I want to upgrade from my current sedan to an SUV. I’m 50 years young and drive up to 500 km/month. My priorities are high ground clearance (to handle water-logging in Delhi), easy entry for elderly parents, strong safety, low maintenance, and a petrol automatic that balances power and mileage. My budget is ₹20 lakh. Please suggest an ideal SUV.

Asked by: Sudipto Dutta

The Hyundai Creta Petrol S(O) Knight CVT would be the ideal choice for you. It has enough ground clearance to wade through water-logged roads, and the seats are set high enough to make entry an easy affair for the elderly.

The naturally aspirated petrol engine with a CVT gearbox is relatively more efficient than the turbo-petrol engine. It is also in your budget and is a hassle-free SUV that will hold its value very well.

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Creta

Answered by

Autocar India Team

Nov 23, 2025

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Asked by: rohit kothari I am confused between the XEV 9S and the XUV 7XO. My monthly running is around 1,500 km, and I have my own parking space. Please advise. The new Mahindra XEV 9S and upcoming XUV 7XO will be closely related in many ways, sharing their body panels, interior layout and features. However, the two will be very different under the skin, with the 9S coming built on Mahindra's new-age INGLO electric architecture.If the majority of your usage will be in the city and you have the option to install an EV charger in your parking, the Mahindra XEV 9S would make more sense. For starters, running costs will be significantly lower than the petrol/diesel XUV 7XO, and there's also the other advantages you get on an EV - near silent running and supremely smooth performance. What's more, with the benefits available on EVs, the final price will not be much more than a comparable Mahindra XUV 7XO.The 7XO promises to build on the XUV 700's strengths by adding more features like a three-screen layout. The petrol and diesel engines will be carried forward from the XUV 700, but that's no bad thing because they are powerful and refined. That said, consider the XUV 7XO only if you undertake long-distance journeys frequently, where the lack of reliable public EV chargers can play spoilsport.

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Asked by: Akshay Patil Hi team, my monthly driving is around 1,000 km. I want to buy a diesel car, and my budget is Rs 17 lakh. Please help me select the right vehicle. I am open to both manual and automatic options. There are quite a few diesel-manual options available within your budget. You could go for a smaller but more feature-equipped vehicle or a larger, more powerful but less-equipped vehicle. Of the smaller vehicles within your budget, the Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO should be on your shortlist. Among the larger vehicles, the Hyundai Creta and Mahindra XUV700 are worth a look. As for automatic gearbox options, the best pick would be the Kia Sonet diesel GTX+ AT. The refined 1.5-litre diesel engine and smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission work really well together to deliver a premium driving experience. Hyundai also offers the same combo on the new Venue, though you'll need to up your budget to get a feature-equipped model.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

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