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•20h

I am currently driving Fronx and now I want to upgrade to diesel car for 2 people under a budget of 25 lakh to 30 lakh for my current running of 3000 km which includes 80% running on highways.

•3m

With 3,000 km a month and 80 percent highway driving, a diesel SUV is the right choice. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the best fit here. It is an excellent highway car with a powerful diesel engine, good ride comfort and a stable, planted feel at speed. It is also well equipped and offers a genuinely premium experience for the money.

The Kia Seltos diesel is the alternative if you want something slightly more compact and easier to live especially since you might not need that extra space the XUV offers. The Seltos diesel is very effient and refined, but as far as outright performance goes, the XUV's larger 2.2-litre diesel gives it an edge.

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Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.23 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.76 Lakh

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•2d

Hi Autocar Team, I am looking for an SUV for my family of four to five members. My current car is a Maruti Suzuki Celerio, and my maximum on-road budget is Rs. 24 lakh in Bangalore. My annual usage will be around 14,000 km, with a 40:60 split between city and highway driving. My priorities are an automatic transmission, comfortable seating, a good balance of performance and mileage, and a strong safety rating. Which SUVs would you recommend based on my requirements?

•1d

With 14,000 km of annual running and a 40-60 city-highway split, a diesel makes sense here, and the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is the recommendation. It is one of the most comfortable and spacious SUVs in this price range, with a strong diesel engine that delivers good performance and efficiency on highways while remaining manageable in the city. The automatic gearbox is smooth, and the car feels stable and confidence-inspiring at speed, which is important given your highway usage. It is also a genuinely comfortable family car with a well-sorted ride and a strong safety package.While we are yet to drive the Renault Duster Hybrid, it could be another model of interest to you. Its hybrid powertrain promises excellent fuel economy in addition to the sorted ride and handling manners that make the Duster such a good long-distance machine. Our review drops in the coming week. Stay tuned!

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•2d

Hello Autocar India team, I want to thank you for your First Impression articles, detailed reviews, podcasts and other content. Please continue with your impartial reviews. I currently own a 2015 Vento Highline Petrol and still fall in love with the car whenever I take it on long drives. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be much movement in the sedan segment. We can stretch our budget to Rs 40 lakh on-road. Our primary use will be planned or unplanned road trips, with limited city driving. EVs concern me because of battery life and charging infrastructure. Petrol cars are a concern because of E20 and the possibility of higher ethanol blending in the future. Hybrids haven't convinced me either. I also don't want to consider premium hatchbacks like the Creta and Seltos. We have narrowed our choices to the Jeep Meridian Overland or Compass 4x4, although Stellantis' long-term commitment remains a concern; the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD; and the Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel 4x4. Please share your unbiased recommendation. Thanks and regards, Yashodhan Patel

•1d

Thank you for your kind words on our content.Of the vehicles on your shortlist, the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD is the best. It's got a strong diesel engine and a smooth gearbox, which make long journeys absolutely effortless. Kia has also packed the Sorento with features that uplift comfort levels inside. The third row isn't the best, though the Jeep Meridian and Mahindra XUV 7XO are also not great in this regard. Kia's proven reliability also makes the Sorento an easy model to recommend for your usage.

Hi, I am planning to buy a car that can comfortably fit 5 people (2 people are 6 feet tall and 3 people are healthy). I mostly ride in the city (Mumbai and Goa) and occasionally I drive between the 2 cities. So, it is an average of 300-400km per month. I am happy to buy Dzire as well but I have heard that five people cannot fit in it. Can you please help me with a 5-star safety rated car that offer decent mileage with less maintenance. Considering the bad roads, I need a car with good clearance. It can be a compact SUV or SUV.

•3h

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is a good sedan, but the rear seat is not wide enough to comfortably accommodate three adults, especially when occupants are on the healthier side. Instead, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.0 Turbo. Due to its boxy cabin, it feels airier than the Dzire, and its turbo-petrol engine will feel effortless on your highway drives between Mumbai and Goa. Its high ground clearance will give you more confidence over bad roads. If you want a more spacious 5-seater, that's reliable, efficient and 5-star rated within a budget of Rs 20 lakh, consider the Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol-manual. It is more expensive than the Brezza, but its cabin feels richer and more spacious, making it worth the stretch.

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•1w

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a seven-seater car. I have test-driven the Renault Triber Turbo and Citroen Aircross X and was impressed by what both offer at their price points. However, the Aircross put a wide smile on my face. As a current Maruti Suzuki user, I did not consider the Ertiga because it feels similar to our Swift. I liked the Aircross X but am sceptical about Citroen's service network and spare parts availability. However, there are three Citroen showrooms within 45 km of my place. Please suggest which car I should choose. My budget: Rs. 15 lakh Current vehicle: Second-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift petrol (2017) Annual usage: Around 10,000 km, with a 50:30:20 split between town, highway and city driving Requirement: A seven-seater car

•6d

The Citroen's interiors feel more special, its engine is more powerful, and its ride-handling balance is outstanding; however, for seven adults, it won't be as comfortable as the Triber.In fact, the Triber's superb packaging makes it genuinely comfortable for passengers in all three rows, despite its compact sub-4-meter dimensions. The new turbo-petrol engine makes it an effortless performer, and its ride quality feels very mature too. Moreover, the Triber Turbo is also much more affordable in comparison, making it outstanding value for money. Yes, the Aircross X will appeal to your heart, but given Citroen's limited service network and cramped third row, the Triber Turbo is the more sensible choice.

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•4d

Please advise which car would be the best choice for long-term ownership: the Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen SUV, or any other suitable option. My priority is reliability, long-term durability, and hassle-free ownership over the next 10 years or more. I would appreciate suggestions based on real-world ownership experience, maintenance costs, spare parts availability, and after-sales support.

•3d

For long-term ownership, the Mahindra Scorpio N is the safest recommendation from your shortlist. It has a proven track record, robust mechanicals and a strong service network, making it a dependable choice for 5-10 years of ownership. The Tata Harrier and Tata Safari have improved significantly, but the Scorpio N still has the edge on long-term reliability and ownership confidence. The Jeep Compass is a good product, but it is now an ageing model and does not offer the same value proposition as the Scorpio N. If you are open to alternatives, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is worth considering. It is a more modern product with a better balance of comfort, features and refinement, and it is a strong long-term ownership proposition as well. The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are excellent driver's cars, but they are smaller and do not offer the same level of space or road presence as the Scorpio N or XUV 7XO.

I am planning to buy my first car. I want to have a 7-seater and need it for long term ownership. I liked the Citroen Aircross X design for 5+2. I am planning to choose a car with automatic transmission. I have couple of major concerns for which I would like your advice. First one is Mileage, I heard Aircross has a mileage issue and its real-world city mileage is 8 kpl while on highway it is 14 kpl. Is it the same for X version also? Second advice is for its service network. I have heard from the people that its service is slow. Regular servicing also takes around 2 days of time. I have a service center within 10 km from my home. My budget is Rs. 20 Lakh and I need an automatic transmission with rear and front parking camera or 360-degree camera since I am a new driver. Are there any 7-seater alternatives within this budget?

•3d

The Citroen Aircross X is a good-looking car, now with a premium interior. It is the only SUV in its category which offers a 5+2 seating configuration, and even though the third row is not particularly spacious, it works for occasional use. The real-world fuel efficiency figures as per our tests are 9.5kpl and 13.62kpl in city and highway conditions, respectively, which is quite decent given the strong and smooth performance this 1.2-turbo-petrol-AT delivers. What's more is that ride comfort is outstanding, perhaps the best among all midsize SUVs. So as far as comfort and practicality goes, the Aircross X is a good car.Citroen's service centre network is limited, but since you have a touchpoint close to your home, your vehicle's regular servicing and maintenance is likely to be taken care of smoothly. If you love the Aircross X for what it is, go for it - as far as value goes, it is an outstanding proposition. If you're looking for proper seven-seater alternatives, we'd strongly recommend the Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ turbo-petrol automatic version. All three rows are properly spacious, well-suited for adults. This variant will be within your Rs 20 lakh on-road budget, and it has front and rear parking sensors, as well as rear-view camera to make parking easy for you. Sure, it isn't an SUV, but it is a very sensible car, if you need a proper seven-seater.

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