I would like to buy a diesel 7-seater. A hybrid powertrain would also be fine. I am in a dilemma between the Kia Carens and other similar cars. Please suggest the best option.

autocar.india

•21h

Without knowing your budget, it's hard to know what to recommend, but strictly speaking, for your family of six, the best car around is the Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid. It's the most spacious car this side of Rs. 50 lakh and comes with one of the most efficient hybrid powertrains. The interior is flexible, so you can reconfigure it to suit your specific needs, and being an MPV, getting in and out will not be too difficult for your parents further down the line. It's a Toyota, so reliability is a given, and maintenance costs are reasonable too. In the city, the hybrid powertrain will run mostly on electric power, giving you a refined and relaxing experience, and on the highway, there's enough punch, even with a full load of passengers. If this is outside your budget, however, consider the Kia Carens Clavis, which offers a great mix of features, space and flexibility for the money. Plus, with a wide choice of engines and gearboxes, you should find something that suits you.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•1d

The Thar Roxx is a good choice if you are prioritising road presence. It has strong engines, good performance and is well equipped. It is also reasonably comfortable for a ladder-frame SUV. However, it cannot match the XUV 7XO in terms of passenger comfort and ride quality.Alternatively, you could consider the Tata Safari or the Harrier if you do not need seven seats. They ride well on bad roads, have comfortable cabins, and offer the broad-shouldered stance you are after. The 2.0-litre diesel has strong torque for quick highway overtakes and hill driving, and the automatic makes traffic easy to deal with.The Thar Roxx looks great and is brilliant off-road, but in daily use, the ride is busier, the rear seat is tighter, and the boot is smaller.If you want a petrol SUV with a more tech-heavy feel, the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol automatic is also a solid choice within your budget, but it will not have the same road presence as the Harrier or the Roxx.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Kia Seltos

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•1d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT 2WD. With 70% city use, the AWD hardware is just extra weight on most days, costs more to purchase, and will be less fuel efficient. For HP and UK hill trips on normal tarmac, the diesel’s torque, good tyres and the drive modes are enough for climbs and wet hairpins. Simpler 2WD also means fewer drivetrain parts. You’ll only feel AWD’s real benefit in snow, slush, or on steep, broken tracks. If that kind of terrain is a regular thing each winter, then spending on the AWD makes sense.

Mahindra XUV 7XO