I am planning to upgrade from my 2017 Honda City diesel, which is now over nine years old. I am looking for a 7-seater, although it will mostly be used as a 5-seater, with occasional requirements to carry 6-7 passengers. The car will primarily be used in Gurgaon for city driving, along with highway trips on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway for going to Kota, Rajasthan. My key requirements include good comfort for five passengers, a usable third row when needed, and a preference for an automatic transmission. My budget is around ₹26 lakh. At present, I am inclined towards the Tata Safari Petrol AT (Accomplished X). However, my main concern is the drop in mileage and the resulting increase in running costs. My current Honda City delivers around 23 kpl on highways and about 15 kpl in the city, whereas I expect the Safari petrol automatic to return roughly 12 kpl on highways and about 9 kpl in city conditions. This translates to a significant 40-50% drop in fuel efficiency, leading to noticeably higher fuel expenses. My monthly usage is approximately 800 km, split evenly between city and highway driving. While fuel efficiency is an important factor, it is not the only deciding criterion. I have considered diesel options but ruled them out due to my usage pattern, as the car may remain unused for weeks at a time and may not see highway runs for two to three months, which could lead to DPF-related issues. I have also evaluated the Mahindra XUV700 AX7 AT in both petrol and diesel forms. The petrol variant still has relatively low mileage, while the diesel brings back the same DPF concerns. Additionally, the third row in the XUV700 is not very practical due to tight headroom and limited knee room. The second row does not slide, which makes access more difficult. I briefly considered the Carens Clavis as well, but it appears to offer lower safety compared to the other options.

Autocar India

•2d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 Luxury AWD diesel automatic (7-seater) - for your mix of highway, city and a bit of rough road, it feels like a decent step up from your Alcazar while staying in the Rs 30 lakh range. The diesel has strong pull, so overtakes on the highway feel easy even with a full family, and the automatic gearbox, makes long drives and traffic much less tiring. Thanks to its thoroughly re-engineered suspension, ride comfort is good over broken patches and the cabin feels wider and more solid than your Hyundai. One thing to be aware of: the last row is fine for kids or short trips, but not very roomy for tall adults, and with all three rows up the boot is small. Also, it is a big car, so tight city parking needs some care. Moreover, while the diesel's mileage is better than the petrol's, it's not great and warrants a light foot for good numbers.Another alternative that gets you more spacious and comfortable seats and a better highway ride, the Tata Safari Accomplished X+ diesel automatic is worth a look, but it does not get 4WD.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•4h

The Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 diesel AT is a solid choice for your budget. The engine pulls strongly even with a full family and bags, the automatic changes gears smoothly, and the tall seating and wide glass make daily city driving easier. On long trips, it feels steady at speed, the seats are supportive, and it is feature-loaded.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•5h

We would recommend the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo in the Techno trim. Engine refinement is very good, with no vibrations at idle, and it remains smooth even while driving. Power figures are class-leading at 163hp and 280Nm of torque, offering strong performance. Since you have some off-road driving to your farm, the Duster's generous ground clearance of 212mm will come in handy, and the boot space is also very large at 518 litres. So you should be able to carry some of your farm produce. The only downside is rear space, which is a bit tight, but since you are a family of four, it should not be too much of an issue.We are yet to put the Duster through our full instrumented test cycle, but efficiency should be at par with others in the segment, but certainly not class leading. However, given its other traits that suit your requirements, this is the car we would recommend.If you can stretch your budget to about Rs 20 lakh, you could consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO. While you may not need its seven-seat capacity, folding the third row gives you a very large boot, which is useful for carrying farm produce. The ground clearance is also good, and if your roads are difficult, you could even consider the AWD version, though this would come at a higher price still.

Renault Duster

Mahindra XUV 7XO