Currently driving a Honda City and love its comfort, but now my family is growing and I need more space. I’m considering upgrading to a 7-seater SUV like the Tata Safari or the Mahindra XUV700. After the GST cut, how much does the Safari price really reduce? Will it be closer to my 18 lakh budget, or will I still be required to stretch my budget? I want to decide before the festive season deals start.

Autocar India

•1h

Between the Mahindra XUV 7XO and the Jeep Compass, the XUV 7XO makes more sense overall. It is a larger SUV with a more spacious cabin and will feel like a proper upgrade from your Figo in terms of comfort and practicality. If effortless performance is important to you, the XUV 7XO is the easier choice. Despite its size, the diesel engine delivers strong and relaxed performance, and it is also more refined than the diesel engine in the Compass.It is worth noting that neither of these SUVs is particularly impressive in terms of fuel efficiency, but the XUV 7XO still offers a good balance of performance and usability for long-distance driving.The Jeep Compass has its own charm and feels premium inside and out. It is also known for its driving manners. However, considering its higher purchase price, it will naturally be more expensive to run and maintain as well, which is something you need to keep in mind.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Jeep Compass

Autocar India

•2h

If your priority is long-term reliability and hassle-free ownership, the powertrain choice and brand service experience will matter more than outright performance.Between the three options, the Hyundai Venue petrol turbo with the DCT automatic is the safer choice in terms of ownership experience. Hyundai has a strong reputation for reliability and service support, and the Venue is a well-proven product. It also offers a comfortable ride and a well-finished cabin, which makes it suitable for long-term family use.The Mahindra XUV 3XO petrol automatic is a very good car to drive and offers strong performance thanks to its larger 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine. It also has a spacious cabin and good ride quality. However, Mahindra’s ownership experience and service consistency can vary depending on location.The Venue diesel automatic can make sense if your running is high and you regularly do highway drives. However, for typical mixed usage, the petrol automatic will generally be the simpler option to live with.

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•2h

We would suggest looking at the Skoda Kylaq. It offers a comfortable ride, has good space for four adults, and the torque converter automatic transmission is smooth and easy to drive in the city. Its compact dimensions also make it convenient to park and manoeuvre in tight spaces.If seating five adults regularly is important, the Mahindra XUV 3XO makes more sense thanks to its wider cabin. It also offers a comfortable ride and a smooth torque converter automatic. The only drawback is the relatively small boot space.The Honda Amaze would otherwise have been a good choice thanks to its smooth CVT transmission, which works very well in city traffic. However, the ride quality is not the most comfortable compared to some of the other options you are considering.The Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai Exter are offered with AMT gearboxes, which are not as smooth or sophisticated as the torque converter or CVT automatic options available in some of the other cars on your list. AMTs tend to feel jerky during gear shifts, especially in slow-moving traffic.

Skoda Kylaq