I need to buy a 7 seater, budget is not a constraint. I can afford a luxury car as well, but my only point is that I will be driving the same car for the next 10 years. Should I wait for new launches or buy now, and which one to buy? Can u please advise me?

Autocar India

•9m

If you are planning to keep the car for the next 10 years, it makes sense to buy a car with a proven track record, reliability and strong after-sales support. New launches will always keep coming, but for long-term ownership, a well-established product is always the safer choice.

In that context, we would suggest going for the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid ZX (O). It is one of the most sensible long-term buys in the 7-seater space. Toyota’s reputation for reliability and low-maintenance ownership is unmatched, which is exactly what you need if you plan to keep the car for a decade. The hybrid system is also smooth, efficient and well-suited for both city and highway use.

In terms of comfort, the HyCross offers a very spacious cabin with excellent second-row comfort, especially with captain seats, and the third row is also genuinely usable. It is an easy car to live with, whether you drive yourself or are occasionally chauffeur-driven.

If you are considering luxury options, you can look at cars from German brands, but over a 10-year period, maintenance costs, complexity and long-term reliability can become concerns compared to something like the Toyota.

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Toyota

Innova HyCross

from ₹21.60 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Aman

•6d

I have a Thar 3-door, 4x4 petrol AT, but I need a car for long drives with family. Recommend something that is comfortable, powerful, fun enough to drive and is reliable. I had an Octavia prior to this, if that matters. Price range ₹30-40 lakh.

Autocar India

•8h

Sadly, there still isn’t a true replacement for your Skoda Octavia in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket. The segment has thinned out, and nothing today quite blends that space, ride comfort and driver engagement the way the Octavia did.Yes, the new Skoda Octavia RS is finally here and, on paper, it’s everything you’d want: strong performance, sharp handling and that familiar RS edge. But at around Rs 60 lakh, on-road, it sits well outside your budget, and more importantly, it’s a bit too stiff and focused to be the ideal family long-distance car.Within your budget, the closest you’ll get to that familiar Octavia feel is the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI. It’s obviously a couple of segments smaller, but it still carries that Skoda DNA. The 150hp turbo-petrol is punchy, the DSG transmission is quick and responsive, and it feels nicely planted at highway speeds. There’s a tightness and cohesion here that most SUVs in this class simply don’t have, which makes it genuinely enjoyable to drive on long runs.The compromise, however, is space. Compared to your Octavia, it feels narrower, and the rear seat, in particular, is quite tight. For occasional use, it’s fine, but for regular family trips, it will feel like a step down.If space, comfort and effortless cruising are higher on your priority list, the Mahindra XUV 7XO 2.2 diesel is a much stronger fit. It’s significantly more spacious, especially in the second row, and rides very well over broken roads. The diesel has plenty of torque, making highway driving relaxed and easy, and it’s a proper long-distance mile-muncher. It’s not as agile or as connected to drive as the Kushaq, but it’s far better suited to family duties.Another option is the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid. This is actually the most sensible choice here if your usage is primarily family road trips. It’s supremely comfortable, especially at the rear, incredibly easy to drive, and the strong hybrid delivers excellent efficiency without compromising on refinement. Reliability is a given, and for long distances, very few cars in this price band come close in terms of stress-free usability.However, it is not fun to drive. It is competent, smooth and effortless, but lacks the driver engagement you may be used to from the Octavia.

Skoda Octavia RS

Skoda Kushaq

Toyota Innova HyCross

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Atul Sharma

•4d

I have booked Innova Crysta for taxi purposes, but it's going to be discontinued by the company from 2027. Another concern is that the government might impose a 10-year rule for diesel vehicles in a city like Chandigarh. So, would it still be a better choice? I am worried about the resale value after 5 or 7 years. Or would the Hycross be a better choice?

Autocar India

•2d

There's a substantial price difference between an entry-level HyCross diesel MT and the HyCross hybrid. If you're open to spending the extra for the latter, the Toyota Innova HyCross is a newer, far more modern and comfier car. Its hybrid powertrain is very efficient, and as a result, running costs will be in check.Also, if there is a future ruling to restrict the life of ICE cars in Chandigarh, being a petrol (hybrid), the HyCross could have a longer life than the diesel Innova Crysta. Also, since the HyCross isn't even at the halfway mark in its life cycle, you don't need to worry about spares and maintenance.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova HyCross

Raja

•2d

I previously owned a Toyota Innova Crysta 2.8 AT, which I sold and replaced with a Hyundai Creta 1.5 turbo petrol about a year ago. The car has run around 10,000 km so far. However, I now feel that the Creta is not as comfortable as the Crysta, and I am reconsidering my decision. Should I sell the Creta and upgrade to another car? My budget is around ₹27 lakh. Could you please advise whether upgrading again would be a sensible decision and suggest better alternatives in this price range?

Autocar India

•1d

The Hyundai Creta is actually a very good car and is very comfortable for the mid-size SUV segment, but when you compare it to something like the Innova Crysta, you are always going to feel a drop in comfort. The Crysta is a larger people mover, built primarily for comfort, whereas the Creta’s strengths are being more compact, easier to drive and more feature-rich.If comfort is your top priority, then it does make sense to go back to an Innova. In your budget, we would suggest looking at the Innova Hycross GX(O) automatic.The Toyota Innova Hycross feels more car-like to drive compared to the Crysta, thanks to its monocoque construction. It has lighter steering, a smooth CVT gearbox and a comfortable ride, which makes it easier to use in the city as well. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and responsive enough for both city and highway driving.More importantly, there is a lot of space inside the cabin, and overall comfort is on another level compared to mid-size SUVs like the Creta. The GX(O) variant is not very feature-loaded, but it has all the essentials. Since your priority is comfort, that shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Hyundai Creta

Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova HyCross

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