Mumbai

•14w

I would like to buy a bigger SUV and have shortlisted a few petrol models. My budget is a constraint, but performance is my top priority. The options I am considering are the MG Hector, Tata Harrier, Tata Safari, Hyundai Alcazar and Mahindra XUV 7XO and Mahindra Scorpio N. Which one would suit me better?

•14w

If performance is your biggest priority and you still want a large family SUV without stretching the budget too far, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic is the one we would pick. Its 2.0 turbo petrol feels the strongest and most effortless in this group, whether you are overtaking on the highway or driving with a full load of passengers. The automatic gearbox also suits the engine well and makes daily driving much easier, while the cabin itself feels spacious, comfortable and well-equipped. Even in lower or mid variants, you still get the same strong engine, which helps keep costs under control.

The Hyundai Alcazar 1.5 turbo petrol DCT is the more polished and city-friendly alternative. It feels lighter to drive, and refinement is excellent, but the DCT gearbox is not always the smoothest at crawling city speeds and can feel slightly jerky in stop-and-go traffic. It also does not have the same effortless punch or road presence as the Mahindra when fully loaded. The MG Hector petrol is spacious and comfortable, but performance is nowhere close to the Mahindra, and despite having a smaller engine, fuel efficiency is not one of its strengths either.

The Tata Harrier and Tata Safari are now available with Tata’s newer 1.5 turbo petrol engine, but performance is adequate. It still does not feel as effortless or as strong as the Mahindra’s larger 2.0 turbo petrol, especially in a full-size SUV application. The Mahindra Scorpio-N petrol is also very powerful and rugged, but compared to the XUV 7XO, it feels less polished and more old school in everyday driving. The Mahindra Scorpio-N price starts at Rs. 13.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.51 Lakh

Hyundai

Alcazar

from ₹17.12 Lakh

Tata

Harrier

from ₹15.35 Lakh

Tata

Safari

from ₹15.82 Lakh

Mahindra

Scorpio N

from ₹16.16 Lakh

•13w

What will be more futuristic choice between Mahindra 7XO or Mahindra XEV 9S?

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•4d

I currently drive a Jeep Compass Diesel 4x2 and want to change my vehicle within a budget of Rs. 25-30 lakh. My annual running is around 10,000 km, with most of my driving being in the city and 4-5 highway trips a year. Please suggest whether I should go for an EV, petrol or diesel. I have shortlisted the following models: Mahindra XUV 7XO, Mahindra XEV 9e, Toyota Innova Hycross, and Kia Seltos Or is there any other option I should consider? Please suggest.

•21m

Assuming that you can arrange for home charging, given that you've shortlisted the Mahindra XEV 9E, it is the one to go for. It packs in strong performance, this Mahindra car is comfortable, and despite its size, it is surprisingly easy to drive. With home charging, your running costs will be very low. And finally, with a real-world range of 450-500km, as well as its ultra fast charging capability, the XEV 9E is a good choice for those occasional highway drives too.If you're keen on getting a petrol-automatic, the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Kia Seltos are options you must certainly consider.

I do a lot of highway driving and need a balance of power and comfort. I am unable to decide within a budget range of Rs. 30-35 lakh. However, I am tempted to pick up a second-hand Toyota Fortuner. What are the available options?

•22h

For heavy highway use with a budget of Rs 30-35 lakh, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the best fit. It offers strong performance, excellent ride comfort and a very stable high-speed touring experience, which is exactly what you need for long highway runs. The diesel engine is powerful and efficient, and the car feels planted and confidence-inspiring at speed. It also offers a good balance of features and safety for the price.The Toyota Fortuner is a great car, but at Rs 30-35 lakh you are looking at a used car that is already a few years old. The Fortuner’s biggest strength is its reliability and ruggedness, but it is not as refined or as comfortable as the XUV 7XO on long highway drives. The ride is firm, the cabin is not as modern, and you are paying a premium for the Toyota badge and reliability rather than getting the best ownership experience for your money.If you want something more premium, the Skoda Kodiaq is worth considering. It is a very comfortable and refined highway car with a strong petrol engine and a premium cabin, but it exceeds budget and does not offer the same diesel efficiency as the XUV 7XO.Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel is the best balance of power, comfort and value for your budget. It is a new car with a full warranty, excellent highway manners and a very strong ownership proposition.

I am planning to replace my 8-year old Harrier and would like to buy a proper 5-seater car in which 5 adults can be comfortably seated. I have considered Innova HyCross, XUV 7XO and Kodiaq. However, to me the interior of Innova felt dull and Kodiaq won't be able to seat 5 adults. I am now left with XUV 7XO. Apart from seating for 5 adults, I am also considering the power of the engine. The car should be fun to drive but it should not be a big car as bigger cars become difficult to handle within the city. Should I consider any other options besides XUV 7XO. I have also heard about after-sales issues with Mahindra? Thanks in advance.

•1d

The XUV 7XO is a very good choice for your requirements. It is one of the few cars in this price range that can genuinely seat five adults comfortably, thanks to its wide cabin and supportive seats. It also has strong engines, both petrol and diesel, and is genuinely fun to drive for a large SUV. Mahindra's after-sales experience is generally good, but it depends on the dealership and location, so it is worth checking the reputation of your local dealer before committing.The HyCross is still worth considering despite the dull interior. It is the most comfortable and reliable long-term ownership proposition in this segment, and the hybrid powertrain is smooth, efficient and effortless to drive. The interior may not feel as premium, but the overall ownership experience is hard to beat.The Kodiaq is a great car to drive and feels very premium, but it is not as wide as the XUV 7XO and is not the best choice if seating five adults comfortably is a priority.Overall, the XUV 7XO is the best fit for your requirements, but the HyCross is worth considering depending on your priorities.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Toyota Innova HyCross

Skoda Kodiaq

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•4d

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•3d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

Skoda Kylaq

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•6d

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•4d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•3d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

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