Autocar India
•15w

I am planning to buy a car for family road trips and am confused between the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the Mahindra Thar Roxx. My requirement is for a family of five, and I do not have any specific need for off-roading. My budget is around ₹15-20 lakh. Which of these would be a better choice for comfortable road trips, or should I consider other options within this budget?

Verified
•13w

Both the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Mahindra Thar Roxx are hardcore off‑roaders first and family cars second, so they’re great on broken roads but compromised as primary road‑trip machines.

They really come into their own on dirt tracks, bad village roads and unpaved sections, and they also deliver that rugged, “tough toy” appeal - the Thar Roxx especially has a lot more visual muscle and emotional pull. But for a family of five, we’d immediately rule out the Jimny: it’s simply too narrow for three adults or growing kids to sit comfortably in the back for any length of time, and luggage space is also very limited.

The Thar Roxx can realistically take a family of five, but for long highway runs, its suspension is on the firmer, bouncy side, and overall refinement isn’t as good as some of the softer, more road‑biased SUVs. You’ll feel more vertical movement, more noise, and over a full day’s drive that gets tiring, especially for rear passengers.

If your main requirement is road trips with the family and you don’t have a specific off‑roading need, a “soft‑roader” is the better tool for the job. Something like the Tata Sierra 1.5 diesel gives you the same tough‑as‑nails image and presence, but with a far more comfortable ride, more space, better highway manners and a more relaxed driving experience over long distances.

Tata Sierra

Tata Sierra

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Tata Sierra

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.56 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki

Jimny

from ₹14.63 Lakh

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹14.78 Lakh

•13w

Buy Honda elevate , you will get there CVT variant in your budget gives 9 to 10kmpl in city driving with AC and 12 to 14 without AC. And on Highway gives 18 kmpl with AC

•13w

Don't buy TATA brand, service centres are very worst. They don't maintain a knowledgeable technicians at service centres. In case, new brands like Sierra they not even aware of assembling & alignments. Your vehicle is a testing piece for service centres.

•13w

Don't buy TATA brand. Service very worst they are running service centres only motive to loot customers money.

•13w

Both of these options doesn't make sense for your use case. Specially Jimny, It's not a family car at all. Practically, It's a three people car with luggage. The backseat it highly uncomfortable. Go for Elevate, Seirra or Duster in your Budget.

•13w

Maruti Jimney best of best 1500 cc with 4*4 premium in Australia Japan. Jimney top selling or skoda kushaq 1.5 is also best for build quality

•13w

Go for sierra, best in class features and road presence. Service is quite improved but totally dependable on service center near you.

•13w

Better go for Mahindra Thar. Best choice.

•13w

Tata siera or kia seltos witch is best in diesel

•13w

Kia seltos is good. Sierra service centres not able to handle the vehicle fixtures.

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More questions on similar cars

•2d

Hi, I have been using the Hyundai Creta SX(O) diesel for the past seven years. I drive about 500 km on weekends, mostly on highways. I am planning to buy an SUV by the end of this year in the Rs. 25 lakh price range. I like the VW Taigun, Kia Seltos, and Tata Sierra. I prefer performance over mileage. Kindly suggest.

Verified
•2d

Based on your usage, we'd recommend the Volkswagen Taigun GT 1.5 TSI DSG.Covering around 500km on most weekends, primarily on the highway, and prioritising performance over fuel efficiency, the Taigun is the most engaging SUV on your shortlist. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is strong and refined, while the DSG gearbox complements it beautifully, making it a genuinely enjoyable car to drive. It also has excellent high-speed stability and feels more involving than both the Seltos and the Sierra.One SUV that isn't on your shortlist but is well worth considering is the Mahindra XUV 7XO. While your Rs. 25 lakh budget won't get you the absolute top variant, it will still buy you a well-equipped model that feels like a significant upgrade over your current Creta. It offers a spacious cabin, strong performance and a more premium overall experience.

VehicleVolkswagen Taigun
VehicleTata Sierra
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
•5d

I would appreciate your recommendation on which car I should buy in India. Here are my requirements: I want an automatic transmission. It should have a strong road presence, look premium, and not feel like a budget vehicle. It should be highly reliable, durable, and capable of lasting for many years with minimal maintenance, as I don't enjoy spending a lot of time maintaining vehicles. There may be occasions when the car remains unused for one or even two weeks, so it should be able to handle infrequent use without issues. Although I don't frequently carry heavy loads, once or twice a year I may need to transport cement bags, rice bags, or other bulky items. Therefore, the vehicle should have a reasonably spacious boot or cargo area. I also occasionally travel to villages where the roads are unpaved, uneven, and in poor condition, although they are not true off-road trails. I don't think an AWD system is essential, but the vehicle should be comfortable and capable on such roads. For context, I currently own: A Maruti Suzuki Wagon R (purchased in 2006) A Mahindra XUV500 AWD (purchased in 2017) Both vehicles are still in good running condition. However, I am now looking to replace one of them or add another vehicle with an automatic transmission that is dependable, comfortable, and built to last. My budget is between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 40 lakh (on-road). One final point that may be relevant is that I am now over 50 years old, so I would prefer a vehicle that is comfortable to drive, easy to get in and out of, and well-suited to long-term ownership. Based on these requirements, which cars available in India would you recommend, and why? Please compare the shortlisted models in terms of reliability, maintenance costs, comfort, road presence, practicality, fuel efficiency, resale value, and suitability for my intended use.

Verified
•1d

Consider the Toyota Innova HyCross automatic hybrid. It suits your “own it for a decade, little fuss” style better than anything else in your budget, gives easy ingress for a 50-plus driver, rides comfortably on broken village roads, and with the third row folded, it swallows cement or rice bags without drama. Toyota’s hybrid is proven, the automatic is smooth in traffic, the real-world economy is strong for a big car, and it tolerates long idle periods well. Road presence is solid, the cabin feels premium enough, and Toyota service and resale are still the safest bets in India. The drawback is that you won't have the rugged feel or off-road ability of a ladder frame chassis SUV. If that is something you are looking for, the Fortuner will be a good fit, but it will require you to stretch your budget a bit. Also, fuel economy won't be as good as the HyCross, and getting in and out will require more effort. Alternatively, you could consider the Mahindra Thar Roxx, which will get you 4x4 and a proven diesel automatic under your specified budget. Another option is the XUV 7XO AWD, which is a suitable replacement for your XUV 500 AWD. The drawback with these two is that long-term reliability and resale are not at the Toyota level.Overall, the HyCross wins for reliability, low running costs, comfort, space and long-term peace of mind, while still fitting Rs. 35-40 lakh on-road.

VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleToyota Fortuner
VehicleMahindra Thar Roxx
•20h

I am planning to buy a car for mostly driving on highways, but I live in a Tier 3 city. Now, I am confused between the Creta SX summer edition and the Kushaq Sportline. I am confused because the Skoda service centre is 200km from my city, and the Hyundai service centre is available in my city. Please suggest which one I should get.

Verified
•8h

Get the Creta SX Summer Edition, because with Hyundai service in your city and Skoda 200 km away, ownership will be far easier and less stressful where you live. You’ll be on highways a lot, and the Creta is calm at speed, comfy over bad patches, and quieter, so long trips feel easy. In a tier 3 city, Hyundai’s network, parts availability, and faster roadside help matter more than people admit, and every small fix won’t become a 400 km chore.Now, if pure driving feel is your top priority, the Kushaq Sportline is the better driver’s car. Its turbo petrol engines are more eager, and it feels tighter and more confident when you push. But that service gap is real. Routine visits, warranty checks or an unexpected fault will cost you time and peace of mind, especially on highway trips.So pick the Creta for hassle-free ownership, steady highway comfort and support close to home.

VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleSkoda Kushaq

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

Hi, I own a Wagon R 1.0 liter engine. I bought it in November 2025. I had done 2 free services of it. My car gives me about 13-15 kmpl in city driving when the AC is on. I drive at a speed of about 60 km in the city. Is this average ok? If not, then what should I do? My daily ride is about 20 km.

Verified
•5d

A city fuel efficiency of 13-15kpl with the air conditioning on is slightly on the lower side for a Wagon R 1.0, but it isn't necessarily a cause for concern, especially if you're driving in Lucknow's city traffic with frequent stops and the AC running throughout your journey.Your 20km daily commute should be enough for the engine to reach its normal operating temperature, but fuel efficiency can still vary depending on traffic conditions, idling time and driving style. We'd recommend checking that your tyre pressures are maintained at the manufacturer's recommended levels, avoiding hard acceleration and excessive idling, and using good-quality fuel from reputed fuel stations.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Wagon R
•2w

I am planning to buy a family car. Should I choose the Toyota HyCross or the Hyundai Alcazar? Please suggest.

Verified
•5d

Go for the Toyota Innova HyCross. For a family, it simply works better as the cabin is roomier, the third row is actually usable for adults, the ride is smoother, and the hybrid saves a lot of fuel in city traffic where most family cars spend their time. Long trips feel easier too, and Toyota’s hassle-free ownership and resale help over years.Pick the Hyundai Alcazar only if you’re on a tighter budget or you want a slightly smaller, easier-to-park 3-row. It’s great for four or five with the third row used occasionally, and the diesel suits heavy highway use. But the last row and boot are tighter, and it doesn’t feel as plush or relaxed on bad roads.One honest trade-off with the Innova HyCross is the higher price and possible waiting period, and the boot with all three rows up isn’t huge. If that stretch and wait are okay, it’s the better family car overall.

VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleHyundai Alcazar
•2d

I am planning to purchase a new SUV. I have shortlisted two vehicles. Toyota Hyryder non-hybrid top model (manual) and Kia Seltos manual top model. Which one should I prefer? My daily running is very less around 10-15 kms.

Verified
•1d

With a daily running of just 10-15km, there's little benefit in stretching to a strong hybrid, and since you've shortlisted the non-hybrid Hyryder, the Seltos is the more complete package. It offers a more premium cabin, better performance from its naturally aspirated petrol engine, a stronger feature list and an overall more polished driving experience.The Toyota Hyryder still has its strengths. Toyota's reputation for reliability and aftersales support is second to none, and if long-term peace of mind is your top priority, it remains a very sensible choice. However, the non-hybrid petrol doesn't offer a significant efficiency advantage over the Seltos, so you miss out on the biggest reason to buy a Hyryder in the first place.Given your low running, we'd simply choose the SUV that you enjoy driving and living with every day. The Seltos also feels a little more modern inside and delivers a better overall ownership experience without asking you to compromise on reliability.

VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleKia Seltos

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Posted on: 5 Apr 2026