Autocar India
AG

Anil Gupta

1d

Hello Team, I am planning to buy a new 7-seater SUV with a budget of around ₹18 lakh. My usage will be: 90% city driving (daily ~50 km) 10% occasional long trips I am currently driving a Hyundai i10 petrol manual (2015) and looking for a comfortable upgrade. My priorities are: Comfort (especially for family) Easy driving in city traffic Good mileage Low maintenance Practical 7-seater usability Could you please suggest the most suitable SUV for my needs?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
10m

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 petrol, it does not have an SUV body style, but at your budget and with your 90% city use and 50 km a day, it is the easiest and most comfortable three-row you can live with daily. 

Coming from your i10, the Carens will feel much bigger, but it is still friendly in traffic: light steering, a calm engine and good all-round visibility make daily driving and parking far less stressful than most big seven-seaters. There's also a smooth enough clutch, and you could also consider the automatic, which is a bit above your budget. The ride is comfortable over speed breakers and broken patches, there is proper space in the second row, and the third row is very usable for kids or shorter adults, and the air-con vents for all rows help in hot weather. If you do want a true SUV feel, however and can manage a bigger car and are ok with a lower mileage, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO.

Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Carens Clavis

AG

Anil Gupta

6s

Budget can go around 20 lakh. Further I running i20 instead of i10.

More questions on similar cars

GG

Gaurav Gupta

2d

Hello Autocar, I live in Noida travel Delhi daily approx. 70 KM per day which makes 20000 K per year, 405 times expressway or out of stations trip. I need 7-Seater car with best of milage and budget is approx. 25 Lakh. I also need car a which has lower maintenance cost also as my running is bit higher.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1d

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis Diesel. Its diesel engine is smooth, refined and very efficient, which you will certainly appreciate on account of your high usage. While the automatic version will be convenient, you could even consider the manual instead - the latter being even more fuel efficient, and its clutch and gearbox feel light and easy. What's more, this car is a spacious six or seven seater, with adequate space even in the third row. Moreover, it is well equipped too, and feels quite premium on the inside.If you want more power and higher ground clearance for rough roads, you could look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel, but efficiency will not be as good as the Clavis. Also, if you're open to electric cars, the Clavis EV and Mahindra XEV 9S will be great options for you, and if you can arrange for home charging, both these will be very economical to run.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis
AT

Atharva

3d

I currently own a 2019 Kia Seltos HTX petrol IVT and have driven around 69,000 km, with approximately 70% of my usage on highways. I am now considering an upgrade and am confused between the Tata Safari Petrol Accomplished X+ and the Kia Carens Clavis GTX+ Could you please suggest which of these would be the better choice in terms of ride comfort, safety, space, and high-speed stability on highways for long journeys?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
5h

Pick the Tata Safari Accomplished+ petrol automatic for your highway‑heavy use, it gives a more comfortable ride, better stability and the strongest sense of safety. Coming from your Kia Seltos, the Safari will feel like a step up for long trips. The suspension smooths out bad patches better, the body feels more solid, and the wider seats with a relaxed driving position make hours behind the wheel easier. It also has a 5‑star crash test rating, and the petrol engine has plenty of grunt for quick overtakes on the highway.One thing to note: the third row in the Safari is fine for kids or short adults, but the Kia’s third row is easier to access and a bit more usable for grown‑ups. Also, the Safari is a large, heavy car, so parking in tight spots needs more care. If these are deal breakers, then consider the Kia Carens Clavis instead.During the test drive, cruise at 90‑100 kph on the highway and take on some broken patches.

VehicleTata Safari
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleKia Carens Clavis

Posted on: 10 Apr 2026