I am confused between the Hyundai Alcazar and the Tata Safari in the diesel manual variants. My annual running is around 40,000 km, mostly on highways. I am looking for a car that offers decent mileage, strong safety, and reasonable maintenance costs. Which one would be the better choice for my usage?

Autocar India

•6w

With your kind of usage around 40,000km a year, mostly on highways, the Tata Safari diesel would be the better option for you overall.

The main reason is that the Safari is simply the stronger highway car, which is where you’ll be spending most of your time. Its 2.0-litre diesel engine produces more torque than the one in the Hyundai Alcazar, and that extra pulling power really helps during highway driving. Especially when overtaking or cruising with a full load of passengers and luggage. The Safari also has a more substantial feel and tends to feel more planted and stable at higher speeds, which is something you will appreciate on long highway runs. Safety is another area where the Safari has an edge.

The Alcazar’s advantage lies in efficiency and ease of use. It is slightly more fuel-efficient and feels lighter and easier to drive in city conditions. Maintenance on Hyundai models is also generally predictable, and service networks are very strong. However, given that your driving is predominantly highway-based, these benefits may not be as significant for your usage pattern.

In terms of running costs, both being diesel means fuel costs will remain relatively manageable, even with such high annual mileage. The Alcazar will likely return slightly better fuel efficiency, but the difference isn’t dramatic enough to outweigh the Safari’s advantages in performance, stability and overall highway ability.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Safari

from ₹15.44 Lakh

Hyundai

Alcazar

from ₹16.83 Lakh

Shyam

•6w

The after sales service of Tata has always been criticized and egineering of hyundai is way ahead of Tata at prersent. If u need hassle free car go for alcazar.

Dheerendra K B

•6w

I'm very satisfied with MG Hector Plus Shap Pro

More questions on similar cars

Yash

•1w

I am confused between the 7XO and Safari. I took the test drive of both and loved the rugged suspension setup of the Safari, but I also liked the easy driving nature and dynamics of the 7XO.

Autocar India

•21h

Between the two, the Tata Safari does a great job of projecting toughness. It feels solid, has that reassuring heft, and its suspension setup really shines on broken roads and you can carry speed with confidence and it just shrugs off rough patches.That said, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more rounded package overall. Its 2.2-litre diesel is not just more modern, but also noticeably smoother and stronger than the older Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre unit in the Safari. It delivers better drivability in everyday conditions, which makes a difference in city use as well as on the highway.Mahindra car has also worked well on the suspension, and the improvements show. The 7XO feels more composed, offers better ride comfort over a wider range of surfaces, and is simply easier to drive. It has lighter controls, better balance, and a more user-friendly nature overall.Where the Safari still holds an edge is in the third row. It’s more usable and accommodating, whereas the 7XO’s last row is quite tight and best reserved for occasional use.So unless third-row space is a priority, the 7XO stands out as the better all-rounder. It’s more refined, easier to live with, and ultimately the more modern SUV.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Akash Gowda L

•2d

I have Tata Hexa XT2 4x2 model that I bought in 2019, and it has done almost 1 lakh km. It is still performing well with no issues, but it has a manual gearbox. I also own smaller automatics like the K10 AGS (2023) and XUV 3XO AMT, but I do not have a 7-seater. Which among Safari AT or XUV 7XO (diesel AT only) is worth buying?

Autocar India

•23h

You want a hassle-free 7-seater automatic for family trips and lots of highway use, moving on from your Hexa manual. For that, we would pick the Tata Safari diesel automatic, because it will feel most natural after your Hexa and is the more comfortable family car day to day.Coming from the Hexa, you will like the Safari’s high seating, cushy second row, and the way it takes bad roads without tossing the family around. Its automatic shifts smoothly, so traffic and hills are easy. While the third row and the boot with all seats up are not huge, they are a touch more usable than in the XUV 7XO. Safety is strong too, with a 5-star crash test rating.A couple of trade-offs to note: the Safari’s diesel sounds a bit louder than the Mahindra car at idle and when pushed. If you care more about stronger highway pull and high-tech features, the XUV 7XO diesel automatic makes sense.Given the fact that you like your Hexa, the Safari AT will slot in as the smooth, comfortable family mover you want.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Bhupender

•2d

I live in Faridabad and drive around 1,500 km per month, with 70% city and 30% highway usage. Which petrol car would be better, the Tata Safari or the XUV 7XO?

Autocar India

•1d

With 70% city use in Faridabad and about 1,500 km a month, and since you want a petrol car, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic (a mid-variant like AX5) is the better fit for you. Its petrol engine is smooth and quiet at low speeds, and more powerful than the Safari’s 1.5-litre engine. The automatic is well-tuned for stop-and-go driving, so it moves off smartly and does not fumble when you need a quick gap. On your highway runs, the strong petrol pulls cleanly for quick passes, and it feels stable with a well-sorted ride.A trade-off to note is that this Mahindra car can be thirsty in city traffic, so if you press it hard, fuel consumption can be higher than expected. Overall, the XUV 7XO is a good fit for your needs.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

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