Autocar India
9h

Hello Autocar India team, I live in banglore. I currently own Hyundai Creta SX (O) 1.6 CRDI Diesel AT 2016 model. I want to upgrade my car because of the 10-year diesel vehicles rule. Most of my running is on highway so I am looking for automatic diesel 7-seater SUV for family. My bugdet is between Rs. 20 - 40 lakh. Initially, I had considered the Tata Safari Diesel AT, but I have listened on social media poor about Tata after-sales service, technical and electronic Issues, as well as panel gaps issues that are concerning me. Now, I have shortlisted Toyota Fortuner Diesel AT, Mahindra Scorpio N Diesel AT and Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel AT. Which SUV is better for my requirements? Also, will I have to face DPF-related issues in new diesel cars if we drive slowly?

Verified
3m

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel AT. It is the best fit for your requirements. The XUV 7XO offers a strong 2.0 diesel engine, a comfortable ride, a spacious and well-appointed cabin, and a good balance between performance and practicality. It is also significantly more modern and feature-rich than the Scorpio N, while being far better value than the Fortuner.

The Fortuner is a great highway SUV with a proven reliability record, but it is now showing its age, and at Rs 40 lakh-plus it is simply too expensive for what it offers. The Scorpio N is rugged and capable, but it is not as refined or as family-friendly as the XUV 7XO. The XUV 7XO is the most complete package for your needs. 

On the DPF question: modern diesel cars are generally fine as long as you do regular highway runs. The DPF regenerates naturally at sustained speeds. The issues tend to arise only with predominantly short, low-speed city driving. Your usage pattern is highway-heavy, so you should not have any problems.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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1d

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?

Verified
20h

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.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleTata Safari
VehicleTata Harrier

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