Hi Autocar, I am planning to buy a 7-seater for my family with a budget of around ₹30 lakh. My usage is about 2,500km per month. I am deciding between the XUV 7XO and the XEV 9S. Please suggest. Thank you.

Autocar India

•15h

The Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol manual will make a great highway companion for your needs. With 8,000-9,000 km a year, petrol is the right call; diesel usually starts to make sense above about 15,000 km/year. The XUV 7XO’s 202hp turbo feels effortless for quick 80-120kph overtakes, which is helpful on open highways. Its long wheelbase keeps it planted at speed, and the wide, supportive seats are great for long stints. The ride and handling balance, with the new suspension setup it received with the facelift, is phenomenal too.If you find that the third row is not spacious enough, then look at the Tata Safari petrol instead.On the test drive, take it on the highway and check stability, ride comfort and overtaking performance.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•21h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel manual. For your kind of usage, which is mostly highway driving, the diesel suits thanks to its strong low-end torque and effortless cruising ability, making long drives easier and more relaxed.If you are specifically looking at a petrol, then it is better to choose the XUV 7XO turbo petrol rather than the Tata Harrier petrol. The 7XO’s turbo petrol is a more proven engine, and the car itself is larger, more powerful and feels more effortless to drive.The only trade-off is that fuel efficiency will be lower compared to the Harrier’s smaller 1.5-litre petrol.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

•1d

Choose the Kia Seltos IVT petrol in GTX guise. Its IVT smoothness and relatively compact size make it easier to drive in Mumbai traffic, especially important since that’s where you’ll be spending most of your time.The IVT (CVT) is smooth and seamless in operation and works rather well with the refined 1.5-litre NA engine. The engine feels responsive to light inputs and creeps smartly, making it very easy to drive in stop-and-go traffic. It also simulates shifts in eight steps, so it feels more natural than most CVTs and doesn’t exhibit too much of the rubber-band effect they are known for.What you do give up is the space and outright performance of the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It is significantly larger, has more room on the inside and even a third row suited for occasional use. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol is also very powerful and hauls this big SUV with remarkable ease, but expect poor fuel efficiency in city use.On your test drive, spend 10 minutes in start-stop traffic to assess creep and brake feel, attempt a tight U-turn, and confirm if rear-seat space is adequate for your family.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO