•5w

Hi, I am a doctor and regularly organise medical camps for underprivileged patients in remote villages where healthcare facilities are limited or unavailable. For this purpose, I am looking to buy a practical and reliable 7-seater SUV that can comfortably carry staff and volunteers, while also offering enough boot space for medicines, medical equipment, foldable tables, and chairs. Since many of these villages have uneven roads and poor infrastructure, the vehicle should have: Good ground clearance and strong suspension Comfortable seating for long journeys Large and practical boot space Decent fuel efficiency Low maintenance and reliable after-sales support Good safety features for highway and rural travel My budget is between ₹15 lakh and ₹20 lakh, though I can stretch it up to ₹25 lakh through EMI if the vehicle genuinely justifies the extra cost. Could you please suggest the best 7-seater SUV options suitable for my requirements?

•5w

Regular trips to remote villages on rough roads with seven people and lots of medical gear call for something tough first, then roomy. In that brief, the Mahindra Scorpio N diesel manual, 7-seat, is the better fit for you. It sits high off the ground and feels strong on broken roads, so you can reach camp sites that softer city SUVs may avoid.

The diesel will use less fuel on long days, and Mahindra has service in most small towns, which helps when you are far from the city. For your boxes, tables and chairs, the third row folds in parts, so you can keep five or six on board and still open up a large, useful space.

Two things to note: with all seven seats up, the boot is small, so plan to fold part of the third row or add a carrier. Also, the third row is best for short stints for adults.

If you must keep all seven seats up and still need real boot space, consider the Toyota Innova Crysta. While not an SUV, its tough construction makes it feel hardy and well-suited to rough road use.

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from ₹15.89 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•3d

Will Triumph launch Bonneville 400 & Tiger 400?

•4h

The Bajaj-made Triumph Bonneville 400 is likely to launch in India in the next couple of months, albeit for our market, it will use a downsized 349cc motor to benefit from the lower 18 percent GST levied on two-wheelers under that threshold. Coming to the Tiger 400, currently, there have been no indications from either Bajaj or Triumph that such a motorcycle is on the cards.

•3d

I am thinking of buying a Toyota Camry. But one concern is the ground clearance, because Bangalore's potholes and speed breakers are a nightmare.

•8h

Ground clearance is a valid concern, but we don't think it should be a deal-breaker. The new Toyota Camry has a quoted 145mm ground clearance, which doesn't sound like much on paper. However, in our road test, we found that it cleared most speed breakers without scraping, and its suspension does an excellent job of absorbing sharp potholes and broken roads.That said, you'll still need to exercise some caution on Bengaluru's larger speed breakers and deep potholes, particularly when the car is fully loaded. Approaching such obstacles at an angle and at low speeds will help avoid scraping the underbody.

Toyota Camry

•3d

There are 4 members in my family. I am a first-time buyer. My total travel will be around 250km per month and occasional 4-5 long tours in a year. My budget is around 10-12 lacs, and looking for a safe, low-maintenance SUV. Which car do you suggest? Further, should I go for EV or hybrid petrol since the current scenario around petrol is not sure?

•10h

With a family of four, a budget of Rs 10-12 lakh, an annual running of just 3,000km, and this being your first car, we'd recommend sticking to a petrol SUV rather than an EV or a hybrid. At such low running, you'll find it difficult to recover the higher purchase cost of either.Our top recommendation would be to wait for the updated Maruti Suzuki Brezza, which is set to debut later this month. It is expected to get a refreshed design, more features and mechanical updates while retaining the qualities that have made the Brezza such a dependable family SUV.As for your concern about ethanol blending, we wouldn't let that influence your purchase decision. While there is discussion around higher ethanol blends in the future, there is currently no confirmed roadmap beyond E20, and modern petrol cars are already engineered to handle it.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

Hi, I have a budget of Rs. 40 lakh and am confused between the Skoda Kodiaq Lounge, the Toyota Innova Hycross ZX(O), and the Toyota Fortuner Petrol. I am 28 years old and want a car that is fun to drive but also comfortable for my family. My driving will be split 80:20 between on-road and off-road use.

•5d

Pick the Innova HyCross ZX(O). For a hard Rs. 40 lakh cap it fits cleanly, it is the most comfortable and spacious for family, and it is far easier to live with daily. The smooth hybrid makes city drives effortless and quiet, and on broken roads, it just takes the abuse without rattling everyone. Your 20 percent off-road sounds like rough trails rather than rock crawling, and the HyCross will handle that sort of bad-road stuff better than you expect. But, the Innova isn't particularly fun to drive.If you really crave driver fun, the Kodiaq is the one that puts a smile on your face. The 2-litre turbo petrol and AWD make it genuinely enjoyable on highways and hills and the cabin feels richer. Two catches, though. It likely stretches past Rs. 40 lakh on-road in most cities, and its third row is tighter, and you have to be a bit careful off the beaten path.The Fortuner petrol is the most capable off-road, but for 80 per cent on-road use, it feels heavy and bouncy, the steering is not friendly in town, and it guzzles fuel.

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•4d

I am planning to buy an SUV and prefer the German twins Škoda and Volkswagen. Which one is better? Also, how significant is the DSG issue in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the NCR region? This will be my fourth car, so I want to try a German brand.

•3d

Between the German twins, the choice largely comes down to personal preference, as they share the same engines, gearboxes and underpinnings. We slightly prefer the Kushaq for its cleaner design, excellent ride and handling balance and overall value proposition.As for the DSG, it isn't as big a concern as it once was. The current DSGs are far more robust than the earlier units, but if your driving is predominantly in bumper-to-bumper NCR traffic, a torque-converter automatic is still the smoother and more relaxed option over the long term. If you want to stay with a German SUV but avoid the DSG altogether, the 1.0 TSI automatic in the Kushaq and Taigun now comes with an 8-speed Aisin torque-converter, which is smooth, refined and better suited to heavy city traffic.Coming from the S-Cross Petrol, you'll notice a significant step up in performance, cabin quality, safety and driving dynamics with either car.

Skoda Kushaq

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•4d

I have a Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid, and I am extremely satisfied with its mileage (900-1000 km from 45 liters). However, I am losing the joy of driving. I migrated to this car after owning a Swift Dzire Diesel and an XL6. The mismatch between engine revs and acceleration is becoming unpleasant. Overtaking feels riskier, and even the brakes feel spongy. I have experienced a few unpleasant situations because of this. As a result, I have reduced my overall speed, making the safety of my family a bigger priority. But the driver in me is unhappy. Should I upgrade to the Duster Hybrid, the Hycross Hybrid, or the newly launched Sierra EV? Also, do diesel engines still make sense today?

•4d

From what you've described, the Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid has impressed you with its efficiency but left you wanting more from behind the wheel. If driving enjoyment is back on your priority list, the Duster Hybrid looks like the most natural upgrade. It is expected to offer a much more engaging driving experience while retaining the fuel efficiency benefits of a strong hybrid.The Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid will certainly improve on comfort, refinement and performance, but it won't fundamentally change the character you're looking for. It is still geared towards relaxed family motoring rather than enthusiastic driving.The Tata Sierra EV is an interesting option and has now been launched. It promises strong performance, a premium cabin and a spacious interior. However, if the "driver in you" misses the involvement and confidence of your earlier diesel cars, we'd still wait to experience how the Duster Hybrid drives before making a decision.As for diesels, we don't think they should be ruled out altogether. With the right usage, they continue to make sense. However, given your appreciation for the fuel economy of your Grand Vitara and the direction the market is heading, we'd lean towards a strong hybrid rather than going back to diesel.

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