Mumbai

•16w

I currently own a 2014 Swift Dzire, which has been driven 96,000 km, and I am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My driving will mostly be in the city, with an average monthly run of around 200 to 250 km. I take 2 to 3 long trips a year, covering 500 to 1,000 km. I have three kids. I have taken test drives of the Duster, Elevate, Kushaq, Taigun, Seltos, and Creta. I initially booked the Duster but cancelled it due to limited rear-seat space. I have now booked the Elevate, but it feels lacking in performance. Should I go ahead with a car now, or wait for some time considering the current geopolitical conflicts and rising oil prices, and explore hybrid 7-seater options in the future?

•15w

Go ahead with the Honda Elevate, there is no strong reason to wait. With your low monthly running and occasional long trips, what matters most is space, comfort and ease of ownership, and the Elevate delivers that well with a roomy cabin and a relaxed, fuss-free driving experience.

Waiting for a 7 seater hybrid sounds logical, but realistically, apart from the Toyota Innova HyCross and Maruti Suzuki Invicto, there are no real options today, and new ones will take time to arrive, so you may end up waiting without a clear benefit.

If you do want a 7 seater right now, the Kia Carens Clavis petrol is a strong alternative. This Kia car offers flexible seating for your family and is comfortable for both city use and occasional long trips.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.94 Lakh

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹22.07 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Invicto

from ₹29.85 Lakh

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.30 Lakh

•15w

Hi everyone, I’m planning to buy a car mainly for my daily commute within Bangalore (around 35–40 km a day). Once in a quarter, my wife and I also take our parents on highway trips that can range anywhere between 200–800 km and occassionally this could be longer. I’m looking for a car that offers good comfort and space, with decent features (ADAS isn’t a priority for me). I plan to keep the car for at least 8–10 years, so reliable maintenance and after-sales service are very important. I’m still undecided between hybrid and diesel options. My budget is around ₹20–25 lakhs. Could you please suggest a good car that would suit my usage? Thanks in advance!

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More questions on similar cars

•2d

Hi Autocar, I own a Nissan Magnite CVT and am very happy with it, as it perfectly suits my usage of 20 km daily in Bengaluru's bumper-to-bumper traffic and 500 km of highway driving per month for weekend trips. I am now planning to upgrade to a larger car with a spacious rear seat that can comfortably accommodate three passengers. I recently test-drove the Nissan Tekton, but I found the DCT unsuitable for my daily city driving. It also doesn't offer the CVT that I have grown to like in the Magnite, although the dealer mentioned that a CVT variant may be launched soon. Would it be worth waiting for the Tekton CVT? I am not in a hurry and can wait for around six months. Or should I consider alternatives like the Hyundai Creta CVT or the Honda Elevate CVT? Are there any other automatic SUVs that would suit my requirements for daily city commuting while also being comfortable for regular weekend highway trips?

•1d

Given your usage pattern of heavy Bangalore traffic and monthly highway trips, the priority should be a smooth, reliable automatic gearbox and a spacious rear seat for three.The Hyundai Creta IVT (CVT) would be the most sensible upgrade for you. The IVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to stop-start traffic, and the Creta offers a genuinely roomy rear seat that can comfortably accommodate three adults. This Hyundai car is also a proven, reliable package with good highway manners for your weekend trips.The Honda Elevate CVT is also worth considering. The CVT is equally smooth in traffic, and Honda’s long-term reliability is a strong point. However, the rear seat is not as wide as the Creta’s, so it is not as comfortable for three adults on longer journeys.Overall, the Creta IVT is the most balanced upgrade from your Magnite CVT, offering the right combination of gearbox smoothness, rear seat space and long-term ownership confidence.

I own a Maruti Vitara Breeza ZDI 2017 model vehicle and the vehicle has completed nearly 69000 km till date. I have moved to Delhi and the issue with not allowing BS4 vehicles to run during winters is looming large. My diesel car will turn 10 year old by June 2027 and so I want to upgrade my to suit my needs. We are a family of 3 and occasionally my mother joins us, sometimes relatives visit us and a pet dog also accompanies us on most of our long drives. I am looking for a car with features like sunroof, large infotainment and ventilated seats. Should it be a petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicle and should it be a 5 or 7 seater? My budget is less than 30 lakhs and I will be owning the vehicle for at least next 10 years.

•9h

The Mahindra XUV 7XO Petrol Automatic would be the best fit for your requirements. Your annual running is relatively low, so a petrol makes more sense than a diesel or strong hybrid, especially considering Delhi's regulations and your plan to keep the car for the next 10 years. The XUV 7XO offers a spacious cabin, a usable third row for occasional family trips, plenty of luggage space with the third row folded for your pet, and comes loaded with the features you're looking for.The Kia Carens Clavis Turbo Petrol DCT is the more practical alternative. It offers even better interior space and practicality, especially if you expect to use the third row more often, the 1.5 turbo DCT has enough power and will be more efficient but it doesn't feel as rugged or as SUV-like as the Mahindra.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

•5d

I am thinking of buying the Toyota Hycross GX variant. The reasons for my choice are its reliable engine, trustworthy service network, and spacious cabin that can comfortably accommodate six family members. Could you please let me know if this is the right choice in the Rs. 30 lakh price bracket?

•2d

Yes, the Toyota Innova HyCross GX is a very sensible choice in the Rs. 30 lakh bracket, especially given your priorities. The 2.0-litre petrol engine is smooth, reliable and well-suited to long-term ownership, while Toyota’s service network and reputation for durability are among the strongest in the country. Where the HyCross really stands out is as a family car, it offers genuinely comfortable seating for six, a spacious and practical cabin, and a ride quality that makes long journeys easy. The GX variant also strikes a good balance between essential features and value, without pushing the budget unnecessarily. The only real drawback is that the petrol engine is not as fuel-efficient as the hybrid variants, but the hybrid versions are significantly more expensive and may not justify the premium unless your running is very high. Overall, the HyCross GX is a dependable, comfortable and practical family car that should keep you happy for many years.

Toyota Innova HyCross

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I’m planning to buy an EV with a budget of Rs. 19 - 20 lakh. My heart says the Tata Sierra EV Pure 63, but my mind says the Kia Syros top variant because of features like ventilated seats. Kindly suggest which one would be the better choice.

•6d

The choice really comes down to your usage and what you value in the car. If you need more space for both passengers and luggage and have a few long drives that you would undertake, then opt for the Tata Sierra. This Tata car is much larger and has a very spacious interior. The ride quality is also very good over both bad city roads as well as high highway speeds. If, however, your usage is mainly going to be within the city, then the Kia Syros is the better buy. Its compact footprint will be much easier to manage while driving congested streets, and finding parking would be easier. You would also enjoy the top variant of the Kia car and its features.

Tata Sierra

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•3d

I am confused between Taigun 1.5 Sport and Seltos Diesel X-Line top model. I have owned the Polo AT and Vento AT in the past, so my love for Volkswagen is making this decision difficult.

•3d

Go for the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI Sport. Coming from a Polo and Vento automatic, you already appreciate Volkswagen’s driving DNA, and the Taigun 1.5 TSI is a natural progression. The engine is punchy, the DSG gearbox is quick and engaging, and the overall driving experience is far more involving than the Seltos. The Taigun also feels more compact and agile in the city, while still being comfortable on the highway. The Volkswagen Taigun mileage is 19.54 kpl for the 1.0 TSI AT, 19.98 kpl for the 1.0 TSI MT, and 18.85 kpl for the 1.5 TSI DCT.The Kia Seltos diesel X-Line is a strong all-rounder with better space, a more premium cabin and a more relaxed long-distance character, but it does not offer the same level of driver engagement. The diesel engine is efficient and torquey, but it lacks the excitement of the 1.5 TSI. Given your history with Volkswagen cars, the Taigun will simply feel more familiar and more enjoyable to drive every day. The Taigun price starts at Rs 11.00 lakh (ex-showroom).

Volkswagen Taigun

Kia Seltos

•6d

I want to buy a seven-seater car for my family. It will be used by my uncle and me, and my budget is Rs. 25 lakh. I am looking for an automatic transmission, a panoramic sunroof, and good fuel efficiency.

•6d

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis diesel automatic. It is the most sensible and well-rounded choice for your requirements. The Carens is a genuinely spacious seven-seater with a comfortable third row, which is important when the car will be shared between families. The diesel automatic is the right powertrain for strong fuel efficiency and effortless performance, especially on highways and with a full load. The Carens also comes well equipped with features like a panoramic sunroof, and Kia’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The only real drawback is that the Carens does not have the same SUV-like road presence as some rivals, but as a practical family car it is hard to fault. If you want something with a more rugged SUV feel, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is worth considering, but mileage would be lower. The Carens is the better all-round family car.

Kia Carens Clavis

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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