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Delhi
BJ

Ben J

•28w

Wanted a car upgrade, preferably an SUV under 14/15 lakh on road price. Considerable features for upgradation: Safety, strong body, Performance, and off-road capability.

Anshuman Singh

Anshuman Singh

Verified
•28w

The Mahindra XUV3XO is a good option for you. Please note that, although it feels tough and capable of handling rough roads, it is not an off-roader. If you plan to tackle treacherous terrain regularly, then go for the Mahindra Thar 4x4.

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AS

Ashish

•1w

Please suggest me a replacement for my 10 year old Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire petrol (1.65 lakh km)

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RI

Ritz

•3d

I am looking to buy an SUV (with good ground clearance) which is fun to drive. For me, good mileage, a good audio system and a big boot space (for 3 big suitcases for a holiday trip) are important. My need is for a family of five. My overall usage is mainly city driving in Bangalore with occasional highway usage. I currently own a Ciaz Diesel and am looking to replace it. I intend to own the next vehicle for at least 7-10 years, hence it should not be too outdated technology-wise. I am open to EV’s, too. My budget is around ₹20-25 lakh (might stretch till ₹30 lakh if it's a really better option).

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•42m

Considering your requirements, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good option for you. It gets the option of a smooth, refined and punchy diesel engine that is efficient, a very good audio system and a huge boot if you fold down the third row. Since you are a family of five, the third row can be folded away for most parts and be used as a huge boot. The 7XO is also packed with the latest tech and features, so you have the latest ADAS Level 2, responsive screens with app support and OTA updates and a modern powertrain too.What's also nice is the performance of the petrol engine. It is responsive and refined, and in the city, the cabin insulation is excellent, making it a lot more comfortable. The suspension, too, has been revamped with the update from 700 to 7XO and is a big jump from what it was before.As an all-round package, the Mahindra XUV 7XO would be our recommendation, and it will also fit well in your budget.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
RI

Ritz

•2d

I am looking to purchase a new SUV in exchange for my Ciaz Diesel. We are a family of five, and my usage is low and mostly within the city (350-400 km monthly) with a quarterly outstation trip (500-600 km). My main requirements are a car that has good mileage/range, a good audio system, a large boot space and high acceleration (I like quick acceleration but not necessarily at very high speeds). The Ciaz seemed perfect so far, but now it's 11 years old, and I would like to change to an SUV for better ground clearance. I prefer not to have to spend often (for cars with low upfront cost but less mileage). My preferred budget is up to ₹20 lakh. So far, I liked the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Mahindra XEV 9S for their overall drivability. However, since they both are nearly ₹30 lakh on-road in Bangalore, I was trying to look for other alternatives at a slightly cheaper cost. I have heard horror stories of Tata service and hence would prefer to avoid Tata cars (even though I loved driving the Harrier as well).

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1h

That's a tricky requirement as strong acceleration and good fuel economy tend to be at odds with one another. A diesel engine would be good for mileage, but none of the engines in this price range is particularly quick at accelerating. Thus, we'd recommend going for a Turbo Petrol engine, which, if driven carefully, can return a good amount of kilometres for every litre.Your best option, given your requirements, is the new Kia Seltos. It's spacious, comfortable, reliable and reasonably priced in terms of maintenance. Within your budget of Rs 20 lakh, you should be able to get the HTX T-GDi DCT variant, which also includes the excellent-sounding 8-speaker Bose premium audio system. There's also a sizeable 447-litre boot that's well-shaped and good for swallowing up a sizeable amount of luggage.

VehicleKia Seltos
RN

Rohit Niranjan Jadhav

•2d

Hello Autocar India Team! Greetings to all of you! What are your thoughts on replacing the W124 E250 Diesel (05-speed manual, Telco assembled) with the W124 E300 Turbodiesel (04-speed automatic) for regular commutes? Can you share some inputs on the kind of transmission the W124 E300 Turbodiesel carries under its hood and the overall maintenance that it would require? Could you also recommend a mechanic working exclusively on Mercedes-Benz classic cars (possibly within Maharashtra or other states) who can restore a W124 from first screw to last screw? Your article "Mercedes Classic Car Prices on the Rise" in November 2025 has raised the respect for W123, W124, W126, W140 and other similar classic cars! Thank you.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2h

Replacing the Mercedes W124 250D with a 300D can be a good decision. However, a 4-speed automatic suggests that the 300D is an older, pre-facelift car from before the Telco assembled version came to India. Automatics are also generally harder to repair than manuals.In terms of maintenance, the OM605 five-cylinder 250D and the OM603 inline six in the 300D usually cost roughly the same to maintain.We would recommend getting in touch with local Mercedes-Benz car dealers like Landmark Cars and Auto Hangar in Mumbai. They should be able to guide you and help you out.Ultimately, it comes down to the condition of the engine, transmission and bodywork of both cars. Without assessing those, it is difficult to comment further. Along with the condition of the car, clean and up-to-date paperwork is equally important.

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Posted on: 27 Aug 2025