Hi Sir/Madam, I am planning to buy a new 7-seater automatic car within a budget of ₹15 lakh, mainly for long drives. My primary focus is on safety and comfort. Which would be the right choice for me? Please advise.

Autocar India

•3m

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXI AT for a 7-seater under Rs. 15 lakh; it is the easiest to live with for long trips, feels steady on the highway, and Maruti’s service reach makes ownership stress-free.

The gearbox is a smooth, torque converter automatic, so driving in traffic and hill starts are easy, and on the open road, it cruises calmly. The cabin is roomy for five, the third row works for kids or short adults, and the ride stays comfortable on broken roads. For family use, this balance of space, comfort and peace of mind is hard to beat at your budget.

One thing to be aware of: with all seven on board and luggage, it won’t feel very strong on steep hills, so plan overtakes. Alternatively, you can even consider the Toyota Rumion automatic, which is essentially Toyota's version of the Maruti Ertiga.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Ertiga

from ₹10.58 Lakh

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Arnav Kumar

•20h

My monthly running is not more than 650 km, and I am planning to buy the Mahindra Thar Roxx. I intend to keep the car for at least 10 years. I am confused between choosing a petrol or a diesel variant. Considering resale later and the future of diesel in India.

Autocar India

•43m

We recommend the Mahindra Thar Roxx petrol automatic, with your 650 km a month and a 10-year plan, it will be easier to live with and safer against policy changes. Your running is low, so the usual fuel savings of a diesel will not make up for the higher buy price and upkeep over time. The petrol is quieter and smoother in daily traffic, has lighter controls, and you avoid the diesel’s emission filter issue that can pop up with lots of short city trips. Looking 10 years ahead, petrol is also the safer bet for resale, especially in big cities, and you don’t have to worry about the 10-year diesel limit like in Delhi-NCR.For your usage, the petrol automatic is the stress-free choice you’ll enjoy every day and won’t worry about keeping for a decade.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Malwinde Singh

•2d

I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of ₹12-13 lakh. My usage will be primarily city driving

Autocar India

•2h

Go for the Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT automatic for your 12-13 lakh budget and mostly city driving, it is the easiest and most stress-free choice right now. The IVT is Hyundai-speak for a CVT automatic gearbox, and it's a smooth and seamless unit. The car is compact, the steering is light, and visibility is good, which makes driving in tight lanes and parking simple. It rides well over speed breakers and broken patches, and Hyundai’s big service network means ownership is easy in most cities.One thing to be aware of: if you often go with five adults, it will feel tight as the back seat is best for two.If you prefer a taller car with a higher seating position, more ground clearance and a punchier engine, look at the Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT. If you have access to home charging and mostly go on short city trips, the Tata Punch EV is also a great option with low running costs.

Anil Gupta

Hello Team, I am planning to buy a new 7-seater SUV with a budget of around ₹18 lakh. My usage will be: 90% city driving (daily ~50 km) 10% occasional long trips I am currently driving a Hyundai i10 petrol manual (2015) and looking for a comfortable upgrade. My priorities are: Comfort (especially for family) Easy driving in city traffic Good mileage Low maintenance Practical 7-seater usability Could you please suggest the most suitable SUV for my needs?

Autocar India

•2h

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 petrol, it does not have an SUV body style, but at your budget and with your 90% city use and 50 km a day, it is the easiest and most comfortable three-row you can live with daily. Coming from your i10, the Carens will feel much bigger, but it is still friendly in traffic: light steering, a calm engine and good all-round visibility make daily driving and parking far less stressful than most big seven-seaters. There's also a smooth enough clutch, and you could also consider the automatic, which is a bit above your budget. The ride is comfortable over speed breakers and broken patches, there is proper space in the second row, and the third row is very usable for kids or shorter adults, and the air-con vents for all rows help in hot weather. If you do want a true SUV feel, however and can manage a bigger car and are ok with a lower mileage, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO.

Kia Carens Clavis

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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