Delhi

•2d

My budget is between Rs. 40-50 lakh (on-road) for a car in Surat. I need a premium 6-7 seater automatic car for city driving and highway trips. The third row will be used occasionally. My driving pattern involves driving around 20,000 km over six months and 3,000 km over the other six months. It results in driving approximately 23,000 km annually. This is why I’m confused between petrol, diesel and hybrid options. Please help me compare the Skoda Kodiaq, Kia Sorento, Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid and Toyota Fortuner, considering real-world mileage, performance, comfort, safety, features, maintenance, resale value and long-term ownership costs. Which is the best overall choice for my usage, and are there any better alternatives within my budget?

•3m

We'd recommend the Kia Sorento if you’re looking for a premium seven-seater within Rs 50 lakh, particularly if comfort and refinement are priorities. The diesel makes more sense if most of your driving is on the highway, where its strong torque and relaxed cruising ability should come in handy. However, if your usage is predominantly in the city, the hybrid would be the better choice, offering a smoother, quieter and more refined experience.

The Skoda Kodiaq is arguably the better driver's car, but it doesn't quite match the Sorento for ride comfort. The Toyota Fortuner, while rugged and capable, also falls short in terms of ride comfort and overall refinement. The Sorento strikes a better balance for someone who wants a comfortable, upmarket family SUV that can handle daily commutes as well as long-distance trips. The interior feels plush, the feature set is extensive and the ride comfort is class-best.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Sorento

from ₹33.31 Lakh

Skoda

Kodiaq

from ₹43.10 Lakh

Toyota

Fortuner

from ₹40.50 Lakh

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•2d

Hi Autocar, I currently own a Swift ZXi (2013 model) and it still runs well in Bangalore traffic. I’m looking to upgrade to a big car that has a spacious second row that can be used as a 5 or 7 seater. My budget is around 30 lakh (on-road) but if it is worth increasing my budget, I can consider it. I’m looking for a performance car that will be primarily used for highway driving that will be around 1000km per month. I have taken the test ride of Harrier, XUV 700 (not 7XO), Jeep Meridian (which is my friend’s car that I took for 1000km+ drive and it did not cause any fatigue). I really liked the looks of Sorento but it seems little out of my budget. Is it worth considering now or should I give it some more time? Let me know if I can consider any other car for my requirement that does not have manufacturing or service issues. Also, please suggest whether I should choose diesel, petrol or EVs. I am fine with any fuel but my usage is not that much. Please advice accordingly.

•1h

Given your requirements the best choice would be a Mahindra XUV 7XO. Compared to the 700, there are substantial changes in the 7XO with regard to the suspension and ride quality. It also has a lot of tech and with your Rs. 30 lakh budget you can actually get a top-spec AX7 in luxury trim, which gets all the bells and whistles. It gets a very smooth and powerful petrol engine, a smooth gearbox, and a lot of space in the second row. It is also a seven-seater, so the third row is also spacious. If not you can even always fold it and use it as a massive boot. The Sorento is also a good choice but its starting price of over 30 lakh is hard to justify especially when you consider your requirements, which the 7XO fulfills properly. The Mahindra would be the best recommendation.Between a diesel and a petrol, it depends on your usage. If you don't travel a lot and you don't cover a lot of kilometers over a year, a petrol is always better so we would recommend you go for the petrol.If an EV is something you want to choose, then the Mahindra XEV 9S is the best choice as you get the same space as you do on the 7XO, but in an all-electric guise.

Fortuner still has serious road presence, even at its price. Is it actually worth the money or are buyers paying more for the badge and image?

•1w

I m thinking of an upgrade while still continuing with the swift LDI 2009. I have few options in mind and need your suggestions. 1. Mahindra XUV7XO: Because of great engine, space and relatively lower cost of ownership and maintenance while keeping it for at least 10 years. 2. Volkswagen Tayron: I like the car because of driving performance, luxury quotient and space for family. Only thing I dont like is absence of physical buttons. 3. Kodiaq L&K: Same positives as Tayron. I also like its interiors and colour combination however I m leaning more towards Tayron for its sporty performance. But with both these, I m concerned about how will it behave in long run on our bad road and what will be the cost of owning it in long term of at least 10 years compared to xuv 7xO. Please help.

•1d

If you intend to keep your next car for at least 10 years, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more sensible choice financially, while the Volkswagen Tayron and Skoda Kodiaq L&K are more appealing if driving performance, cabin quality and a premium feel matter more to you.The Tayron and Kodiaq offer a more sophisticated driving experience, but their long term maintenance and repair costs are likely to be considerably higher than the Mahindra's, particularly once the warranty expires. On bad roads, all three can cope with normal use, but the European SUVs' larger wheels and lower profile tyres can make potholes more expensive to deal with.The XUV 7XO offers strong performance, good space and a wider service network, making it easier to justify over a decade of ownership.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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•1w

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•6d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

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•3d

I am planning to buy either Kia Seltos HTX ivt or Tata Sierra EV empowered 75. Since there is concern on petrol availability/pricing and ethanol blending in the future, which option would be better for our monthly usage of around 500km within the city which will also include 2 trips outside the city every year. If I take Seltos, I am concerned about its resale value in 5 to 10 years and more for an EV as it is more expensive as compared to Deltos and its infrastructure problems. What do you suggest?

•3d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. Your usage pattern of around 500km a month in the city with only two outstation trips a year does not justify the premium of the Tata Sierra EV Empowered 75. The Seltos IVT is a smooth, refined and reliable petrol automatic that will handle your city driving effortlessly, and Kia’s service network and ownership experience are strong. Concerns about petrol availability and ethanol blending are largely overblown - E20-compliant engines are designed to handle the fuel, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage. The Sierra EV is a very impressive product with a premium cabin and strong range, but it is significantly more expensive and you will not recover that premium through fuel savings at your level of usage. The Seltos is the more sensible and cost-effective choice for your requirements.

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•3d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

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