Hello, I am planning to buy an SUV for around Rs 1.5 crore. My options are the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Land Rover Defender, Range Rover Sport, and Porsche Cayenne. Which one should I go for?

Autocar India

•33m

Pick the Maruti Wagon R AMT. For elderly parents it’s the easiest to get in and out of, thanks to the tall seat and wide doors, and its boot is the biggest in your Rs. 6-7 lakh band, so weekend luggage is no fuss. The automatic is an AMT or automated manual transmission, which is not as smooth and seamless as other types of automatics but as as far as AMT's go it does the job quite well, plus it delivers a very good mileage. Just know it feels light and a bit bouncy at higher highway speeds, so keep cruising sensible. If he wants something that feels tougher on the highway, the Tata Tiago AMT is the next best fit. It rides better and feels more solid, but the seat is a bit lower and the boot is smaller than the Wagon R.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Tata Tiago

Autocar India

•1h

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 petrol manual. Your driving is mostly highway and you plan to keep it 10-12 years, and this one feels the most relaxed and secure at speed, with a comfy second row and a big, usable boot when the third row is folded. The performance, refinement and reliability of the engine is also very good but the only downside is a low fuel economy, single digits or low double digit figures if you are careful. But since your driving is low this should not be a big issue. The XUV 7XO is E20-ready, as are the others, so your ethanol worry for the next decade is largely covered. If blends rise beyond E20 later, expect a small drop in economy across all petrol rather than a single clear loser. Between the rest, the Tata Safari would be an option, as it too offers a very good ride quality and stability at speed is good. The third row is also more comfortable but this would not be an advantage for you given that it would remain a luggage area only. As for the Scorpio N, it is tough but heavy and bouncy on long highway runs and noticeably thirstier; it suits rough roads more than long fast cruises. The Alcazar is easier to drive in the city and will use less fuel, but it is narrower, and it does not feel as planted or as reassuring as the Mahindra or the Tata on long highways.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Mahindra Scorpio N

Hyundai Alcazar

Autocar India

•2h

Go for the diesel engine in the Hyundai Creta or the Alcazar. With 1,300-1,500km a month and two 500km highway trips, the diesel will save you a good amount of money on fuel and feel more relaxed at highway speeds, especially with family and bags. Your regular long runs will also keep the DPF clean, so the time you spend in Noida-Gurgaon traffic should not be an issue.The only catch is Delhi-NCR’s 10-year cap on diesel cars and the odd winter clampdown on diesel models. If you plan to keep the car beyond 8-10 years or want zero risk of restrictions, petrol is the safer bet.Between the two SUVs, pick the Alcazar diesel only if you actually need the third row; otherwise, the Creta diesel is lighter, a bit more efficient, and cheaper to buy. If you must go petrol, the Creta 1.5 petrol suits calm city use and will drink less than the turbo; the turbo petrols are quicker but thirstier in traffic.

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Alcazar