I have been using a Datsun and found it reliable, including for highway use. My annual running is around 10,000km, mostly on highways. I am now looking for a 7-seater MPV with reliable performance for family use, good fuel efficiency and an on-road budget of ₹12-15 lakh. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•7w

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is a safe and reliable 7-seater MPV, and is expected to be very fuel-efficient too. We'd also recommend you try the Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 Petrol. It has a slightly more upmarket interior, more features, and better cabin space compared to a Maruti Ertiga. The HTE O variant is well-equipped and should easily fit your budget.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Ertiga

from ₹9.97 Lakh

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹12.90 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Sumanth

•4d

I am looking to buy a 5+2-seater automatic petrol. I previously owned an Ertiga ZXi+. Now I want to upgrade to something a step above the Ertiga. I have considered the XUV 7XO, Clavis, Alcazar, Safari, and HyCross. My driving is mainly in the city, with highway trips during holidays. Hence, I prefer petrol.

Autocar India

•1d

The ideal upgrade for you would be the Kia Carens Clavis. It has all the positives from the Maruti Ertiga but in a much more premium package. The engine is more powerful, it is extremely practical, and despite being a 5+2 seater, it is easy to drive in the city. The third row space is also usable for adults, especially in city drives. On the highways, too, it offers a comfortable ride and a decent amount of room in the third row with all three rows up. Being a Kia car, the equipment list is quite comprehensive, and you wouldn't miss many features with this MPV.The Mahindra XUV 7XO is also good, but it is a bit too large for the city, and the third row space isn't as good or usable as the Kia's. The Hyundai Alcazar struggles with third-row room while carrying over the underpinnings of the Clavis. The Tata Safari isn't easy to use in the city, courtesy of its size and cramped third-row space, and the Toyota Innova HyCross, in its petrol-only guise, is quite inefficient and has to sacrifice a whole bunch of features too, unless you spend upwards of Rs 30 lakh and get the strong-hybrid version.The Carens Clavis will tick all the necessary boxes and at a reasonable price point, making it the best pick for you.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Vishist Vijay Tiwari

•2d

I am planning to buy a Kia Carens Clavis in diesel MT in the next few weeks. I am confused between HTE EX Diesel MT and HTK+ (O) Diesel MT. My annual running is approximately 18,000 km, and I take 4-5 trips (ranging from 800-2,200 km). I want a sunroof for my kids, but the HTE EX variant misses out on cruise control, which I feel is important for frequent highway drives. My budget is ₹18 lakh on-road. Should I stretch my budget for the HTK+ (O), or buy the HTE EX and get cruise control retrofitted? Is it safe and practical to do so?

Autocar India

•2d

Since you frequently travel on highways, cruise control would definitely be an added convenience. Getting cruise control retrofitted is not advised, as it involves critical electronics and sensors, and it's best to rely on factory-fitment for such features. There is also a high chance of your warranty getting lapsed and even issues in insurance claims in case there is an incident.We would recommend stretching your budget and getting the Kia Carens Clavis HTK+(O) since it comes standard with cruise control and will be a lot better on highway trips. The extra features would be nicer to have too.

Kia Carens Clavis

Santosh Kumar

•2d

Hi, I am planning to buy a Kia Carens Clavis DCT. I currently own a Hyundai Venue Turbo Petrol(O) manual transmission, but I want to know whether the Kia Carens Clavis turbo-petrol DCT will be reliable for long-term ownership (10-15 years). I have heard that turbo DCT gearboxes tend to heatup in heavy traffic. Please guide me, is the turbo DCT suitable for mixed driving conditions (city traffic and highways)? What is your suggestion regarding the Tata Safari / XUV 7XO automatic variant?

Autocar India

•1d

The Kia Carens Clavis is a good option, and while DCTs are considered more maintenance-intensive than torque converter automatics, Kia and Hyundai’s units have proven to be more reliable than older Volkswagen gearboxes that were prone to failure. It’s true that stop-and-go traffic increases wear and tear on a DCT’s clutch pack; however, in the mixed conditions you mentioned, it should be quite reliable.If you still have concerns about long-term transmission durability, the Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV 7XO both use torque converter automatics, which offer smoother shifts and are generally more robust. Of the two, our pick would be the Mahindra XUV 7XO, as it offers better performance, a more feature-packed cabin, and superb ride quality.

Kia Carens Clavis

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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