I'm looking for a chauffeur driven car for my family. Most driving in tier 2 city traffic with occasional highway trips. Easy ingress/egress is needed for parents. Budget 20 lacs. I'll be driving the cars on highways so something a little exciting would be preferable.

Autocar India

•3m

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis DCT HTK+(O) 1.5 turbo-petrol for a chauffeur-driven family car with easy entry for parents and a little fun when you take the wheel. It fits your brief best at this budget.

Your parents will find it easy to step in because the floor is low and the rear doors open wide, so they do not have to climb up or drop down. The rear seat is roomy and supportive, and the ride is comfortable at city speeds, which helps in tier-2 traffic. The automatic here is a DCT, which is an automatic that changes gears very quickly. On the highway, the turbo-petrol picks up speed easily, so overtaking feels stress-free and even exciting. Kia’s service reach in smaller towns is also quite good now, which matters for easy ownership.

Two things to be aware of: in very slow bumper-to-bumper traffic, the DCT can feel a touch jerky and hesitant if you are gentle on the throttle, and the car is long, so tight parking needs some care. If you prefer two rows and an even softer ride, look at the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol IVT SX. It is very smooth in traffic and easy enough on ingress/egress, though not as exciting as the Clavis turbo.

Take your parents along for the test drive and check step-in height and rear-seat comfort, then do a short highway run to feel how easily it gains speed.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.05 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.56 Lakh

Recommended questions for you

Hem

•4d

I am looking for a 7 seater car for my 70 years old dad. He’s not a tech savy and prefers simple and easy to use car. My budget is 22-25 lacs. 90% city driving in a slow traffic. I am inclined towards xuv 7xo. Confused between petrol and diesel option. Please suggest any other car if it’s better suited

Autocar India

•17h

The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good choice in the segment, though you will rely heavily on the infotainment screens for many functions, including the AC, which your dad might not appreciate. Consider the Kia Carens Clavis with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol DCT instead. It has physical controls for major functions and a simpler user interface for the infotainment system. It is also more compact and therefore easier to drive and park in the city, where you will be spending most of your time. Despite its dimensions, the third row in the Kia is actually more usable than the one in the Mahindra. With 90 percent slow city use and a 70-year-old driver, the petrol is a better choice, and you avoid DPF issues that can crop up with limited use.One thing to be aware of: the Carens Clavis won’t ride as plush as the XUV 7XO. If that is a priority, then go for the Mahindra instead. Also, if the Clavis’s MPV-like design doesn’t appeal to you, then consider the Tata Safari petrol.On the test drive, do a long run in bumper-to-bumper traffic and check two things: how the DCT reacts at low speeds and how easy it is for your dad to get in and out of the second and third rows.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

Anil Gupta

•3d

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

•1d

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 petrol, it does not have an SUV body style, but at your budget and with your 90% city use and 50 km a day, it is the easiest and most comfortable three-row you can live with daily. Coming from your i10, the Carens will feel much bigger, but it is still friendly in traffic: light steering, a calm engine and good all-round visibility make daily driving and parking far less stressful than most big seven-seaters. There's also a smooth enough clutch, and you could also consider the automatic, which is a bit above your budget. The ride is comfortable over speed breakers and broken patches, there is proper space in the second row, and the third row is very usable for kids or shorter adults, and the air-con vents for all rows help in hot weather. If you do want a true SUV feel, however and can manage a bigger car and are ok with a lower mileage, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO.

Kia Carens Clavis

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Sourabh Nanaware

•5d

I am planning to buy a 7-seater car for my family.

Autocar India

•2d

Without knowing your budget and exact requirements, it would be hard to suggest a 7 seater for you. However, consider the Toyota Innova Hycross as it has a spacious cabin that can fit in 7 adults, a comfy ride quality and an efficient and strong hybrid powertrain. All of which make it one of the best 7 seaters for the family. If your budget is lower, consider the Kia Carens Clavis, which can also fit in your family comfortably, and it comes with all the bells and whistles. The Kia can even be had with a diesel engine option, unlike the Toyota, but there's no strong hybrid option.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carens Clavis

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