I am looking for a diesel automatic car for long-distance driving. My daily running is around 230 km, so I need something with good highway stability, reliability, and a proven track record. Kindly suggest which car would be the best fit for my requirements.

autocar.india

•1h

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO 2.0 petrol. Coming from a Seltos 1.5 petrol and assuming your usage remains about 11,000km a year, the smooth and strong 2.0 turbo petrol engine suits your usage. While Mahindra's 2.2-litre diesel is good too, the added costs and maintenance requirements don't seem worthwhile given how much you are driving. The XUV 7XO also packs the features you’re used to and more at this price - sunroof, 6 airbags, big screens, 360 camera, connected tech, and in higher trims, you get ADAS and ventilated seats, though these will push the limits of your budget.Ride comfort and space are a clear upgrade too, so long highway drives will feel comfier than in your Seltos. The one thing to be ready for is fuel economy - the 2.0 turbo will drink more than your 1.5, especially in the city. If your Rs 25 lakh budget is strict, pick a mid variant of the petrol automatic to fulfill it, but if you can stretch it by a few lakhs, the higher variants are worth it for the features.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•21h

Of your shortlist, it comes down to the Honda Elevate, Maruti Suzuki Victoris/Grand Vitara, or Toyota Hyryder, and finally the Kia Seltos.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is simply not practical enough for the money, and its ride isn't suitable for touring. The Sierra's 1.5 NA petrol is its weakest engine, and the diesel is expensive, and between the Creta and Seltos, we'd pick the newer Seltos as it is more modern, larger and more spacious. And though we would recommend using the official service outlets, if you are interested in servicing the vehicle yourself, the naturally aspirated petrol manual is the best bet. The good news is that all these cars will fall comfortably within your budget, too.The Maruti and Toyota SUVs are superbly reliable and incredibly efficient, though rear-seat space is not as good as the others. The power figure is not great either, and though sufficient in the city, for your highway touring use, you might feel it wanting slightly.The Kia Seltos' 1.5-litre petrol engine produces slightly more power, but the vehicle is also heavier, so it does not feel dramatically quicker on the highway. It is larger than the others, though, offering noticeably more cabin space, better interior quality and a stronger feature list. While it costs roughly Rs 1.5 lakh more in higher trims, you do get more for your money.In terms of outright value, though, the Honda Elevate strikes the best balance. It is more spacious than the Maruti/Toyota, cheaper than the Seltos, and has the most powerful engine, which is also fuel-efficient and legendarily reliable. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC remains tractable at low speeds as well as strong enough on the highway. It is also backed by solid ride and handling dynamics. Downsides are that refinement isn't as good as the others, and even in top-spec guise, the feature set is not as good, though you do get the essentials. We would recommend the Honda over the others for your needs.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•2d

The Thar Roxx is a good choice if you are prioritising road presence. It has strong engines, good performance and is well equipped. It is also reasonably comfortable for a ladder-frame SUV. However, it cannot match the XUV 7XO in terms of passenger comfort and ride quality.Alternatively, you could consider the Tata Safari or the Harrier if you do not need seven seats. They ride well on bad roads, have comfortable cabins, and offer the broad-shouldered stance you are after. The 2.0-litre diesel has strong torque for quick highway overtakes and hill driving, and the automatic makes traffic easy to deal with.The Thar Roxx looks great and is brilliant off-road, but in daily use, the ride is busier, the rear seat is tighter, and the boot is smaller.If you want a petrol SUV with a more tech-heavy feel, the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol automatic is also a solid choice within your budget, but it will not have the same road presence as the Harrier or the Roxx.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Kia Seltos

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO