Hi, I am planning to buy the new Tata Safari Petrol AX+, but I am concerned about the engine performance on highways and during hill driving, as we have a second home in the hills and travel there every two months. We need a spacious car within a 25 lakh budget, which is why we chose the Safari. I am also concerned about its overtaking ability on highways. I am not considering the Mahindra 7XO due to its recessed door handles. Please advise.

Autocar India

•26m

The Tata Safari petrol is a very good choice for your needs. During our first drive, we found its performance to be quite effortless despite the modest 1.5-litre displacement. We recorded a 0-100kph time of just 10.5 seconds, which is very respectable for a vehicle of this size. The engine has strong low-down grunt, which helps it pick up speed effortlessly, and it felt adequate even with six people on board. On the expressway, it maintained high speeds with ease and made quick overtakes when required. We haven’t yet driven it in the hills, but all evidence suggests it should be just fine.

If performance is still a concern, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good alternative. The best way to address your concerns is to take an extended highway test drive with at least five passengers on board. Assess whether its overtaking performance feels adequate for your needs and, if possible, find a hill to do a gradient test.

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Tata

Safari

from ₹15.71 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.14 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Harshit Gupta

•21h

Hi, I am looking for a new car in NCR, and my monthly running is 1,000-1,500km. My budget is around ₹18-20 lakh with a BH number. I am confused about which car I should go for. My personal inclination is towards the Scorpio N diesel manual Z8 Select. Will it be a good choice?

Autocar India

•4h

Go for the Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 Select (Z8 S) diesel manual. For your 18-20 lakh budget and 1,000-1,500 km/month in NCR, it offers robust highway performance, space, and tough suspension.Your monthly running suits a torquey diesel engine, which feels relaxed on longer NCR runs and weekend trips. The Z8 S fits your budget while giving you the core comfort and safety kit without stretching to higher trims. Since you’re in NCR, remember that diesel cars are restricted to 10 years of use there. If you plan to keep it 8-10 years, this aligns well.The one thing you give up is an easy city commute. The clutch can feel heavier in stop‑go NCR traffic, which may tire your left leg on 45-60 minute crawls.If you plan to keep the car beyond 10 years in NCR, consider the Mahindra XUV 7X0 AX5 petrol automatic instead, for long-term compliance and lighter city driving.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Sidhant Sagar

•1d

I am planning to purchase the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7. My daily driving is around 30 km in the city (15 km each way) with almost no traffic, along with an additional 200 km of highway driving per month. Should I opt for the diesel manual variant? I am concerned about potential DPF regeneration issues.

Autocar India

•18h

For your usage, the Mahindra XUV7X0 AX7 diesel manual does make sense, and your concern about DPF regeneration is understandable, but not a major issue in your case. Your daily 30 km runs with low traffic allow the engine to operate at steady speeds for long enough to support passive regeneration, and the additional 200 km highway drive every month further helps keep the system healthy.Where the diesel really suits your usage is in its strong low-end torque, which will feel effortless, especially when the car is loaded with passengers or luggage on highway trips. It also makes sense from an efficiency point of view, given your monthly running.So overall, diesel is a safe and suitable choice for your usage pattern, and you should not worry too much about DPF issues. However, if your driving pattern ever shifts to very short, slow city runs, then a petrol option would be the simpler alternative.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Marisetty Venkata VIdyadhar

•5d

I own a Ford EcoSport Titanium diesel manual transmission 2015 model. I would like to upgrade to a new automatic petrol car. Please suggest a car that has very good build quality and has a 5-star safety rating. I stay in Hyderabad and need to go through bumper-to-bumper traffic. I have heard of DCT/DSG heating problems in heavy traffic, so I am considering a torque converter, CVT, or wet-clutch DCT. I am not sure if this is the correct decision, but I need a good, durable, and efficient automatic transmission that is smooth in slow-moving traffic. My usage is 70% city and 30% highway, so highway performance, stability, and good handling are also important. I am also looking for a car I can keep for 10-15 years, so durability and relevant features are important. I am not looking for very high-end tech, but I do want useful safety and comfort features. I also considered a 7 seater so that I can use the third row for luggage room, or occasionally, when my family members grow after a kid's marriage, maybe we would use the third row seating for a city outing. However, I am also fond of good boot space. So, not able to decide here. My budget is 25 lakh. Can you please suggest a car that is strong, safe, robust, and reliable in the above budget?

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the updated Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the new 8-speed automatic. It has a five-star crash rating, a robust build, and a smooth 8-speed torque-converter automatic, along with good stability and handling for your 70:30 city–highway mix.Your bumper-to-bumper driving will benefit from the torque-converter’s low-speed smoothness, avoiding the DCT/DSG heat concerns you mentioned. It is a five-star safety-rated car with six airbags, ESC and ISOFIX mounts for long-term peace of mind. Highway stability is confident at triple-digit speeds, while 188mm of ground clearance and a 385-litre boot keep it practical. For 10-15 years of ownership, the 1.0 TSI engine is tried and tested, and the automatic is a safer bet than dual-clutch units. Do opt for the maximum extended warranty available.The one thing you give up is advanced driver assistance. The Kushaq doesn’t offer ADAS features like adaptive cruise control or lane-keep assist, so keep that in mind.If you genuinely need a third row, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO instead. It is also a five-star safety-rated vehicle and uses a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic. However, fuel efficiency from the petrol engine in the city will be lower, and its larger size means it is not as easy to drive in traffic.During the test drive, crawl at 5-10kph with the AC on to judge smoothness from the gearbox, and also do an 80-100kph highway run.

Skoda Kushaq

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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