I am looking to buy a car for my family of six. My daily city driving is around 20 km, and I take trips to the hills twice a year. I currently drive a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R (2015 model) and am planning to upgrade within a budget of ₹10-12 lakh. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki XL6, Kia Carens Clavis, and Mahindra Bolero Neo. Please suggest which would be the best option for my needs.

autocar.india

•1d

Given your requirements, the best option is the Hyundai Alcazar petrol DCT. It's available as a six- or seven-seater, giving you the flexibility you need when your extended family joins you on your journeys, and its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is relatively fuel efficient for a car of its size. The dual-clutch automatic is smooth enough, though it can be a bit clunky at low speeds if not driven smoothly and carefully. Also worth noting is that even the base model petrol-AT Alcazar costs around Rs 21 lakh on road, and the Alcazar has not been tested by any NCAP authority.The next best option is not an SUV but arguably a more practical option - the Kia Carens Clavis. It uses the same engine and gearbox in a lighter package with more space on the inside. Other 7-seat SUV options with more space - like the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio-N and MG Hector Plus are available, but are nowhere near as fuel-efficient and will be out of your budget as well. All things considered, the Hyundai Alcazar is your best option.

Hyundai Alcazar

Mahindra Scorpio N

MG Hector

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•3d

With a daily running of around 70km, the financial case for an EV becomes very strong, provided you have access to home charging. The MG Hector Tomahawk EV is a large, comfortable SUV with a spacious cabin and a long range, making it well suited to your usage pattern. It will also deliver significantly lower running costs compared to a hybrid or petrol car.The Kia Sorento HTE (O) Hybrid is a very appealing product, but the fuel savings are not as dramatic as those of a well-used EV. Selling a one-year-old Carens Clavis will also involve a depreciation hit that is difficult to justify unless the Sorento offers something you genuinely need.The Clavis DCT is already a very capable family car, and there is no compelling reason to replace it after just one year. The smarter move is to retain the Clavis and add the Hector Tomahawk EV as your primary daily driver. This way, you get the best of both worlds: an efficient, low-cost commuter and a practical family car for longer trips.

Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Sorento

MG Hector Tomahawk EV

autocar.india

•8h

Wait for the upcoming JSW Jetour T2-based SUV. If your priority is specifically a turbo-petrol hybrid, this is the most interesting option to wait for. JSW is expected to bring the Jetour T2 to India as a locally assembled plug-in hybrid, using a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with electric motors. It is expected around late 2026/early 2027, and we expect JSW to price it at around Rs 35-40 lakh ex-showroom price bracket.If you want to buy right now, the choices become more limited because most hybrids in this price range use naturally aspirated petrol engines. The Toyota Innova HyCross is the obvious option if you want a proven hybrid and maximum practicality, although it won't give you the turbo-petrol character you're looking for.The newly launched MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV is another interesting option. It uses a plug-in hybrid system with a 20.5kWh battery and offers over 115km of claimed electric range.

JSW Motors Jetour T2

Toyota Innova HyCross

MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV