Which 7-seater car should I buy within a budget of ₹8 to ₹10 lakh?

Autocar India

•2d

With five very tall adults and 15-20k km a year, a spacious three-row makes the most sense in your ₹15-16 lakh window, and I’d lean toward the Kia Carens 1.5 diesel manual in a mid variant with the second-row bench. It gives you real stretch-out space, good headroom, and a wide middle row so three adults can sit without rubbing shoulders too much. The low floor makes getting in and out easy for parents and kids alike, and the suspension takes bad patches calmly, so long drives feel relaxed. With your yearly distance, the diesel will use less fuel on highways and needs fewer fuel stops, which matters on family trips.If you want lower running cost in the city and can live with slower pick-up, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXi CNG is a strong value new car. For five tall adults it works well across the first two rows, and you can fold the third row for luggage, but with the CNG tank in the boot, there is little space if all seats are up.Given you’re open to used, a well-kept Toyota Innova Crysta 2.4 diesel is the most comfortable way to carry five tall adults and luggage. It is easy over long distances and feels very solid; just focus on service history and avoid abused fleet cars.

Kia Carens

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Toyota Innova Crysta

Autocar India

•1d

For a family 7 seater mostly used in the city with some trips, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga petrol manual fits your brief better. It is simpler to own, cheaper to service almost anywhere, and you will never have to worry about a diesel filter. In daily traffic, it feels light to drive, the steering and clutch are easy, and the petrol with the small hybrid assist is smooth and uses less fuel than most expect for a car this size. Ride comfort is fine for city speeds, and your family will find the cabin airy with good space for five plus two when needed.Two trade-offs to keep in mind. On bad roads at higher speeds, the Ertiga can feel a bit bouncy, more so with seven on board. And yes, many are used as cabs, but a nicer colour, higher trim and good seat covers do make it feel more upmarket at home.If your routine includes regular highway runs - say one longer drive every week or two - the Kia Carens diesel manual becomes the stronger pick. It rides more comfortably on uneven highways, pulls better with a full load, and will give better mileage on long trips. About your DPF worry: the diesel has a DPF, a filter in the exhaust that needs steady, warm running to clean itself. If your use is mostly short city hops, this can clog over time. If you do those regular, longer runs at steady speeds, it stays clear and is usually trouble-free.So, for mainly city and easy upkeep, go for the Ertiga petrol manual. If you do frequent highways, pick the Carens diesel manual instead.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Kia Carens

Autocar India

•7h

Vehicles designed to run on E20 fuel simply cannot run on E85. Fuel grades of E85 and above, require hardware changes and thus, whenever the government decides to introduce these fuels, it will have to ensure supply of lower ethanol blends too. From that point of view, it is safe to purchase a car today as the fuel to run it, will have to be supplied even after the introduction of E85 fuel. The Toyota Hyryder and the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara are essentially the same vehicle, thus pick the one that offers you a better deal.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

•5d

Between the two, the Tata Safari does a great job of projecting toughness. It feels solid, has that reassuring heft, and its suspension setup really shines on broken roads and you can carry speed with confidence and it just shrugs off rough patches.That said, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more rounded package overall. Its 2.2-litre diesel is not just more modern, but also noticeably smoother and stronger than the older Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre unit in the Safari. It delivers better drivability in everyday conditions, which makes a difference in city use as well as on the highway.Mahindra car has also worked well on the suspension, and the improvements show. The 7XO feels more composed, offers better ride comfort over a wider range of surfaces, and is simply easier to drive. It has lighter controls, better balance, and a more user-friendly nature overall.Where the Safari still holds an edge is in the third row. It’s more usable and accommodating, whereas the 7XO’s last row is quite tight and best reserved for occasional use.So unless third-row space is a priority, the 7XO stands out as the better all-rounder. It’s more refined, easier to live with, and ultimately the more modern SUV.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•3d

If you're comparing ride comfort, the Skoda Kylaq is easily the better pick, particularly variants with 16-inch wheels. Skoda has got its suspension tune spot on, its relatively softer setup makes it more suited to our road conditions. It rounds off speed breakers and rough patches better at slow speeds. Furthermore, the Kylaq feels stable at speeds and is surprisingly nimble and fun-to-drive around corners, too.In contrast, the Kushaq’s suspension feels a little firm at low speeds, so sharp bumps and small potholes do come through more in the cabin.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•4d

With around 1,000 km a month, two young kids and a cap of ₹14 lakh on-road, the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 is the one that fits your brief best. It rides comfortably over broken city roads and speed breakers, and the rear seat is more than spacious enough for your kids. Safety is a strong point too, with a solid feel, good driver aids for this price, and mounts to fix child seats in the back. It also fits your budget in a well-equipped trim, so you are not forced into a bare-bones version. A trade-off to note: The boot is not the biggest in this price range, so if you often carry a full-size stroller plus luggage, do a quick fit check. If you prefer a more contemporary looking cabin, the Tata Nexon Creative Plus is your alternative from your list. It offers a slightly roomier boot and a very nice interior, and is easy to drive in the city, but the petrol engine feels a bit less smooth at low speeds and Tata service quality can vary by city. The Skoda Kushaq facelift would be a good pick, but only if you can stretch your budget, as within ₹14 lakh you’ll only get the base manual model, and Skoda’s service reach is smaller. Overall, for your family use and budget, the XUV 3XO AX5 lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Nexon

Skoda Kushaq