I am planning to buy a full-size SUV. My yearly running is around 40,000+ km. I need it mainly for office commuting and highway driving. My budget is around ₹25 lakh. Which car should I opt for? Please help.

Autocar India

•1h

We would recommend the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo in the Techno trim. Engine refinement is very good, with no vibrations at idle, and it remains smooth even while driving. Power figures are class-leading at 163hp and 280Nm of torque, offering strong performance. Since you have some off-road driving to your farm, the Duster's generous ground clearance of 212mm will come in handy, and the boot space is also very large at 518 litres. So you should be able to carry some of your farm produce. The only downside is rear space, which is a bit tight, but since you are a family of four, it should not be too much of an issue.We are yet to put the Duster through our full instrumented test cycle, but efficiency should be at par with others in the segment, but certainly not class leading. However, given its other traits that suit your requirements, this is the car we would recommend.If you can stretch your budget to about Rs 20 lakh, you could consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO. While you may not need its seven-seat capacity, folding the third row gives you a very large boot, which is useful for carrying farm produce. The ground clearance is also good, and if your roads are difficult, you could even consider the AWD version, though this would come at a higher price still.

Renault Duster

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1d

The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good choice in the segment, though you will rely heavily on the infotainment screens for many functions, including the AC, which your dad might not appreciate. Consider the Kia Carens Clavis with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol DCT instead. It has physical controls for major functions and a simpler user interface for the infotainment system. It is also more compact and therefore easier to drive and park in the city, where you will be spending most of your time. Despite its dimensions, the third row in the Kia is actually more usable than the one in the Mahindra. With 90 percent slow city use and a 70-year-old driver, the petrol is a better choice, and you avoid DPF issues that can crop up with limited use.One thing to be aware of: the Carens Clavis won’t ride as plush as the XUV 7XO. If that is a priority, then go for the Mahindra instead. Also, if the Clavis’s MPV-like design doesn’t appeal to you, then consider the Tata Safari petrol.On the test drive, do a long run in bumper-to-bumper traffic and check two things: how the DCT reacts at low speeds and how easy it is for your dad to get in and out of the second and third rows.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•2d

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 petrol, it does not have an SUV body style, but at your budget and with your 90% city use and 50 km a day, it is the easiest and most comfortable three-row you can live with daily. Coming from your i10, the Carens will feel much bigger, but it is still friendly in traffic: light steering, a calm engine and good all-round visibility make daily driving and parking far less stressful than most big seven-seaters. There's also a smooth enough clutch, and you could also consider the automatic, which is a bit above your budget. The ride is comfortable over speed breakers and broken patches, there is proper space in the second row, and the third row is very usable for kids or shorter adults, and the air-con vents for all rows help in hot weather. If you do want a true SUV feel, however and can manage a bigger car and are ok with a lower mileage, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO.

Kia Carens Clavis

Mahindra XUV 7XO