Hi Autocar Team, I am a regular reader of your reviews and truly appreciate the depth and honesty in your recommendations. I am planning to buy a new 7-seater SUV/MPV for my father, who is nearing retirement and plans to travel frequently on highways, with occasional long road trips. Comfort, space, and ease of driving are therefore top priorities. My key requirements are: Budget: ₹22-25 lakh (on-road, flexible if justified) Type: Proper 7-seater with a usable third row Usage: Mostly highway driving with some city use Mileage: Around 15 km/l in real-world conditions Priority: Comfort, reliability, and stress-free ownership Driver: Senior citizen, so it should be easy and fatigue-free to drive We currently own a 10-year-old Maruti Swift Dzire (petrol), with about 50,000 km on the odometer, and are open to exchanging it if needed. I have shortlisted the Toyota Innova Hycross, Mahindra XEV 9e, Mahindra XUV700, and Tata Safari. Could you please advise: Which of these would be the best all-rounder for our needs? Is it practical to consider an EV like the XEV 9e for long-distance travel, or should we stick to petrol/hybrid/diesel? How does the Innova Hycross compare with these SUVs in terms of comfort and driving experience? Are there any other strong options we should consider in this price range? Given our relatively low yearly usage, which powertrain would be the most sensible choice? Looking forward to your expert advice. Thank you!

Hello, We are a family of four, although my elder son lives in a different city and visits us once every couple of months. Our cars are almost entirely chauffeur-driven, though I do occasionally enjoy driving on long trips myself. I had booked the Toyota Innova Hycross VX 7-seater primarily for its excellent second-row comfort and practicality. However, with the recent rise in petrol prices and growing government discussions about E25/E30 fuel blending, I am now reconsidering whether to cancel the booking and instead opt for the Mahindra XEV 9e. I personally prefer practical, no-nonsense cars over feature-heavy luxury gimmicks. For example, I specifically chose the lower Hycross variant because I do not really care for features like ottoman seats, which actually compromise legroom for me, or panoramic sunroofs. Similarly, the triple-screen layout in the XEV 9e also feels unnecessary to me. What attracts me towards the XEV 9e is the possibility of being relatively future-proof against changing fuel policies and rising fuel costs. However, I also understand that the XEV’s fixed second-row setup may not be as spacious or comfortable as the Hycross for chauffeur-driven usage. My priority is a comfortable, premium-feeling, reliable, and sensible long-term ownership experience within a budget of around ₹30–35 lakh. Between the Toyota Innova Hycross VX and the Mahindra XEV 9e, which one would you recommend, considering comfort, practicality, future readiness, ownership experience, reliability, chauffeur-driven comfort, and long-term peace of mind?

I currently own a first-generation Toyota Innova that has been with me since 2008 and has clocked around 2.75 lakh kilometres. Since it has served my family extremely well, I am now looking for an upgrade. Naturally, I am inclined towards the Toyota Innova Hycross because my priorities continue to be: Excellent space and family comfort Good ride quality and highway stability Reliability and long-term peace of mind A vehicle that is also enjoyable to drive personally My monthly running is quite high at around 9,000 km, with nearly 70% usage in Mumbai city traffic and 30% highway driving, mainly on the Mumbai–Satara route. My budget is around ₹26 lakh, which unfortunately does not comfortably accommodate the Hycross Hybrid variants. I have therefore also considered the non-hybrid Innova Hycross GX(O), but I am concerned about its fuel efficiency given my predominantly city usage. Would the non-hybrid Hycross still make sense for my usage pattern, or should I consider other SUVs or MPVs instead? I am open to both body styles, but I am not particularly inclined towards the Maruti Ertiga or Kia Carens since I want this purchase to feel like a genuine upgrade from my current Innova. Could you please suggest the best options considering comfort, fuel efficiency, reliability, driving experience, long-term ownership, and overall value?

​Dear Auto Experts, ​I need a merciless, data-backed verdict to complete my garage. Around 3 months ago, I sold my Toyota Fortuner Legender 4x2 (which was just 2 years and 9 months old) because I grew highly frustrated with its hard steering and lack of modern tech features, specifically ADAS. ​To replace it, I purchased a Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L Diesel Automatic 4x2 a month ago. However, I only plan to drive it 2 days a week. Additionally, my wife purchased a Mahindra Thar Roxx MX1 Manual last year in November. ​I am now looking to finance another vehicle via an auto loan, with a budget of Rs. 18 Lakh to Rs. 28 Lakh. This new vehicle will be used for rough-and-tough regular city driving 3 to 4 days a week in heavy traffic. It will also serve as the primary vehicle for occasional long highway trips with my family. ​My Strict Requirements include: ​Status & Road Presence: This is non-negotiable. Even though it is my 3-to-4-day city vehicle, it must command road respect and serve as a status symbol, while offering the light steering and ADAS tech my Fortuner lacked. ​Fuel & Transmission: Diesel Automatic is preferred, but I am very open to considering Strong Hybrids (especially the upcoming generation of high-efficiency models). I can manage DPF requirements without issue if going with diesel. ​Ownership Cycle: I do not hold onto cars for long; my replacement cycle is strictly 3 to 4 years. ​End Goal: Exceptionally high resale value. I need a vehicle that second-hand dealers can easily flip to out-of-state buyers for a premium when I am ready to sell, clear the loan, and upgrade. ​Dealbreakers: Absolutely no to Toyota HyCross (my family finds it bulky, dated, and associated with the taxi segment). No Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder (I strictly avoid the Maruti-shared build quality). No grey or silver exterior colors. ​My Shortlist (That I can buy now): ​Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT: It solves the steering and ADAS issues perfectly and commands massive road respect. However, considering I just bought a Thar Roxx AX7L and my wife owns a Thar Roxx MX1, do you think that buying a third Mahindra vehicle for the family will be a logical and financially sound move? ​Kia Seltos GTX / X-Line Diesel AT (New 2026 K3 Platform): It offers the modern platform and tech that I need, but does a mid-size SUV command elite resale value and "status symbol" respect? (Note: I am highly hesitant about this option, as I have seen a lot of cons and complaints regarding it on YouTube ownership reviews). ​Hyundai Venue HX10 Diesel AT (2026): Fits easily at the bottom of the budget, but it likely lacks the sheer road presence, status factor, and highway dominance I need compared to larger SUVs. ​Or Should I Wait For Upcoming Hybrids/Updates (2026-2027): ​Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Rumored to arrive in India in late 2026. Is it worth waiting for and potentially stretching my budget, or will it be overpriced?) ​Upcoming K3 Platform Hyundai Creta Strong Hybrid. ​Next-Gen Toyota Fortuner (ADAS / Mild Hybrid) or Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. ​Mahindra Vision S. ​Given my strict 3-4 year ownership cycle, the demand for top-tier resale value and road respect, the fact that I will be financing this purchase, and the specific dual-use case (rough regular city driving + occasional family highway cruiser), which exact car and variant should I finalize today? Or does waiting make actual financial sense for my cycle? ​Thank you for your definitive and merciless verdict. Vihaan Kumar