Mumbai

Aneej Mathew

•1d

My budget is around Rs. 35 lakh. Please help me choose a car that offers good ride comfort and is capable of handling moderate off-road conditions at places such as Tawang, Ladakh, and Spiti Valley. We are a family of five, so the vehicle should be suitable for long-drives. Which car would be the most suitable choice for these requirements?

Autocar India

•12m

Pick the Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L 2.2D AT 4x4, which falls comfortably in your budget. For Tawang, Ladakh and Spiti, its proper 4x4 with low range, strong chassis and big ground clearance give you the safety net you want when roads vanish or it snows. As a family of five you can treat it as a spacious 5-seater, and carry all your luggage. It is comfy enough for long drives, sits you high, and Mahindra service is easy to find in smaller towns on these routes.

That said, it is not as easy as a monocoque-chassis SUV to manoeuvre in the city, the ride is quite bumpy, and mileage is not great for a diesel. If you prefer a smoother, more refined drive and better economy, the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L 2.2D AT AWD is another option. Though not as capable as a Thar and with much less ground clearance, it can still manage rough roads reasonably well and pull you out of a slippery situation. For the mountain trips you named though, the Thar Roxx's toughness makes it the safer bet within your budget.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹14.66 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.14 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

Abhishek Dixit

•1d

Which is the best SUV for highway driving? My budget is Rs 35 lakh.

Autocar India

•5h

Our first recommendation would be the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. It offers strong performance, excellent highway stability, a premium cabin, ADAS features and feels effortless at high speeds. The diesel engine offers ample performance for overtakes, the ride quality is comfortable over long distances, and it is one of the best all-around highway cruisers you can buy at this price point. It also feels genuinely premium inside and is packed with features, making long journeys more enjoyable.The second option would be the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid. If outright comfort, practicality and fuel efficiency are your priorities, it is hard to beat. The hybrid system is exceptionally efficient on long trips and the cabin is incredibly comfortable for both drivers and passengers. However, if you specifically want an SUV driving experience and stronger performance, the XUV 7XO has the edge.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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Kaushal

•1d

I want to buy a car for a family of six with the best possible safety rating. Ground clearance should be close to 200 mm. My budget is Rs 23 lakh. Kindly suggest.

Autocar India

•6h

Our first recommendation would be the Tata Safari. It has a 5-star safety rating, offers one of the most comfortable third rows in the segment and, thanks to its sliding second row, is much more accommodating for six adults than many rivals. It also has ground clearance close to your requirement and feels planted, comfortable and reassuring on long highway journeys.The second option would be the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It also has a 5-star safety rating and, as an overall product, is a notch above the Safari in terms of interior quality, engine and gearbox options, technology and driving experience. However, the third row is one of the biggest drawbacks of the 7XO. The second row cannot be slid forward to create additional space, which means the third row is best suited to children or shorter journeys. That is why, for a family of six that will regularly use all the seats, the Safari gets the edge.

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Ramananda Kumar Rayudu

•6h

I am planning to buy the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T Automatic and would like to keep it for the next 10 years. However, I am confused between the petrol automatic and diesel automatic variants. My annual running will be around 6,000-8,000 km, with an occasional long highway trip once every three months. Considering my usage pattern, especially the potential DPF-related concerns with a diesel vehicle, which variant would you recommend?

Autocar India

•1h

For your usage, we would recommend the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T petrol automatic without much hesitation. Your yearly running is relatively low for a diesel to make financial sense. More importantly, while your occasional highway trips every three months will help, the usage pattern still does not naturally favour a diesel. Modern diesels are happiest when they are regularly driven for longer distances, and while you may never face a DPF issue, you are also not really using the diesel in the way that maximizes its advantages.The petrol automatic will be smoother for everyday use, quieter, easier to live with and better suited to a 10 year ownership horizon. The fuel efficiency will be lower than the diesel, but at your annual running, the difference in fuel cost is unlikely to offset the higher purchase price and the potential complexity of diesel ownership.

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Vihaan Kumar

•1w

Dear Auto Experts, I need a merciless, data-backed verdict to complete my garage. Around 3 months ago, I sold my Toyota Fortuner Legender 4x2 (which was just 2 years and 9 months old) because I grew highly frustrated with its hard steering and lack of modern tech features, specifically ADAS. To replace it, I purchased a Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L Diesel Automatic 4x2 a month ago. However, I only plan to drive it 2 days a week. Additionally, my wife purchased a Mahindra Thar Roxx MX1 Manual last year in November. I am now looking to finance another vehicle via an auto loan, with a budget of Rs. 18 Lakh to Rs. 28 Lakh. This new vehicle will be used for rough-and-tough regular city driving 3 to 4 days a week in heavy traffic. It will also serve as the primary vehicle for occasional long highway trips with my family. My Strict Requirements include: Status & Road Presence: This is non-negotiable. Even though it is my 3-to-4-day city vehicle, it must command road respect and serve as a status symbol, while offering the light steering and ADAS tech my Fortuner lacked. Fuel & Transmission: Diesel Automatic is preferred, but I am very open to considering Strong Hybrids (especially the upcoming generation of high-efficiency models). I can manage DPF requirements without issue if going with diesel. Ownership Cycle: I do not hold onto cars for long; my replacement cycle is strictly 3 to 4 years. End Goal: Exceptionally high resale value. I need a vehicle that second-hand dealers can easily flip to out-of-state buyers for a premium when I am ready to sell, clear the loan, and upgrade. Dealbreakers: Absolutely no to Toyota HyCross (my family finds it bulky, dated, and associated with the taxi segment). No Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder (I strictly avoid the Maruti-shared build quality). No grey or silver exterior colors. My Shortlist (That I can buy now): Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT: It solves the steering and ADAS issues perfectly and commands massive road respect. However, considering I just bought a Thar Roxx AX7L and my wife owns a Thar Roxx MX1, do you think that buying a third Mahindra vehicle for the family will be a logical and financially sound move? Kia Seltos GTX / X-Line Diesel AT (New 2026 K3 Platform): It offers the modern platform and tech that I need, but does a mid-size SUV command elite resale value and "status symbol" respect? (Note: I am highly hesitant about this option, as I have seen a lot of cons and complaints regarding it on YouTube ownership reviews). Hyundai Venue HX10 Diesel AT (2026): Fits easily at the bottom of the budget, but it likely lacks the sheer road presence, status factor, and highway dominance I need compared to larger SUVs. Or Should I Wait For Upcoming Hybrids/Updates (2026-2027): Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Rumored to arrive in India in late 2026. Is it worth waiting for and potentially stretching my budget, or will it be overpriced?) Upcoming K3 Platform Hyundai Creta Strong Hybrid. Next-Gen Toyota Fortuner (ADAS / Mild Hybrid) or Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. Mahindra Vision S. Given my strict 3-4 year ownership cycle, the demand for top-tier resale value and road respect, the fact that I will be financing this purchase, and the specific dual-use case (rough regular city driving + occasional family highway cruiser), which exact car and variant should I finalize today? Or does waiting make actual financial sense for my cycle? Thank you for your definitive and merciless verdict. Vihaan Kumar

Autocar India

•6d

The XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT is the cleanest fit for your requirement today, and frankly, none of the other current options line up as well with the exact brief you have laid out.The fact that you already own two Mahindra cars is not necessarily a negative from a financial point of view either, because right now Mahindra SUVs have some of the strongest demand and resale momentum in the market. In fact, from a resale perspective over a 3 to 4 year ownership cycle, the 7XO is probably the safest bet in your shortlist. It also solves the exact frustrations you had with the Fortuner by offering much lighter controls, modern ADAS tech and a far more feature rich experience while still maintaining proper SUV presence.The new Seltos diesel AT is a very polished product and will likely feel more premium inside, but you have already identified the key issue yourself. It still feels like a size smaller in terms of sheer road presence and overall “status factor” compared to something like the 7XO.The Venue diesel AT should not even be in this discussion. It may be sensible, but it does not deliver the sense of occasion, size or highway authority you are clearly looking for.As for waiting, the upcoming Creta and Seltos strong hybrids expected next year will make sense from an efficiency perspective, but they will still fundamentally remain mid size SUVs. The RAV4 Hybrid is not even a confirmed India launch yet, and even if Toyota does bring it here, expect it to be priced aggressively high because it will almost certainly come in as a CKD or CBU initially. By the time it lands on road, it could sit far beyond the sweet spot you are targeting today.So the verdict is simple: buy the XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT now. It is the one that best balances presence, tech, ease of use and resale value over your intended ownership cycle.

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