The 2025 Mahindra Thar 3-door has been launched; however, the side-facing rear seats, which were available in the 2020 model, are still missing. Is there any indication that Mahindra will reintroduce the Thar 3-door with side-facing rear seats?

Autocar India

•9h

The Kia Sonet is one of the strongest all-rounders in the compact SUV segment.On the plus side, it comes packed with modern tech and features, including ADAS on higher trims. There’s also a wide choice of engines and gearboxes from the naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol to the punchy 1.0-litre turbo-petrol (with DCT or iMT). Moreover, the torquey 1.5-litre diesel, paired with the 6-speed torque-converter automatic, offers a genuinely enjoyable driving experience. Its compact dimensions and light steering make it easy to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight parking spots. Many buyers are also drawn to its sharp design, SUV stance and strong resale value.On the downside, rear seat space is not the best in class. Legroom can feel tight, especially if the front seats are pushed back, and three adults in the rear will be a squeeze. The suspension setup is slightly stiffer, which can make low-speed ride quality feel firm on rough roads. Also, most of the advanced safety and ADAS features are limited to higher trims; lower variants miss out on some key equipment. Unlike some rivals, there’s no factory-fit CNG option either.Overall, the Sonet scores high on features, performance options and style. But rear space and ride comfort are areas where you should check carefully before deciding.

Kia Sonet

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Autocar India

•1d

In a hill climb with a full load and bumper-to-bumper traffic, managing a manual transmission can be tricky, and if not done correctly, you can end up wearing out the clutch and overheating your entire drivetrain. You should go with a manual only if you are confident of driving it correctly and not having to resort to slipping the clutch. However, you need not worry about an automatic car, something like the e-CVT or the torque convertor that the Maruti Suzuki Victoris automatic comes with. Unlike an AMT or DCT, these gearboxes are better at handling start-stop conditions and so would perform better and more reliably in your driving conditions.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

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Autocar India

•4h

Given your height, the Tata Sierra would be the better option among the rest. The Sierra gets a spacious cabin with good headroom and is a comfy cruiser over long drives thanks to the option of a diesel engine. Even the turbo-petrol is punchy, has good performance and is enjoyable to drive.The Seltos is also not too far behind, and while it isn't as roomy as the Sierra, the quality of the cabin is better, and it also gets a diesel engine that is quite nice on long trips. Where it falls behind the Sierra is the ride comfort, and hence we would recommend the Sierra for its all-round positives given your requirements.

Tata Sierra

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