I’m looking for a very good car with high mileage and good boot space. The budget is around 20 lakh. Should I buy the Toyota Hyryder?

Autocar India

•2h

You should opt for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza Petrol ZXi MT for your needs. It has light controls, which make it very easy to drive in town. It is also equipped with a comfortable back seat, which can accommodate three passengers, and Maruti’s wide service network will also be of help on your road trips.This Maruti car also feels stable and composed at high speeds on the highway, and it's got a fairly large 328-litre boot. There's even a 6-speed torque converter automatic on offer, which will be more convenient on your city drives, but you'll have to settle for a lower variant given your budget.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•17h

For one long highway trip a month, a ₹14 lakh on-road cap, and a step up in comfort from your Swift diesel, the Kia Seltos HTE 1.5 petrol manual suits you best. As far as base variants go, the Seltos is very well equipped, with features like cruise control, keyless entry, and an HD infotainment screen with wireless phone connectivity. The new generation also rides better than the last one, has a roomier cabin, and better road presence. Compared with your Swift, it will feel far more spacious and calmer at speed, and the big boot makes luggage easy.The Skoda Kushaq and Mahindra XUV 3XO base variants are good choices, but will feel a bit smaller on the inside. If you need 7 seats, the Kia Carens Clavis offers a similar experience to the Seltos, but its base trim is not as well equipped. The Citroen Aircross 7-seater offers superb ride comfort, but the service reach is still limited in many cities.Overall, for your use, the Seltos base lines up best.

Skoda Kushaq

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Autocar India

•18h

With mostly short weekly trips, a 200-300 km run once a month, and a few long mountain drives each year, I would still pick diesel for you, and within your two, the Mahindra Scorpio N diesel 4x4 automatic fits this use best. It pulls strongly at low speed, so steep climbs with a full family and luggage feel easy, and its tougher build and 4x4 give you extra grip and confidence on broken roads or wet, uneven patches. On long highway and hill runs, the diesel will also use less fuel than the petrol in a big 7-seater like this.The one thing to watch with any new diesel is the exhaust filter. Lots of very short, stop-start trips can clog it over time. Your monthly highway run should help, but try to give the car a 20-30 minute continuous drive at a steady speed every couple of weeks to keep it happy. Also expect a bit more engine noise at idle than a petrol.If you want a softer, more family-friendly feel and mostly stick to good roads, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is the other strong choice from your list. If your weeks turn into only short city hops and you do not want to think about a diesel filter at all, the XUV 7XO petrol automatic will be smoother in town, but it will drink more fuel on hills and with seven on board.Overall, for your mountain plans and rough patches, the Scorpio N diesel 4x4 suits you best if you can give it those regular, longer runs.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•4d

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

Autocar India

•2d

If you're comparing ride comfort, the Skoda Kylaq is easily the better pick, particularly variants with 16-inch wheels. Skoda has got its suspension tune spot on, its relatively softer setup makes it more suited to our road conditions. It rounds off speed breakers and rough patches better at slow speeds. Furthermore, the Kylaq feels stable at speeds and is surprisingly nimble and fun-to-drive around corners, too.In contrast, the Kushaq’s suspension feels a little firm at low speeds, so sharp bumps and small potholes do come through more in the cabin.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•6d

If your budget allows, go for a new Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel automatic. It is the safer and easier pick. You get a fresh car with full warranty, no past accidents to worry about, and the latest software and small fixes that usually come after the first couple of years. Finance is simpler on a new car, resale later will be stronger, and Mahindra’s service network is wide, so upkeep is straightforward. The diesel automatic suits long drives and also handles city traffic well, with strong pull when you need it. Space, comfort and road presence are all there in this Mahindra car, which is why you shortlisted it in the first place.One thing to keep in mind is its size. It is a large car, so tight parking will need practice. Also, a diesel can sound a bit gruff at idle, and if your usage is only short city drives, you should take it on a longer run once in a while to keep the exhaust system in good condition.The only time the 2-year-old previous model with 19,000 km makes more sense is if you are saving good amount of money and it is a well-maintained, single-owner car. In that case, demand a full service record from a Mahindra workshop, get a dealer scan for error codes, check tyre and battery age, and confirm if any extended warranty can be transferred.

Mahindra XUV 7XO