Hello, I am planning to buy my first car. Looking for a comfortable car for a family of four. Expecting 35-40,000 km drive in a year (90% road and 10% off-road type). I want something smooth, powerful, and fuel-efficient. We do have a small farm, so boot space needs to be considered for farm harvest. My budget is up to ₹18 lakh. Which car would be best? Thanks in advance.

Autocar India

•2d

With 90:10 city to highway use and an upgrade from your 2015 Hyundai i20, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong-hybrid automatic is the best fit. In slow city traffic it can move on electric power a lot of the time, so it feels very quiet and smooth and uses less fuel. The automatic makes daily driving easy, the seat is higher than your i20 Active so you see out better, and Maruti's service reach is wide, which helps for long-term peace of mind.Know the trade-offs: the hybrid’s battery eats into boot space, and when you press hard on the highway the engine can sound loud and you may need a bit more planning for fast overtakes.If you prefer the Toyota badge, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid gives you the same smooth city drive with a different cabin feel. If you want a sedan, look at the Honda City and pick the hybrid variant if available near you; it is very smooth and efficient in town, but the boot is smaller than the standard City. Overall, for mostly city driving, the Victoris hybrid lines up best.Renault will be out with the Duster hybrid later this year and that could be an option to consider if you're not in a rush to bring home a new car.

Renault Duster

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai i20

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•2d

Since you are a happy Renault Duster owner, the best upgrade for you is the new Duster hybrid. The new-gen Duster really does feel like an upgrade in terms of its interior ambience, features and tech. Age-old Duster traits like the steering shock have been fixed, and in top-spec form, there is a premium vibe to the otherwise rugged package. The only catch is that the space is about the same as your Duster. A larger 7-seat version of the Duster is also due for launch and could bring with it a roomier cabin too.As for the 1.8-litre strong hybrid powertrain, it sure has the makings of a very enticing option. The engine is strong and coupled to electric motors; real-world fuel efficiency should be very good, too. We would definitely wait for Renault's hybrid before finalising any SUV in the Rs 20 lakh plus price band.FYI - The next-gen Hyundai Creta that comes by early 2027 is also expected to launch with a strong hybrid powertrain.

Renault Duster

Autocar India

•5h

Since you want a 6 seater for your city-heavy use and you have a budget of up to Rs 30 lakh, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is what you should consider. Given that your running is fairly high, about 15,000km a year, a diesel would make sense, and it will be more efficient than the petrol. Mahindra's 2.2-litre diesel is refined and punchy, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth, making city drives stress-free. The 7XO has a comfy, premium cabin and can be had in either 6-seat (with captain's chairs in the middle) or 7-seat seating configurations. It also rides over speed breakers and broken roads with ease and comes absolutely loaded with features. Know this before you buy: the third row is best for kids or short adults on longer trips, and with all seats up, the boot is small, so airport runs and road trips will require planning.

Mahindra XUV 7XO