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•1d

Hello Autocar India team, I want to thank you for your First Impression articles, detailed reviews, podcasts and other content. Please continue with your impartial reviews. I currently own a 2015 Vento Highline Petrol and still fall in love with the car whenever I take it on long drives. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be much movement in the sedan segment. We can stretch our budget to Rs 40 lakh on-road. Our primary use will be planned or unplanned road trips, with limited city driving. EVs concern me because of battery life and charging infrastructure. Petrol cars are a concern because of E20 and the possibility of higher ethanol blending in the future. Hybrids haven't convinced me either. I also don't want to consider premium hatchbacks like the Creta and Seltos. We have narrowed our choices to the Jeep Meridian Overland or Compass 4x4, although Stellantis' long-term commitment remains a concern; the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD; and the Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel 4x4. Please share your unbiased recommendation. Thanks and regards, Yashodhan Patel

•5m

Thank you for your kind words on our content.

Of the vehicles on your shortlist, the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD is the best. It's got a strong diesel engine and a smooth gearbox, which make long journeys absolutely effortless. Kia has also packed the Sorento with features that uplift comfort levels inside. The third row isn't the best, though the Jeep Meridian and Mahindra XUV 7XO are also not great in this regard.

Kia's proven reliability also makes the Sorento an easy model to recommend for your usage.

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•2d

I own a 2018 Hyundai Creta 1.6 diesel manual and have been very happy with it. It suits my family of three for city use as well as long road trips, including journeys from Kashmir to Kerala and Jaisalmer. However, I now want to upgrade to something bigger. I don't like the looks of the Toyota Innova HyCross, Mahindra XUV 7XO or Tata Safari. I also have reservations about ladder-frame SUVs I test-drove the Mahindra Scorpio N briefly in traffic and found it moved around more over bad roads than my monocoque Creta. I want something imposing, like the Toyota Fortuner, but am unsure about moving to a ladder-frame SUV. Should I wait for the JSW Combat, which will have monocoque construction, or would that be a risk in terms of reliability? Please advise.

•1d

The Kia Sorento seems to be an ideal fit for you. It is a feature-loaded offering with hybrid and diesel engine options, and it comes with the flexibility of three rows of seats. Being a monocoque, ride quality is good, the engines are smooth and refined, and its cabin feels richly appointed.The JSW Combat is set to make its debut in India in December. It is a butch-looking plug-in hybrid, five-seater SUV, and is likely to be stuffed with features. You will have to wait to find out how it drives and performs, but on first impressions at least, it seems like a promising option.The Toyota Fortuner is the obvious choice if you want a butch, imposing SUV with proven reliability and a strong ownership track record. It is a proper ladder-frame SUV with excellent road presence, and Toyota's reliability is a major advantage for long-term ownership. The downside is that it is expensive for what it offers, and the ride is not as composed as a monocoque SUV.

Hi Autocar Team, I am looking for an SUV for my family of four to five members. My current car is a Maruti Suzuki Celerio, and my maximum on-road budget is Rs. 24 lakh in Bangalore. My annual usage will be around 14,000 km, with a 40:60 split between city and highway driving. My priorities are an automatic transmission, comfortable seating, a good balance of performance and mileage, and a strong safety rating. Which SUVs would you recommend based on my requirements?

•15h

With 14,000 km of annual running and a 40-60 city-highway split, a diesel makes sense here, and the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is the recommendation. It is one of the most comfortable and spacious SUVs in this price range, with a strong diesel engine that delivers good performance and efficiency on highways while remaining manageable in the city. The automatic gearbox is smooth, and the car feels stable and confidence-inspiring at speed, which is important given your highway usage. It is also a genuinely comfortable family car with a well-sorted ride and a strong safety package.While we are yet to drive the Renault Duster Hybrid, it could be another model of interest to you. Its hybrid powertrain promises excellent fuel economy in addition to the sorted ride and handling manners that make the Duster such a good long-distance machine. Our review drops in the coming week. Stay tuned!

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Renault Duster

•1d

We are a family of 4 and our usage is limited to 10-12,000 km annually which involves 60:40 city-highway usage. Our trips always have a couple of more members joining us. I like the XUV 7XO (diesel) automatic but I am not too sure about its longevity since I would like to own this car for 8-10 years. I considered the Alcazar but I felt the 2nd row is slightly narrow compared to the 7XO. Also, as a car that costs as much as the 7XO isn't nearly as powerful either. Are these my only options? I know my usage may not need a diesel but I would like to own one while these are still available, so I don't mind the delta in price. Also, with the E20 petrol, the performance and efficiency of my current S-Cross has seen drastic difference. I would like the car to be engaging to drive and also reliable with a fuss free ownership. Could you guide me on this please? Thank you.

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. Your usage of 10-12,000 km a year with a 60-40 city-highway split does not strictly demand a diesel, but your preference for owning one while they are still available is valid, and the XUV 7XO diesel is one of the best diesel powertrains in the segment. It is strong, refined and well suited to highway touring, which aligns with your occasional long trips with additional family members.The XUV 7XO is also one of the most engaging 7-seater SUVs to drive, with good performance and a well-sorted chassis. The second row is genuinely spacious, and the third row is usable for occasional passengers, which is important given your family of four plus two additional members on trips. On longevity, Mahindra has made significant improvements in reliability and ownership experience over the past few years, and the XUV 7XO is a mature product. As long as you maintain it well, there is no reason it cannot be a reliable 8-10 year ownership proposition.If you are open to alternatives, the Tata Sierra is worth a look. It is spacious, comfortable and feels premium inside, but the diesel engine is not as strong nor as refined as the Mahindra's. Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel automatic is the best fit for your requirements. It offers the right balance of space, performance, driving engagement and long-term ownership potential.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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•2d

Please advise which car would be the best choice for long-term ownership: the Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen SUV, or any other suitable option. My priority is reliability, long-term durability, and hassle-free ownership over the next 10 years or more. I would appreciate suggestions based on real-world ownership experience, maintenance costs, spare parts availability, and after-sales support.

•2d

For long-term ownership, the Mahindra Scorpio N is the safest recommendation from your shortlist. It has a proven track record, robust mechanicals and a strong service network, making it a dependable choice for 5-10 years of ownership. The Tata Harrier and Tata Safari have improved significantly, but the Scorpio N still has the edge on long-term reliability and ownership confidence. The Jeep Compass is a good product, but it is now an ageing model and does not offer the same value proposition as the Scorpio N. If you are open to alternatives, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is worth considering. It is a more modern product with a better balance of comfort, features and refinement, and it is a strong long-term ownership proposition as well. The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are excellent driver's cars, but they are smaller and do not offer the same level of space or road presence as the Scorpio N or XUV 7XO.

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a seven-seater car. I have test-driven the Renault Triber Turbo and Citroen Aircross X and was impressed by what both offer at their price points. However, the Aircross put a wide smile on my face. As a current Maruti Suzuki user, I did not consider the Ertiga because it feels similar to our Swift. I liked the Aircross X but am sceptical about Citroen's service network and spare parts availability. However, there are three Citroen showrooms within 45 km of my place. Please suggest which car I should choose. My budget: Rs. 15 lakh Current vehicle: Second-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift petrol (2017) Annual usage: Around 10,000 km, with a 50:30:20 split between town, highway and city driving Requirement: A seven-seater car

•5d

The Citroen's interiors feel more special, its engine is more powerful, and its ride-handling balance is outstanding; however, for seven adults, it won't be as comfortable as the Triber.In fact, the Triber's superb packaging makes it genuinely comfortable for passengers in all three rows, despite its compact sub-4-meter dimensions. The new turbo-petrol engine makes it an effortless performer, and its ride quality feels very mature too. Moreover, the Triber Turbo is also much more affordable in comparison, making it outstanding value for money. Yes, the Aircross X will appeal to your heart, but given Citroen's limited service network and cramped third row, the Triber Turbo is the more sensible choice.

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•2d

I am planning to buy my first car. I want to have a 7-seater and need it for long term ownership. I liked the Citroen Aircross X design for 5+2. I am planning to choose a car with automatic transmission. I have couple of major concerns for which I would like your advice. First one is Mileage, I heard Aircross has a mileage issue and its real-world city mileage is 8 kpl while on highway it is 14 kpl. Is it the same for X version also? Second advice is for its service network. I have heard from the people that its service is slow. Regular servicing also takes around 2 days of time. I have a service center within 10 km from my home. My budget is Rs. 20 Lakh and I need an automatic transmission with rear and front parking camera or 360-degree camera since I am a new driver. Are there any 7-seater alternatives within this budget?

•1d

The Citroen Aircross X is a good-looking car, now with a premium interior. It is the only SUV in its category which offers a 5+2 seating configuration, and even though the third row is not particularly spacious, it works for occasional use. The real-world fuel efficiency figures as per our tests are 9.5kpl and 13.62kpl in city and highway conditions, respectively, which is quite decent given the strong and smooth performance this 1.2-turbo-petrol-AT delivers. What's more is that ride comfort is outstanding, perhaps the best among all midsize SUVs. So as far as comfort and practicality goes, the Aircross X is a good car.Citroen's service centre network is limited, but since you have a touchpoint close to your home, your vehicle's regular servicing and maintenance is likely to be taken care of smoothly. If you love the Aircross X for what it is, go for it - as far as value goes, it is an outstanding proposition. If you're looking for proper seven-seater alternatives, we'd strongly recommend the Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ turbo-petrol automatic version. All three rows are properly spacious, well-suited for adults. This variant will be within your Rs 20 lakh on-road budget, and it has front and rear parking sensors, as well as rear-view camera to make parking easy for you. Sure, it isn't an SUV, but it is a very sensible car, if you need a proper seven-seater.

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