability, which suits your mixed usage well. It also has a strong focus on safety and build, along with a spacious and premium cabin.The only thing to keep in mind is that it is a larger car, so it may take some time to get used to it in tight city conditions.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2d

The diesel Mahindra XUV 7XO is significantly more efficient than the petrol model. However, given your limited running, the near Rs 1 lakh extra spend for a diesel version of the same trim level doesn't add up. Further, modern-day diesels need a bit of extra care to keep running flawlessly. A steady speed highway drive, for instance, every couple of weeks helps in DPF (diesel particulate filter) regeneration. For someone with such low running, you might have to specially work a long drive into your schedule for this process. The petrol engine doesn't have any such extra requirement and is, hence, more suited to your kind of usage. The AX7 T is already well equipped and offers plenty for the money. Among the features exclusive to the AX7 L are powered front seats, configurable ambient lighting and larger 19-inch rims. To us, the features of more interest are concentrated at the back. Features such as a boss mode, rear wireless charger, and middle row ventilation do a lot to up the experience at the back. In a nutshell, it's worth considering the AX7 L only if the middle row seat will be used often.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2d

The choice of an AWD or 2WD car really comes down to the kind of terrain you intend to drive on, and not really the distance. If you will venture off onto some trails and rough off-road areas, the AWD makes sense.The AWD system in the Mahindra XUV 7XO is a torque-on-demand system that automatically delivers torque to the rear wheels in loose and slippery conditions, such as muck and snow. There is also a 'LOCK' mode, which ensures that power is always going to the rear wheels. This can be used when driving over a continuously slippery terrain. If you are in this mode, remember to keep speeds low as this system is not designed for on-road high speeds and automatically switches to 'AUTO' mode at speeds above 80kph. Thus, if you are not really going to benefit from the AWD system, its best avoided and opt for the regular two-wheel drive model instead.Also, since your driving is limited, the petrol AT suits occasional use better as short trips under 10-15km often don’t let a BS6 diesel fully warm up, which can make DPF regeneration inconsistent. However, if your 150 km weekend drives involve a highway run, like with a continuous stretch of about 80km and speeds around 60kph then you should not have a problem with the DPF.

Mahindra XUV 7XO