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•4w

I am 52 years old and have been driving since my 20s. I need to drive around 2,500km a month, with 55% of the driving on highways, 30% on rugged rural roads and 155 in the city. My commute includes travelling to and from my farms, so I also need to occasionally transport 200-250 kg of fertiliser or farm produce. My budget is around Rs 10-12 lakh. Please advise which vehicle I should buy.

•4w

Given your usage pattern, the Mahindra Bolero is the most sensible recommendation. Your monthly running is high, with a significant highway component, but the key factor is the 30% rugged rural roads and the need to occasionally carry 200-250 kg of farm produce. The Bolero is built exactly for this kind of use case. It has a tough ladder-frame chassis, simple mechanicals and a reputation for durability on rough roads. The diesel engine is robust and well suited to long-distance running, and the suspension is designed to handle poor road conditions and heavy loads without complaint. It is not the most refined or feature-rich vehicle, but it is reliable, easy to maintain and has excellent service reach in rural areas. At your budget of Rs 10-12 lakh, it is also one of the few vehicles that genuinely meets your requirements without compromise.

If you want something more comfortable and modern, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is worth considering, but it will not be as rugged or as load-friendly as the Bolero. For your specific needs, the Bolero remains the most practical and dependable choice.

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Mahindra

Bolero

from ₹9.71 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.69 Lakh

•4w•

@autocar.india Thank you. Based on your valuable inputs narrowed down to 2. Which one to opt? Bolero Neo N8 or Bolero B6(O)?

•4w•

@rg.2 Go with the Bolero B6(O), not the Neo N8. The standard Bolero's ladder frame and suspension are built for load-carrying and rough terrain, the Neo N8 is more of a comfort-oriented compact SUV and isn't as suited to hauling 200-250 kg regularly on bad roads. B6(O) also gets you the higher trim's comfort features without sacrificing that core toughness.

•4w•

@siddharth_menon_1698 Thank you Sidharth. Commuting between Thrissur and Kollengode. (NH + SH + interior roads) What if that 200 kg+ commute is not that regular. Thought I deserve bit of comfy ride on NH 544!!!. Should I completely rule out Neo N8

•4w•

Tiago owner

@rg.2 Go with Mahindra Bolero 👍

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•3d

I recently bought a Tata Safari Stealth Black Accomplished+ and am very happy with its performance. It returns around 13kpl in the city and 14-15kpl on the highway. I also own a Maruti Suzuki Ritz diesel VDi, which I have used for 10 years and driven 2.3 lakh km with regular servicing and genuine synthetic oil. Is it time to replace the Ritz? If so, what would be a good diesel or petrol car around Rs 15 lakh? My usage is a mix of city and highway driving, around 75-100 km a day. I also have three older family members above 60 who will use the car occasionally. I am considering the 1.0-litre Skoda, the new Thar 1.5-litre and other options. I am not interested in a sunroof or other fancy features. I do track racing, so strong performance, suspension, stability and an engaging driving experience are important to me.

•1d

Yes, it's time to retire the Ritz. Of the two cars you're considering, the Skoda 1.0 TSI is the right one. Both the Kylaq and the Kushaq use it, and either suits an enthusiast far better than the Thar. The engine is eager, the steering is sharp, and the chassis feels planted when you push it. Those are the things you'll value as someone who drives on track.The catch is your mileage. At 75-100 km a day, you'll cover close to 30,000km a year, and the petrol Skoda will cost noticeably more to run than a diesel. If that bothers you, test-drive the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel. Its 1.5 diesel is one of the punchiest in its class; it has a roomy rear seat for your parents, and it'll be much cheaper to run, though it isn't as sharp to drive as the Skoda.The new Mahindra Thar isn't a good fit. It's tall to climb into for older passengers, the rear is cramped, and it isn't as settled as a regular SUV over 100km a day.Your Ritz has done well. Its 1.3 diesel runs a timing chain rather than a belt, which is why it's lasted. Drive the Skoda car and the 3XO back to back, and decide how much the extra fun is worth to you.

Hi, I’m confused about buying a car. My budget is below Rs. 11 lakh on-road. I’m looking for an automatic car, primarily for city driving in Chennai and its suburbs, with occasional highway trips. Reliability, safety, and fuel economy are also priorities.

•2d

At your budget, the automatics available are mostly the AMTs (automated manual transmission), which are cost-effective and efficient but a bit jerky during the shifts. This can be a bother in traffic, and given that most of your driving is in the city, we would recommend that you avoid these. A good option would be the Honda Amaze; it comes with a CVT transmission, which is smoother than AMTs, and the car meets your other criteria of reliability, safety and mileage very well. You could consider the XUV 3XO too, which has a torque converter gearbox and is the smoothest type of autobox around. It's also a very safe car; however, the mileage would not be very high.

Honda Amaze

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•2d

XUV 3XO is reportedly getting a CNG option. Do you think this could be a good choice for someone looking for an SUV with lower running costs?

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•1w

Hi Autocar Team, I am confused between the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual and automatic. My current ride is a Fluidic Verna diesel manual, which is nearing 15 years of ownership and has clocked nearly 2.5 lakh km. My usage consists of mixed city and highway driving, with around 40km daily and weekend highway runs of about 400km. For long-term ownership, which would be the better choice: the manual or automatic?

•1w

Go for the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic. The diesel engine is well suited to your high running, and the automatic gearbox is a proven torque converter unit that is reliable and well matched to the engine. This Mahindra car will make your daily city driving far less tiring, while still being smooth and efficient on the highway. Coming from a 15-year-old Hyundai Verna diesel manual, the automatic will feel like a significant upgrade in terms of comfort and ease of use, without compromising on long-term reliability. The manual is still a good option if you strongly prefer the engagement, but for your usage and ownership horizon, the automatic is the smarter choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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•3d

I am a 6 ft driver who loves driving. I've driven the Swift 2013 petrol, Creta 1.6 Diesel Auto and the XUV500 the most on long trips. Now that I am planning to buy a car with a strict budget, do you think the 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol variant will be a wise decision to make, as I will be travelling once a month for short trips from Bangalore to Coorg, Pondicherry, GOA, and Mangalore? Which other car can be a perfect match for me, keeping a budget of 12 lakhs max? Also, the 3XO AX5 I'm getting from a friend who has hardly driven 6k km for 10 lakhs.

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol from your friend for Rs 10 lakh. At that price, it is a very good deal and a sensible upgrade from your Creta 1.6 diesel automatic. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin and good rear seat comfort, which will make your long drives to Coorg, Pondicherry, Goa and Mangalore more comfortable. The turbo petrol engine is smooth and is well suited to both city driving and highway cruising. At Rs 10 lakh for a car with only 6,000 km on the clock, you are getting a nearly new car at a significant discount, which makes it a far better value proposition than buying new.If you are looking for alternatives under Rs 12 lakh, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual is the best option for an enthusiast driver. The new Brezza turbo-petrol could also be a good choice. Overall, the 3XO from your friend is the most sensible choice. It offers a good balance of comfort, reliability and value, and will serve you well on your monthly road trips.

I currently drive a 2018 Hyundai Creta 1.6 petrol automatic, which is very comfortable. Its mileage is around 7-8 kpl, and my monthly running is 1,000-1,200 km. Please advise on a good vehicle with decent mileage and comfort. I look forward to your advice.

•5d

With 1,000-1,200 km a month and a 7-8 km/l Creta 1.6 petrol automatic, the priority should be better fuel efficiency without sacrificing comfort. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the most sensible upgrade. It delivers significantly better real-world fuel economy, especially in city driving, while still offering a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The hybrid system is proven and reliable, and the ownership experience is straightforward.If you want a more premium feel and are willing to accept slightly lower fuel efficiency, the Kia Seltos petrol IVT is a strong alternative. It offers a more upmarket cabin and a comfortable ride, but it will not match the Victoris Hybrid on fuel savings.The Hyundai Creta petrol IVT is also worth considering if you want to stay within the Hyundai family. It offers a familiar ownership experience and a comfortable ride, but again, it will not be as efficient as the Victoris Hybrid.Overall, the Victoris Hybrid strikes the best balance between fuel efficiency, comfort and long-term ownership costs for your usage pattern.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

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