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

•14h

Consider the Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT. It is not so large as to become cumbersome in the city, yet it comfortably seats seven and has a genuinely usable third row. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine has enough power when fully loaded, and highway performance is strong too. Your budget will get you one of the mid or upper trims, which are very well equipped and offer good value for money. Kia’s after-sales service also has a good reputation in India.One catch is that the DCT can hesitate at times, but overall, it is quite smooth.If you want a more SUV-like presence, the Hyundai Alcazar is a solid choice too. It uses the same powertrain as the Clavis, so the driving experience is broadly similar. However, the Alcazar’s third row is not quite as comfortable for adults as the Clavis’s.Overall, the Kia Carens Clavis is a good fit for your needs.

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•1d

The Tata Sierra is a large and capable SUV, and for your work, would give loads of space for camera gear and garment boxes alike, but in your budget of Rs 15-16 lakh, you will only get the base model. Moreover, the downside of it being a large and heavy vehicle is that the mileage is not great compared to rivals, whether comparing the petrol or diesel versions. However, should you go with the Sierra and want to get the maximum mileage, the diesel is probably the best way to go, and if possible, we would recommend stretching the budget by at least Rs 1-1.5 lakh to get a few more features.Consider the Kia Seltos instead - it too has a large and spacious cabin, almost as big as that of the Sierra, and good boot space as well. However, its engines, comparable to what you get in the Sierra, offer better real-world mileage. And, as safety is another concern, the Seltos has scored a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating, just like the Sierra. What's more, you can get mid-spec variants, at least with the petrol engines, in your budget of Rs. 15-16 lakh, so you don't necessarily have to increase it so much. If you want even more space, and don't mind picking an MPV over an SUV, the Kia Carens Clavis is a far more practical option.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•1d

Get the Kia Carens Clavis diesel automatic. It fits your family size, is easy for a senior to get in and out of, and stays well under Rs. 25 lakh. For your 50 km daily city run, the diesel engine is refined, the torque converter automatic is smooth, and it is very easy to drive. On your monthly highway trips, it cruises calmly, feels secure at speed, and you get a genuinely usable third row and decent boot space. The Carens Clavis can be had as a 7-seater or a 6-seater, with individual captain's chairs in the middle.Cabin comfort is a strong point. The second row is spacious, the ride is comfortable enough over bad roads, and the panoramic roof in the higher variants makes the cabin feel airy. It is also a bit smaller outside than the big SUVs, so parking and driving in traffic is less stressful.One catch is that with all three rows up, the boot is tight, so you'll have to plan your way around it.

Kia Carens Clavis