I have a T-Roc manufactured in 2020, which I purchased in January 2021. I primarily do long highway trips, with almost no city driving. The T-Roc has been solid for the last five years, but during very long 8 to 10-hour drives, it does not feel very comfortable because of the seating position, and my legs start to hurt a bit. My height is 6 feet. Which SUV would be best for long drives with great driving dynamics? What about the Jeep Compass? Should I make the change? Are there any chances that Jeep will launch a new Compass in India? And what about Jeep’s quality issues in India?

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Jeep Compass Diesel 4x4 AT for your mountain trips, it’s a very sorted package: compact 4.4m length, 350Nm diesel torque and a genuinely capable 4x4 system. It can handle steep climbs, descents and broken tracks with confidence.Since you’re happy with the Kia Seltos diesel manual, the Compass lets you retain that strong diesel pull but adds proper 4x4 hardware and drive modes, which will really help on wet, slushy hairpins and loose gravel. Its relatively compact footprint versus larger SUVs makes it easier to place on narrow mountain roads and to park in tight hill towns, while the short overhangs and good ground clearance mean you worry less about scraping or underbody hits.The suspension is excellent and feels planted and comfortable over bad roads and broken patches, which is exactly what you want on long hill runs. The only real dynamic downside is the 9‑speed automatic. It’s smooth but a bit slow to respond if you need a quick overtake, as it’s tuned more for relaxed touring and off-road control than outright snap.Do note, service costs will be higher than your Seltos, and long‑term reliability and parts availability for Jeep in India aren’t as bulletproof as Kia, so factor that into ownership.If you want something smaller, lighter and cheaper with AWD, you can look at the Maruti Grand Vitara AllGrip or the Maruti Suzuki Victoris AWD AT. They are capable enough for light trails, bad-weather runs and winter trips, but they won’t match the Compass for hardcore rough-road ability or diesel torque.

Jeep Compass

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•22h

Weekly city runs with 500 km-plus weekend drives and occasional off-roading in the mix, the Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 4X4 fits this usage well. It keeps the tough, go‑anywhere feel you’re used to from your Classic Scorpio, but it is much more comfortable and safer now. The 4X4 with a low gear and terrain modes lets you tackle slush, rocks and steep trails with confidence, while the strong build and good ground clearance suits rough roads. On long highways, it cruises calmly and feels steadier than your old car, and in the city, the steering is lighter, so it’s easier to thread through traffic.Know that the third row is tight, and with all seats up, the boot is small, so luggage needs a roof carrier or folding the last row. Also, at low speeds on broken roads, you still feel some movement. If you want a softer, quieter cabin and a more refined experience, look at the Jeep Meridian 4x4. While it may not be as rugged as the Mahindra Scorpio N, off-road ability is good, and its ride and stability are appreciably better.

Jeep Meridian

Mahindra Scorpio N

Autocar India

•20h

Go with your head on this one and pick the Toyota Innova Hycross VX (O). For your use, it is the roomier one - seats or boot - and the more comfortable, with a strong features list as well. When you fold the last row, which disappears into the floor, unlike in the Innova Crysta, where it would fold upwards, it makes a long, wide boot that easily swallows big bags for road trips. The ride is smooth and quiet on broken roads, the steering is light in the city, and it stays steady on the highway, so long drives feel easy. The VX(O) packs the comfort and safety features most people want without pushing the price into the top trim territory, and Toyota’s service reach and resale are strong across India.The Jeep Meridian Longitude Plus may be more desirable, but it simply can't match up to the Toyota in your other areas of interest. It feels tough, has a rich cabin, and a strong engine. But the third row is tight, not helped by a middle row that does not slide, and the boot is smaller; it doesn't ride as comfortably. Also, the Jeep service network is not as wide as Toyota’s. Moreover, even though it's a diesel engine, its fuel economy is not great, and nowhere near what the Hycross hybrid offers, and its resale value won't be as strong as the Innova's either.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Jeep Meridian

Autocar India

•5d

You’re after a no-drama, long-term family car that is easy to drive, comfortable and roomy. For that brief, the Honda Elevate VX CVT is a good fit. The VX CVT is the sweet spot because the automatic keeps the engine smooth in traffic, and the VX trim gets the useful features without pushing the price too high.Why it fits your list: Honda’s simple 1.5 petrol has a long, clean track record, so it suits your “no issues for 10+ years” aim. The driving position is high, the steering is light, and the CVT makes stop-go city work very easy. Space is good for four adults, the seats are supportive, and the suspension deals with broken roads well, so daily comfort is strong.Trade-offs to note: it is not the quickest for fast highway passes, and rivals offer more flashy features. If you expect a lot of high-speed use with a full load, you may want more punch.Regarding waiting for a facelift, while it may launch this year, there is no confirmed date or list of changes. An update usually brings small styling tweaks and a few extra features, and prices can go up too. The basics you care about are space, ease of driving, Honda’s engine and service and these are unlikely to change much.If you do want to look around, pick the Kia Seltos IVT for more features and a more modern cabin. Overall, for your needs, the Elevate VX CVT lines up best right now.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•6d

Going by your shortlist, you want a bigger family car on a tight budget and are looking at base trims. If you need the car in the next couple of months for mostly city use with some weekend trips, pick the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT. It is well equipped and, compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, gives you more back-seat space and boot room.The Brezza update will be relatively minor, though we expect the 1.5 NA engine to make way for the 1.0 turbo-petrol from the Fronx. Waiting for it only makes sense if you mainly drive in tight city areas and want an easier-to-park car.Overall, for a near-term purchase and everyday comfort, the Seltos lines up best with what you’re considering.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•6d

You need a car for pure highway use and want the longest stretch between stops; in that case, we would lean towards the Mahindra XEV 9S 79kWh for its better real-world highway range. In our real-world testing, we managed 477 km on the highway, which suits your “pure highway” pattern. We have also tested the AWD Harrier EV, which managed 401 km (combined). While the RWD version should better that, it will likely still fall short of the XEV 9S’s range.One thing to note: the Mahindra’s ride can feel a bit floaty on undulating highway surfaces, so try it out before you commit. If that is an issue, the XEV 9e has a more settled ride.Overall, for highway-first use and maximum range, the XEV 9S 79kWh is the safer bet.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Harrier EV