Delhi

•4h

I’ve written to you a couple of times before, but I’m still waiting for your advice. I’m not sure why no one has responded. Anyway, I’d like to ask my question again. I want to buy a seven-seater with a budget of about Rs 20-25 lakh. I’ll mainly drive in the city, with occasional outstation trips on hilly terrain. Which vehicles would you recommend?

•23m

Apologies for not getting back to you earlier. For your budget of Rs 20-25 lakh, we would suggest looking at two options depending on what you prioritise.

If you want an SUV, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol is worth considering. It has a strong 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, a spacious and comfortable first two rows, a premium cabin and good highway performance. It is a particularly good choice if you will use the third row occasionally rather than regularly.

However, if your priority is a genuinely comfortable seven-seater, the Kia Carens Clavis turbo-petrol DCT would be our recommendation. It offers better space utilisation, easier access to the third row and a more accommodating seating arrangement for all passengers. Its 160hp turbo-petrol engine also offers strong performance, while the DCT makes it convenient in everyday traffic.

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Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.23 Lakh

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.22 Lakh

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•3m•

@autocar.india I would say "Ditto" to the Autocar reply bcoz they have articulated it so well. Both the vehicles will serve your purpose and more. However, I differ in the choice of engines for both. I prefer the diesel. Unless you own a petrol bunk, take a test drive of both the diesel and petrol versions before coming to a conclusion.

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•2d

I owned a 2019 Maruti Vitara Brezza ZDi+ manual and sold it in 2024 to buy a Virtus GT DSG. I regret selling the Brezza, although the Virtus is a great car. I bought it because my wife wanted a sedan, and I chose the automatic partly for her, but she hardly drives it. The Virtus has covered nearly 60,000 km in two years. I’m planning to replace it with a new car. I drive at least 80% on the highway and 20% in the city. At least twice a month, I make a round trip of 640 km, and my annual mileage is at least 25,000 km. I’ve decided that my next car should be a diesel. I like the Tata Harrier, but I’m concerned about reliability and potential issues. I’m also considering the Kia Seltos, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and the upcoming Hyundai Creta. I’d choose a top-end variant and am open to either a manual or an automatic. If I go for an automatic, it must have a torque-converter gearbox. What would you recommend?

•8h

Between your picks, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic is the easiest recommendation. Its diesel powertrain is very refined and is paired with a slick 6-speed torque converter automatic. It also offers enough performance for highway driving, while ride quality is significantly better than that of the previous generation. The cabin feels premium, with good-quality materials, more space than the previous generation and an infotainment system with a very user-friendly interface.The Mahindra XUV 7XO offers better outright performance from its 2.2-litre diesel engine and a more plush ride quality. It also has a more commanding road presence, thanks to its sheer size. The cabin is premium and spacious, with the added advantage of a third row. However, its size can make it cumbersome to park in the city, while its infotainment interface takes some getting used to.If you can wait, the next-generation Hyundai Creta is expected sometime in mid-2027. It will move to the K3 platform, just like the Seltos, making it larger than the current model and allowing for a more spacious cabin. It is expected to retain the current Creta's powertrain options, so a diesel variant should still be on the cards. Other details are scarce at the moment, but it could make for a compelling alternative to the Seltos.Overall, if you don't need the third row or the added performance, the Seltos is a better fit for your needs than the XUV 7XO. While it doesn't have the outright performance of the Mahindra, it offers a good balance and better fuel efficiency.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•1d

What are Mahindra’s plans for an ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO? Specifically, does Mahindra plan to launch any ICE SUVs in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket?

•1d

Mahindra has not yet confirmed an all-new ICE SUV positioned above the XUV 7XO in the Rs 30-40 lakh bracket. However, there are some interesting developments on its future product roadmap. The company has outlined plans for 10 new ICE models by 2031, including nine new nameplates, with several expected to use its upcoming NU_IQ platform. The Vision X and Vision SXT concepts are among the products to watch, although their final positioning and specifications are yet to be revealed. A more immediate development is the possibility of a strong-hybrid version of the XUV 7XO, which Mahindra is evaluating and could introduce around 2027. This would potentially sit above the current petrol and diesel variants, offering better fuel efficiency and a more sophisticated powertrain. Mahindra is also working on a coupe-styled hybrid SUV, internally codenamed W623, which could arrive around 2028, although its positioning is not yet clear.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•1d

Current car: 2020 Kia Seltos HTX Budget: Rs 35 lakh, but I can stretch it, as I plan to keep the car for more than 13 years. Usage: About 80 percent city driving, and around 5,000 km a year for the first five years. I want a large family SUV that feels special, offers strong value and can be owned confidently for 12-15 years without becoming a maintenance headache. I’ll be driving it myself, not a chauffeur. Ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera are must-haves. I don’t want a diesel because of Delhi’s 10-year rule, and the idea of an expensive EV still worries me. So I’m looking at a petrol or a petrol-based strong hybrid, in the hope that E30 fuel never arrives. I’m also avoiding German brands, because of their high purchase price and very high maintenance costs. Cars I like that are currently on sale: Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L: the value king, but almost everyone has one, so it may not feel special. Kia Sorento HTK+ Black Line: a next-generation global model may launch next year, which could make it look dated within a year. Toyota Innova Hycross: its taxi image is a drawback. Upcoming models I might like: I’ll be watching the global launch of the new Toyota Fortuner this December, and I could stretch to Rs 45-50 lakh for it if you strongly recommend it. When will the Hyundai Santa Fe launch? Also, I’ve had an extremely good experience with my Honda Jazz. Is Honda launching any model that matches my requirements?

•1d

The Kia Sorento strong-hybrid will be an ideal upgrade from your outgoing Seltos. It is larger in size, feels noticeably more premium, and it also gets a third row of seats, giving you that added flexibility of a seven-seater. The strong hybrid performs well, and the Sorento feels confident to drive from behind the wheel.Like you rightly mentioned, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is great value for money, but the petrol-automatic won't be very efficient, so that is something you might want to take into consideration.You could consider the JSW Combat (plug-in hybrid) for its strong road presence, expansive feature list and powerful powertrain. If you want your car to stand out and feel special, this is certainly worth considering before finalising. It is scheduled to be launched in December this year.Lastly, Honda has the ZR-V, which is a strong hybrid SUV. While it drives well, it feels simply too expensive for what it offers.

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•1w

improve the grammar and write it in a paragraph - Hi Autocar, Iam looking to book a car this week. I have narrowed it down to one of 3 cars. Petrol Automatic IVTs. My running is mostly going to be 95% city (office to work in Mumbai traffic). Daily commute is around 15km, so I don't want a turbo in traffic. That's roughly 5k annual running. I am 6ft tall so wouldn't want something that is cramped 1. New Seltos HTK(O) 2. New elevate VX 3. Bayon HX 8 All of these are close to the 16L ex showroom price. I've driven the Seltos and Elevate. I really liked both of them. The Seltos feels more premium from the inside and I feel like that is something worth having in a daily car. The elevate is brilliant, but it seems cheap on the inside. No pani sunroof too, although I would maybe use it 1 day in year, it's priced the same as the Seltos, so that felt a miss. I know Honda engines are top, but at my running and limited enthusiast journey, I'm not sure if that does justice to need. Now comes the bayon. I have not done a test drive yet as its not available, but the bayon pricing at Hx6 and hx8 seems very close to the Creta currently.. I am tempted to go for the hx8 as it as a 360 camera,( I think that might be usefull for parking etc as I am coming from a hatchback ) but I am getting a "lesser car" vs the Seltos here I wonder.. Which one would you recommend? I am keen on booking before diwali, will see if there are any discounts on the Seltos (unlikey though)

•5d

All things considered, the Kia Seltos is the better fit for your needs. Since you are on the taller side, you will appreciate the extra room it has to offer compared to the Hyundai Bayon. Opting for the Bayon does get you a higher variant with a 360-degree camera, which can be helpful in tight spots. However, once you get used to the size of the vehicle, you might find yourself using the camera less often.As for the Honda Elevate, as you rightly mentioned, the Seltos feels more premium inside and costs about the same. The Elevate does offer a bit more performance from its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, but since 95% of your driving is in slow-moving Mumbai traffic, the added performance won't really make much of a difference.Overall, the Seltos is the right fit for your needs.

Dear Autocar India team, I am planning to purchase my first family car with a budget of Rs 11 lakh and have already booked the Kia Sonet HTK+ variant. However, concerns raised on social media about the performance of its 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine have made me reconsider my decision. Since our monthly usage is relatively low and the car will primarily be used for occasional trips, would the Sonet HTK+ be a suitable choice for our requirements, or should I consider another model or an alternative powertrain within the Sonet range? I would appreciate your professional guidance in making the right decision. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

•5d

If your usage is primarily in the city, the 1.2-litre Kia Sonet will serve you just fine. It has a smooth, refined engine paired with a light clutch and gearbox, which makes it easy to drive in city traffic. Where it falls short is on the highway, where it may need a downshift to make an overtake.If you frequently travel on the highway with three or more passengers, you would be better off looking at a turbo-petrol version of the Sonet. Alternatively, consider something like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza or Hyundai Venue with a turbo-petrol engine. However, the trade-off for better performance from a turbo-petrol engine is lower fuel efficiency in the city.If you only plan on using the Sonet around town, stick with the naturally aspirated engine. But if highway performance is important, the turbo-petrol is a worthwhile upgrade.

We’re a family of four, a couple with two kids aged one and three, and we’re upgrading from a 2013 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. My daily office commute is a 20 km round trip in the NCR, usually with only me in the car. On weekends, the whole family drives about 100 km within the NCR. Three times a year, we take long trips of up to around 1,000 km round trip to Punjab or Himachal Pradesh. We intend to keep the car for about eight to ten years. We’re considering the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi+ AT, Victoris VXi AT and XL6 Zeta AT. Which one would you suggest?

•6d

From your shortlist, we would go with the Maruti Brezza. The space on offer inside is quite generous, and given your family size, you do not really need a larger car. Moreover, since you drive daily within the city, the compact dimensions of the Brezza would be easier to manage in traffic and also in terms of finding parking. As for your yearly extended trips, the Brezza would also do just fine, though if you carry a lot of luggage, the Xl6 would be ideal. That aside the Brezza would more than suffice for you needs.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki XL6

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