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Mumbai
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Harikrishnan

•1d

I am a retired person and currently own a Jeep Compass Limited Plus diesel manual, which I am planning to replace. My driving is about 5% in Chennai city and the rest on highways. Once every two months, I go on long road trips, mainly on highways and rural roads. Most of the time, it will be just me and my wife, with occasionally two additional passengers. I am considering the diesel Kia Seltos or Mahindra 7XO within a ₹16-18 lakh on-road budget. Kindly suggest which vehicle and model would be most suitable for my needs.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1h
For your usage, which is mostly highway driving with occasional rural roads and long trips, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel manual is the better fit. It offers a more relaxed and effortless driving experience, especially over long distances.
An important point in your case is what you are upgrading from. Your Jeep Compass diesel uses a 2.0-litre engine, and moving to the Kia Seltos diesel, which has a smaller 1.5-litre engine, will not feel like an upgrade in terms of performance. It will feel adequate, but not significantly stronger than what you are used to.
The XUV 7XO, on the other hand, also uses a larger 2.0-litre diesel engine, and despite being a bigger car, it will feel like a proper step up. You will notice stronger pulling power, more effortless highway cruising and better overall performance. It also feels more stable and composed at speed, which suits your kind of long-distance driving. Refinement levels are also good, making it a comfortable car for extended journeys.
The Seltos diesel is easier to drive in the city and feels more compact and user-friendly, but on highways and rough rural roads, it does not feel as robust or as planted as the 7XO.
One important point is the budget. The 7XO diesel variants may go slightly above your Rs 18 lakh on-road range, depending on the variant and location, so you will need to check exact pricing.
Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.14 Lakh

Jeep Compass

Jeep

Compass

from ₹21.56 Lakh

Kia Seltos

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 Lakh

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Srikanth

•22h

Hello Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a new car. I currently drive a 2020 Creta S, which has covered 80,000km. It feels underpowered at times. I am looking for a performance-oriented SUV (petrol). What would be a good purchase? Should I consider the Tata Harrier, Tata Sierra, or a used luxury SUV? Open to suggestions.

Autocar India team

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•6h

If you're looking for performance first and foremost, check out the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol. Coming from the 1.5 petrol Creta, you will immediately notice how much stronger the XUV 7XO's 202hp 2.0-litre turbo petrol is. Overtakes need a light press on the pedal, hills feel effortless even with family and bags, and it cruises comfortably at highway speeds. Mahindra tunes its engines for performance first and fuel economy second. So, be prepared for poor mileage numbers.If you’re tempted by a used luxury SUV, a 2-3 year old BMW X3 30i or Audi Q5 with a valid extended warranty will be quick and feel special, but do factor in higher service and repair costs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

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SN

•2d

I am considering buying the XUV 7XO AX7 Diesel AT variant, but I am hesitant about spending an additional ₹2-3 lakh for the AX7T variant for features like fog lights and ventilated seats. Can these be fitted as OEM accessories post-delivery at a Mahindra authorised service centre, and would that void the warranty in any case?

Autocar India team

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•8h

Choose the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 Diesel AT and skip the AX7T if you feel the approx Rs 2.5 lakh premium is not worth the upgrade. Genuine fog lamps are available as dealer-fitted accessories, and you can add them to the AX7 without voiding the warranty. Ventilated seats, on the other hand, cannot be retrofitted, as they typically require new seats, ducts and wiring that interact with the seat airbags. Do confirm this with your dealer.If ventilated seats are an absolute must-have, then go for the AX7T, as it also brings other features like Level-2 ADAS, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and a knee airbag.At the dealership, ask for the price of the fog-lamp kit and installation. On the test drive, check if the AC’s cooling is up to your expectations.

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Rajat Sethi

•4d

Hi, I am planning to buy the new Tata Safari Petrol AX+, but I am concerned about the engine performance on highways and during hill driving, as we have a second home in the hills and travel there every two months. We need a spacious car within a 25 lakh budget, which is why we chose the Safari. I am also concerned about its overtaking ability on highways. I am not considering the Mahindra 7XO due to its recessed door handles. Please advise.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

The Tata Safari petrol is a very good choice for your needs. During our first drive, we found its performance to be quite effortless despite the modest 1.5-litre displacement. We recorded a 0-100kph time of just 10.5 seconds, which is very respectable for a vehicle of this size. The engine has strong low-down grunt, which helps it pick up speed effortlessly, and it felt adequate even with six people on board. On the expressway, it maintained high speeds with ease and made quick overtakes when required. We haven’t yet driven it in the hills, but all evidence suggests it should be just fine.If performance is still a concern, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good alternative. The best way to address your concerns is to take an extended highway test drive with at least five passengers on board. Assess whether its overtaking performance feels adequate for your needs and, if possible, find a hill to do a gradient test.

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Posted on: 3 Apr 2026