Hey, team Autocar. I am 27 years old and currently own a Nexon petrol manual as my practical car and a Jimny manual as my fun car. I am now looking to buy a third car and am confused between the Harrier petrol manual and the Virtus GT manual. I take two road trips every year (approximately 5000 km each), one with my dad and another with my family of four. I want something bigger and more engaging for highway drives. My budget is around ₹35 lakh. Please help me choose.

Autocar India

•10w

The Tata Harrier petrol with the new 170hp 1.5 turbo-petrol is quite quick and enjoyable to drive. The 6-speed manual gives the pleasure and engagement only a manual can give, so this is a good option.

However, since you already have two SUVs, you might want to consider a sedan whose dynamics, thanks to a lower centre of gravity, are far superior to those of an SUV. In that case, the Volkswagen Virtus GT is a great choice, offering fantastic performance, excellent handling, and safety. It is also lighter and more agile than the Harrier and more engaging to drive. Priced well within your budget, you will have money left over to spend on accessories.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Harrier

from ₹14.98 Lakh

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.23 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

Shivathmaja PS

•14h

I am looking to buy a car for my parents, who do not drive, so it will mostly be chauffeur-driven. My main priority is rear seat comfort. We are upgrading from a 2011 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire. The car will mainly be used for highways and long trips, with minimal city usage. However, I would prefer an automatic transmission in case I need to use it occasionally in the city (Bengaluru). Before starting test drives, I wanted your suggestions on some suitable vehicles. Based on my initial research, I have shortlisted the following options: Honda City ZX CVT Kia Seltos HTX iVT Honda Elevate ZX CVT Škoda Slavia 1.5L Sportline DSG or 1.0 Monte Carlo AT Volkswagen Virtus Topline AT My budget is around ₹20–21 lakh. Which option would you recommend, especially considering rear seat comfort and highway usability?

Autocar India

•8h

Go for the Honda City ZX CVT. For chauffeur‑driven parents, it offers the comfiest rear bench, ample legroom, and a smooth CVT for Bengaluru traffic within your ₹20-21 lakh budget.Rear comfort is its strength: the 2,600 mm wheelbase helps knee-room, the rear seat is well-cushioned with good thigh support, and the ride is tuned soft for long trips. The 506‑litre boot easily swallows luggage for highway runs. ZX adds 6 airbags and ADAS with adaptive cruise control, useful on long highways. The CVT’s smooth creep and no shift‑shock make occasional city use easy. Versus your shortlist, Elevate’s rear bench feels upright, while Slavia/Virtus ride firmer and are more driver‑centric for back‑seat comfort.The one thing you give up is ground clearance in comparison to the Elevate. Also, if getting in and out is a concern, the Elevate's high-set seats would make it easier. A test drive should sort that out. For now, we recommend the City for its hassle-free ownership experience, reliability and most of all, a refined and comfortable cabin.

Nikhil

I currently own a 2021 Hyundai Venue (iMT) Petrol. I usually travel to my hometown in Punjab once a month, and the rest of the time, I drive within the city. I am looking to buy an SUV with good aesthetics and build quality; the first car that comes to mind is the Tata Harrier. I was eagerly waiting for the petrol variant, and this year, that wish finally came true. I am planning to purchase the Fearless+ variant in white. However, considering Tata's reputation for manufacturing defects and resale value, should I stick with my choice, or would you suggest a better option, like a Mahindra XUV700? My priority is safety, looks, average maintenance cost and mileage should fall between 12-18kmpl (which is usually what every car offers right now). Thanks in advance

Autocar India

•3d

If you have your heart set on the Tata Harrier, you should go for it. It has great road presence, you like the aesthetics of it, and it feels very tough, thanks to its Land Rover-sourced underpinnings. The new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is a winner too, managing to be both powerful and smooth at the same time. If you're after the automatic variant, it's a very smooth gearbox too, if not a particularly sporty one. Tata's reliability has improved in recent years, but the cars aren't free from issues, particularly with the electronics.That said, Mahindra is not too far behind in this regard. It's luck of the draw, and we don't think it's worth putting off the purchase just for that if you otherwise have your eye on it. As for the mileage, it's unlikely to get anywhere near 12-18kpl (the Mahindra is even further off), as it is a heavy SUV with a turbocharged petrol engine, but driven carefully, you could get into the low double digits.

Tata Harrier

Amit Khanna

•15h

I am confused between the Mahindra XUV700 AX7T automatic and the Mahindra XEV 9S Pack 2 (above 70 kWh). My usage is mostly in the city with occasional long trips.

Autocar India

•8h

If you have home charging available, the Mahindra XEV 9e Pack 2 makes a lot of sense. Electric cars are extremely smooth in city traffic, offer instant torque and have much lower running costs compared to petrol SUVs.However, if home charging is not easily available and you prefer the convenience of quick refuelling for occasional long trips, the Mahindra XUV 7XO automatic is the safer and simpler choice. It removes the need to plan charging stops and will feel more convenient for highway travel.Choose the XEV 9e if you have home charging and want lower running costs with a smoother city drive. Choose the XUV 7XO automatic if you want maximum convenience for long trips without worrying about charging.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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