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•42w

I am looking to buy my first car, a 7-seater, within a budget of ₹20 lakh. Most of my driving will be within the city, around 500km per month, with about 1,000km of highway driving annually. The car should be easy to drive and nimble. Please suggest a suitable option.

•41w

The Kia Carens Clavis is the best pick for you. It's an easy-to-drive MPV that offers comfortable seating for 7 passengers. Given your usage, we'd advise you to consider the Clavis with a petrol engine. The standard 1.5 naturally-aspirated petrol engine will be sufficient for your requirements.

However, your budget allows for the more powerful turbo-petrol engine, whose added performance will come in handy, particularly on highway drives. The turbo-petrol is available with a manual gearbox, and you could also consider the dual-clutch (DCT) automatic variant for more convenience. To keep within your budget, you'll have to opt for a lower trim version of the DCT automatic, though.

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Carens Clavis

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•4d

I am 36 years old and we are a family of 6 including 4 adults and 2 kids. I am looking for an automatic car under 25 lakh (on-road) that has low cost of ownership in the city of Ahmedabad. My yearly running is approximately 12000 km which includes 70% running in city and 30% running on highways. It should be fund to drive as I plan to own it for the next 8-10 years without worry. Please recommend me a car based on above criteria.

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic. It ticks the boxes that matter most to you. Its 5-star Bharat NCAP rating covers safety, and its 200hp turbo-petrol makes it properly quick, so it’s the most fun to drive in this space. With two kids in the family, the third row works well too. It’s tight for adults but perfect for children, so all six of you fit comfortably. The AX5 or AX7 automatic sits within your Rs 25 lakh budget, and the AX7 is the better buy if you can stretch to it.The trade-off is fuel. A big turbo-petrol SUV isn’t frugal, and in our test it averaged under 9kpl overall. At 12,000km a year, mostly in the city, you’ll spend noticeably more on fuel than in a smaller car.If running costs worry you more than driving fun, look at the Kia Carens Clavis turbo DCT. It’s cheaper, more efficient and has a roomier third row, but it hasn’t been crash-tested yet and it isn’t as engaging to drive. Take your family to drive both, with the kids in the back seats.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

•1w

I keep fixating on achieving a 5-star safety rating for both adult and child occupants. My family consists of four adults and one child. I currently drive a Tata Altroz MT and want to upgrade to an automatic car. My requirements are as follows: I cannot buy an SUV because an elderly family member finds it difficult to get in and out. I cannot buy another Tata or Mahindra. My budget is a maximum of Rs 20 lakh, which I plan to pay off over three years. I need a 7-seater. I need good ground clearance, but the car must also be easy for elderly people to get in and out of. A 5-star safety rating for both adult and child occupants is non-negotiable. Given these requirements, does a 5-star safety rating actually mean anything in real-world conditions, or is it just a marketing gimmick? Thanks!

•4d

Given your requirements, of an automatic seven-seater with a solid crash safety rating that's not a Tata or Mahindra under Rs 20 lakh, and with good ground clearance, you're only option is the Citroen Aircross. But do keep in mind that only its 5-seater version has been crash tested with a 5-star score for adult protection and 4-star score for child protection. While the three-row version of the Citroen is largely mechanically identical, this score is only applicable to the two-row version.With the Citroen Aircross, you get a very premium interior, a strong turbo-petrol engine, smooth 6-speed automatic and excellent ride comfort. It has ample ground clearance, and is the only SUV of its kind to have a three-row seating configuration, however its third row is best left for kids. Also, given Citroen's limited dealer network, servicing could be a challenge. If you need a genuinely practical and spacious seven-seater with all the safety features, consider the Kia Carens Clavis Turbo-petrol automatic. It will be easy for your family members to get in and out. The only catch being, it hasn't been crash tested. The 5-star safety rating is not a marketing gimmick, it is a meaningful indicator of a car's crashworthiness and the effectiveness of its safety systems. However, it is important to understand that a 5-star rating is not an absolute guarantee of safety. It means the car has performed very well in standardised crash tests and meets high safety standards, but real-world outcomes can still vary depending on the nature of an accident.

Citroen Aircross

Kia Carens Clavis

•2d

I saw that car loan amounts have reportedly risen quite a bit over the last few years. Are people genuinely buying better cars now?

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•1w

I am a 6 ft driver who loves driving. I've driven the Swift 2013 petrol, Creta 1.6 Diesel Auto and the XUV500 the most on long trips. Now that I am planning to buy a car with a strict budget, do you think the 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol variant will be a wise decision to make, as I will be travelling once a month for short trips from Bangalore to Coorg, Pondicherry, GOA, and Mangalore? Which other car can be a perfect match for me, keeping a budget of 12 lakhs max? Also, the 3XO AX5 I'm getting from a friend who has hardly driven 6k km for 10 lakhs.

•1w

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol from your friend for Rs 10 lakh. At that price, it is a very good deal and a sensible upgrade from your Creta 1.6 diesel automatic. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin and good rear seat comfort, which will make your long drives to Coorg, Pondicherry, Goa and Mangalore more comfortable. The turbo petrol engine is smooth and is well suited to both city driving and highway cruising. At Rs 10 lakh for a car with only 6,000 km on the clock, you are getting a nearly new car at a significant discount, which makes it a far better value proposition than buying new.If you are looking for alternatives under Rs 12 lakh, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual is the best option for an enthusiast driver. The new Brezza turbo-petrol could also be a good choice. Overall, the 3XO from your friend is the most sensible choice. It offers a good balance of comfort, reliability and value, and will serve you well on your monthly road trips.

I currently own a Jeep Compass and want to get an additional car for my father, with good reliability, unlike the Jeep. My father still drives a 2008 Honda City, and I am torn between a few choices: the Honda City, Skoda Slavia, Nissan Tekton and Toyota Hyryder. Or should I wait for the Virtus facelift or the new-generation Creta? His usage is low, at almost 500 km per month. Please suggest.

•4d

With just 500km a month, petrol is the clear choice, and reliability and ease of ownership become the most important factors. The Honda City is the safest recommendation here. It is a proven product with a strong reliability record, a comfortable ride and a familiar ownership experience that your father will appreciate, especially coming from a 2008 City. The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are both excellent to drive, but the 1.0 TSI engine can feel a bit laggy at low speeds, and the 1.5 TSI is overkill for this kind of usage. The Nissan Tekton is a good value proposition, but engines are not responsive at low speeds and Nissan's service network is not as strong as Honda's, which matters more for a low-running, long-term ownership scenario. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a solid option if you specifically want an SUV, but the hybrid premium does not make financial sense at this running, and the naturally aspirated petrol is not as refined as the City's engine. The new-generation Hyundai Creta is worth waiting for only if your father specifically wants an SUV; otherwise, the City remains the more sensible choice. Overall, the Honda City is the most reliable, comfortable and hassle-free option for your father's usage.

Honda City

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Nissan Tekton

•5d

Hi, I am planning to buy a new car and am confused between the Kia Seltos HTX (A) DCT and the Tata Safari Adventure Plus. I liked the interior quality of the Seltos, while the Safari’s road presence is impressive. My annual running is around 15,000km, including both city driving and highway trips. Could you please guide me on which car would be the better choice for my needs?

•5d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX(A) DCT. At 15,000 km a year with a mix of city and highway driving, the Seltos is the more sensible choice. This Kia car is easier to drive in the city, more efficient and still comfortable on long trips. The DCT gearbox is quick but a bit jerky in traffic, but the car feels premium inside, which you already like. The Tata Safari has great road presence and more space, but this Tata car is a much bigger car to live with every day and does not feel as well-finished inside. The Seltos is the better all-rounder for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Tata Safari

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