Hello. We are looking for a new 7-seater for our family that will mainly be driven by my 65-year-old father. The monthly running will be 800-1000 km, mostly city driving. We want comfort, good performance, decent mileage, and easy-to-use controls rather than too many tech features. Our budget is ₹25 lakh. We had shortlisted the XUV 7XO and XEV 9S, but all the controls on the screen are difficult to use even for me. Now we are confused between the Safari diesel and petrol variants regarding mileage, maintenance cost, and more. Could you please suggest other options and help clear our doubts?

Autocar India

•1d

The Tata Safari Adventure X Plus Automatic Diesel is a good alternative if the waiting period for the XUV 7XO is proving too long.The Safari's biggest strengths are its comfortable ride, spacious cabin and excellent second-row seating. It is a very capable long-distance cruiser and feels premium. The diesel automatic powertrain is well suited to highway use and delivers relaxed performance for family touring.That said, the XUV 7XO still has the edge as an overall package. Its diesel engine feels stronger and more refined, the automatic gearbox is better calibrated, and it offers a more modern feature set in comparable variants. It is also the more engaging SUV to drive.If immediate delivery is important, the Safari is not a compromise that will leave you disappointed. In fact, buyers who prioritize rear-seat comfort and long-distance travel may even prefer it to the Mahindra car.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1d

Buy the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid automatic. It is the only other bigger 3-row with space that will feel like a real step up from your Taigun. For a family of five, it is superb - wide, airy, comfy second row, and the hybrid makes city driving smooth and quiet while keeping running costs low. Toyota service, parts availability, and resale are about the best you can get at this price, and the cabin fit and panel consistency are better than those of the 7XO you sampled.The catch is the price and waiting period. The sweet-spot VX (O) and ZX trims push beyond Rs 30 lakh on road, and waiting periods can be long, so keep that in mind. Also, it will not feel as sharp to drive as your Taigun 1.5 TSI.If that's too far out of budget, two other options you can consider are the Hyundai Alcazar petrol or the Kia Carens Clavis EV. The Hyundai gets you the SUV body style, a punchy petrol-DCT combo, and comfy seating for 5 with the option of two smaller seats in the third row. The Clavis EV, meanwhile, may have a less desirable MPV shape, but it actually has more interior space and an equally well put-together cabin. Both Hyundai and Kia offer an excellent after-sales experience.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Volkswagen Taigun

Hyundai Alcazar

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Autocar India

•2h

Considering you bought the car for Rs. 8.5 lakh and have added another 20,000km to the odometer, a realistic selling price today would be slightly below what you paid for it, assuming the car remains in excellent condition.One reason for this is that resale values of older used cars have softened in recent years, partly because lower GST rates and aggressive discounts on new cars have narrowed the price gap between new and used vehicles. As a result, buyers today are less willing to pay a premium for older used cars than they were a few years ago.Unless the fuel bills are becoming a major concern, it would make sense to continue using the Elantra for a while longer. It is already through its steepest depreciation phase, remains a comfortable long-distance car and appears to be in good mechanical condition.If you're considering a move to a midsize EV, it may be worth waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, which is expected to be unveiled on June 30. It has the potential to be one of the most compelling options in the segment and could be worth evaluating before making a final decision.

Tata Sierra EV