Dharmapuri

•17w

Hi, I am planning to buy a new car, as my monthly running is around 3,000 km, with approximately 80% highway driving and 20% city/rural road usage. I am currently considering the following options: Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 Topline Manual Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 Diesel Kia Seltos HTK(O) Diesel Manual Could you please suggest which of these would be the best option?

•17w

Given 3,000 km a month with 80% highway and some rough rural stretches, the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T diesel fits your use best. It feels steady at speed and soaks up broken patches well, which helps on long runs and village roads. The diesel car has a strong pull, so overtaking needs less effort even with family and luggage. You also get more space and a higher driving position than either of the other cars, which makes it more practical and easier to drive.

Two things to note: it is big in traffic and tight parking, and in the city it will use a more fuel than the smaller Kia. If you want something easier to manage daily, the Kia Seltos HTK(O) diesel MT is the smarter second choice. It’s lighter to drive and still stable on the highway, but you will feel bumps more than in the Mahindra, and rear space is smaller.

The Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 Topline MT is nice to drive, but for this much highway running, the petrol will cost more to run. The Volkswagen Virtus mileage is 20.19 kpl for the 1.0-litre TSI manual, 18.70 kpl for the 1.0-litre TSI automatic, and 19.62 kpl for the 1.5-litre TSI DSG. The 1.5-litre engine also gets cylinder deactivation technology to help improve fuel efficiency under light loads. More gear changes for quick passes will be needed on this Volkswagen car. Overall, pick the XUV 7XO diesel for your usage.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹17.35 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.64 Lakh

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹13.29 Lakh

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•2d

I am planning to buy a new SUV under Rs 30 lakh and am open to both five- and seven-seater options. I have tried the Toyota Innova HyCross non-hybrid, Mahindra XUV 7XO, Hyundai Alcazar, Kia Seltos and Renault Duster, but I am confused about which one to choose. My main priorities are space, comfort and a good engine. My running is not very high, at just under 1,000km a month. Please advise.

•11h

Go for the Toyota Innova HyCross non-hybrid. Your priorities are space, comfort and a good engine, and the HyCross delivers on all three. It is one of the most spacious cars in the segment, with a genuinely usable third row and a comfortable ride that makes it an excellent family car. The petrol engine is smooth, refined and well suited to your running of under 1,000 km a month, where the hybrid premium is harder to justify.The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a strong alternative with a more powerful engine and a more feature-rich cabin, but the HyCross has the edge on space, comfort and long-term ownership experience.The Hyundai Alcazar and Kia Seltos are good cars, but they do not offer the same level of space or comfort, and the Renault Duster is more of a driver's car than a family car. The Toyota car mentioned above is the car you will be happiest with after five years of ownership.

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Hi Autocar, I am a regular viewer of your YouTube channel and enjoy watching your reviews of cars and bikes. I currently use a 2016 Honda Jazz petrol manual at home. It is reliable and spacious, but lacks power. I now live in Mumbai and am looking to buy an SUV for both city driving and long trips. I am a driving enthusiast and regularly go on long drives with my family. I typically do at least 1,000km when I come home for holidays every alternate month, while the car will remain mostly idle in the other months. My priorities are a powerful petrol engine producing at least 120hp, an automatic transmission and enough rear-seat space for three people. I don't want too many bells and whistles such as a panoramic sunroof, multiple screens, ADAS or ventilated seats. Basic features are sufficient for me. Please suggest a safe and reliable car for long-term use within a budget of Rs 20-30 lakh on-road. I am also open to considering a used car.

•1d

Coming from a Honda Jazz and considering that you enjoy driving, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic is a strong fit for your requirements. Its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol produces 203hp and 380Nm, giving it the performance you are looking for, while the 6-speed torque converter automatic works well for both Mumbai traffic and long highway drives. It also has a spacious cabin with enough width to accommodate three adults in the second row comfortably, making it a practical family car.This Mahindra car also offers a good balance of safety, ride comfort and highway stability, which will be particularly useful given your regular 1,000km road trips. Despite its size, it is reasonably easy to drive, and the large boot is useful for carrying luggage.The main drawback is fuel economy, particularly in Mumbai traffic, but your relatively low average annual running means this shouldn't be a major concern. A well-equipped AX5 or AX7 petrol AT would fit the brief without paying extra for features you don't particularly need.

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•2d

I am currently driving a 2013 Honda City i-VTEC. I don’t have frequent usage, with around 30-40 km of running per week and rare highway trips. There are seven members in my family, so I want to upgrade to a car with good reliability, features, low maintenance costs, and better resale value, with a budget of Rs. 20 lakh. I am confused between the Seltos and the Hyryder. Should I also consider the XUV 7XO or Alcazar, or are there any other options I should consider?

•2d

The Clavis wasn’t part of your shortlist, but with seven members in the family, it is worth adding to the list. It makes more sense than the Seltos or Hyryder because you get a genuinely usable third row without making a major compromise on your budget, as it is around the same price. It also suits your very low running costs better than a hybrid, while offering easy city driving and relatively low running and maintenance costs.If you specifically want an SUV, the Mahindra XUV 7XO would be the next option. It offers stronger performance, a more substantial SUV feel and better highway ability, although it is larger and will cost more to run.The Seltos and Hyryder remain good five-seaters, but with seven people in the family, the third row will eventually become a requirement rather than a luxury.

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•3d

Go for the Toyota Innova Hycross strong hybrid. With your daily running of 15-20 km and occasional 60-70 km trips, a diesel does not make financial sense, and the hybrid will give you significantly better fuel efficiency in city driving than petrol. The Hycross is also the more comfortable and spacious 7-seater, with a proven Toyota ownership experience and lower long-term maintenance costs. The XUV 7XO is the better driver's car, offers more features and has a more premium cabin, but for your usage pattern, the Hycross strong hybrid is the more sensible and hassle-free choice.

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•3d

I’m considering the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line, Audi Q3, BMW X1, and MINI Countryman petrol. I drive myself and am looking for a car that offers a good balance of features, comfort, and driving pleasure. Which one would be the best choice?

•3d

The Audi New Q3 might be significantly more expensive than the other options you've listed. However, if you're referring to the outgoing model available at a discounted price, we'd recommend you to certainly consider it. The Audi Q3 has a strong 2.0 TSI engine, and its ride comfort is excellent too. Additionally, the all-wheel drive system makes it an able handler. So if you like to drive, this one is certainly worth considering. You'll also appreciate the cabin quality and seat comfort. And while it has the basics, some features like ventilated seats, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, powered tailgate, etc are missing.The BMW X1 will be a lot more spacious in comparison, however its turbo-petrol engine doesn't match the Audi's performance or responsiveness.

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