West Godavari

•7w

I do a lot of highway driving and need a balance of power and comfort. I am unable to decide within a budget range of Rs. 30-35 lakh. However, I am tempted to pick up a second-hand Toyota Fortuner. What are the available options?

•5w

For heavy highway use with a budget of Rs 30-35 lakh, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the best fit. It offers strong performance, excellent ride comfort and a very stable high-speed touring experience, which is exactly what you need for long highway runs. The diesel engine is powerful and efficient, and the car feels planted and confidence-inspiring at speed. It also offers a good balance of features and safety for the price.

The Toyota Fortuner is a great car, but at Rs 30-35 lakh you are looking at a used car that is already a few years old. The Fortuner’s biggest strength is its reliability and ruggedness, but it is not as refined or as comfortable as the XUV 7XO on long highway drives. The ride is firm, the cabin is not as modern, and you are paying a premium for the Toyota badge and reliability rather than getting the best ownership experience for your money.

If you want something more premium, the Skoda Kodiaq is worth considering. It is a very comfortable and refined highway car with a strong petrol engine and a premium cabin, but it exceeds budget and does not offer the same diesel efficiency as the XUV 7XO.

Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel is the best balance of power, comfort and value for your budget. It is a new car with a full warranty, excellent highway manners and a very strong ownership proposition.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.79 Lakh

Toyota

Fortuner

from ₹41.89 Lakh

Skoda

Kodiaq

from ₹44.58 Lakh

•5w•

@autocar.india thanks for the feedback. I’ve heard very negative views on Mahindra service and after sales. Compared Toyota has the best service as I’ve used it before. That is my only hitch to buy Mahindra.

•5w•

I have swift 2011model diesel version . I want sell or exchange . How much amount can I get. Which new suv is suitable for me my yearly run 5000 includes 1000 km on highway only.

More posts on similar cars

•15h

My monthly running is 3000km that translates to 40000 kilometers annually with most round trip of around 400-500 km thrice a month on highway. I own a petrol car and its mileage is close to 14 kpl. Should I opt for EV under 20 lakh budget or should I look for diesel or strong hybrid?In hybrid, we will not have a better boot space since we always use it to carry stuff.

•6h

With 40,000 km a year and frequent 400-500 km highway trips, a diesel SUV is the most sensible choice. At that kind of running, fuel efficiency and ease of long-distance travel become the top priorities. Diesel engines are still the most cost-effective option for high-mileage highway use, and you will recover the higher purchase price very quickly. An EV under Rs 20 lakh is not the right solution for your usage pattern. While EVs are excellent for city driving and predictable daily commutes, your frequent long highway runs would require careful charging planning and add unnecessary complexity to your ownership experience. Strong hybrids are a good middle ground, but as you rightly pointed out, many hybrid SUVs compromise boot space due to battery packaging, which is a problem if you regularly carry a lot of luggage. A diesel SUV like the Mahindra XUV 7XO or if you want something smaller then the Kia Seltos is the most practical and cost-effective solution for your usage.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos

•1d

I am planning to buy a 7-seater, most probably the XUV 7XO AX7T petrol. My annual running will be around 7,000-8,000 km, with 80% on highways and the rest in the city. However, I am in a dilemma regarding the fuel efficiency of the petrol engine, as most reviews and discussions suggest going for the diesel engine. What should I choose: petrol automatic or diesel automatic?

•1d

Go for the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic. With 7,000-8,000 km a year and 80 percent highway usage, the diesel makes more sense. The XUV 7XO diesel is a strong, refined engine with excellent highway performance and significantly better fuel efficiency than the petrol, especially at steady highway speeds. The petrol turbo is a good engine, but in a large 7-seater like the 7XO it will return noticeably lower fuel economy on long highway runs, and that difference adds up over time. The diesel automatic is smooth, has plenty of torque for effortless overtaking and cruising, and the ownership experience is strong. At your running, the diesel premium will take a few years to recover, but the fuel savings and the better highway driving experience make it worthwhile. The only reason to pick the petrol would be if your usage was predominantly city or you had a strong preference for petrol refinement. In your case, the diesel automatic is the clear recommendation.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•2d

Hello, I’m looking to buy a fully loaded, feature-rich full-size SUV, and I’m willing to wait for the right option. The Hyundai Palisade is a very tempting choice, but it seems like it may not arrive in India until 2028. Would it be worth waiting for, or are there other good options under Rs 60 lakh that I should consider?

•1d

Yes the Hyundai Palisade is still sometime away and you could be looking at a wait time of over a year. Currently in this price bracket, and looking at your requirement of a loaded, premium-feeling SUV with a strong feature set, the Kia Sorento is a very good option. It offers a comfy and well built cabin, a rich feature list and a premium ownership experience, while still being a very capable and comfortable family SUV. The top end Sorento will also very comfortably fit within your budget and would make a far more realistic and satisfying purchase today. The other good option is the Skoda Kodiaq, which is also a very well built and premium feeling SUV, you need not opt for the RS version which is above your budget and is setup up for driving pleasure with its more powerful engine output. Opt for the L&K trim instead which is well equipped and within budget.

Hyundai Palisade

Kia Sorento

Skoda Kodiaq

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

I am confused between the Elevate and the Creta. I understand that the Creta is the more established one, but with Honda, the value it brings is amazing, while the price of the Creta is a bit higher than the value it offers. I am mostly a city driver, with around 95% of my driving in the city and occasional highway trips, covering around 10,000km per year. Can you help me get some perspective?

•4d

The Hyundai Creta is the more premium product with a richer feature list. Since your usage is mainly in the city, you are likely to appreciate the Creta's smoothness and refinement, as well as the additional features it offers. Sure, this Hyundai car might cost a bit more, but it is a proven product that commands strong brand equity, which is likely to translate to higher resale value. The Honda Elevate gives you most of what you need at a significantly lower cost, and Honda’s service network is strong enough to make ownership hassle-free. Go for the Elevate if you value its stronger engine performance, else for a refined drive experience, pick the Creta.

Hyundai Creta

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•5d

Help me choose the right car for my usage. Please be practical and challenge my assumptions. My situation: I am 31 and work as a software developer. I currently work from home in Balsane, Dhule, but I am moving to Mumbai around March. My wife and I are expecting a baby in February. My parents live in a village where local transport is poor. My Mumbai office is near Powai, but parking is difficult. I prefer a manual car. Usage: My current running is around 10,000 km per year, but it may increase. I travel between Mumbai and Balsane, which is around 400 km one way, around 5-7 times a year, along with Dhule/Sakri and local trips. I also drive around Mumbai on weekends. The AC is usually on, and on long trips, the car will have my wife, baby, and luggage. Budget: Rs. 6-9 lakh on-road. I am willing to spend more only if it is genuinely worth it. Shortlist: - Tiago XE Petrol - Punch Pure+/Smart Petrol - Punch Pure+/Smart CNG - Brezza LXi turbo-petrol Please tell me: 1. Which one should I buy and why? 2. Petrol vs CNG for my usage? The CNG premium is around Rs. 1 lakh, and the nearby village pump may open around Diwali, but this is not guaranteed. 3. What real-world mileage can I expect with the AC on? 4. Please consider loan interest, fuel costs, maintenance, depreciation, and resale value. 5. Is the Brezza worth the extra money? 6. Give me one final choice and tell me what I should avoid.

•5d

The Brezza LXI Turbo is far superior to the Punch and Tiago as far as smoothness, performance, and cabin space are concerned. It is also backed by Maruti's widespread support network, and the ownership experience is likely to be fuss-free. The on-road cost of the Brezza LXI will fall within your Rs 9 lakh budget, and even though you might miss a few features, it still feels worth opting for. Alternatively, you could also consider the Maruti Dzire VXI MT for its large boot, comfy ride and strong fuel efficiency.

I am planning to buy a new SUV under Rs 30 lakh and am open to both five- and seven-seater options. I have tried the Toyota Innova HyCross non-hybrid, Mahindra XUV 7XO, Hyundai Alcazar, Kia Seltos and Renault Duster, but I am confused about which one to choose. My main priorities are space, comfort and a good engine. My running is not very high, at just under 1,000km a month. Please advise.

•5d

Go for the Toyota Innova HyCross non-hybrid. Your priorities are space, comfort and a good engine, and the HyCross delivers on all three. It is one of the most spacious cars in the segment, with a genuinely usable third row and a comfortable ride that makes it an excellent family car. The petrol engine is smooth, refined and well suited to your running of under 1,000 km a month, where the hybrid premium is harder to justify.The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a strong alternative with a more powerful engine and a more feature-rich cabin, but the HyCross has the edge on space, comfort and long-term ownership experience.The Hyundai Alcazar and Kia Seltos are good cars, but they do not offer the same level of space or comfort, and the Renault Duster is more of a driver's car than a family car. The Toyota car mentioned above is the car you will be happiest with after five years of ownership.

Toyota Innova HyCross

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