Mumbai

Danny

•1d

I wish to buy my first car. It will be used for ferrying a family of 6 which includes elderly parents. Vehicle’s daily use is expected to be below 3-4 kms. Occasional road trips would make the monthly mileage to be around 300-400 KMS at max. Please suggest a six seater MUV which could tick all the requirements. Seating Comfort with easy ingress egress, ease of driving, spacious. Also suggest the best transmission to go for.

Autocar India

•9m

Go for the Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha+ 6‑speed automatic; with 3-4 km daily runs and six onboard, it best blends easy ingress, smooth city drive, and comfortable captain seats.

Captain seats in row two make entry and exit easier for ageing knees, and the 2740 mm wheelbase opens usable room in all three rows. The 6‑speed torque‑converter automatic is easiest in stop‑go traffic, smoother than an AMT at 10-20 km/h and simpler than a DCT. With just 300-400 km a month and 3-4 km daily, a petrol XL6 fits and avoids diesel DPF issues on short trips. Its compact footprint keeps parking stress low while still seating six comfortably.

The one thing you give up is strong highway punch; the XL6’s naturally aspirated petrol feels adequate, not quick, when fully loaded and overtaking at 80-100 km/h.

If your trips grow longer and frequent around 500+ km a month with 4-6 hour highways, consider the Kia Carens with 1.5‑turbo DCT (6‑seater) for stronger performance and 2780 mm wheelbase.

During the test drive, seat your parents in the second row, try the one‑touch tumble to the third row, and check creep smoothness and gear changes at 10-20 km/h.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

XL6

from ₹13.64 Lakh

Kia

Carens

from ₹13.02 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

Balaji

•5d

Hi, I am in the market for buying a compact SUV. I am a proud Kia Carens 1.5 TGDi owner as well. I have shortlisted the Kia Seltos NA 1.5 IVT (HTK or HTK(O)) to drive in Bengaluru (a lot of traffic). I personally like the new Duster as well. I have test-driven the Seltos and am yet to see the Duster in action. Being a Kia owner, I really like the new Seltos, but I have postponed the buying decision because of the Duster. I would happily choose the Techno+ or Iconic variant. My only concern is that the Duster has a DCT (wet clutch), but I am not sure about its reliability in the long run. Seven months of standard warranty gives some peace of mind, but I still have concerns about overheating issues in DCTs (like Kia’s). Kindly share your suggestions on choosing a reliable car. Thanks!

Autocar India

•1d

For your usage in Bengaluru traffic and focus on long-term reliability, we would suggest going ahead with the Kia Seltos 1.5 NA IVT (HTK/HTK(O)) rather than waiting for the new Duster. The Seltos’ naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT/CVT gearbox is one of the smoothest combinations in this segment.In heavy stop-and-go traffic, it feels very easy and predictable to drive, with none of the hesitation or heat-related concerns that are sometimes associated with dual-clutch transmissions. Since you already own a Kia Carens, you are also familiar with Kia’s after-sales experience, which adds a layer of confidence for long-term ownership.That said, the new Renault Duster is a very interesting option and worth considering. On paper, it looks like a strong package with a more powerful turbo-petrol engine, expected to offer strong performance, a solid ride quality and a more rugged overall character. We would suggest test-driving the Duster before making a final decision.

Alan Savio Ekka

We currently own a 2021 Swift, which has served us well, and we plan to keep it for daily commuting. However, there are seven members in our family, and our twin boys are now 4 years old, so they also need separate seats. Because of this, the Swift feels quite crowded when all seven of us travel together. The main purpose of buying a bigger car would be for long-distance journeys to our native village. These trips are mostly on highways, but a small portion of the route involves rough or mildly off-road conditions. The Swift will continue to be used for regular city travel. Initially, we were considering the Kia Carens, which is a proper 7-seater MPV. However, due to the road presence, looks, and expected ride quality, we are now leaning towards the next-to-base variant of the Mahindra XUV 7XO. We are also not interested in buying another Maruti car. Additionally, engine performance (especially for highway driving with full load), ability to handle occasional bad roads, after-sales service experience, and long-term reliability are key factors in our decision. Since we intend to keep this vehicle for a long duration (around 15 years), we would also appreciate guidance on whether the petrol or diesel engine would be the better choice in the long run. Considering all these factors, would the Mahindra XUV 7XO be a practical and sensible choice for our requirements?

Autocar India

•3d

Choose the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel; for seven-up highway trips, it combines strong torque, planted high-speed manners, and tougher bad-road ability than an MPV like the Kia Carens.Since the Maruti Suzuki Swift will handle city duty, your new car will mostly cruise highways with a full load of 7. The XUV’s diesel pulls strongly in the 60-100 km/h band even when packed, and its suspension and clearance will cope better with the rough stretch to your village. The Mahindra diesel is a well-proven unit and delivers well on the refinement front too. Your highway use also keeps the DPF healthy. Aim for 20-30 minutes at about 60+ km/h on each long run. The one thing you give up is third-row and boot practicality versus the Carens; with all three rows up, you’ll fit only 1-2 cabin bags at the rear.If third-row comfort for adults and luggage space matter more than SUV stance, consider the Kia Carens Diesel AT Prestige Plus, which carries a bit more luggage with all seats up.

Pradeep

Hi Autocar, I need your valuable opinion on purchasing a new car. My priorities are: safety, a comfortable ride (50% on highways and city roads and 50% on village roads), and a budget of around ₹5-6 lakh. Fuel efficiency is also important, as my daily run is 100 km.

Autocar India

•12h

For your requirement of safety, comfort on mixed roads and very high daily running of 100 km, we would suggest going for the Tata Tiago iCNG.The Tiago is a good fit because it offers a comfortable ride over bad village roads, along with a stable feel on highways. It is also a safe and well-built car for its price, which aligns with your priority.More importantly, with your kind of usage, running cost becomes critical, and this is where the CNG version makes a big difference. Compared to petrol, CNG will be significantly more economical, which will save you a lot of money over time, given your daily 100 km usage. In your budget, you can go for the base XE variant.

Tata Tiago

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Posted on: 23 Mar 2026

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