We’re a family of four planning to buy a 7-seater automatic within a ₹20–25 lakh budget. Our priorities are a 5-star safety rating, essential safety features and possibly ADAS (though we’re unsure how relevant ADAS is on Indian roads). Usage will be city driving, weekly ~200 km runs, and 5–10 long trips a year. We’re confused between the Mahindra XUV700, Toyota Rumion and Kia Carens because of concerns about XUV700’s service, Carens’ safety rating, and Rumion being similar to the Ertiga. Which should we pick?

Asked by: Amit Kumar

Given your requirements, you should choose between the Mahindra XUV700 and the Tata Safari. Both three-row SUVs come with a full, 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP, both come featured-packed, and both get ADAS tech as well.

Both SUVs will also be comfy for your family on highway trips, but the Mahindra car will be a bit easier to drive in the city thanks to its lighter controls. And unlike the Tata Safari, the Mahindra XUV700 can also be had with a petrol engine, and it comes with an AWD option.

Mahindra XUV700

Mahindra XUV700

Answered by

Autocar India Team

Nov 23, 2025

Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts

Help and Support

Latest questions

Asked by: Shekhar Kumar I am a 47-year-old male (5 ft 9 in, 85 kg) looking to buy a long-term, reliable, strong and powerful scooter. My daily city commute is about 15-20 km, and my budget is up to ₹1.5 lakh. I am currently considering the TVS Ntorq 150, TVS Jupiter 125, Suzuki Access 125 and Honda Activa 125. Are there any other scooters I should consider? Please advise. The TVS Ntorq 150 is the most powerful scooter in your shortlist, and it will also be the most fun to ride. It is also the most feature-packed, with a TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity, riding modes and a host of other features. The TVS Jupiter 125 is a more practical option, with plush ride quality and a huge 33-litre underseat storage space. The Suzuki Access 125 is a family scooter with peppy performance that should be very reliable and fuel-efficient, too. The Honda Activa 125 doesn't have any one standout feature, but is a proven package you can't really go wrong with.Take a test ride of all four so you can pick the one that best suits your needs.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

Asked by: Saravanan Mani I currently ride a 9-year-old Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and want to upgrade to a new bike for daily commuting. I’m 6 ft tall and weigh 100 kg, so comfort and good suspension for rough roads are priorities. I need a bike that returns at least 30 km/l and suits a 25 km daily commute. My budget is ₹2.5 lakh. Please suggest suitable options. Since your priorities are comfort, mileage and spacious ergonomics, here are some options you can consider. Given your long-standing relationship with the Thunderbird, something similar to it from the Royal Enfield stable would be the Meteor 350, which is a genuinely usable cruiser on our roads. However, its siblings - the Bullet 350 and Classic 350 - are more comfortable due to their upright riding positions, and those would be our recommendation. You can also look at any of the Honda CB350 models because all are comfortable, smooth and spacious bikes which will serve you well. Another option you can consider is the Hero Xpulse 210. It is going to be the most comfortable machine of all the ones recommended here. Although, do bear in mind it is only sold through the fledgling Hero Premia dealer network. Also, it has some engine reliability issues which have been cropping up of late.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

Asked by: Gaurav Gupta I am planning to buy a BMW M340i for long-distance trips into wildlife reserves, as I have a strong interest in wildlife. I have two concerns, one is the E20 petrol. The M340i engine is a high-compression engine and needs high-octane fuel. With E20 petrol now available across the country, will this cause any issues for my engine? The other worry is the low tyre profile on bad roads, which may lead to punctures. Do give me your best advice. On E20 fuel, you don’t have to worry at all. In fact, you should be happy because the base octane rating for E20 fuel has jumped from 91 octane to a minimum of 95 octane or even higher. Hence, this suits the 11.0:1 compression ratio of the M340i’s B58 engine, and now, instead of hunting for high-octane fuel, you can use fuel anywhere, as you are now assured of 95 octane.A bigger concern are the low profile tyres, which are staggered with 245/45 R20 in front and an even lower 275 / 40 R20 at the back. This could be a problem on bad roads, where the tyres could be vulnerable to impact damage.One way to protect the tyres against punctures, but not guaranteed, is to pump up the tyre pressure by about 3-4PSI to make the sidewalls stiffer. This reduces the flex in the sidewalls and makes them more resistant to impact damage, but quite honestly, the BMW M340i is not a car we would take into the jungle!

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

Asked by: Lithin Krishna I’m planning to buy a new bike. I previously rode a Dio (until 2017) and a Maestro Edge (until 2021), and currently own a TVS Jupiter with 1.6 lakh km on the odo. I work as a field service engineer and travel about 150 km per day. I sometimes carry small spares with me. I prefer TVS or Honda because their showroom is under 1 km from my home. I am 5 ft 6 in tall. Please suggest suitable bike options. Since you have a long commute, we'll recommend bikes in the 125cc segment as they will be quite fuel efficient, which will be an important factor for you. From Honda's stable, you can take a look at the Shine 125, SP125 and Hornet 125 - all three are based on the same platform, but the Hornet is sportier and has more features than the other two. From TVS' lineup, you can take a look at the Raider, which will be light, fuel efficient and comfortable and is available across a wide price band too. Take proper test rides of all options you shortlist before you make a decision.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

View all questions

Can’t decide which car to buy? Ask our experts and get answers to all your car related queries. Ask experts

Help and Support