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Aman

•3d

I have a Thar 3-door, 4x4 petrol AT, but I need a car for long drives with family. Recommend something that is comfortable, powerful, fun enough to drive and is reliable. I had an Octavia prior to this, if that matters. Price range ₹30-40 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2m
Sadly, there still isn’t a true replacement for your Octavia in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket. The segment has thinned out, and nothing today quite blends that space, ride comfort and driver engagement the way the Octavia did.
Yes, the new Skoda Octavia RS is finally here and, on paper, it’s everything you’d want: strong performance, sharp handling and that familiar RS edge. But at around Rs 60 lakh, on-road, it sits well outside your budget, and more importantly, it’s a bit too stiff and focused to be the ideal family long-distance car.
Within your budget, the closest you’ll get to that familiar Octavia feel is the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI. It’s obviously a couple of segments smaller, but it still carries that Skoda DNA. The 150hp turbo-petrol is punchy, the DSG transmission is quick and responsive, and it feels nicely planted at highway speeds. There’s a tightness and cohesion here that most SUVs in this class simply don’t have, which makes it genuinely enjoyable to drive on long runs.
The compromise, however, is space. Compared to your Octavia, it feels narrower, and the rear seat, in particular, is quite tight. For occasional use, it’s fine, but for regular family trips, it will feel like a step down.
If space, comfort and effortless cruising are higher on your priority list, the Mahindra XUV 7XO 2.2 diesel is a much stronger fit. It’s significantly more spacious, especially in the second row, and rides very well over broken roads. The diesel has plenty of torque, making highway driving relaxed and easy, and it’s a proper long-distance mile-muncher. It’s not as agile or as connected to drive as the Kushaq, but it’s far better suited to family duties.
Another option is the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid. It is actually the most sensible choice here if your usage is primarily family road trips. It’s supremely comfortable, especially at the rear, incredibly easy to drive, and the strong hybrid delivers excellent efficiency without compromising on refinement. Reliability is a given, and for long distances, very few cars in this price band come close in terms of stress-free usability.
But, and this matters given your Octavia background, it’s not fun to drive. It’s competent, smooth and effortless, but completely lacking that driver engagement you’re used to.
Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Innova HyCross

Explore cars mentioned

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹21.24 Lakh

Skoda Kushaq

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.42 Lakh

Skoda Octavia RS

Skoda

Octavia RS

from ₹57.89 Lakh

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹15.87 Lakh

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KA

Karunesh

•2d

I am considering buying an SUV car, and my critical criteria are: 1) Performance, 2) Safety and 3) Boot space. A few options I was considering are: Tata Safari and Mahindra 7XO, but then I came across the upcoming SUV from JSW, the Jetour T2. I need advice on whether it is worth waiting for the Jetour by the end of this year.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1h

Go for the Tata Safari Accomplished+ diesel automatic. It best matches your performance, safety and boot-space needs today, with a strong 170 PS/350 Nm motor and a 5-star crash rating.For performance, the 170 PS/350 Nm diesel pulls cleanly from low revs, so highway overtakes feel easy even with 5–7 people on board. For safety, the new-gen Safari has a 5-star Global NCAP rating (2023), which gives more confidence than an untested newcomer. For boot space, with the third row folded, you get over 400 litres, enough for 4 medium bags. The wide opening also makes loading simpler. On waiting for the Jetour T2, there’s 0 India crash-test ratings published, no confirmed service footprint, and the launch/price by year-end isn’t firm, so you’d be betting on unknowns.The one thing you give up is a petrol option; the Safari is diesel-only, so if you want a high-rev turbo-petrol feel, this won’t suit.If outright acceleration becomes your top priority or you prefer petrol, consider the Mahindra XUV 7X0 AX7 petrol AT instead. Its 200 PS motor does 0-100 kph in under ~10 seconds.When you test drive, do a brisk 80-0 kph stop to judge brake bite and stability, and ask the dealer to fold the third row and load two 28-inch suitcases to verify real boot depth and loading height.

VehicleTata Safari
VehicleJSW Motors Jetour T2
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
AS

adarsh sinha

•3d

I need a 7-seater SUV for my father. He currently has an Innova Crysta Z 2022 model. I’m confused between the HyCross and the Scorpio N. I know both are different. As we already have a Fortuner Legender, we are looking for a different company to get a taste of it. Kindly suggest if we are making the right choice, or advise us on anything under ₹40 lakhs on-road. Yes, 4x4 is not a compulsion.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•31m

You should consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 L 7‑seater automatic for your requirements.Because you already have a Toyota Innova Crysta and a Fortuner, the Innova HyCross will feel too similar, and the XUV 7XO will give you a new brand experience without feeling like a step down in comfort. The XUV 7XO's sophisticated suspension features 'DaVinci' dampers and hydraulic bump stops, which make it noticeably calmer and pliant than the Scorpio N on the move. The AX7 L variant also packs in ADAS tech like adaptive cruise and lane‑keep assist, and you also get features, such as a three-screen setup, a large panoramic sunroof, Harmon Kardon audio system and cooled front and middle row of seats. The one thing you give up is the generous third‑row comfort and boot compared to the Toyota Innova HyCross.The Mahindra XUV 7XO comes with two engine options, a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel. Both of these engines are punchy and refined and can also be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic, with the diesel-AT also getting the option of AWD.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleToyota Innova Crysta
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Posted on: 18 Mar 2026