My monthly running is about 1,000km. I want a 7 seater for 80% highway and 20% city driving. My budget is around ₹25 lakh. Fuel efficiency and comfort are the two main factors.

Within your budget, the Kia Carens Clavis is a good option. It is easy to drive and offers a comfortable third row. The 1.5-litre turbo petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines are powerful enough for both city and highway use, with decent efficiency.Considering your limited running, the petrol variant makes more sense. While the diesel is more efficient, and your highway usage should not cause DPF issues, your usage does not justify the higher price. Also, the diesel automatic is offered only in a single mid variant, which is not very feature-rich.If you want something more powerful, we would suggest waiting for the soon-to-be-launched Mahindra XUV 7XO. It will offer more effortless performance, but its third row, though usable, will not be as comfortable as the Clavis, and fuel efficiency will also be lower.

The Mahindra Thar Roxx is far more comfortable than the three-door version, but as a family car, the ride is still on the firmer side. Within your budget, if most of your driving is on the road, there are more comfortable options available.Within Mahindra, you could wait for the XUV 7XO, which is expected to launch in January 2025 and is essentially the facelifted XUV700. Despite its size, it will be easy to drive, and the petrol and diesel engines are well-suited for both city and highway use. Given your limited driving, the petrol makes more sense. It will also be more spacious, with a larger boot, and being a 7 seater, it gives you added versatility whenever you need the extra seats. We expect the top AX7 petrol variant to fit within your budget.If you want something smaller and more efficient, you could also consider the new Tata Sierra. Even the top turbo-petrol automatic fits within your budget, and based on our experience, this Tata car delivers good driving pleasure and comfort while offering a class-leading feature list. The smaller 1.5-litre engine, while down on power compared to Mahindra’s 2.0-litre, is still strong enough and should prove to be more economical as well.

We're glad to know that you've been a happy subscriber of Autocar India. Yes, the Tata Sierra is an excellent choice and will feel like a huge upgrade over your existing car. Besides being spacious and comfortable, it feels well-built and drives with confidence. The Pure+ variant that you're considering is very well-equipped, and certainly good value for money. Go for it.

The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus with their 1.5 TSI and dual-clutch automatic transmission combination are the nicest to drive in their segment. Both cars are identical in terms of their platform, build quality, space, comfort, and equipment list, the only differentiating factor being their styling. Pick the one that appeals to you more. The 1.5 TSI engine gets a cylinder deactivation function as well as an automatic engine stop-start function to curtail fuel consumption.The Hyundai Verna 1.5, on the other hand, is quick, smooth, and in the real world, it is likely to be a touch more fuel efficient. Also, the top-spec Verna is also cheaper than its rivals, making it worthy of serious consideration. The only downside is that its dynamics don't feel as sporty as the VW or Skoda. But if you don't plan to attack winding roads often, you will be happy with what the Verna has to deliver.