I am planning to buy the Tata Safari and am confused between the top-spec Red Edition and the Accomplished+ variant. Is it worth opting? Please suggest.

Autocar India

•1d

For your requirement, the Kia Carens is actually a very good fit, and yes, it makes sense to consider it. Your usage is quite low at around 500 km per month, so a petrol automatic or manual is the right choice. Diesel is not required and may not suit such low running.The biggest reason the Carens works for you is the flexibility of 7 seats. It is also a comfortable car, especially for family usage. The ride quality is well-suited for city and highway driving, and the second and third rows are usable, which is important in your case.For your 1 km kuccha road, the Carens can handle it without any issues as long as you drive carefully. The suspension is compliant enough for mild rough roads, but it is not a hardcore SUV. So you will need to go slowly over bad patches.If you want something more rugged with better ground clearance, you can also consider the Tata Safari. It is better suited for rough roads and has a stronger SUV stance. While it is not as flexible or practical as the Carens as a 7-seater, it is still decent for family use. It is also a better 7-seater than something like the Mahindra XUV 7XO, where the fixed middle row makes the third row less flexible and more cramped.Go for the Kia Carens if your priority is comfort, space and flexibility for family use. Consider the Tata Safari if you want better rough-road ability and a more rugged feel, but with some compromise on third-row practicality.

Kia Carens

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2h

The Kia Carens Clavis EV will be the better pick for your needs. It's got the better third row seating and a more user-friendly cabin. Performance is good, and ride comfort is decent despite a slight firmness in the suspension set-up. The Mahindra XEV 9S has more wow factor, is quicker accelerating and has a longer range, but isn't as good a 7 seater as the Clavis EV. Your concern about EV depreciation isn't unfounded. In the fast-evolving EV world, current hardware and tech become outdated sooner, and this is part of the reason why EVs lose value faster than ICE vehicles. If this is not a dealbreaker for you, you will find an EV to suit your needs better than an ICE car. While we'd recommend one car for the family, you could also consider the combo of a Tata Punch EV and a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga AT VXI.

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Autocar India

•2h

We suggest you go for the Kia Seltos Turbo-DCT. While the DCT isn't quite as seamless as the 1.5 NA's IVT unit at low speeds, gearshifts are still smooth enough. It's in higher speed highway environs that the Turbo-DCT will appeal significantly more to you. The turbo-petrol engine's 160hp feels a lot more effortless than the 115hp NA petrol engine, and the added performance really counts for a lot on long-distance journeys. Drive with enthusiasm, and you'll also get a far more connected experience from the DCT. Hyundai/Kia's dry-clutch DCT did have overheating issues in the past, but software updates have reduced occurrences. Follow the manufacturer's protocol for shifting to P/N on halts, and you won't have problems.

Kia Seltos