Mumbai

•13w

Hi Autocar Team, I would love your opinion on my use case. My situation: I am relocating to our farm, which is about 200 km from Bangalore. The car will be used occasionally for drives between my village and Bangalore (likely at least once a month), and otherwise as the primary vehicle for local travel, including trips to nearby towns, temples, and the Western Ghats. Requirements: Good boot space, as we will often carry a lot of haul (for example, kitchen supplies). Comfortable for a family of four, including elderly parents. Captain seats in the middle row would be preferred. The last 2-3 km to the farm is on unpaved/uneven roads, and nearby roads may also be inconsistent. I am unsure whether a body-on-frame vehicle is necessary or overkill for this usage. Currently using a 2006 Swift, which struggles on such terrain. Budget: Initially ₹20 lakh, now stretching to the mid-₹20 lakh range. Cars I have test-driven: Mahindra Scorpio N - Did not like the body roll Mahindra XUV700 - Too plush/soft for my needs Mahindra XUV300 - Felt underpowered Mahindra Thar Roxx - Loved it, but not practical for family EVs are not feasible due to an unreliable power supply Current bias: Toyota Innova Crysta - After driving it, it felt like the most suitable, reliable option for my use case Concerns: Automatic vs manual (Crysta is manual only) Diesel longevity given future regulations Long-term ownership (10-15 years) Am I making the right choice with the Innova Crysta, or are there better alternatives I should consider?

•12w

You've done a lot of research, and for the most part, you're right about the Toyota Innova Crysta. The ladder frame chassis means it can take a beating, it's almost flawlessly reliable and will run for decades on end, and even when it's time for maintenance, it should be relatively reasonable, too.

We would have recommended the Toyota Hycross hybrid, which is a more sophisticated version of the Crysta in every aspect, but as you said, it's out of your budget. Do note, higher Crysta variants push Rs 30 lakh on the road themselves. That said, we don't feel a ladder frame chassis is strictly necessary given your usage.

While tough, it does make the ride incredibly busy on rough patches, it feels quite heavy to drive, and it places the cabin higher, which could make ingress and egress cumbersome for your parents down the line. An automatic would have been ideal, but given your usage is infrequent, a manual should be easy enough to live with. While the future of diesel is uncertain in the Delhi NCR, the rest of the country hasn't seen a change in policy for some time, and if you're keen on a diesel car, you should go for it.

While the Innova Crysta does seem like your best bet, you should also check out an often overlooked three-row SUV, the Hyundai Alcazar. It's not as powerful as the Innova, but it is far more sophisticated, easy to drive and cheaper to buy.

Plus, you get the option of a diesel automatic, and Hyundai's service network is widespread and of good quality. Though a monocoque, it'll handle rural rough patches just fine, too, so as an alternative, we think it's worth consideration as well.

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Toyota

Innova Crysta

from ₹23.67 Lakh

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹22.07 Lakh

Hyundai

Alcazar

from ₹17.12 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•2d

@autocar.india I need the car from a safety point of view and also a no-nonsense car that I can keep for 10 years. I need a car from a good and reliable brand, for which the budget can be altered.

•1d

If safety, reliability and a 10-year ownership horizon are your top priorities, the Toyota Innova HyCross or its badge-engineered Suzuki sibling, the Invicto, is the car we would recommend. However, it would require you to increase your budget by a couple of lakhs to get the strong hybrid version, which we recommend. It is a genuinely no-nonsense MPV from a brand with a strong reputation for long-term reliability, and it also has a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. While it might not be the most exciting, the HyCross is efficient, robust and easy to live with, and Toyota's service and ownership experience are among the best in the country. It may not be the most feature-rich car in the segment, but it is exactly the kind of car you can buy and keep for a decade without worry.If you want a bit more excitement and more features, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is another option, but in terms of mileage and reliability, it's nowhere near as good as the Toyota.

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•2d

I want to buy a 5/7-seater car for my family. My daily running is around 70 km in the city, along with 1-2 highway trips every month. I currently own a Honda City and am looking to upgrade. The new car should be spacious, offer good fuel efficiency, and fit within my budget of Rs. 18 - 25 lakh. Which car would you recommend?

•2d

With a daily running of 70km in the city and only 1-2 highway runs a month, you could consider a Kia Carens Clavis diesel or Hyundai Alcazar diesel; their manual and automatic versions will fall within your budget of Rs 18-25 lakh.If you need a proper 7-seater, the Kia Carens is the better option. This Kia car is one of the most spacious and practical 7-seaters in the segment, with a genuinely usable third row and a comfortable ride. The diesel engine is smooth and very efficient, and the Clavis won't feel much larger than a Honda City to drive around town.

I am looking to upgrade from my 2017 Hyundai Creta to another SUV. My annual running is around 35,000km, and my budget is up to Rs 25 lakh. I'm confused between a diesel SUV and a hybrid car. My usage is around 75% on highways. I have also considered the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Harrier, but I am concerned about their relatively low fuel efficiency. Which SUV would you recommend, or should I switch to a petrol hybrid such as the Maruti Victoris, considering the coming years?

•2d

With 35,000 km a year and 75% highway usage, you are a textbook diesel buyer. The fuel savings at this running are substantial, and diesel engines are at their most efficient on long highway runs. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the recommendation here. It is a genuinely strong highway SUV with a powerful and refined diesel engine, a comfortable ride and a spacious cabin. The Tata Harrier is also a good product, but the Mahindra car feels more complete overall.Your concern about fuel efficiency is understandable, but both the XUV 7XO and Harrier are large, powerful SUVs and their efficiency is reasonable for what they are.The Maruti Victoris Strong Hybrid is an excellent SUV, but it isn't the best fit for your driving pattern. Strong hybrids deliver their biggest fuel efficiency advantage in city traffic, where they can operate on electric power for longer. Since 75% of your driving is on the highway, that advantage reduces considerably, making a diesel SUV the more sensible choice.The Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid would have been a strong alternative thanks to its excellent blend of comfort, efficiency and reliability, but it sits well beyond your stated budget.

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

I am looking to upgrade from my Hyundai Creta to a 7-seater SUV. My annual running is only around 6,000 km, and my budget is up to Rs. 25 lakh. Is the Hyundai Alcazar a good option for my usage? I have also considered the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari, but I am concerned about their relatively low fuel efficiency. Which 7-seater SUV would you recommend?

•5d

With a yearly running of just 6,000km, petrol is the sensible choice, and the Hyundai Alcazar is a good option. It is a comfortable, easy-to-drive family SUV with a hassle-free ownership experience, and the 1.5 turbo petrol engine paired with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is powerful enough and relatively efficient too. Plus, since you're coming from a Creta, you'll be familiar with the Hyundai network and could even ask for a loyalty discount. However, the Alcazar’s third row is not as spacious as some larger cars in the segment, so if you genuinely need a proper 7-seater, it may not be the ideal solution. What's more, if your Creta is the 2020 or newer model, you'll find the Alcazar perhaps a little too familiar on the inside.The Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus are good options that offer more space. However, as you have noted, they're not fuel efficient at all, and moreover, in your budget, you will only get a low to mid-spec variant, whereas you will get a fully-loaded Alcazar. Another option to consider, though not an SUV, is the Kia Carens Clavis. Its MPV shape is more space-efficient, and you actually get more passenger and luggage room than the Alcazar, with the same efficient engines, for around the same price.

Hi, I am a teacher and a first-time female driver with a budget of Rs. 11.5 lakh. I am looking for an automatic car that I plan to keep for the next 15 years, but I am confused about whether to buy a petrol AMT, CNG AMT, or an EV due to the uncertainty surrounding ethanol blending. My daily commute is 46 km, of which 22 km is on the highway, 18 km is on normal roads, and 6 km is on bumpy village roads in poor condition. Please recommend the most suitable fuel type that will keep my overall cost of ownership low.

•6d

We'd recommend a petrol automatic. With a daily running of around 46km and an ownership period of 15 years, it offers the best balance of low ownership costs, reliability and ease of use for a first-time driver.We wouldn't let E20 fuel influence your decision. Modern E20-compliant petrol cars are designed to run on it, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20. It isn't a reason to avoid buying a petrol car today. A CNG automatic will certainly reduce your fuel bills, but the higher purchase price, reduced boot space and limited automatic options make CNG car less attractive unless fuel savings are your overriding priority. An electric car will have the lowest running costs, but at your budget, you'll have to compromise on size or features, and recovering the higher upfront cost will take time.Given your budget and usage, we'd look at the Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift automatic which will launch soon if you can stretch slightly, or the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+ AGS if you want to stay within budget. Both are easy to drive, have good ground clearance for the 6km of rough village roads and come backed by Maruti Suzuki's extensive service network. If you prefer a smoother automatic, the Hyundai Exter SX AMT is also worth considering.

Hi, my brother and I are planning to buy a new family car. Our budget is RS. 10 lakh, and our maximum monthly running will be around 500 km. Our priorities are a reliable engine, good performance, and fuel efficiency. Please suggest the best all-rounder car within our budget.

•3d

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible recommendation here. It is spacious enough for family use, has a proven and reliable engine, and is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. Maruti’s service network and low maintenance costs also make it a very easy car to own over the long term.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze is worth considering. Honda’s engines are known for their reliability and refinement, and the Amaze is a comfortable and well-built sedan.Overall, the Baleno is the most balanced choice. It offers the best combination of space, efficiency, reliability and low running costs, which is exactly what you need given your usage and budget.

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