I currently own a 2022 Mahindra XUV 700 Petrol AT, and I usually fill it with regular petrol. I’m considering switching to higher‑octane fuel. Do you recommend using premium fuel for the mStallion engine? If yes, what octane rating should I use?

Autocar India

•1d

For mixed city and some highway use, you can go ahead with the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual. Don’t drop it only because of DPF worry. The DPF is a filter in the exhaust that catches soot, and it needs a bit of heat and steady running now and then to clean itself. On the latest XUV 7XO, Mahindra has improved the software and the system over the past few years, so your friends are right that things are better now, but it is not completely worry-free in every case.If your daily use is mostly short trips in slow traffic, the filter may not get hot enough to clean. That’s when you may see a warning. The fix is simple: take the car for a longer drive on a clear road for 15-20 minutes, keep the engine revs a little higher than usual, and don’t switch off if you see a “drive to clean” message. Do this once in a while, even before any light shows, if your routine drive consists of only short hops. Also, fill diesel from a trusted pump, avoid driving at very low speeds in a high gear, and at delivery, ask the service advisor to confirm the car has the latest software.If you do some highway runs every week or two, DPF issues are rare. Where it can be a pain is if you mostly do many 2-3 km trips and almost never leave the city. So, if your usage is mixed, you’re fine to buy it. If it’s almost all tiny trips, think twice about diesel. Overall, with a bit of these simple habits, the AX7t diesel manual will serve you well.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•17h

Short answer: There is no official word from Mahindra about adding a power tailgate to the XUV 7XO in a future update, and it is unlikely in the near term. A powered tailgate needs different hinges, struts, wiring, safety sensors and control logic. That is not a simple software tweak. Carmakers usually add this only with a big refresh or a full new model. The 7XO itself is the recent update to the XUV700, so the next big change is still some time away.On the “next gen” 7XO, Mahindra has not shared public details yet. Expect the current model to stay on sale for a few years.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•17h

Your running is mostly city with relatively low monthly kilometres, so petrol makes more sense than diesel. It is smoother, easier to live with and avoids the need to think about DPF or long-term diesel usage patterns.Now, within petrol, the choice depends on what you value more. The 1.5 NA petrol with IVT is the most suited for your use. It is smooth, very easy to drive in traffic and pairs well with the IVT gearbox, which is seamless in stop-go conditions. It may not feel very powerful on paper, but in real-world use, it is adequate for both city driving and occasional highway trips if you drive in a relaxed manner.The 1.5 turbo petrol with DCT is the more performance-oriented option. It feels quicker and more responsive, especially on highways and during overtakes. However, in city traffic, the DCT can feel slightly less smooth, and fuel efficiency will be lower. It suits someone who prioritises performance over ease.So the difference is clear. The IVT is about smoothness and comfort; the DCT is about performance.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•6d

If you're comparing ride comfort, the Skoda Kylaq is easily the better pick, particularly variants with 16-inch wheels. Skoda has got its suspension tune spot on, its relatively softer setup makes it more suited to our road conditions. It rounds off speed breakers and rough patches better at slow speeds. Furthermore, the Kylaq feels stable at speeds and is surprisingly nimble and fun-to-drive around corners, too.In contrast, the Kushaq’s suspension feels a little firm at low speeds, so sharp bumps and small potholes do come through more in the cabin.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•2d

With a 70 km daily mix of traffic and highway use, we would lean towards the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid. Your usage is high, and the hybrid will use far less fuel in city traffic while staying calm and smooth. It pulls away on electric power at low speeds, so stop-go driving feels quiet and easy.You like the Seltos for its cabin and stronger shove, and that is fair. The Seltos diesel feels stronger when you press the throttle for quick passes, and its cabin does look and feel richer. If most of your 70 km is open highway and you really value that strong pull and the Kia car interior, the Seltos diesel automatic is still a solid pick.On a Kia Seltos hybrid: Kia does intend to introduce a hybrid, but timing is not yet decided as they are trying to localise components. We estimate it could arrive in 2027, but that could change. For your mix of city and highway, the Hyryder strong-hybrid lines up best with what you need right now.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•4d

Mostly highway use, about 1,000 km a month, safety first, and an automatic in the Rs 12-13 lakh range, in that brief, we would suggest the Skoda Kylaq Signature. Its torque converter is much smoother than an AMT or DCT, so city driving feels easy, and performance from the 1.0 TSI makes highway overtakes effortless. The Kylaq has a 5-star crash score from Bharat NCAP and feels steady at highway speeds, which builds confidence. It also rides well over broken patches, so you are not tossed around.Two things to keep in mind: while the front seats are comfy and supportive, space in the back seat is a bit tight. It makes up for it with a large boot and a low loading lip. If you want more space, look at the Nissan Magnite Tekna Turbo CVT, which has a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP.Overall, for highway-heavy use with safety at the top, the Kylaq lines up best in your budget.

Skoda Kylaq

Nissan Magnite