I currently drive a Tata Nexon and am planning to upgrade to a seven-seater. I have shortlisted the Skoda Kodiaq Sportline and Jeep Meridian Trail AT, but am confused about which one to finalise. I need expert advice on this. You may suggest any other seven-seater as well, except the Innova HyCross.

Autocar India

•15w

There's a dearth of seven-seater SUVs available in the Rs 35-50 lakh price bracket, with the only options being Skoda Kodiaq, Jeep Meridian, MG Gloster, and Toyota Fortuner. Out of these, the Kodiaq feels the most sophisticated and the most car-like; however, space for adults in the third row is tight, and is best used as a seven-seater for short distance, occasionally.

The Jeep Meridian's third row space is no better, and overall, it doesn't feel as polished as the Kodiaq, hence the Skoda is the better bet.

But if your objective is to travel with six or seven adults often, consider the MG Gloster and Toyota Fortuner, which are more spacious than the Skoda and Jeep. The Gloster has an edge over the Fortuner in terms of a more upmarket interior and better refinement.

Explore cars mentioned

Skoda

Kodiaq

from ₹46.34 Lakh

Toyota

Fortuner

from ₹39.61 Lakh

Gloster

from ₹45.39 Lakh

Jeep

Meridian

from ₹27.69 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Nitin

•2d

For a chauffeur-driven family of 4, which is the more comfortable car under a ₹35 lakh budget: Innova HyCross, the Skoda Kodiaq 5-seater variant, or the Jeep Meridian 5-seater variant? Which one offers the best second-row legroom?

Autocar India

•1h

Of these three, your best bet is the Toyota Innova HyCross. Apart from being the most affordable of the three, its MPV shape allows for maximum interior space and flexibility, and it has the best second row. It's flexible, too, with seats that slide, fold and flip. This Toyota car also has the most comfortable suspension and will transport your family comfortably and relatively silently.The Skoda Kodiaq Lounge, sadly, is outside of your budget. Although it's more luxurious and equally refined, it's simply not as spacious as the Toyota.The Jeep Meridian has strong badge value and a luxurious interior, but it's not as spacious, comfortable or refined as the Innova Hycross. Both SUVs are high on road presence, but just can't match the packaging superiority of the Toyota MPV.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Skoda Kodiaq

Jeep Meridian

Tanvir

•1w

Hi, I am planning to buy a Kodiaq Sportline. It came to my attention that it does not have hill start assist and hill descent control. How crucial is this technology for normal hill driving? Does the Kodiaq Sportline handle hill drives easily, and does it feature any additional technology to compensate for hill hold or hill descent?

Autocar India

•1d

The Skoda Kodiaq Sportline does not come equipped with hill hold or hill descent control. While hill hold assist is a convenient feature, especially for steep urban parking ramps or stop-start traffic on inclines, it’s not essential if you know how to manage the car on slopes. Hill descent control, on the other hand, is primarily useful for off-road conditions with loose surfaces. It’s not a feature you will miss in normal hill driving situations.This Skoda car is powered by a 204hp, 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine paired with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The engine offers strong torque and smooth performance, which helps the car climb inclines easily. However, since the DSG is a twin-clutch unit, it can roll back slightly if you take your foot off the brake before the clutch engages. This is typical behaviour for such transmissions.You can easily work around this. Either use your left foot lightly on the brake until you feel the clutch bite, or engage the electronic parking brake when stationary on a slope. It automatically releases as you press the accelerator, making hill starts much easier.

Skoda Kodiaq

PSR

•1w

I want to buy a petrol automatic SUV in the range of 17 to 18 lakh. I am considering the Grand Vitara Zeta AT, Victoris ZXI, and Creta S(O) IVT. My annual average usage is between 5000 and 6000km. Please suggest a good option among the three vehicles in terms of smooth journey, mileage, and maintenance cost.

Autocar India

•10m

The Hyundai Creta is the better all-rounder and offers more space, a stronger and smoother powertrain (1.5 P IVT) and marginally better comfort. However, given your priorities of mileage and maintenance costs, it's hard to beat Maruti Suzuki on these fronts.Whether you choose the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or Victoris is a matter of preference (and which dealership is more accessible to you - Arena or Nexa), as they are essentially the same car underneath, using the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and 6-speed AT gearbox. Despite using a torque converter automatic gearbox, which is not typically associated with good mileage, both Maruti SUVs offer exceptional fuel economy, and maintenance costs over the course of their lives will be among the lowest in the segment.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

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