Delhi

•2d

I owned a 2019 Maruti Vitara Brezza ZDi+ manual and sold it in 2024 to buy a Virtus GT DSG. I regret selling the Brezza, although the Virtus is a great car. I bought it because my wife wanted a sedan, and I chose the automatic partly for her, but she hardly drives it. The Virtus has covered nearly 60,000 km in two years. I’m planning to replace it with a new car. I drive at least 80% on the highway and 20% in the city. At least twice a month, I make a round trip of 640 km, and my annual mileage is at least 25,000 km. I’ve decided that my next car should be a diesel. I like the Tata Harrier, but I’m concerned about reliability and potential issues. I’m also considering the Kia Seltos, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and the upcoming Hyundai Creta. I’d choose a top-end variant and am open to either a manual or an automatic. If I go for an automatic, it must have a torque-converter gearbox. What would you recommend?

•4h

Between your picks, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic is the easiest recommendation. Its diesel powertrain is very refined and is paired with a slick 6-speed torque converter automatic. It also offers enough performance for highway driving, while ride quality is significantly better than that of the previous generation. The cabin feels premium, with good-quality materials, more space than the previous generation and an infotainment system with a very user-friendly interface.

The Mahindra XUV 7XO offers better outright performance from its 2.2-litre diesel engine and a more plush ride quality. It also has a more commanding road presence, thanks to its sheer size. The cabin is premium and spacious, with the added advantage of a third row. However, its size can make it cumbersome to park in the city, while its infotainment interface takes some getting used to.

If you can wait, the next-generation Hyundai Creta is expected sometime in mid-2027. It will move to the K3 platform, just like the Seltos, making it larger than the current model and allowing for a more spacious cabin. It is expected to retain the current Creta's powertrain options, so a diesel variant should still be on the cards. Other details are scarce at the moment, but it could make for a compelling alternative to the Seltos.

Overall, if you don't need the third row or the added performance, the Seltos is a better fit for your needs than the XUV 7XO. While it doesn't have the outright performance of the Mahindra, it offers a good balance and better fuel efficiency.

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•3m•

Makes sense 👍. I’m not planning to purchase immediately, I’ll wait for the Hyundai Creta. Thank you for the response.

•3m•

Go with 7x0 or Harrier .

More posts on similar cars

•1d

I’ve been driving a Maruti Suzuki Ciaz diesel manual for the last 9 years. I drive about 90 km a day, of which around 60 km is on the expressway and 30 km is in the city. I’m planning to buy an automatic compact SUV that’s comfortable to drive and fuel-efficient. I’ve been looking at something like a mid-spec Tata Sierra diesel. Which car would you recommend?

•1d

The Tata Sierra diesel automatic would be a good fit for your daily 90km commute, particularly with 60km on the expressway. It is comfortable and has strong highway cruising ability. The Aisin-sourced six-speed torque converter is smooth and well calibrated, making it easy to drive in city traffic as well. The Sierra also has a comfortable cabin and a well-sorted ride, which should make your daily commute less tiring. One drawback is that the diesel engine is not particularly refined, with noticeable engine noise and vibrations. The Kia Seltos diesel automatic is another strong option. It is more refined, has a better-quality cabin and offers a more polished overall ownership experience. Its diesel engine and automatic gearbox make it particularly well suited to your mix of expressway and city driving.Our recommendation would be the Sierra diesel automatic if comfort and highway ability are your priorities. However, if you value refinement, cabin quality and a more reassuring ownership experience, the Seltos diesel automatic is the one to choose.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

•1d

What are Mahindra’s plans for an ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO? Specifically, does Mahindra plan to launch any ICE SUVs in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket?

•1d

Mahindra has not yet confirmed an all-new ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket. However, there are some interesting developments on its future product roadmap. The company has outlined plans for 10 new ICE models by 2031, including nine new nameplates, with several expected to use its upcoming NU_IQ platform. The Vision X and Vision SXT concepts are among the products to watch, although their final positioning and specifications are yet to be revealed. A more immediate development is the possibility of a strong-hybrid version of the XUV 7XO, which Mahindra is evaluating and could introduce around 2027. This would potentially sit above the current petrol and diesel variants, offering better fuel efficiency and a more sophisticated powertrain. Mahindra is also working on a coupe-styled hybrid SUV, internally codenamed W623, which could arrive around 2028, although its positioning is not yet clear.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•2w

I currently own a 2024 Toyota Innova Crysta and love taking long drives in it. I have a 6-year-old son and am now planning to replace the Crysta with a diesel automatic (preferably) or a hybrid SUV/MPV within a budget of Rs 35 lakh. My annual running is around 20,000 km, including 1 or 2 monthly long trips and 2 to 3 long family vacations every year. Please suggest a car that offers good reliability, a great driving experience, and hassle-free ownership. I have the Mahindra XUV700 AX7 L (7XO), Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid, and Kia Sorento in mind.

•2d

The most equipped and bang for your buck choice here would be the Mahindra XUV 7XO. The diesel engine is creamy smooth, has superb power delivery and is packed to the gills with features in its top-spec AX7 L guise that will fit well under your budget. However, if you want to stick to the Toyota brand, the Hycross is a good choice and considering the budget, better than the Kia Sorento that will only fit in with its HTE(O) variant that misses on features. The Toyota Innova Hycross is a strong-hybrid which is a good replacement for a diesel and has a lot of space in all three rows. There is an update for the Hycross that isn't too far so if you can wait, that would be a good choice. If not, you need to just select if the extra feature set of the Mahindra along with its modern cabin is something you need. If not, the Hycross is a great choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Sorento

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

improve the grammar and write it in a paragraph - Hi Autocar, Iam looking to book a car this week. I have narrowed it down to one of 3 cars. Petrol Automatic IVTs. My running is mostly going to be 95% city (office to work in Mumbai traffic). Daily commute is around 15km, so I don't want a turbo in traffic. That's roughly 5k annual running. I am 6ft tall so wouldn't want something that is cramped 1. New Seltos HTK(O) 2. New elevate VX 3. Bayon HX 8 All of these are close to the 16L ex showroom price. I've driven the Seltos and Elevate. I really liked both of them. The Seltos feels more premium from the inside and I feel like that is something worth having in a daily car. The elevate is brilliant, but it seems cheap on the inside. No pani sunroof too, although I would maybe use it 1 day in year, it's priced the same as the Seltos, so that felt a miss. I know Honda engines are top, but at my running and limited enthusiast journey, I'm not sure if that does justice to need. Now comes the bayon. I have not done a test drive yet as its not available, but the bayon pricing at Hx6 and hx8 seems very close to the Creta currently.. I am tempted to go for the hx8 as it as a 360 camera,( I think that might be usefull for parking etc as I am coming from a hatchback ) but I am getting a "lesser car" vs the Seltos here I wonder.. Which one would you recommend? I am keen on booking before diwali, will see if there are any discounts on the Seltos (unlikey though)

•5d

All things considered, the Kia Seltos is the better fit for your needs. Since you are on the taller side, you will appreciate the extra room it has to offer compared to the Hyundai Bayon. Opting for the Bayon does get you a higher variant with a 360-degree camera, which can be helpful in tight spots. However, once you get used to the size of the vehicle, you might find yourself using the camera less often.As for the Honda Elevate, as you rightly mentioned, the Seltos feels more premium inside and costs about the same. The Elevate does offer a bit more performance from its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, but since 95% of your driving is in slow-moving Mumbai traffic, the added performance won't really make much of a difference.Overall, the Seltos is the right fit for your needs.

Dear Autocar India team, I am planning to purchase my first family car with a budget of Rs 11 lakh and have already booked the Kia Sonet HTK+ variant. However, concerns raised on social media about the performance of its 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine have made me reconsider my decision. Since our monthly usage is relatively low and the car will primarily be used for occasional trips, would the Sonet HTK+ be a suitable choice for our requirements, or should I consider another model or an alternative powertrain within the Sonet range? I would appreciate your professional guidance in making the right decision. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

•5d

If your usage is primarily in the city, the 1.2-litre Kia Sonet will serve you just fine. It has a smooth, refined engine paired with a light clutch and gearbox, which makes it easy to drive in city traffic. Where it falls short is on the highway, where it may need a downshift to make an overtake.If you frequently travel on the highway with three or more passengers, you would be better off looking at a turbo-petrol version of the Sonet. Alternatively, consider something like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza or Hyundai Venue with a turbo-petrol engine. However, the trade-off for better performance from a turbo-petrol engine is lower fuel efficiency in the city.If you only plan on using the Sonet around town, stick with the naturally aspirated engine. But if highway performance is important, the turbo-petrol is a worthwhile upgrade.

We’re a family of four, a couple with two kids aged one and three, and we’re upgrading from a 2013 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. My daily office commute is a 20 km round trip in the NCR, usually with only me in the car. On weekends, the whole family drives about 100 km within the NCR. Three times a year, we take long trips of up to around 1,000 km round trip to Punjab or Himachal Pradesh. We intend to keep the car for about eight to ten years. We’re considering the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi+ AT, Victoris VXi AT and XL6 Zeta AT. Which one would you suggest?

•6d

From your shortlist, we would go with the Maruti Brezza. The space on offer inside is quite generous, and given your family size, you do not really need a larger car. Moreover, since you drive daily within the city, the compact dimensions of the Brezza would be easier to manage in traffic and also in terms of finding parking. As for your yearly extended trips, the Brezza would also do just fine, though if you carry a lot of luggage, the Xl6 would be ideal. That aside the Brezza would more than suffice for you needs.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki XL6

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