Mumbai

•18w

Looking for a 7-seater with good third-row space, although most of the time the third row will remain folded and be used for my labrador and, occasionally, luggage. I need a car that must have good space across all three rows, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree camera, at least low double-digit fuel efficiency and it should not feel underpowered with a full load. My usage will be occassionally highway drives of 300-500 km trips, along with moderate city usage of a maximum of 400 km per month. My current car has covered 35,000 km in 2.5 years, most of which are highway runs. I am considering Kia Clavis HTK+ as it is feature-loaded and comfortable, but the Petrol Turbo AT is quite thirsty, and I have concerns about the DCT in bumper-to-bumper traffic, along with safety concerns. Another car that I am considering is Tata Safari Petrol AT but there are customer complaints regarding quality issues and the new engine. I have also shortlisted XUV7X0 as it is powerful and good to drive, but the third row feels impractical and the fuel efficiency is quite poor. Now I am considering trying the Toyota Hycross non-hybrid as well. Please let me know your thoughts.

•14w

Your use is mostly long highway runs with the third row folded for your Labrador, plus a clear need for space in all three rows, parking aids and a 360 camera, and you don’t want it to feel weak when fully loaded. In that situation, the Toyota Innova Hycross 2.0 petrol automatic (non-hybrid) 8-seater is the one from your list that fits best overall. Its third row is the roomiest here, and when you fold it, you get a long, flat floor that is easy for a big dog and luggage. The CVT automatic, makes city work easy, but on the highway it has to work a bit hard to build up speed. Keep speeds steady, and you should see double-digit fuel efficiency on the highway, which matches your requirement.

A couple of watch‑outs. The non‑hybrid Hycross does not get a factory 360 camera, and front sensors are limited to higher trims, so you may need a dealer‑fit 360 setup to meet that must‑have. Also, performance with a full load is just about adequate but not as strong as big‑turbo rivals if you push hard.

If you must have a factory 360 camera, from your list, the Kia Clavis in a higher trim with the 1.5 turbo DCT gives you that and has a usable third row. Although your concern on DCT in heavy traffic is fair. Given your light city use, that risk is low. If you’re open to diesel, the Safari diesel AT also ticks power, highway comfort and 360 camera, but its third row is not as roomy as the Hycross. Overall, for your highway‑led use and dog‑friendly space, the Hycross non‑hybrid lines up best if you’re okay with adding a 360-camera via the dealer.

Explore cars mentioned

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹22.07 Lakh

Tata

Safari

from ₹15.82 Lakh

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.30 Lakh

Help AniM with similar question

AniM

94 Views

Comparing Tata Harrier, Safari and 7XO for Safety, Comfort and Mileage

Answer Now

More posts on similar cars

•7h

Suggest me a 5-7 seater automatic petrol car considering my budget is between Rs. 22-24 lakh. My priorities are safety, driving comfort with good suspension and decent mileage. My daily city driving is approximately 30km with 75% driving within the city. I have tested Kia Seltos but did not like its suspension. I liked Harrier and Safari but am bit taken aback by the issues highlighted on social media about Tata. Please suggest a suitable car for my priorities among Harrier, Safari and 7XO and also, whether a diesel car will make sense?

•1h

Given your 75% city usage, go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic rather than the diesel. The diesel will deliver better mileage, but your usage isn't ideal for a diesel's DPF system. A DPF traps soot and periodically needs to regenerate by getting hot enough to burn that soot. Predominantly slow, stop-start city driving can prevent this from happening properly, resulting in more frequent regeneration requests and, if these are repeatedly interrupted, potential clogging and workshop intervention.A 30km daily commute can be fine for a diesel if it includes enough steady-speed running, and regular highway trips would reduce the concern. But with 75% of your driving in the city, choosing diesel primarily for mileage isn't worth adding another consideration to ownership. The petrol XUV 7XO will cost more to run, but it avoids the DPF and DEF-related considerations and is the simpler choice for predominantly urban use.Choose the XUV 7XO petrol automatic. The Harrier and Safari remain good alternatives if you prefer their ride and styling, but between the three, the 7XO petrol offers the best combination of comfort, space, safety and hassle-free city ownership for your usage.

I currently drive a Honda City CVT. My budget is Rs. 20 lakh, and I am looking to buy a 7-seater automatic car. I am 61 years old. Please suggest the best options for me.

•1d

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis petrol automatic. At Rs 20 lakh, it is the most sensible 7-seater upgrade from your Honda City CVT. The Carens is easy to drive, has a comfortable ride and a refined 1.5 turbo petrol engine. The third row is properly usable for adults, and the overall ownership experience is reliable and hassle-free. The Maruti Ertiga automatic is the other sensible option, but the Clavis feels more premium and is a better upgrade from a City. The Carens Clavis strikes the right balance between comfort, ease of driving and value for money.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

•4d

I want to buy a 7-seater SUV and am confused between the Tata Safari Pure X Petrol and Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5. Mileage and low maintenance costs are important to me. Which one should I consider?

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 petrol. It is the better all-rounder for your requirements. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is more powerful than the Safari’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and delivers stronger performance without a significant penalty in fuel efficiency. The XUV 7XO also has a more modern cabin, a larger boot and a smoother ride, which makes it the better family car overall. Mahindra’s service network is strong, and the 7XO has a good reliability track record.The Tata Safari petrol is a comfortable and spacious SUV, but its engine may feel strained with a full load. Its main advantage is a more comfortable third row than the 7XO’s. Overall, though, the XUV 7XO is the more rounded package.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

View all Posts

Popular discussions right now

•1w

I want to purchase a 7-seater SUV. My options are the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and Scorpio N, and I am considering installing an aftermarket CNG kit for better fuel economy. Could you please suggest which one would be better suited for CNG?

•6d

We would strongly advise against installing aftermarket CNG on any of these SUVs. All three – the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 7XO and Scorpio N - are large, heavy vehicles with powerful turbocharged petrol engines. Fitting CNG to such engines is not recommended, as it can lead to drivability issues, increased wear and potential reliability concerns over time. More importantly, these SUVs are not designed with CNG in mind, and the installation can compromise safety and performance.If fuel economy is a top priority, opt for their diesel versions instead. The Mahindra and Tata offer strong torque, excellent highway efficiency and are well-suited to long-distance touring. If you are set on CNG, it is better to look at smaller, naturally aspirated petrol cars that are either factory-fitted or specifically designed for CNG use.Between the three, the XUV 7XO diesel would be our recommendation. It offers a more modern package, better ride comfort and a more premium cabin than the Scorpio N, while the Safari diesel is also a strong contender if you prefer Tata's design and feature set. But CNG should not be the deciding factor here.

I currently use a Skoda Slavia Ambition 1.0 automatic since last 4 years. Now, I am thinking of switching the car but I am confused between Honda Elevate V CVT petrol and Kia Seltos HTK iVT petrol.

•3d

Given that you are coming from a Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI automatic, the Kia Seltos HTK IVT petrol is the more natural upgrade. The Seltos offers a noticeably larger and more premium cabin, better rear seat space and a more substantial feel overall. The IVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving, and the car feels like a genuine step up from the Slavia in terms of comfort and overall ownership experience.The Honda Elevate V CVT petrol is a solid and reliable choice, but it does not feel like as much of an upgrade from the Slavia. The cabin is not as spacious or as premium as the Seltos, and the overall ownership experience is more about simplicity and reliability than about feeling like a significant step up.The only caveat with the Seltos HTK is that it is not the most feature-rich variant in the lineup. If you can stretch to a higher variant, the Seltos becomes an even stronger recommendation. If not, it is still the better choice over the Elevate because it offers a more substantial upgrade from your current car.

I have a 2013 Honda City automatic, which is now 13 years old. I wish to change my car and buy the Tata Punch EV 40kWh for my use. My monthly running is low, at around 500 km. Would you suggest this car for my usage?

•4d

With a monthly running of around 500km, the financial case for an EV is not particularly strong, but the Tata Punch EV 40kWh can still make sense if you are looking for a modern, low-maintenance city car. This Tata electric car is compact, easy to drive and well-suited to urban use, and the 40kWh battery offers a healthy real-world range that should comfortably cover your monthly usage with minimal charging stops. However, at this level of running, the fuel savings over a petrol car will take a long time to offset the higher upfront cost of the EV. If you have reliable home charging and are keen on the EV ownership experience, the Punch EV is a sensible upgrade from your ageing City. If your priority is purely financial efficiency, a small petrol automatic like the Honda Amaze or Maruti Suzuki Baleno would be the more cost-effective choice.

Tata Punch EV

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

View all Posts

New car launches to explore