I am a senior citizen planning to buy an electric car or SUV with a budget of up to ₹25 lakh. I live in a farmhouse about 70 km away from Bangalore and typically travel at least 100 km, four days a week, along with occasional longer trips of around 250 km at least three times a month. I am looking for an SUV that offers comfortable driving on steep gradients, along with high levels of safety, durability (including resistance to water and fire risks), and a real-world driving range that is close to the claimed figures. Which electric SUV would be the most suitable for my needs? Please suggest.

Autocar India

•15m

For your usage, which is mostly highway driving with occasional rural roads and long trips, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel manual is the better fit. It offers a more relaxed and effortless driving experience, especially over long distances.An important point in your case is what you are upgrading from. Your Jeep Compass diesel uses a 2.0-litre engine, and moving to the Kia Seltos diesel, which has a smaller 1.5-litre engine, will not feel like an upgrade in terms of performance. It will feel adequate, but not significantly stronger than what you are used to.The XUV 7XO, on the other hand, also uses a larger 2.0-litre diesel engine, and despite being a bigger car, it will feel like a proper step up. You will notice stronger pulling power, more effortless highway cruising and better overall performance. It also feels more stable and composed at speed, which suits your kind of long-distance driving. Refinement levels are also good, making it a comfortable car for extended journeys.The Seltos diesel is easier to drive in the city and feels more compact and user-friendly, but on highways and rough rural roads, it does not feel as robust or as planted as the 7XO.One important point is the budget. The 7XO diesel variants may go slightly above your Rs 18 lakh on-road range, depending on the variant and location, so you will need to check exact pricing.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Jeep Compass

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•5h

If you're looking for performance first and foremost, check out the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol. Coming from the 1.5 petrol Creta, you will immediately notice how much stronger the XUV 7XO's 202hp 2.0-litre turbo petrol is. Overtakes need a light press on the pedal, hills feel effortless even with family and bags, and it cruises comfortably at highway speeds. Mahindra tunes its engines for performance first and fuel economy second. So, be prepared for poor mileage numbers.If you’re tempted by a used luxury SUV, a 2-3 year old BMW X3 30i or Audi Q5 with a valid extended warranty will be quick and feel special, but do factor in higher service and repair costs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Audi Q5

Autocar India

•7h

Choose the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 Diesel AT and skip the AX7T if you feel the approx Rs 2.5 lakh premium is not worth the upgrade. Genuine fog lamps are available as dealer-fitted accessories, and you can add them to the AX7 without voiding the warranty. Ventilated seats, on the other hand, cannot be retrofitted, as they typically require new seats, ducts and wiring that interact with the seat airbags. Do confirm this with your dealer.If ventilated seats are an absolute must-have, then go for the AX7T, as it also brings other features like Level-2 ADAS, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and a knee airbag.At the dealership, ask for the price of the fog-lamp kit and installation. On the test drive, check if the AC’s cooling is up to your expectations.

Mahindra XUV 7XO