My yearly running is around 10,000-12,000 km, with usage split roughly 50% city and 50% highway driving. I am planning to buy a 7-seater diesel SUV and am currently confused between the Tata Safari Diesel and the Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel. However, I have heard a lot about DPF-related issues in modern diesel vehicles, especially with mixed city usage. Could you please advise which of these would be the better option for my requirements?

Autocar India

•6h

Given your 60% city and 40% highway usage, with a budget of Rs 20-25 lakh, the Kia Seltos petrol CVT automatic suits your requirements very well. It is easy to drive in town, the 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine is refined, the CVT automatic is smooth in traffic, and feels steady on the highway. More importantly for you, it is packed with technology and convenience features. You get twin screens, a clear 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats and ADAS features, and Kia also has a strong service network in most cities.Two things to note: it won't have the performance of the turbo petrol, and the back seat is not as wide as the Tata Harrier or 7XO if you often seat three adults. If you want a more powerful and a bigger car, look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic, although the variant with the features you want may stretch beyond your budget. Overall, the Seltos lines up best for your needs and features focus.

Kia Seltos

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•23h

The Mahindra XUV 7XO AX3 diesel-manual fits your brief best. It has the roomiest cabin of your list and is the only one with three-row seating. Of course, with the last row folded, its boot is generous for luggage. On the highway, it feels steady and calm, rides bumps well, and the diesel is refined and both, punchy and efficient. Ground clearance and its inherent toughness make it capable of tackling light trails and rough roads.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1d

MG Hector diesel has been on sale since the Hector’s launch in 2019, so it isn’t “coming up”, it’s already here! However, MG Motor India hasn’t really invested in it, and it still soldiered on with a diesel-manual-only option, with no automatic option even today. MG is also expected to transition the Hector range towards petrol and petrol‑hybrid powertrains over the next year or so, which makes the diesel feel like a bit of a dead end in the long term.Between these two variants, the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX3 is the better all-around pick. Its 2.2‑litre mHawk diesel is stronger and more refined. Also, the chassis is more sophisticated, and the overall driving experience is a clear step up from the Hector. You also have the option to move to an automatic, which you simply don’t get with the Hector diesel line‑up.

MG Hector

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•20h

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•5d

With the kind of mileage you are already seeing from your 4th generation Honda City, I would not rush to fit a CNG kit. Around 16 kpl over 85,000 km is actually a healthy real world figure for a petrol sedan, and since the City is known for its smoothness and refinement, adding an aftermarket CNG kit will inevitably change the character of the car. Honda does not offer a factory CNG option for the City, so any retrofit will be third party, which means compromises in boot space, some loss in outright performance and the added variable of installation quality and long term reliability. Honda also recommends using fuel that meets the vehicle specifications, and aftermarket modifications can complicate warranty or support considerations on newer cars.A CNG conversion only starts making strong financial sense if your running is very high and you plan to keep the car for several more years to recover the kit cost. If your annual usage is moderate, the payback period can be longer than expected. The only real case for going CNG here is if fuel cost reduction is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, given how well your City is already performing, I would leave it as is and enjoy the refinement rather than fixing something that is not really broken.

Honda City

Autocar India

•4d

If you are waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, the good news is that it does not seem too far away. Current indications suggest a launch could happen either later this month or in June.Expect it to slot below the Tata Harrier EV in Tata’s electric line-up, likely with multiple battery pack options and a more premium positioning than the Tata Curvv EV. Tata has also indicated that both Rear Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive versions are planned, which should make it one of the more interesting mainstream electric SUVs in India.

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Curvv EV