I am confused between sierra tgdi and thar roxx. My driving is 80pc highway 20 pc city. Main requirements are automatic and ample space in car. It should be fun to drive.

Autocar India

•22h

With 500 km a month with at most you and one passenger (but sometimes 5-7 members), the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic in the 7-seat version is the better fit for you. It gives you a proper third row for those rare family trips, yet the rest of the time it works well as a calm, easy daily car.For your low running, petrol makes more sense than electric. Try to avoid the higher upfront price of an EV as you will not drive enough each month to recover that extra cost. The XUV’s petrol with the automatic gearbox that changes gears on its own will feel far easier than your i20 manual in stop-go traffic.A couple of trade-offs to note. The Mahindra car that you are considering, is big, so parking in tight spots needs some care. Also, the third row is best for kids or short adults on short trips but not during long highway stretches.Overall, for your usage and this being your last car, the XUV 7XO petrol automatic 7-seater lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•1d

Given your limited usage, it's really a matter of choice. An automatic takes away the effort in city traffic and reduces fatigue, whereas a manual gives you more control. You are moving up from a Skoda Rapid diesel manual to a bigger, taller SUV; the automatic will make parking, slow-speed moves and hill starts simpler, and the petrol will feel smoother and quieter at low speeds than your diesel. With almost zero daily running, the usual fuel and clutch-wear savings of a manual do not matter much, so it makes sense to buy the one that is easiest to live with.A couple of trade-offs to note: the automatic will cost more upfront and can use a bit more fuel than the manual. If you enjoy shifting gears yourself, the manual will give you more control on quick overtakes. With the Sierra, it also depends greatly on which petrol engine you choose. If you choose the more powerful 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, we'd be more inclined to recommend the automatic, as the 6-speed torque converter is smooth and complements the engine well. However, this will be expensive. Instead, if you choose the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, you're better off with the manual. The engine is not very powerful, and the 7-speed dual-clutch auto it comes with only amplifies this sensation, and thus with this engine, the manual gearbox is recommended.

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Kia Seltos petrol IVT if you are considering the naturally aspirated options. It is the best fit for your usage.The Seltos’ petrol engine feels more usable and refined, and the IVT gearbox is very smooth in city driving. It is easy to live with, consistent in traffic and suits your primarily urban usage perfectly. The power delivery is linear and predictable, which gives you the steady performance you are looking for without feeling stressed or jerky.Coming to the Tata Sierra, the naturally aspirated petrol is not a great match. It is a larger and heavier SUV, and the engine feels flat and underpowered for its size, especially in city conditions. However, if you are open to the turbo petrol version, the Sierra becomes a better option. The turbo engine feels stronger and more responsive, and the torque converter automatic is smoother and more robust for everyday use compared to a DCT.Between the Sierra and the Harrier, we would suggest going for the Sierra. It is the newer car, feels nicer to drive and offers the same turbo petrol engine with a smoother torque converter automatic option.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

•3d

Between the two, the Tata Safari does a great job of projecting toughness. It feels solid, has that reassuring heft, and its suspension setup really shines on broken roads and you can carry speed with confidence and it just shrugs off rough patches.That said, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more rounded package overall. Its 2.2-litre diesel is not just more modern, but also noticeably smoother and stronger than the older Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre unit in the Safari. It delivers better drivability in everyday conditions, which makes a difference in city use as well as on the highway.Mahindra car has also worked well on the suspension, and the improvements show. The 7XO feels more composed, offers better ride comfort over a wider range of surfaces, and is simply easier to drive. It has lighter controls, better balance, and a more user-friendly nature overall.Where the Safari still holds an edge is in the third row. It’s more usable and accommodating, whereas the 7XO’s last row is quite tight and best reserved for occasional use.So unless third-row space is a priority, the 7XO stands out as the better all-rounder. It’s more refined, easier to live with, and ultimately the more modern SUV.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•6d

Go for the Tata Sierra torque converter. The key difference lies in how these gearboxes behave in the real-world conditions. The Seltos turbo-petrol DCT is quick and exciting, but in slow, crawling traffic, it can feel hesitant and slightly jerky, as it constantly works the clutch. This is not ideal for long-term ease in heavy city conditions. The Sierra’s torque converter is the opposite. This Tata car is smoother at low speeds, more forgiving in stop-go traffic, and generally better suited to this kind of usage, making daily driving far less tiring.There is a trade-off, though. Torque converter automatics are typically less fuel efficient than DCTs, and in a large, heavy car like the Sierra, you will notice this in real-world mileage. So, you are essentially choosing smoothness and durability over outright efficiency.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•5d

If your budget allows, go for a new Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel automatic. It is the safer and easier pick. You get a fresh car with full warranty, no past accidents to worry about, and the latest software and small fixes that usually come after the first couple of years. Finance is simpler on a new car, resale later will be stronger, and Mahindra’s service network is wide, so upkeep is straightforward. The diesel automatic suits long drives and also handles city traffic well, with strong pull when you need it. Space, comfort and road presence are all there in this Mahindra car, which is why you shortlisted it in the first place.One thing to keep in mind is its size. It is a large car, so tight parking will need practice. Also, a diesel can sound a bit gruff at idle, and if your usage is only short city drives, you should take it on a longer run once in a while to keep the exhaust system in good condition.The only time the 2-year-old previous model with 19,000 km makes more sense is if you are saving good amount of money and it is a well-maintained, single-owner car. In that case, demand a full service record from a Mahindra workshop, get a dealer scan for error codes, check tyre and battery age, and confirm if any extended warranty can be transferred.

Mahindra XUV 7XO