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Ashis Roy

•6w

Hi, I want to buy an SUV with more power than the Hyundai Creta. The main purpose is to go on trips to the hills - I don’t need serious off-roading. I want a plush, reasonably fuel-efficient SUV; I don’t need a six-seater. My budget is around ₹20-25 lakhs. I live in Delhi - does a diesel vehicle make sense for average annual driving of 10-12k km?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•6w

Since you want more power than your current Hyundai Creta, the best option for you is the recently launched Mahindra XUV 7XO.

Considering your Delhi NCR location and your limited running of under 12,000 km a year, we would recommend the petrol version. The turbo petrol engine is powerful, refined, and delivers effortless performance, making it a clear upgrade over your Creta.

Given Delhi conditions, we would also suggest the 6-speed torque converter automatic. It is smooth, quick shifting, and will make daily driving far less stressful.

With the facelift, Mahindra has also improved the ride quality, added more features, and overall, the 7XO feels more premium and modern inside and out.

Within your budget, you can go for the AX7 variant, which is well-loaded and comes with all the features you would expect at this price point.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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Mahindra XUV 7XO

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XUV 7XO

from ₹15.87 Lakh

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Related questions you may find helpful

KR

Kr

•6d

I am currently planning to buy a new car in the ₹17-19 lakh range. My priorities are safety, decent performance, and good mileage. I am considering the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX diesel and the Kia Seltos HTK variant. I do not have a fixed running pattern since I am a doctor, so my daily driving can range anywhere from 10 to 100 km per day. I was also thinking about waiting for MG Motor to launch a plug-in hybrid. Considering my usage pattern and priorities, what would be the best option for me?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Considering your priorities, the Kia Seltos in diesel guise would be the better choice. It is compact for the city but also has good space on the inside. The quality of the interior is very good, and the 1.5-litre diesel engine is tried and tested. It has a good amount of punch and response, and should you opt for the manual version, the clutch is light and convenient in traffic. The Seltos also has a better after-sales and service network, and Kia's are known to be quite reliable too. The Mahindra XUV7XO is also a good choice, but if you don't need an extra row of seats, it is a bit more cumbersome than the Seltos. Also, within your budget, you will only get the entry-level version of the 7XO, whereas the Seltos on HTK trim gets a decent equipment list.

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Posted on: 1 Feb 2026