Mumbai

•7w

I presently own an XL6 and have been using it for the last 6 years. As a 6-seater, it offers excellent comfort for all passengers, including those in the third row. Now I wish to upgrade to a slightly more premium car, with an expected ownership period of around 8 years. My priorities are excellent comfort in all rows, great mileage, safety, low maintenance costs, and good resale value. My usage is relatively low, at around 7,000km per year.

•6w

Get the Toyota Innova HyCross strong-hybrid. It is the best upgrade from your XL6 if you want proper 3-row comfort, far better mileage, top-tier safety tech, and rock-solid resale over an 8-year ownership. The hybrid is quiet and smooth in the city, and you will still see close to 18-20kpl in everyday use, so even with just 7,000km a year, your fuel bills stay low without having to get a diesel. Middle-row comfort is excellent, the third row is adult-friendly for most trips, and Toyota’s reliability and wide service network make ownership easy.

If you like the same strengths within the Maruti service network and at a slightly lower price, the Maruti Invicto hybrid is the HyCross under a Nexa badge. Do note, the HyCross is expensive, and the hybrid version will likely cross well past the Rs 30 lakh mark, so consider stretching your budget slightly, as it is well worth it.

Explore cars mentioned

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹22.07 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Invicto

from ₹29.85 Lakh

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•1w

I am planning to replace my 8-year old Harrier and would like to buy a proper 5-seater car in which 5 adults can be comfortably seated. I have considered Innova HyCross, XUV 7XO and Kodiaq. However, to me the interior of Innova felt dull and Kodiaq won't be able to seat 5 adults. I am now left with XUV 7XO. Apart from seating for 5 adults, I am also considering the power of the engine. The car should be fun to drive but it should not be a big car as bigger cars become difficult to handle within the city. Should I consider any other options besides XUV 7XO. I have also heard about after-sales issues with Mahindra? Thanks in advance.

•2d

The XUV 7XO is a very good choice for your requirements. It is one of the few cars in this price range that can genuinely seat five adults comfortably, thanks to its wide cabin and supportive seats. It also has strong engines, both petrol and diesel, and is genuinely fun to drive for a large SUV. Mahindra's after-sales experience is generally good, but it depends on the dealership and location, so it is worth checking the reputation of your local dealer before committing.The HyCross is still worth considering despite the dull interior. It is the most comfortable and reliable long-term ownership proposition in this segment, and the hybrid powertrain is smooth, efficient and effortless to drive. The interior may not feel as premium, but the overall ownership experience is hard to beat.The Kodiaq is a great car to drive and feels very premium, but it is not as wide as the XUV 7XO and is not the best choice if seating five adults comfortably is a priority.Overall, the XUV 7XO is the best fit for your requirements, but the HyCross is worth considering depending on your priorities.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Toyota Innova HyCross

Skoda Kodiaq

•3d

Hi Team, I’ve finally decided to go ahead with the Tata Harrier Adventure X+ Diesel AT instead of the petrol variant. I was previously a WagonR owner, and for the last three years, I’ve been driving a VW Taigun 1.5 MT Petrol. My only concern with switching to a diesel is the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). My running is around 500 km per week, so I believe that should be sufficient, but I’m still not entirely clear about the DPF requirements. Does a diesel car need to be driven every day, or is regular weekly running of around 500 km enough to keep the DPF healthy? I’d also like to know about real-world experiences with diesel cars, particularly regarding DPF regeneration and maintenance. I’d really appreciate any suggestions or experiences you can share. Also, I’m a big fan of the Harrier. I did consider the 7-seater, but honestly, it feels a bit too long for my preference and has more of a “taxi” feel to it. The 5-seater Harrier looks much more proportionate and suits my taste better. Looking forward to hearing about your experiences.

•7h

With 500km a week, you are well above the threshold where DPF becomes a concern. The DPF is designed to capture soot from the exhaust and then burn it off during a process called regeneration. This regeneration typically happens automatically when the engine reaches operating temperature and is held there for a sustained period, usually during a 15-20 minute drive at steady speeds. Your weekly running is more than sufficient for this.You do not need to drive the car every day. What matters is that the car gets regular runs where the engine is warm and running at a consistent speed. Short, stop-start city trips are what cause issues, not the frequency of use. As long as your usage includes some highway or longer stretches, the DPF will regenerate as intended.In real-world experience, modern Diesel cars are far less fussy about DPF than people fear. The issues tend to arise only with very low-mileage, purely urban cars. With your usage, the Tata Harrier Adventure X Diesel AT is a perfectly sensible choice. It is a strong, refined engine with good long-distance capability, and the automatic gearbox is well suited to both city and highway driving.The Harrier is also the right choice from a proportion and feel perspective. The Tata Safari is a good car, but if you do not need the third row, the Harrier is the more balanced and better-looking option.Go for the Harrier diesel without hesitation. Your usage is exactly what modern diesels are designed for.

Tata Safari

Tata Harrier

•4d

I used to own a Tata Nexon AMT petrol for five years, but I had to sell it due to a serious manufacturing-related rusting issue and a poor service experience. I’m now looking to buy a new automatic petrol SUV with a budget of up to Rs 14 lakh. The car will mainly be used for weekend driving within the city, with perhaps one long trip every month. The annual running is expected to be only around 5,000- 6,000 km. A car that does not require much hassle in terms of servicing would be a major plus. Good power output and decent fuel efficiency are also important. What options can be considered?

•11h

Given your low annual running, weekend city use and a monthly highway trip, a petrol automatic is the right choice. Since you had a poor experience with Tata cars, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. It is a reliable, hassle-free SUV with a proven service network, which is exactly what you are looking for. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is far better than the AMT you had in the Tata Nexon. It is not the most powerful car in the segment, but it is dependable and easy to live with.If you want something with a bit more power and a more engaging driving experience, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic is a good alternative. The turbo petrol engine is punchy and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth in the city. Skoda's service network is not as extensive as Maruti's, but it has improved significantly in recent years.The Mahindra XUV 3XO petrol automatic is also worth considering. It is one of the most powerful cars in the segment and offers a strong feature list, but the boot is on the smaller side.Overall, the Brezza is the safest recommendation for your requirements. If you want more performance, the Kylaq is the better choice.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•5d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•5d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

•1w

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•6d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

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