Autocar India
21w

Hello. I want to purchase a big petrol automatic SUV in Chandigarh within an on-road budget of 21 lakh, which is almost 18 lakh, ex-showroom. Safety, prestige, decent mileage, low maintenance and some modern features are what I want. I will keep the car for only four years. I have zeroed in on Scorpio N Z8 Select AT, Tata Safari Pure X and Harrier Adventure X AT. Please advise. Primarily city driving with an occasional highway drive once a month.

Verified
20w
The Mahindra Scorpio N offers a larger, more powerful 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, compared to the other two cars, and its rear-wheel drive layout will be a touch better to drive on hills, too. Additionally, being a body-on-frame SUV, it feels a touch tougher too, and more capable over bad roads. That said, since your usage is primarily in the city, the Scorpio N's ride will feel bumpier in the city. And purely for those reasons, we would recommend the two Tata SUVs.
There's very little to differentiate between the Tata Safari and Harrier, with the former having a three-row seating configuration and the latter being a 5-seater. Both drive similarly, and the 1.5-turbo-petrol engine is surprisingly powerful, refined and smooth. So, between the Safari and Tata Harrier, pick the one that appeals to you more.
Tata Harrier

Tata Harrier

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2d

Hi team, I already own a 2022 Tata Safari and want to replace it with a more powerful, comfortable, and feature-rich SUV. My budget is Rs. 35 lakh (on-road). I checked out the MG Majestor, but it is out of my budget, as the on-road price is around Rs. 48 lakh. I also looked at the Toyota Hycross, but I didn't like its interior. Kindly suggest the best 7-seater SUV within my budget. I usually drive in the city, covering around 30-40 km daily, and take one or two trips to hill stations every year.

Verified
1d

At this price point and with your requirements, there isn't much choice available so the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel would be the most sensible option. It offers a more powerful diesel engine, a more refined driving experience and a premium cabin with a strong feature set. The diesel engine is punchy and well suited to both city driving and occasional hill station runs. The third row is not as spacious or comfy as your Tata Safari but it is usable. If the Mahindra car does not feel like an upgrade, you could consider the Jeep Meridian. It would feel larger and has a premium and classy cabin. The diesel engine of this Jeep car is the proven and familiar 2.0 litre multijet unit - the same engine that powers the diesel Safari. The Meridian will also do well for your long drives to hill stations as the ride and handling balance is outstanding with a secure handling for the ghats, good highway stability at higher speeds and a well judged ride quality over broken roads.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleTata Safari
VehicleJeep Meridian

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Posted on: 21 Feb 2026