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•6w

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.

•6w

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

•6w•

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

•5w•

@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.

•5w•

@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

•5w•

Tiago owner

@rg.2 Go with Mahindra Bolero 👍

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•20h

Please suggest a suitable automatic car for monthly running of 2000km which includes 20% city and 80% highway use in and around Shimla Hills. I am looking for a car within a budget of Rs. 9-14 lakh which should be driver friendly, convenient, reliable and comfortable with a 2nd row and ample boot space. I plan to retain it for at least 10-12 years.

•18h

With 2,000 km a month, 80% highway and hilly terrain, diesel is the clear recommendation. The torque and efficiency of a diesel engine make a big difference on long climbs and overtakes, and at your running, the cost savings over petrol add up quickly. Additionally, keeping your requirements of back seat comfort, as well as a 10-12 year ownership plan, a Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel-AMT seems like the right fit.It is powered by a refined, strong and punchy diesel engine that's mated to a 6-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). Now, the AMT is not as smooth as a torque converter available in the Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue diesel at the same price, but with a light foot, the Mahindra's unit works reasonably well and doesn't feel jerky or confused at low speeds. And compared to the Hyundai and Kia offerings, the 3XO feels more spacious, particularly for rear seat occupants. On paper, its boot is small, but actual usable space is similar to other compact SUVs on sale.If you want a proper diesel-automatic, with a large boot and spacious second row, consider the Kia Syros HTK+. It has an excellent diesel engine, a seamless torque converter (automatic transmission) and for its size, it is extremely spacious. Also, with an adjustable second row, it gives you the flexibility of increasing boot space or legroom for rear occupants. The on-road price might be a little over your Rs 14 lakh budget, but with substantial discounts going on, you could just end up getting one within your budget.

CNG cars have usually been about saving money, but XUV 3XO CNG brings a turbocharged setup into the conversation. That makes it interesting for people who don't want to sacrifice driving performance just to save on fuel.

•2d

I am planning to upgrade from my Hyundai i10. My daily commute is around 40 km in Chennai city, and I drive approximately 600 km on the highway once a month. I am considering the Tata Altroz diesel, with a budget of around Rs. 11 lakh. I am looking for a reliable diesel car with good mileage and low maintenance costs. I prefer a practical car without unnecessary fancy features. Please suggest the best options for my usage.

•1d

Given your usage pattern of 40 km daily city driving and a 600 km highway run every month, diesel does make sense, and the Tata Altroz diesel is a solid choice. It offers good fuel efficiency, a comfortable ride and a well-built cabin, and it is one of the few diesel hatchbacks still available in the market. The Altroz diesel remains a sensible option, but do keep in mind that Tata's service experience can be inconsistent depending on the dealership. If you are open to stretching your budget slightly, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is worth considering. It offers a more powerful diesel engine, better highway performance and a more robust ownership experience. If you are strictly sticking to the Rs 11 lakh budget, the Altroz diesel is the best fit for your requirements. It is practical, efficient and well-suited to your usage pattern. Just make sure you are comfortable with your local Tata service centre before making the final decision.

Tata Altroz

Mahindra XUV 3XO

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•1w

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

•6d

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.

Renault Triber

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•3d

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.

•3d

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.

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?

•2d

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.

Citroen Aircross

Kia Carens Clavis

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