Hi, I am looking for a new car in NCR, and my monthly running is 1,000-1,500km. My budget is around ₹18-20 lakh with a BH number. I am confused about which car I should go for. My personal inclination is towards the Scorpio N diesel manual Z8 Select. Will it be a good choice?

Autocar India

•41s

Go for the Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 Select (Z8 S) diesel manual. For your 18-20 lakh budget and 1,000-1,500 km/month in NCR, it offers robust highway performance, space, and tough suspension.

Your monthly running suits a torquey diesel engine, which feels relaxed on longer NCR runs and weekend trips. The Z8 S fits your budget while giving you the core comfort and safety kit without stretching to higher trims. Since you’re in NCR, remember that diesel cars are restricted to 10 years of use there. If you plan to keep it 8-10 years, this aligns well.

The one thing you give up is an easy city commute. The clutch can feel heavier in stop‑go NCR traffic, which may tire your left leg on 45-60 minute crawls.

If you plan to keep the car beyond 10 years in NCR, consider the Mahindra XUV 7X0 AX5 petrol automatic instead, for long-term compliance and lighter city driving.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

Scorpio N

from ₹15.90 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.14 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Sajil

•1d

I want to buy the Scorpio N, mostly the Z8L, given the luxury and ADAS. But I am confused about which one to get, petrol or diesel. YouTube is filled with reviews, and people say to get diesel if you have higher running. Now, my driving will be office commutes, maybe 20km round trips in cities like Bangalore, and of course, long trips like 800km round trips every two months or so, along with weekend getaways twice a month. Does diesel make sense? If it does, what is the general care for it if I don’t drive for a week or so? And why should I get petrol, if not diesel?

Autocar India

•22h

If you are after a Mahindra Scorpio N, we feel you should go for the diesel version. This is less to do with the outright difference in running costs, and more that Mahindra's 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine, in its latest avatar, is the more accomplished powertrain overall. The truth is, neither engine is very fuel-efficient as Mahindra prioritises performance over all else with its engines, and in everyday driving, the difference will be negligible.In our real-world tests, the petrol AT returned 7.9kpl in the city and 9.4kpl on the highway, while the diesel AT returned 8.6kpl in the city and 11.7kpl on the highway. Thus, the difference in fuel economy will be felt more on your 800km round-trip journey or your weekend getaways, and for this, yes, the diesel is a better bet.No, leaving it without driving for a week should not be an issue as long as it isn't done too often, but it's recommended to give it one brisk drive at least once a month to clean out the DPF, which should be taken care of during your regular outstation trips.The advantage of the petrol would be stronger outright performance, but the diesel isn't far behind, and in fact, its more relaxed nature may be preferable. The two are even closely matched on refinement.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Marisetty Venkata VIdyadhar

•5d

I own a Ford EcoSport Titanium diesel manual transmission 2015 model. I would like to upgrade to a new automatic petrol car. Please suggest a car that has very good build quality and has a 5-star safety rating. I stay in Hyderabad and need to go through bumper-to-bumper traffic. I have heard of DCT/DSG heating problems in heavy traffic, so I am considering a torque converter, CVT, or wet-clutch DCT. I am not sure if this is the correct decision, but I need a good, durable, and efficient automatic transmission that is smooth in slow-moving traffic. My usage is 70% city and 30% highway, so highway performance, stability, and good handling are also important. I am also looking for a car I can keep for 10-15 years, so durability and relevant features are important. I am not looking for very high-end tech, but I do want useful safety and comfort features. I also considered a 7 seater so that I can use the third row for luggage room, or occasionally, when my family members grow after a kid's marriage, maybe we would use the third row seating for a city outing. However, I am also fond of good boot space. So, not able to decide here. My budget is 25 lakh. Can you please suggest a car that is strong, safe, robust, and reliable in the above budget?

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the updated Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the new 8-speed automatic. It has a five-star crash rating, a robust build, and a smooth 8-speed torque-converter automatic, along with good stability and handling for your 70:30 city–highway mix.Your bumper-to-bumper driving will benefit from the torque-converter’s low-speed smoothness, avoiding the DCT/DSG heat concerns you mentioned. It is a five-star safety-rated car with six airbags, ESC and ISOFIX mounts for long-term peace of mind. Highway stability is confident at triple-digit speeds, while 188mm of ground clearance and a 385-litre boot keep it practical. For 10-15 years of ownership, the 1.0 TSI engine is tried and tested, and the automatic is a safer bet than dual-clutch units. Do opt for the maximum extended warranty available.The one thing you give up is advanced driver assistance. The Kushaq doesn’t offer ADAS features like adaptive cruise control or lane-keep assist, so keep that in mind.If you genuinely need a third row, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO instead. It is also a five-star safety-rated vehicle and uses a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic. However, fuel efficiency from the petrol engine in the city will be lower, and its larger size means it is not as easy to drive in traffic.During the test drive, crawl at 5-10kph with the AC on to judge smoothness from the gearbox, and also do an 80-100kph highway run.

Skoda Kushaq

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Himanshu

•3d

Please suggest between Seltos IVT HTX/GTX petrol and Mahindra XUV 7XO automatic petrol AX5/AX7. The car will be mainly for driving in Mumbai city with occasional long-distance travel.

Autocar India

•21h

Choose the Kia Seltos IVT petrol in GTX guise. Its IVT smoothness and relatively compact size make it easier to drive in Mumbai traffic, especially important since that’s where you’ll be spending most of your time.The IVT (CVT) is smooth and seamless in operation and works rather well with the refined 1.5-litre NA engine. The engine feels responsive to light inputs and creeps smartly, making it very easy to drive in stop-and-go traffic. It also simulates shifts in eight steps, so it feels more natural than most CVTs and doesn’t exhibit too much of the rubber-band effect they are known for.What you do give up is the space and outright performance of the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It is significantly larger, has more room on the inside and even a third row suited for occasional use. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol is also very powerful and hauls this big SUV with remarkable ease, but expect poor fuel efficiency in city use.On your test drive, spend 10 minutes in start-stop traffic to assess creep and brake feel, attempt a tight U-turn, and confirm if rear-seat space is adequate for your family.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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