Mumbai

•23h

I currently own a 2019 Tata Hexa, and it has covered more than 1.23 lakh km. Due to the 10-year diesel vehicle policy, I need to replace it with a new SUV that offers a similar feel to the Tata Hexa. My daily commute is around 80 km, and I usually take long-distance trips twice a year. My maximum budget is Rs. 35 lakh. Considering my requirements, which SUV would you recommend as the ideal replacement for the Tata Hexa?

•54m

Go for the Tata Safari petrol automatic. It comes closest to your Hexa’s big-car feel without falling foul of the 10-year diesel rule, and it keeps you well within Rs. 35 lakh budget for a well-equipped variant. You get proper 7-seat space, a calm ride, quiet cabin and that easy, long-legged highway feel your Hexa was good at. For an 80 km daily grind, the smooth petrol and light controls make the commute less tiring, and the active safety tech is a real bonus on those two big trips each year.

If you’re in NCR, skipping diesel is the right call. Just be ready for higher fuel costs than your Hexa or a hybrid - that is the one real trade-off.

If you want to rein in running costs, consider the strong hybrid versions of the Toyota Innova HyCross which may not have that strong SUV feel you are looking for, but is a very competent, well built and reliable 7 seater.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Safari

from ₹15.71 Lakh

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹21.60 Lakh

•13m

@autocar.india thanks team 🙏

•14m

@vrocks After driven Hexa, I would strongly recommend taking a close look at the Innova Hycross. It may not have the rugged SUV feel of the Hexa, but in terms of comfort, space, long-distance touring ability, reliability, and overall ownership experience, it's one of the best upgrades you can make within your budget. Otherwise, the XUV700 Diesel would be the other best pick.

•13m

@adarsh_paliwal30 thanks a lot 🙏

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More questions on similar cars

•1d

Hi, I currently drive a Hyundai Elite i20, but I have found it quite tiring on long journeys. On trips exceeding 300 km in a day, I often experience body aches and severe fatigue. I am now looking to buy a new car with a budget of up to Rs. 50 lakh. My goal is to travel extensively and cover the entire country within a year, so long-distance comfort is my top priority. Could you please suggest the most comfortable car for a family of four within this budget?

•21h

For your requirements, the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid ZX(O) would be the recommendation. If the goal is to comfortably cover thousands of kilometres across the country with a family of four, few cars can match the HyCross. The hybrid powertrain is smooth, quiet and extremely fuel efficient on long journeys, while the ride quality is excellent. The standout feature for your use case is the ottoman second-row seats, which allow rear passengers to travel in near business-class comfort. It is also spacious, easy to drive and backed by Toyota's vast service network, which is a major advantage when travelling across India.The Skoda Kodiaq would be the alternative if you enjoy driving and want a more premium, European feel. It offers excellent ride comfort, strong performance and a beautifully finished cabin. However, it cannot match the HyCross for second-row comfort, fuel efficiency or nationwide service support.

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•21h

I own a 2012 Toyota Etios diesel. While the car is still running perfectly, I intend to upgrade to a larger car with good rear-seat space for a 6-foot-tall passenger. I need a safe, reliable and low-maintenance car that is easy for both me and my wife to drive. Most of our driving is in the city, with an occasional outstation trip once every quarter. I liked the Taigun, but it lacks rear-seat space and does not offer ventilated seats or a 360-degree camera. The Duster and Seltos seem promising, but I am not sure how future E85 fuel adoption will affect them. Could you suggest my options?

•3h

Pick the Kia Seltos. It fixes your two big issues at once: rear-seat space is noticeably better than the Taigun's for a 6-foot passenger, and higher variants offer both ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera. It is also easy to drive in the city thanks to light controls and smooth automatics, and it keeps life simple with wide service reach and reasonable upkeep. Safety kit is solid too, with 6 airbags and ESC standard, and it achieved a 5-star rating in the Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) crash tests.Go for the 1.5 petrol with the automatic if your use is mostly city with a quarterly trip. About E85, do not worry, as this fuel is for flex fuel vehicles only, there will be a parallel supply of E20 or a slightly higher blend like E25, which will cause a drop in mileage, but the Seltos should be ok for material compliance.

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•1w

I need a car for my mother, who travels regularly between Mumbai and Pune with a driver. Occasionally, we also use it for a long family trip once a year. What would you recommend?

•2h

The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Automatic would be the recommendation here.Since your usage is predominantly on highways, the Kushaq's strengths align very well with your requirements. It feels stable and confidence-inspiring at higher speeds, offers a comfortable ride, has strong safety credentials, and its turbo-petrol engine delivers a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency. It also feels like a substantial upgrade from the Hyundai Grand i10 that you own currently in terms of refinement, comfort and long-distance ability.Another strong option is the Honda Elevate CVT. It may not feel as sporty as the Skoda, but it excels in comfort, reliability and ease of ownership. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and proven, while maintenance costs are likely to be among the lowest in the segment.

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I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•3d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

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•3d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

•2d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

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