I currently drive a Jeep Compass Model S Petrol, and my annual driving includes 5,000km in the mountains, 5,000km on highways, and 5,000km in Delhi NCR. I am looking for a bigger 7-8 seater SUV with more premium features that can accommodate a baby seat along with six additional passengers.

autocar.india

•21h

Buy the Toyota Camry. Its rear seat is genuinely lounge-like with a power recline function, the ride is soft, and the cabin is quiet. The petrol strong hybrid powertrain is one of the best around, feels refined and effortless in the city, and has enough power on the highway. You get the smoothness and efficiency of an EV without the stress of having to charge it. And Toyota's low running costs and excellent service quality will give you peace of mind too.It does not feel particularly thrilling to drive, and it is a sedan, so speed breakers or steep ramps need more care than an SUV. If you do want an SUV stance and a punchier engine, the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tayron are good upgrades from your Tucson. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is eager, and it cruises beautifully, and the ride is exceptional too. It's just that, being a turbo petrol in a large SUV, these two are not very fuel efficient.Sadly, there are no plans for Hyundai to bring in a new Tucson or Santa Fe. Kia, however, is looking at bringing in the Sorento, the Santa Fe's counterpart from its portfolio, later this year or early next year, possibly with hybrid power. If you aren't in a hurry, that might be worth waiting for.

Toyota Camry

Skoda Kodiaq

Volkswagen Tayron

Kia Sorento

autocar.india

•7h

Pick the Honda Amaze CVT VX. It’s the smoothest in stop-go traffic, which is where you’ll spend most of your 25 km daily, and its easy, linear responses make a first car feel friendly from day one. It’s compact to park yet has a big boot for your weekend runs, and the ride is comfy enough to shrug off bad patches. For the rare 300 km highway trip, it cruises calmly, though you’ll need a firmer press for quick overtakes.The Kia Sonet DCT HTX(O) is the fun one and sits taller, but that twin-clutch setup can feel a little jerky in crawling traffic and tends to drink more fuel in the city. The Toyota Taisor AMT S gives you a higher seat and light controls, but the AMT’s shifts are slow and can get in jams, and the S trim feels bare for the money.Only honest catch with the Amaze: it isn’t tall like the SUVs, and it won’t feel as quick as the Sonet on the highway. For your usage mix and as a first car, the Honda still makes the most sense.

Honda Amaze

Kia Sonet

autocar.india

•8h

It isn't clear from your question whether your 4,000-5,000 km highway usage is per year or per month, and whether you have a home charging provision. If your monthly usage is high, and you have a charging provision, the Clavis EV is a no-brainer. You can expect a real-world range of around 350km (on the highway), and with 60kW DC fast charging along the way, you can easily add 100km of additional range in 30 minutes. However, with a home charging, your running costs will be much lower than public charging.On the other hand, if your 4,000-5,000 km is annual usage, pick the Kia Carens Clavis petrol - the fuel bill difference won’t recover the EV’s higher price premium for a long time, so you’re paying more up front for savings you may not fully use. For long highway runs, the simple truth is petrol gives you certainty - five-minute refuels anywhere and no planning around chargers, especially while travelling with family on board.

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Kia Carens Clavis