Looking for a 7-seater with a good third-row space. Mostly, the third row will be folded and used for my Labrador and occasionally luggage. Must-haves: good space across all three rows, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera. At least lower double-digit fuel efficiency. It should not feel underpowered with a full load. Usage: mostly highway drives, occasionally in the range of 300 to 500 km, and moderate city usage of up to 400 km per month. My current car has 35k on the odometer in 2.5 years, most of which are highway runs. Cars considered: Clavis HTK+ (feature-loaded and comfortable. Petrol AT turbo is thirsty, with DCT concerns in bumper-to-bumper traffic and some safety concerns), Safari Petrol AT (customer complaints on quality and concerns about the new engine), XUV 7XO (powerful and good to drive, but impractical third row and very poor fuel efficiency). Now I am thinking about trying the HyCross non-hybrid. Let me know your thoughts.

Autocar India

•17h

On a Rs 15-23 lakh budget, the Kia Carens Clavis diesel automatic fits your use best. It rides comfortably on long trips, the low step-in makes it easy for elders, and the third row lets you carry six or seven or fold it to free up a big boot. The diesel pulls well on hills with a full load, and the automatic keeps driving effortless in traffic. For you at 5 feet, the high seat, wide glass area and light controls help with confidence in a tier-3 city, and Kia’s service reach outside big metros is a plus.Know that, compared to your Alto, it is a long car, so tight parking needs a bit more care. With all three rows up, boot space is small, so plan to fold one side when needed. If five seats are enough and you want a sportier feel on hills, look at the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 automatic. If smooth city running and lower fuel use matter more, you can go for Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid. Given your affinity for long family road trips, we would not recommend an EV at this stage. Overall, the Carens suits your family-first brief best.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•3h

By January 2027, there will be several new models on sale. We'd recommend you write closer to your date of purchase so that we can help you better.

Autocar India

•3h

If you want the car in the next few months, buy the current Mercedes-Benz GLE. The India launch date for the new version hasn’t been announced, and going by how Mercedes usually staggers its new launches, you could be waiting around half a year to a year. We don't expect it to be launched before early to mid-2027. Part of the reason is that the GLE is locally assembled in India, so Mercedes-Benz’s Chakan plant in Maharashtra will first need to prepare for right-hand-drive kits of the updated version.Wait only if you specifically want the fresh look and updated tech, and you are fine holding off at least 6-9 months. The biggest update is the new dashboard with the three-screen 'Superscreen' setup. This includes the new MB.OS software with many new AI-based features packed in, and a generally slicker interface.The updated GLE will, however, likely be mechanically unchanged from the GLE currently on sale. Expect the same engines and suspension setups, which are well-sorted for our roads, and you’re likely to get faster delivery of the current model. Also, expect the new version to be priced higher and come with an initial waiting period.

Mercedes-Benz GLE