My yearly running is 15,000 km, mainly on highways. I am searching for a car that provides good safety and very comfortable rear seats for long journeys, as I have elders who travel with me. Good thigh support for long journeys is important. My budget is ₹12 lakh. Which car should I consider, and which fuel type?

Autocar India

•1h

For your requirement of a first-time driver-friendly petrol automatic under ₹15 lakh, with focus on rear-seat comfort, safety, reliability and low maintenance, we would suggest opting for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L automatic.The reason is that it offers the best overall balance as a package. It is easy to drive in the city, with smooth automatic and light controls, which suits first-time drivers. At the same time, it has a more spacious and wider cabin, making it a more comfortable car for family use. In fact, among these options, it offers the best rear-seat space and comfort, which is a key requirement for you. It also has a strong turbo petrol engine, which makes highway drives more effortless, and overall, it feels like a more complete and future-proof choice.On the Brezza facelift, it is worth waiting only if your top priority is low maintenance and long-term peace of mind, as Maruti ownership is typically the easiest. Otherwise, your current shortlist already offers better performance and features.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•22h

While there's a whole host of compact SUV options within your budget, it's the Maruti Suzuki Brezza that fits your needs best. Sure, it's not an exciting choice, but it is a very sensible one.Comfort is a highlight. The suspension setup and the soft seat cushioning come together to deliver good comfort, something you'll appreciate over Mumbai's pothole-laden roads. The easy-going 1.5-litre petrol engine is also well-suited to city use with smooth power delivery and ready power at low speeds. Since the bulk of your usage is in the city, you should consider the Brezza automatic. The 6-speed automatic transmission isn't sporty by any means, but it is smooth and adds greatly to convenience in chock-a-block city driving.The Brezza is also known to be a very reliable product without irritating software glitches that plague some rival models. Of course, there's also Maruti's widespread service network, which comes with the promise of a stress-free ownership experience. Our suggestion would be to choose between the Brezza VXi AT or ZXi AT.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•1h

For your requirement of a car with a large engine, we would suggest going for the Mahindra XUV 7XO turbo petrol. It comes with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, which is strong and effortless for both city and highway use. More importantly, it offers a very comfortable ride and excellent high-speed stability, which suits your mixed usage well. It also has a strong focus on safety and build, along with a spacious and premium cabin.The only thing to keep in mind is that it is a larger car, so it may take some time to get used to it in tight city conditions.

Mahindra XUV 7XO