My monthly usage is under 1,000 km, with occasional long trips of around 500-600 km (round-trip) to temples. I am looking for a 7-seater. I have found a 4-year-old Hyundai Alcazar Prestige with a manual transmission, quoted at ₹13.5 lakh. The current seller is the second owner, and I would become the third owner. The vehicle has done approximately 40,000 km. Is this price justified? I plan to keep the car for another 10 years.

Autocar India

•17h

Both cars are quite closely matched on premium feel, though one aesthetic seems to have worked better for you than the other. It's more a contest of road presence versus space, as the tall, SUV body style of the Hyundai Alcazar makes a strong impression on the road. It is boxy and upright and has the edge on ground clearance, as well as larger wheels.The price you pay is in the third row, where the Kia Carens Clavis' practical MPV shape liberates more space, and there's better ease of access too. Both cars have the same powertrain options, except that the Carens Clavis offers an additional engine option - the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol. It also gets an iMT automated manual gearbox with the Turbo Petrol engine instead of a conventional manual, which the Alcazar gets.Yes, the Turbo Petrol is a good option, as given your relatively low usage, a diesel doesn't feel necessary. The 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo feels strong enough to haul 7 people and is quite enjoyable to drive too.As for which of the two you wish to buy, if you simply must have an SUV for its visual appeal and ground clearance, that is the only reason to choose the Alcazar. If that is not a bother, then the lighter, more spacious, more practical Kia Carens Clavis is the one we recommend.

Kia Carens Clavis

Hyundai Alcazar

Autocar India

•1d

It is quite common for dealerships to offer early delivery even if the originally promised waiting period was longer. This usually happens because a car that was allocated to another customer gets cancelled or becomes available earlier than expected.In many cases, the exact same car you booked may have already reached the dealer’s stockyard or was originally allotted to another customer who cancelled their booking. When that happens, the dealer typically offers that vehicle to the next customer in line. This is a normal practice and does not necessarily mean the car is faulty or rejected.If you are still doubtful, you can ask the dealer if you can inspect the car in the stockyard before the registration process begins. Once the car is registered in your name, there is very little that can be done if you later find something you are unhappy with.

Autocar India

•13h

Since your monthly running is on the higher side, a diesel SUV would make sense. The newly updated Hyundai Venue in HX 5 trim would fit in your budget and is a big upgrade from the WagonR. The engine is refined, frugal and tried and tested, and should you get the manual gearbox, it has a light clutch that makes it easy in traffic. The HX 5 also gets a good level of kit, like a sunroof, cruise control, touchscreen, reversing sensors, TPMS, etc. The ride quality is good too, and it has a decent-sized boot for outstation trips. Hyundai's after-sales network is also one of the best, and it would be a hassle-free ownership experience.

Hyundai Venue