Niuland

•37w

Hello, I work abroad & want to buy a new car for my family of 5. Initially, it will be used by my daughter for city driving with limited weekly usage. I am looking for a car that is easy to drive in traffic, safe, fuel-efficient, and suitable for long trips when I visit during the holidays. It should be easy for women to drive in the city, yet strong and stable on highways and ghats. My budget is around ₹20 to 25 lakh. When I was last in Chennai, I almost bought the Thar Roxx AX7L. I plan to make the purchase in June 2026.

•37w

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is far more comfortable than the three-door version, but as a family car, the ride is still on the firmer side. Within your budget, if most of your driving is on the road, there are more comfortable options available.

Within Mahindra, you could wait for the XUV 7XO, which is expected to launch in January 2025 and is essentially the facelifted XUV700. Despite its size, it will be easy to drive, and the petrol and diesel engines are well-suited for both city and highway use. Given your limited driving, the petrol makes more sense. It will also be more spacious, with a larger boot, and being a 7 seater, it gives you added versatility whenever you need the extra seats. We expect the top AX7 petrol variant to fit within your budget.

If you want something smaller and more efficient, you could also consider the new Tata Sierra. Even the top turbo-petrol automatic fits within your budget, and based on our experience, this Tata car delivers good driving pleasure and comfort while offering a class-leading feature list. The smaller 1.5-litre engine, while down on power compared to Mahindra’s 2.0-litre, is still strong enough and should prove to be more economical as well.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹15.53 Lakh

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹13.90 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹12.76 Lakh

More posts on similar cars

•15h

My monthly running is around 3000 km mostly on highways. I need a family car for 4 members. For me, family safety and comfort is priority. Which car should I buy between diesel or EV? Suggest me diesel as well as EV under a budget of around 25 lakhs.

•10h

With 3,000 km a month, mostly on highways, diesel is the clear recommendation. At that running, the fuel cost advantage of diesel becomes significant, and the long highway stretches play to the strengths of modern diesel engines. EVs are best suited to predictable city commutes with home charging, and while they can do highways, the charging infrastructure and stop planning still add friction on long, frequent trips.For the car, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the recommendation. It is one of the most comfortable and spacious family SUVs in the segment, with a strong diesel engine that is well suited to highway cruising. It also has a good safety package and a comfortable ride, which is important for long-distance family travel. Within R.s 25 lakh budget, the AX7 variant will be ideal and you can opt between a 6-speed automatic or a less expensive 6-speed manual. Both gearboxes are smooth and easy to use. Also while the XUV 7XO does not get ADAS in this AX7 trim, you still get 6 airbags, a 360° camera, and your essential electronic safety assets as well. It has also scored a perfect 5-star rating for crash safety in Bharat NCAP so that adds some more reassurance as well. It has also scored a perfect 5-star rating for crash safety in Bharat NCAP so that adds some more reassurance as well.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•2d

I want to buy a car under Rs 20 lakh. My monthly running will be around 1,500km, mostly on weekends, with 70% highway and 30% city driving. Which car and fuel type would you suggest? I prefer a manual transmission.

•1d

With a monthly running of 1,500 km and 70% highway usage, a diesel car makes the most sense. The higher torque and better fuel efficiency on long runs will pay off over time, and your usage pattern justifies the premium over petrol. Since you prefer a manual car, you will also avoid the complexity and cost of automatic gearboxes, which is a plus for long-term ownership.The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel manual in a lower trim would be our first recommendation. It is a genuinely strong highway car with a punchy diesel engine, good stability at speed and a comfortable ride over long distances.If you want something a bit more compact and easier to live with in the city, the Kia Seltos diesel manual is also a very good option. It is more affordable, feels premium on the inside and is still very capable on the highway.Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel manual is the best fit for your usage and budget.

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•3d

Hi, I currently drive a Kia Sonet HTX iMT, which I purchased in December 2020. It has covered around 46,500km so far, with an annual running of approximately 10,000km. My current daily usage is 34km, mainly on the highway, as my office is in an industrial area. I am now looking to upgrade to a mid-size SUV with an automatic transmission. My priorities are a feature-rich car with a 5-star safety rating, good mileage, and enough space for a family of four, with occasional seating for six people. My expected usage will be around 80% city and 20% highway driving in the future. My budget is around Rs 21 lakh, although I can stretch it slightly for a better overall package. Please suggest some suitable options.

•2d

Given your requirements, the best option is the Hyundai Alcazar petrol DCT. It's available as a six- or seven-seater, giving you the flexibility you need when your extended family joins you on your journeys, and its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is relatively fuel efficient for a car of its size. The dual-clutch automatic is smooth enough, though it can be a bit clunky at low speeds if not driven smoothly and carefully. Also worth noting is that even the base model petrol-AT Alcazar costs around Rs 21 lakh on road, and the Alcazar has not been tested by any NCAP authority.The next best option is not an SUV but arguably a more practical option - the Kia Carens Clavis. It uses the same engine and gearbox in a lighter package with more space on the inside. Other 7-seat SUV options with more space - like the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio-N and MG Hector Plus are available, but are nowhere near as fuel-efficient and will be out of your budget as well. All things considered, the Hyundai Alcazar is your best option.

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Popular discussions right now

•5d

I have a Tata Nexon Creative AMT that is only a year old, but I have already had to replace the spark plugs four times and the ignition coil once. I am still facing engine misfires and vibrations inside the car. I am honestly fed up with Tata's service, as they have been unable to resolve the issue. I am therefore planning to sell the Nexon and buy a Kia Seltos with a manual transmission this time. My priority was safety earlier, and it remains my top priority. However, I now also want peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience. Would selling the Nexon and switching to the Seltos be a good decision?

•4d

Yes, it is a good decisionYes, it is a good decision to sell the Tata Nexon and move to the Seltos manual. The Nexon is generally a safe and well-engineered car, but if you are facing repeated engine issues and the service centre is unable to resolve them, it is understandable to lose confidence in the ownership experience. The Kia Seltos is a very well-rounded SUV with a strong safety package, a more refined ownership experience and a good service network. The manual transmission is also a good choice if you want to avoid any potential automatic gearbox-related issues. Overall, if peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience are your top priorities, the Seltos is a sensible upgrade.

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•6d

I am planning to buy a sub-compact SUV. My budget is Rs. 13-14 lakh, and my priorities are a smooth automatic transmission and good mileage. I am considering the Brezza ZXi AT, Sonet HXT DCT, and Venue HX6 DCT. I am very confused because the Brezza’s torque-converter automatic offers good fuel efficiency but lacks some features, while the Sonet and Venue offer all the features I need. However, I am concerned that the DCT may be less fuel-efficient and could involve higher maintenance costs. My daily commute is around 30 km, mostly in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. Please suggest which one would be the best choice for my requirements.

•6d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT. Your priorities are a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and a daily 30km commute in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Brezza’s 6-speed torque converter automatic is the best fit for this usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start conditions, and the naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and easy to live with. Maruti’s service reach and low maintenance costs add to the ownership peace of mind.The Sonet and Venue DCTs are good cars, but the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy traffic. It can feel jerky at low speeds.Alternatively, if you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option.

I want to buy my second car, an SUV, within a 15 lakh to 17 lakh budget. I drive occasionally in hilly areas and on highways. Suggest a car in my budget?

•6d

Considering your budget and usage pattern, the Skoda Kushaq Signature 1.0 MT is the best fit. It is one of the most fun-to-drive SUVs in this price range, with a strong turbo petrol engine and a well-sorted chassis that gives you confidence on winding hill roads and highways. The Skoda Kushaq also offers good ride comfort, a solid build and a premium feel inside the cabin. You'll just have to be content with missing some features compared to the top-spec Kushaq Monte Carlo.If you want a more feature-rich and value-focused option, the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7 Luxury petrol is also worth considering. It offers a roomy cabin, more features than the Kushaq Signature and a strong 1.2 turbo petrol engine as well. However, the Kushaq is a larger car and feels more enjoyable to drive.

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