Delhi

•1w

I’m looking to buy a seven-seater with a budget of Rs 23 lakh. The car will mainly be driven by my parents, mostly in the city, but we also take highway trips at least twice a month. Given this mix of city driving and regular highway runs, should we choose petrol or diesel? We’re considering the base variants of the Toyota Innova Hycross and wondering whether they offer better value, space and reliability than the feature-loaded mid and higher variants of rivals. How do the entry and mid variants of the Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari compare with the base Hycross within our budget? We also considered the Kia Carens, but we have concerns about its build quality and reliability. Please advise us on what to do.

•4h

The Innova Hycross is a solid choice for your parents' needs. At your budget, you are likely looking at the GX (O) trim, which covers all the feature basics, including a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. One drawback is that it lacks cruise control, which you might find handy on highway trips.

It isn't as feature-loaded as some rivals, but in everyday use, your parents might find the Innova more user-friendly. The petrol engine also suits your needs well. It is smooth and refined, and the CVT is seamless in operation. It also offers sufficient performance for your monthly highway trips.

Modern diesel engines have DPF filters that require sustained highway driving for around 20 - 30 minutes every couple of weeks, at a minimum. If the majority of your running is on the highway, it might be worth considering the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. It has a strong yet refined engine, with good performance and decent efficiency. It is also very comfortable, thanks to its superb suspension setup.

The XUV 7XO is feature-packed, but its infotainment UI can be a little confusing at times, with many functions integrated into the touchscreen. Take your parents to the showroom to see if they can get used to the interface. Mahindra's reliability and after-sales service have also improved significantly in recent years, although they aren't quite at Toyota's level yet.

Overall, though, the Hycross is a better long-term fit for your needs.

Explore cars mentioned

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹21.70 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.23 Lakh

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•26m•

Dear @ajkj, While autocar have given you the politically correct answer, I feel the 7XO will serve your parents needs better. Having driven it extensively on the highway, I would rate its capabilities and features better than the Hycross and even the Safari . Best action plan would be to take a TD of both or all 3 vehicles on the same day before coming to any conclusion.

•3m•

Overall xuv700 is gud. No issue !!

•37m•

@ajkj

Go with Mahindra XUV 7XO 👍

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•2d

Is the Kia Sorento an equivalent alternative to the Toyota Innova Hycross? I want a petrol hybrid, and my maximum on-road budget is Rs. 40 lakh.

•1d

Yes the hybrid versions of the Toyota Innova Hycross and Kia Sorento can be considered equivalents. We have yet to bring the two for a back to back comparison but between the two this Kia car would come off as the more luxurious one and also have the edge on the equipment front. The Toyota rear captain seats have the ottoman-style fold out legrest so if this is important to you, have a look and see how comfy you are seated there. As for your budget, both cars would fit. We would thus recommend you take a test drive of both before you decide.

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•4d

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•1d

We understand your temptation to spend big on a Toyota Innova Hycross or Maruti Suzuki Invicto. Frankly, they are significantly larger and, in many ways, superior to the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, also on your short list. What the larger outlay will get you is a significantly larger vehicle with lots more room, particularly for rear seat passengers. Ride comfort is also better than what you get on the hybrid SUVs. The Innova Hycross and Invicto also offer enough power for highway cruises with ease. As for your father's concerns, the Invicto and Innova Hycross can feel intimidating at first, given how large they are. However spend time behind the wheel and you'll notice that visibility is excellent while the light steering makes low-speed manoeuvrability surprisingly easy. There is still a learning curve involved, and it might take some time getting used to the size. There are no differences between the Innova Hycross and Invicto as products. You could consider the Invicto as an option, given the good deals going on, bringing the final price closer to your budget.

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•23h

I currently own a Hyundai i20 and am planning to upgrade to an SUV in the Rs 20-25 lakh range. My usage is around 40 percent city and 60 percent highway, so I’m looking for a good balance of family comfort and performance. I recently test-drove the Mahindra Thar Roxx Star Edition. I liked the vehicle overall and its performance, but felt its ride wasn’t comfortable enough for my family. Which SUVs would you recommend?

•7h

You are right about the Mahindra Thar Roxx. While it offers strong performance and road presence, its ride comfort may not be ideal for your family's requirements, particularly with 60 per cent highway usage. We would suggest looking at the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic instead. It offers a more comfortable ride, a spacious cabin, better rear seat comfort and strong highway performance. It will be a more suitable family SUV for your usage, without compromising too much on performance.

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•4d

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