Delhi

•34w

I am planning to buy a new car after driving my 2022 Hyundai Grand i10 Nios for about 30,000 km in 4 years. My budget is around ₹12-14 lakhs. My usage pattern will be: - 80% city driving - 20% highway driving - One outstation trip roughly once every 3 months I am considering the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 Diesel( due to its minimal electronics). Even though my annual running is not very high, I would like to experience a punchy diesel car before diesel options reduce further in the future. Other reasons are due to its spacious back seat and white color interior. I would like expert advice on the following: 1. With 80% city usage, how likely am I to face DPF related issues 2. Does this engine require any precautions to avoid DPF clogging? 3. Will low and mostly city usage lead to higher maintenance or major repairs in the long term? 4. What is the real-world maintenance cost and reliability of Mahindra’s 1.5-litre diesel engine over time? 5. Since I plan to keep the car for at least 10–12 years, how well do Mahindra vehicles age in terms of: engine and drivetrain durability electronics and features, interior quality and long-term fit and finish ? Overall, would the XUV 3XO diesel be a sensible long-term ownership choice for my usage pattern.

•34w

With predominantly city driving, DPF issues on the Mahindra 3XO diesel are possible but manageable. The important point is that your usage does include highway runs and a longer outstation trip every few months, which is usually enough to allow proper regeneration and keep the DPF healthy. You do not need any special precautions, but taking the car out for a 20 to 30 minute highway drive every few weeks will help.

Mahindra’s 1.5 litre diesel is a well proven and robust engine, with reasonable service costs and good long term reliability. Major issues typically arise only when DPF warnings are repeatedly ignored. In terms of ageing, Mahindra diesels and drivetrains are known to last well over many years, and electronics have improved noticeably in recent generations.

There is little to complain about when it comes to fit and finish. The Mahindra XUV 3XO has good interior quality and should continue to feel premium over time. That said, the white interior will show signs of ageing sooner than darker interiors, as even minor stains tend to be more visible.

Overall, if you want to own a punchy diesel while you still can, the XUV 3XO diesel makes sense for your usage pattern and should serve you well over a long ownership period.

Mahindra XUV 3XO Front View — Mahindra XUV 3XO

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•1d

Hi, I’m planning to buy new car as my second car for my parents in Kanpur, India specifically as I don’t reside there anymore. I had before Volkswagen Ameo Diesel. Kindly suggest an SUV only within a budget of maximum Rs. 15 lakhs (on-road price).

•18h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO. It is the best fit for your parents in Kanpur within Rs.15 lakh on-road budget. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin that makes it a genuinely comfortable five-seater. It also offers a good ride quality, which is important for Kanpur’s roads, and Mahindra’s service network is strong in the region. The petrol engine is smooth and easy to drive, making it well-suited for your parents’ usage, and the car is well-equipped for the price. The only real drawback is the boot, which is on the smaller side, but for a second car focused on comfort and ease of use, the 3XO is a very well-rounded package. If you want something with a larger boot, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the alternative, but the 3XO offers a more premium and spacious cabin.

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•3d

I am planning to buy a new car under a budget of around Rs. 11.5-12.5 lakh (on-road). It will be mostly used for city driving, with a few highway trips. My main requirements are automatic transmission. good safety rating, good quality interior, low maintenance costs, good driving performance and offers fun-to-drive experience. Please suggest 4-5 good cars in this price range that would suit my requirements.

•19h

Based on your requirements, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic would be our first recommendation. It is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, has a strong safety record, a wide cabin that makes it a genuinely comfortable five-seater, and the turbo petrol engine paired with the torque converter automatic delivers good performance and a fun-to-drive experience. It also offers a well-equipped interior and Mahindra's service network is strong, keeping maintenance costs reasonable.The Skoda Kylaq automatic would be our second recommendation. It is the most driver-focused car in this price range, with a strong turbo petrol engine and a well-tuned chassis that makes it genuinely enjoyable to drive. The torque converter automatic is smooth and reliable, and the Kylaq offers good safety credentials and a solid build quality. The only drawback is that the rear seat is not as spacious as the 3XO.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the sensible choice. It is reliable, has low maintenance costs, a comfortable ride and a good safety record. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the torque converter automatic is smooth and easy to live with, making it an excellent city car. It may not be as exciting to drive as the 3XO or Kylaq, but it is a very dependable ownership proposition.The Tata Nexon automatic is also worth considering. It has a strong safety record, a comfortable ride and a feature-rich interior. The turbo petrol engine paired with the DCA automatic offers good performance, but the gearbox can feel a bit hesitant at times in stop-start traffic.Overall, the XUV 3XO automatic strikes the best balance between safety, performance, interior quality and ownership costs. The Kylaq is the enthusiast's choice, while the Brezza is the most sensible long-term option.

Hi, I have been happily driving a Polo for the last 4 years and I think that it is the right time to upgrade it to a bigger vehicle because of my mom's back pain. Please suggest a car under 12 lakhs. Thanks a lot.

•22h

Given your requirements, the priority should be a car with a comfortable ride, easy ingress and egress, and supportive seats. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit here. It offers a noticeably more comfortable ride than the Polo, a higher seating position that makes getting in and out easier, and a wide rear seat that is genuinely comfortable for long journeys. It is also one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, which will make a big difference on family trips. The only real drawback is the boot, which is on the smaller side, but for your budget and requirements, the 3XO strikes the best balance between comfort, space and value. If boot space is a major priority, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a good alternative with a larger boot and a similarly comfortable ride, but overall the 3XO is the more complete and spacious package.

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•2d

Hi Autocar Team, I am confused between the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual and automatic. My current ride is a Fluidic Verna diesel manual, which is nearing 15 years of ownership and has clocked nearly 2.5 lakh km. My usage consists of mixed city and highway driving, with around 40km daily and weekend highway runs of about 400km. For long-term ownership, which would be the better choice: the manual or automatic?

•2d

Go for the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic. The diesel engine is well suited to your high running, and the automatic gearbox is a proven torque converter unit that is reliable and well matched to the engine. This Mahindra car will make your daily city driving far less tiring, while still being smooth and efficient on the highway. Coming from a 15-year-old Hyundai Verna diesel manual, the automatic will feel like a significant upgrade in terms of comfort and ease of use, without compromising on long-term reliability. The manual is still a good option if you strongly prefer the engagement, but for your usage and ownership horizon, the automatic is the smarter choice.

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•4d

I am confused between Creta SX IVT and Elevate CVT for 8000 km of annual running with long trips of 1200 km 3-4 times in a year for a family of 4. Apart from this, day to day usage is less than 100km per month. I am looking for a car for long term ownership and travel comfort.

•4d

The Creta SX IVT is the better fit for your requirement. It offers a quieter, more refined cabin, comfortable rear seats and a smoother CVT, which are particularly valuable when spending several hours on the highway with four people and luggage. Autocar's long term experience with the Creta petrol IVT also found it refined, comfortable and particularly well suited to road trips.The Honda Elevate CVT has advantages of its own. Its 220mm ground clearance, long travel suspension and large 458-litre boot make it particularly good on poor roads, while its naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine and CVT make for a relatively simple powertrain. However, the cabin is noticeably noisier, particularly when accelerating hard, and the CVT can produce the typical rubber band effect.

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•4d

I have a budget of Rs. 16 lakh and I am getting Victoris ZXI AT and Creta S (O) iVT automatic in petrol. My monthly running is around 1000 km. Please suggest as this will be my first car.

•4d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Victoris ZXI automatic. It is a well-rounded SUV with a reliable naturally aspirated petrol engine, a smooth automatic gearbox and Maruti's extensive service network, which makes ownership stress free. The Creta S Optional IVT is a good car, but at this price point you are getting a lower variant with fewer features, whereas the Victoris ZXI is a higher trim with a better overall value proposition. The Victoris also offers a comfortable ride, good fuel efficiency and a hassle-free ownership experience, which is exactly what you want from your first car.

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