I’m looking to buy a new SUV. I’m 6’4” and headroom as a driver is crucial. With a budget of ₹15-18 lakh, I’m looking for an SUV with good mileage for weekend highway drives, preferably diesel manual, and reliable.

Autocar India

•8w

At the lower end of the price range, there's the Kia Syros. It's got a very spacious cabin and should accommodate you in reasonable comfort. It's got a refined diesel engine that delivers reasonable power and good fuel economy.

At the upper end of the price range, you could look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It's got an airy cabin and a high roof, so it should fit your requirements. However, many of us did find that the driver's seat doesn't go down as low as we'd like, and this is something you are advised to check for yourself. In terms of engine performance, the XUV 7XO's 2.2-litre diesel unit is great, delivering ample power for highway drives.

If you are open to the MPV body style, the Kia Carens Clavis is also worth a look. It's got a relatively high roof, which should put you at ease. Its diesel engine is also pleasant, offering fair performance with good refinement.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Syros

from ₹9.82 Lakh

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹12.90 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹15.87 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Got a suggestion for Abhijeet?

Add a Comment

Latest questions in the community

Krishnav

•2d

I have been looking for a secondary car, primarily to be driven in the city. A petrol automatic would be preferred. Mileage is not a very big criterion. Good engine performance, features and a hassle-free ownership experience are on the must-have list. We are looking for something compact and easy to maneuver in the city and park in tight spaces. Budget is around ₹15 lakh, plus or minus a lakh. A lack of dealerships in the city we reside in restricts us to only a few brands: Maruti Suzuki (Nexa too), Kia, Hyundai, Mahindra, Toyota and Tata. We test drove the Hyundai Venue (new gen), Kia Sonet and also looked at the Toyota Fronx and Nexon. Which car would you kindly suggest?

Autocar India

•1h

The Hyundai Venue is a good option to consider. It is compact, has a good feature list, and the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is punchy and fun to drive. The DCT automatic gearbox is also smooth and quick to respond. Being the newest entrant to the compact SUV segment, it gets a modern cabin that is well-equipped and gets all the features you would want.This Hyundai car also has decent space at the rear, and the ride comfort and sales and service experience is good, too. Overall, it is a well-rounded package that does everything the way you'd want it to. The HX 8 trim is one shy of the top-spec, but it will fit in your budget and offer a long equipment list.

Hyundai Venue

Ritz

•2d

I am confused between Windsor EV (VFM) and XEV 9s (amazing driveability, feature-rich, and future-proof). My daily driving usage is low, around 300km per month, with occasional outstation trips (600kms once in every 3 to 4 months). I enjoy a good torque (acceleration) coming from a diesel world. When I did a test drive of Windsor, the acceleration was okay, but even in the lowest regen level setting, I felt a slight jerk. It makes sense from a VFM standpoint, but it felt like a compromise compared to XEV 9s.

Autocar India

•20m

If you don't mind stretching your budget, the Mahindra XEV 9S is the one to buy. It's larger than the Windsor EV and offers the flexibility of a third row of seats. The XEV 9S is also packed with equipment. We aren't fans of the user interface, but it's still better than the MG Windsor.For someone switching from a diesel, the XEV 9S' biggest pull is its power. It's significantly more powerful than the Windsor EV, and acceleration is brisk in its sportiest driving mode.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Subash

•2d

I am confused about whether to buy the petrol or diesel variant of the Kia Seltos. I always prefer to drive a manual transmission and am not interested in an automatic at all. I was owning a Kia Carens 1.5 Petrol MT previously and am now looking for a new SUV. Suggest which one to take, either petrol or diesel in the Seltos MT. Also considering the Skoda Kushaq, but afraid of the high maintenance cost in Skoda.

Autocar India

•45m

Since you have not mentioned your monthly running, the choice between petrol and diesel mainly depends on how much you drive and the kind of driving you do. As a general rule, if your running is more than about 1,300 to 1,400 km per month, then the diesel version of the Kia Seltos can make sense. You should also have regular highway drives so that the diesel engine can operate properly and avoid potential DPF related issues.If your running is lower than that or largely city-focused, the petrol Seltos will suit you very well. Since you prefer a proper manual gearbox, you should know that the turbo petrol engine is only available with the clutchless iMT. The conventional manual gearbox comes with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.While it is not as punchy as the turbo petrol, it is smooth and perfectly adequate for everyday driving, especially in the city. In fact, you are already familiar with this engine because your Kia Carens uses the same powertrain and transmission combination.Regarding the Skoda Kushaq, the brand has improved a lot over the past few years, and the earlier reliability concerns are largely sorted. However, since you already own a Kia car and are satisfied with the ownership experience, sticking with the Seltos would be the safer and more comfortable choice for you.

Kia Seltos

Kia Carens

Skoda Kushaq

View all Posts