I have a Fortuner, Thar and Harrier in my garage. Now I want to add a vehicle like an SUV under ₹30 lakh. Which SUV should I buy?

autocar.india

•11h

In terms of price to features ratio, the sweet spot is almost always the mid variant rather than top variants. You’ll miss out on only a little but save a chunk as high-end features tend to be priced more based on their perceived value rather than their actual value. However, since you are enthusiastic about cars, choose a variant as high end as you can afford and enjoy the experience. Features that you will appreciate regularly are, all‑row AC vents, auto climate control, LED headlamps, TPMS, auto‑dimming inside mirror, wireless phone integration and plenty of USB‑C ports. In a big SUV, a 360° camera and front sensors are gold in tight city spots. Ventilated seats matter a whole lot in our summers. Adaptive cruise is handy on long expressways, but other ADAS nudges can feel fussy and many owners turn off parts of it in the city. However, what amazes at delivery but fades later, are things like panoramic sunroof that stays shut most of the time during the year and also adds heat. Another one is the connected app feature which most people typically use for a month and then forgot about it. Third such feature is the 'passenger' screen, which is also all the rage these days, but after a while, most owners do not use it. Watching a movie or playing games on the go aren't something you do often and not even pleasant over rough city roads while your are hunched forward in your seat. In your Rs. 25-27 lakh budget, we would suggest Tata Safari or the Mahindra XUV 7XO as they are great for highway comfort. The Mahindra car has an edge on performance but the Safari has the better third row. The Kia Carens Clavis is another good car if you are comfortable with its MPV image as it is the more sensible buy.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•2d

The best 7-seater for your budget is the Mahindra XUV 7XO, and you can comfortably get a mid variant (AX5) with an automatic within Rs 25-27 lakh on-road in most cities. The 7XO diesel is the pick of the range, offering strong performance, good refinement and sensible economy, and it probably has the best blend of performance, ride, handling and overall comfort in this segment. Its main weakness is the third row, which isn’t very spacious or comfortable for adults on long journeys, so it works better as an occasional-use or kids’ third row.If the third row is critical for you and will be used regularly by adults, the Tata Safari is worth considering, because its third row is more genuinely usable and comfortable. The Safari’s 2.0 diesel is quite outdated, but the newer 1.5 turbo petrol is smooth, refined and reasonably efficient for a petrol in this class.If you’d prefer something smaller and more city-friendly, the Kia Carens Clavis is also a good option, with a more compact footprint and easy manners in traffic, while still giving you three rows of seats for family use. It won’t match the 7XO for highway presence or outright performance, but for urban-heavy usage, it makes a lot of sense.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•2d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. The steering still feels natural, the ride stays calm at speed, and the 2.2 diesel has effortless shove for quick highway passes while returning impressive mileage. Sure, being much larger in size, it might not feel as agile or as convenient to drive as your Figo, but that's something you will have to get used to.Alternatively, you could consider the Honda City hybrid too. It is a very efficient sedan which recently got a mid-life makeover and some new features. Yes, the City is expensive, but it is the only hybrid sedan on this side of Rs 30 lakh.If you're not in a hurry to buy, the strong-hybrid versions of the Renault Duster and Nissan Tekton could be worth waiting for.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Honda City

Renault Duster

Nissan Tekton