Autocar India
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Nasir Ali

•8w

I have been driving a XUV700 Petrol AT, and it has done around 52,000 Km. I have been looking at EV options, and the only thing that appears to make sense is the XEV 9S. Does it make sense to go for a car with the same top hat, or should I wait for other better options? My running is 1200 km per month, so not sure it makes financial sense to take the depreciation hit.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•7w
As a long-time XUV700 owner, you’re right that the Mahindra XEV 9S is the most natural upgrade. It will feel familiar, but also a clear step up. The basic body shape and seating layout are similar, but the 9S’s dedicated EV platform, triple-screen dashboard, far richer feature list (ventilated seats, boss mode, middle-seat adjustability) and quieter, smoother powertrain make it feel like a more premium, next-generation version of what you already like. The sliding middle row also gives you the flexibility you don’t get in the XUV700, especially if you often travel with family.
However, at 1,200 km a month, the fuel saving versus your existing petrol AT won’t fully compensate for the immediate depreciation hit of selling a 52,000 km XUV700 and buying a new EV. At least not in the short term. So switching purely for financial sense is difficult to justify.
We would look at it like this: if you want the refinement, tech, and driving experience of an electric car now and are okay with the depreciation as the price of that upgrade, the XEV 9S is a very logical move. If you’re on the fence and primarily worried about money, it’s perfectly sensible to hold on to the XUV700 a bit longer and revisit an EV when the next wave of models arrives.
Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9S

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More questions on similar cars

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Mohammed

•1w

My daily travel is around 300 km, mostly on highways. Which 7-seater EV would be the better choice for my usage?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4d

Go for the Mahindra XEV 9S 79kWh. It comfortably clears a 300km highway run on a single charge in real-world use and, when you do need a top-up, the fast charging is quick enough to add sufficient range during a coffee stop. In our real-world testing, we recorded a highway range of 477km on a single charge, though this will drop noticeably with a full load.Also note that while it seats seven, the third row is tight for adults, and boot space is very limited with all rows up. Alternatively, you can consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV, which has a better third row, but its 51.4kWh battery will only deliver about 345km of highway range as per our real-world tests.Whichever you choose, map out the public fast chargers on your route at least once so you are not hunting for a plug at the wrong time.

VehicleMahindra XEV 9S
VehicleKia Carens Clavis EV
VA

Varun

•1d

I want to buy a family SUV, preferably diesel/ hybrid. I have a daily run of 150-200 km. Currently, I have a diesel Altroz. Best option for me at a 20 lakh budget. And is the Kia Seltos GTX(O) version coming any time soon?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•11h

With a daily running of 150-200km, a strong hybrid makes the most sense. Within your budget, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid or the Toyota Hyryder Strong Hybrid would be the top recommendations.Both deliver excellent real-world fuel efficiency, often exceeding 20kpl even in city conditions, while offering the convenience of a petrol powertrain and lower maintenance concerns compared to modern diesels. For high-mileage users, the fuel savings can be substantial over time.While the diesel Kia Seltos remains a capable SUV, modern diesels are not quite as efficient as they once were due to stricter emissions equipment. This is especially true in automatic variants, where the torque converter gearbox further reduces the efficiency advantage over hybrids.As for the Seltos GTX(O), there is currently no confirmation of a new GTX(O) variant arriving in the immediate future.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
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VehicleKia Seltos
PA

Prasheel Aradhya

•1w

Is the New Seltos safe as per Global NCAP?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•18h

Global NCAP hasn't crash tested the new Seltos yet, but Bharat NCAP has, and the 2026 Kia Seltos has secured a 5-star safety rating. It scored 31.70 points out of 32 and 45 points out of 49 in adult and child occupant protection tests, respectively, which is an impressive feat.

VehicleKia Seltos

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Popular discussions right now

BA

Balaji

•6d

I am looking to buy a 6/7-seater EV. My primary usage will be as a 4-seater, with occasional 6-seater use. I will mainly drive it in the city for my daily office commute and undertake long-distance trips of around 500 km once every two months. I have a solar setup at home and can charge the vehicle comfortably. My budget is Rs 30-40 lakh, although I can stretch it slightly if required.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•5d

You should go for the Mahindra XEV 9S. It's a proper three-row EV, and it fits your use case perfectly. With home solar charging, your running costs are very low, and the smooth, quiet drive is just right for city runs as a 4-seater. When you do need six or seven seats, the third row is reasonably spacious, and for your 500 km trip every couple of months, you’ll need just one quick top-up at a highway charger.Do note that with all three rows up, boot space is tight, so your highway trips will require some planning.Alternatively, consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It isn't as feature-rich and doesn't have as much range as the XEV 9S, but its third row is more comfortable for adults.

VehicleMahindra XEV 9S
VehicleKia Carens Clavis EV
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Abhishek Das

•3d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car and am confused between the Honda Amaze ZX CVT and the Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT. My usage will be around 90% city driving, primarily for office commuting between Dwarka, Delhi and my office near IFFCO Chowk, Gurugram (approximately 25 km one way). However, I will not be driving daily, as I often use the Metro as well. The car will also be driven by my 69-year-old father, so ease of driving, comfort, visibility, ingress/egress, and reliability are important considerations. Our previous car was an Alto K10 Manual, so this will be our first automatic car and a significant upgrade. Considering my usage pattern, family profile and the fact that we intend to keep the car for a long period for around 10 years, which of these two would you recommend?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Based on your requirement, we would recommend the Honda Amaze ZX CVT over the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The reason is that your priorities are not outright performance or driving excitement. You are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its life in city traffic, will also be driven by your 69-year-old father, and is expected to stay with the family for around 10 years. In that context, Amaze's strengths line up perfectly with your requirements. The CVT is smoother than the Kylaq's torque converter automatic in stop-and-go traffic, visibility is excellent, the car is easy to place on the road, ingress and egress are straightforward, and Honda's long-term reliability record is hard to fault. Coming from an Alto K10, it will already feel like a substantial upgrade in comfort, refinement and features.The Kylaq Signature Plus AT is the more desirable car from an enthusiast's perspective. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol has more punch, the higher seating position is nice, and the overall package feels more substantial. However, it is also a larger vehicle to manoeuvre, and while the automatic is good, it is not quite as seamless in everyday traffic as Honda's CVT.Another point in Amaze's favour is that the ZX variant gets Honda Sensing ADAS, which adds useful safety features without making the car complicated to operate. Since your father will also be driving it, that extra layer of safety is a nice bonus.

VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
AM

Anshuman Mishra

•1w

I am planning to buy an automatic car for my family and am confused between the Kia Sonet and the Skoda Kylaq. Could you please advise which one would be the better choice and explain the pros and cons of each?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•6d

Skoda Kylaq is the better family automatic, mainly because it gives you a bit more cabin and boot space and a calmer ride over bad roads. It feels more secure at highway speeds with a full load, and its turbo engine with the automatic pulls cleanly, so hills and quick overtakes are easy even with the AC on. The petrol Kylaq automatic uses a torque convertor gearbox which is also smoother than the dual clutch unit on the Sonet so it would fare better in city traffic. Kia Sonet makes sense if you want more features and need Kia’s service reach which is wider. For weekend trips with four on board it will do the job too, but rear seat width and long-journey comfort are not its strong points and within a year it will get a major update, thus buying it now would not be ideal.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleKia Sonet

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Posted on: 13 Apr 2026