One of my close friends wants to purchase a new vehicle with a budget of ₹40 lakh. He is looking at the SUV market. Can you recommend the best option?

Autocar India

•2d

For your requirement of a car with a large engine, we would suggest going for the Mahindra XUV 7XO turbo petrol. It comes with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, which is strong and effortless for both city and highway use. More importantly, it offers a very comfortable ride and excellent high-speed stability, which suits your mixed usage well. It also has a strong focus on safety and build, along with a spacious and premium cabin.The only thing to keep in mind is that it is a larger car, so it may take some time to get used to it in tight city conditions.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2d

The diesel Mahindra XUV 7XO is significantly more efficient than the petrol model. However, given your limited running, the near Rs 1 lakh extra spend for a diesel version of the same trim level doesn't add up. Further, modern-day diesels need a bit of extra care to keep running flawlessly. A steady speed highway drive, for instance, every couple of weeks helps in DPF (diesel particulate filter) regeneration. For someone with such low running, you might have to specially work a long drive into your schedule for this process. The petrol engine doesn't have any such extra requirement and is, hence, more suited to your kind of usage. The AX7 T is already well equipped and offers plenty for the money. Among the features exclusive to the AX7 L are powered front seats, configurable ambient lighting and larger 19-inch rims. To us, the features of more interest are concentrated at the back. Features such as a boss mode, rear wireless charger, and middle row ventilation do a lot to up the experience at the back. In a nutshell, it's worth considering the AX7 L only if the middle row seat will be used often.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2h

For your kind of usage, yes, you're right, an electric car could make more sense - daily running that's not excessively high and mostly in urban confines. Of your choices, the MG Windsor Pro is a good bet for you. It's not exciting to drive, and its over-reliance on its touchscreen can be frustrating, but the overall package is superb. It has incredibly spacious and comfortable interiors, which are easy to get in and out of, which will come in handy for your senior-citizen parents.The Pro version has more than enough range for your needs and also falls comfortably in your budget. And though they're not of a high priority to you, it does come with a long list of features.

MG Windsor