I have two dogs and want to take road trips of up to five hours. Ideally, I want a vehicle where the rear seats either can be removed or the backrests can fold flat to fit a mattress. What car or SUV would you recommend, including both EV and internal combustion engine options?

Autocar India

•15w

We would recommend a three-row vehicle, as there are very few cars in which the second row of seats folds flat or can be removed. Two cars in which you can remove the third row of seats to liberate a large flat area are the Renault Triber and the Citroen Aircross X.

Both are great options that offer comfortable rides and great space efficiency. The Aircross X is larger, more powerful and from a segment above, but the Triber is more affordable. Also it has a lower boot lip height, which will make entry and exits easier for your dogs.

All things considered, though, the best all-round option for you is the Kia Carens Clavis, though it is more expensive than the aforementioned two. Not only is it a much better-rounded vehicle with more powertrain options (including an EV), it's also the most practical.

It has a flat folding third row, which on its own frees up lots of space. Moreover, if you need more still, the second row will fold near-flat in the 7-seat version. You should be able to fit a mattress for your dogs with a bit of folding.

Explore cars mentioned

Renault

Triber

from ₹6.41 Lakh

Citroen

Aircross

from ₹10.07 Lakh

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.05 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

•1d

I am considering the Kia Clavis petrol for my family of six. I am a relaxed driver with mostly city usage and occasional long road trips. I am conscious about my budget but willing to stretch if it is the right choice for the next 7 years. I am confused about which transmission to choose — naturally aspirated petrol, turbo petrol manual, or turbo petrol DCT. I have heard about DCT issues in slow-speed traffic and uphill driving. Given this, would going with the naturally aspirated petrol be sufficient, or should I consider the turbo petrol manual instead? Currently, I drive a Honda City i-VTEC manual, and during uphill driving with a full load, it feels underpowered and requires frequent downshifts. Could you please advise on the best option for my usage?

Autocar India

•18h

You have already experienced how a naturally aspirated engine feels under load in your Honda City, especially on inclines. In a larger and heavier car like the Kia Carens Clavis, that limitation will be even more noticeable. With six people on board and occasional hill drives, the naturally aspirated petrol will feel strained and require frequent downshifts, which takes away from the relaxed driving experience you are looking for.The turbo petrol solves this. It offers stronger low and mid-range performance, making city driving easier and highway or hill driving far more effortless, even with a full load. It reduces the need for constant gear changes and feels more relaxed in real-world conditions. The DCT does offer convenience, but your concern is valid. In slow traffic and uphill situations, it can feel less smooth and slightly hesitant, which does not suit your usage.That said, since you are based in Gurugram, where traffic can get quite heavy, you should be prepared for the manual to feel tiring in daily stop-and-go conditions. If convenience becomes a bigger priority, the DCT is still usable, but it comes with the trade-off of low-speed smoothness.

Kia Carens Clavis

VIJAY

•2d

Hi Autocar, I am planning to buy a car that offers good comfort and strong road presence with an on-road budget of ₹14 lakh. I have shortlisted the following options: Skoda Kushaq base variant, Kia Seltos base variant, Kia Carens Clavis base variant, Mahindra XUV 3XO base variant, and Citroen Aircross 7-seater. We travel long distances once a month, and I already own a 2017 Swift ZDi diesel variant. Kindly suggest which car I should choose from the above options and also recommend the most suitable variant. Since I have provided multiple options to the Autocar team, I would really appreciate your advice as a car enthusiast.

Autocar India

•1d

For one long highway trip a month, a ₹14 lakh on-road cap, and a step up in comfort from your Swift diesel, the Kia Seltos HTE 1.5 petrol manual suits you best. As far as base variants go, the Seltos is very well equipped, with features like cruise control, keyless entry, and an HD infotainment screen with wireless phone connectivity. The new generation also rides better than the last one, has a roomier cabin, and better road presence. Compared with your Swift, it will feel far more spacious and calmer at speed, and the big boot makes luggage easy.The Skoda Kushaq and Mahindra XUV 3XO base variants are good choices, but will feel a bit smaller on the inside. If you need 7 seats, the Kia Carens Clavis offers a similar experience to the Seltos, but its base trim is not as well equipped. The Citroen Aircross 7-seater offers superb ride comfort, but the service reach is still limited in many cities.Overall, for your use, the Seltos base lines up best.

Rahul Bansode

I am currently using a 2014 Maruti Wagon R CNG, which has completed 1,05,000 km in Maharashtra. The car is still in very good condition, and about 4 years are still left before it completes 15 years. I would now like to buy an automatic car. My family consists of 6 members (including 2 children). I use the car mainly for outstation travel once every 1–2 months, with around 80% highway usage and 20% city driving. My key requirements are good power, safety, and spaciousness. I am not interested in features like a sunroof or ADAS. My budget is ₹15 lakh and can be stretched up to ₹22 lakh.

Autocar India

•1d

Highway trips with the whole family of six and an automatic in the Rs 15-22 lakh range point us to the Kia Carens Clavis, specifically the 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT. Pick the HTK+ that comes without a sunroof. It fits your use because it has true three-row space, the third row is easier to get into than most taller cars, and even your older parents will find the ride comfortable on long runs. Coming from a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R CNG, you will feel a big jump in power and highway ease; the turbo-petrol has strong pull for quick overtakes, even with all six on board. Safety basics are well covered with six airbags and stability control across the range, and it feels steady at 100 kph, which matters for your 80 percent highway use.A couple of things to note. With all three rows up, the boot is small, so you may need to use soft bags or fold one seat for luggage on longer trips. Also, the DCT can feel a bit jerky in very slow, stop-and-go traffic, though your driving is mostly highway, so it should not bother you. If you often travel fully loaded and want an even calmer drive with better fuel efficiency on long trips, the Kia Carens Clavis diesel with the smoother 6-speed torque-converter automatic is also worth a look.If you want an even tougher-feeling highway cruiser, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is larger and feels very solid, but it will cost more and is harder to park. Overall, for your use and feature preference, the Carens Clavis automatically lines up best.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Kia Carens Clavis

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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