I am planning to buy my first car with a budget of around ₹17-18 lakh, which I can stretch up to ₹20 lakh since we do not plan to upgrade anytime soon. We are a family of six, including elderly parents, so we are specifically looking for a 7-seater vehicle. Our top priorities are safety, long-term reliability, and overall comfort for family usage. Our usage will be minimal, with around 100–200 km per month in the city and occasional long trips of about 500 km. Given these requirements, could you please suggest the best 7-seater options available in the market and recommend which would be the most suitable based on long-term ownership experience?

Autocar India

•9m

Go for the Mahindra XUV7XO, it meets your safety‑first brief with an extensive safety features list and a 5‑star Bharat NCAP crash rating. The 7XO offers decent cabin space, and while the third row is not as comfy as the Safari, it's still fairly useable and the SUV has a very good ride quality too. Mahindra has proven that its new-gen products are quite reliable, so your other two requirements of comfort and long-term reliability will also be met here.

Opt for the petrol version, mileage in the city will be very low - likely in high single digits - but since you drive very little, this should not be a concern. Moreover, you will also not have to worry about DPF issues with a diesel engine, which, with very low running, can cause the DPF to clog.

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Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.14 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Aman

•23h

I am planning to buy a 7XO diesel automatic. My daily drive would be around 60 km (Delhi-Gurgaon-Delhi). I was just reading about the DPF, so now I am in doubt whether I should go with the diesel option or not.

Autocar India

•15h

For your usage of around 60 km daily (Delhi-Gurgaon-Delhi), you can safely go ahead with the diesel automatic in the Mahindra XUV 7XO. There is no need to avoid diesel because of DPF concerns in your case.DPF issues typically arise when the car is used only for very short drives or constant slow-speed city usage. In your case, a 60 km daily run is more than sufficient for the system to regenerate naturally, especially if parts of your drive include steady speeds. The diesel engine will also suit your usage better as it offers better efficiency and is refined, punchy and well-suited for regular commuting.You just need to ensure that, once in a while, the car gets a steady run at moderate speeds, which is something your usage will likely cover anyway.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•5d

Hello Autocar Team, we are a family of four, and all of us are around 6 feet tall. We have been loyal Honda owners for over 15 years, having driven the Honda City and Jazz extensively. While those cars suited us earlier, we now require a more spacious SUV due to our height and growing needs. We have shortlisted the Jeep Meridian, Toyota Innova Hycross, Mahindra XUV700, and Skoda Kodiaq. However, we have concerns about space in the Meridian, size and safety ratings of the Hycross, interior quality of the XUV700, and maintenance costs of the Kodiaq. Our top priorities are safety, sturdiness, dependability, comfort, and a premium feel. We are not considering Kia, Tata, or MG models. The car will be used for Mumbai city driving as well as long highway trips, and we prefer a petrol automatic. Resale value is not a priority-we value driving pleasure as we will be self-driving. Our maximum budget is ₹50 lakh. Could you please advise which of these options would be the best choice for our requirements?

Autocar India

•22h

For your requirement of a spacious, premium, driver-focused SUV for a tall family of four, the Skoda Kodiaq is the best fit among your shortlisted options.It offers a solid build, premium cabin quality and a genuinely engaging driving experience, which aligns well with your priority of driving pleasure. For 6-footers, the front and second rows are comfortable with good headroom and support. Also, with the third row folded, you get excellent luggage space for long trips. The petrol automatic is refined and smooth in the city, while also feeling very stable and confidence-inspiring on highways.The Jeep Meridian, while rugged and solid, does feel tight on space, especially for taller passengers, which you have already noticed. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a strong all-rounder, but as you pointed out, the interior quality does not feel premium enough for your budget. The Toyota Innova Hycross is extremely comfortable and reliable. But it is more comfort-oriented than driver-focused, and the interior look, feel, and quality may not meet your expectations of a premium experience.You can also consider the Volkswagen Tayron, which is essentially Volkswagen’s version of the Kodiaq. Both cars share the same platform, engine and core mechanicals, with the Tayron offering a slightly different design and more features. However, it is slightly more expensive, and the overall ownership experience will be very similar to the Skoda.

Sreejith R

Hi Autocar, I would like to buy a mid-size SUV under a budget of ₹25 lakh. We drive mostly on highways. I have the Harrier in mind. Can you suggest if that is the best option, as many say that Tata is bad in after-sales service? Please guide me if I am wrong, and also suggest good options I can consider within my budget. Thank you.

Autocar India

•1d

If your usage is mostly highway driving, the Tata Harrier is a very good choice. It offers a strong diesel engine, excellent high-speed stability and a comfortable ride, making it a capable long-distance SUV. On highways, it feels planted and confident, and overall, it is one of the better cars in this segment for covering distances comfortably.However, your concern about after-sales service is valid. Tata has improved over the years, but the experience can still be inconsistent depending on the dealership. Some owners have a smooth experience, while others do face issues with service quality and turnaround time. It is therefore important to check the reputation of your nearest service centre before making a decision.If you want something with a more consistent ownership experience, you can also consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel. It is also a strong highway car, offers good performance thanks to its refined diesel engine, and is a proven and solid product with a good track record.

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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