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Delhi
HI

Himakar

1w

We are 5 people who goes on trips frequently, our journey will be on both highways and unpaved roads with potholes. We are looking to buy a car which meets below requirements 1. Having ADAS L2 2. 360 camera with blind spot detection 3. Torque min 260, higher the best 4. Min 120hp, higher the best 5. Boot space min 400 6. Good leg space in the back seat 7. Fog light and high beam detection mandatory We are ok with either manual or automatic gear, sunroof is not required. Looking for mid suv so suggest the best car which offers above under 17L. If we can get 7seater is also great.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
4d

For your budget of Rs 17 lakh, there isn’t a single SUV that ticks all your boxes. You’ll have to compromise somewhere. At this price, you can either get a spacious, powerful SUV that’s well-suited to rough-road trips but misses out on some premium features like ADAS and a 360-degree camera, or you can get a feature-loaded smaller SUV that won’t be as spacious or as strong mechanically. The third option, of course, is to stretch the budget, which honestly would make things much easier.

Given that you are five people travelling frequently on highways and broken roads, the Mahindra Thar Roxx 4x2 diesel makes the most sense from a core SUV perspective. It’s spacious enough for five, has a strong 2.2-litre diesel with 152hp and solid torque, and its ladder-frame chassis and suspension are built to take a beating on bad roads. Boot space is decent, and rear legroom is usable for long trips.

However, within Rs 17 lakh, you’ll only get the MX1 variant, which does not offer ADAS. To get Level 2 ADAS, you’ll need to stretch to the AX3 L variant at around Rs 20 lakh. Even then, it still won’t give you a 360-degree camera that’s reserved for the top AX7 L variant, which is closer to Rs 23 lakh.

If you are absolutely firm on ADAS Level 2, 360-degree camera and high-beam assist within Rs 17 lakh, you’ll have to step down to a smaller SUV like the Kia Syros HTX Plus (O). It offers the tech you want, but you’ll compromise on outright space and performance. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol makes 118hp and 172Nm, which is well short of your torque requirement, and while it’s among the roomier compact SUVs, it’s not in the same league as the Thar Roxx for five-adult road trips or rough-road durability.

Our advice? Stretch to the Thar Roxx AX3 L. You’ll get the space, toughness and performance that actually matter for the kind of usage you describe. A 360-degree camera can be added through a good aftermarket solution. 

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra Thar Roxx

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DK

Dheerendra K B

3d

Go for MG Hector Plus

RA

Rajesh

3d

How about the Kia Carens calvis Htx+ petrol dct variant, pls share feedback on performance, feature, mileage and any customer review on dct in city traffic especially

Latest questions people are discussing

NR

Nikhil Renuse

5d

Hello, I have booked the Mahindra Thar Roxx Star Edition Diesel, but I am concerned about the way Mahindra is portrayed on social media. Many videos are complaining about service quality, lack of responsiveness, and product issues, which is making me apprehensive. I currently own a Volkswagen Vento, which I have driven for the past 11 years. It has had its own issues with suspension, steering rack, slow service, and expensive spare parts. However, when you love a car, you tend to live with some shortcomings. I understand that no brand is perfect, and I am prepared for a reasonable margin of error in both product and service. However, the sheer number of negative videos about Mahindra is making me uneasy. While some online content may be exaggerated, there must be underlying reasons behind such strong reactions. Could you please provide an informed and balanced perspective on whether these concerns are valid or amplified by social media? Thank you.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
2d

Indeed, Mahindra & Mahindra doesn’t have the best reputation for service and reliability like Toyota has. But quite honestly, the Mahindra Thar and Mahindra Thar Roxx are sturdy and fairly reliable vehicles underpinned by proven mechanicals.There are isolated cases of Thars facing problems and service issues that haven’t been resolved to the owners' satisfaction, and that often forces them to highlight them on social media, making it sound like the norm. Social media tends to amplify negative experiences far more than positive ones. Also, there are influencers in the north of the country actively working to tarnish Mahindra’s reputation.As you said, if you are prepared for some service issues, you can go right ahead and buy the Thar Roxx.

VehicleMahindra Thar
VehicleMahindra Thar Roxx
SH

Shrihari

1d

I'm looking for a Diesel automatic car with 40% city and 60% Highway driving, with around 1500kms per month with a budget between 12 to 15 lakhs. Please suggest a good vehicle. Used or new vehicle is considered.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
3h

There are quite a few diesel options within your budget, especially from the compact SUV segment. The list of contenders includes the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Tata Nexon. Which one suits you best depends on your key requirements. The Hyundai Venue is a great all-rounder offering good refinement, new-age features, reasonable rear seat space and a large boot. The Kia Sonet has many of the same strengths but loses out on rear seat space. If cabin space is a key requirement, the Kia Syros is the ideal pick. It's the roomiest compact SUV and cabin quality is also very good. However, the design is not to everyone's liking. The Mahindra XUV 3X0 has a good engine, feels tough and offers enough space for three to sit in comfort at the back. Boot space isn't as generous as the others, though. Tata's Nexon diesel feels peppy and the suspension is well suited to our bad roads but the package isn't as refined or polished as alternatives. If it's an automatic transmission you're keen on, the Hyundai and Kia are the one's to consider. Their torque converter automatic transmissions work superbly with the 1.5-litre diesel engines to deliver a truly upmarket experience. The Sonet diesel-AT in HTX trim is great value. You could also get diesel versions of the Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra or Kia Seltos for the same money. While these options are more spacious, you will have to settle for a low-spec trim without many features.

VehicleKia Sonet
VN

Venkatesh Naidu

2d

With a budget of 25L, I'm looking for a 5-seater car. It should be fun to drive and provide a comfortable ride. Safety, reliability and after sales service should be too-notch. I'll be driving this 60% in city and 40% on highways. It should also have a good interior and features including ventilated seats, wireless carplay/android auto, panaromic sunroof, 360 degree camera.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
5h

With a budget of around Rs 25 lakh and your priorities of fun to drive performance, comfort, safety and strong after sales support, the Kia Seltos fits your requirements very well. The current Seltos is larger than before, spacious and very comfortable for daily driving. Interior quality is among the best in the segment and it comes loaded with premium features, including the ones you have mentioned such as ventilated seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof and a 360 degree camera. The 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine paired with the 7 speed DCT transmission offers strong performance while remaining refined and smooth in city use. It also fits comfortably within your budget and Kia’s after sales service network is generally reliable.If you want something different, the Tata Sierra with the turbo petrol automatic is another good option. It offers even more cabin space than the Seltos and its wider body makes it a more comfortable five seater. The ride quality is also very comfortable and it comes with all the features you are looking for. The downside is that it is about Rs 1.5 lakh more expensive than the Kia, and although Tata’s after sales service is improving, Kia still has the stronger reputation in that area.If you want something larger, you can also consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 within your budget. Even though it is a seven seater, with the third row folded it becomes a very spacious and comfortable five seater. It gets a powerful 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine producing over 200 hp paired with a smooth six speed torque converter automatic that delivers effortless performance. The handling is good, the ride is comfortable and it comes with most of the features you want. The only notable omission compared to your list is ventilated front seats. If you can live without that feature, it is another strong option to consider.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleTata Sierra
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO

Posted on: 3 Mar 2026