I am planning to buy a 7-seater SUV with a budget of ₹20 to 24 lakh and am confused between the XEV 9S and the Safari petrol.

Autocar India

•4w

The XEV 9S is an electric car, while the Safari petrol is an ICE vehicle, and the two serve very different needs and requirements.

The Mahindra XEV 9S has a strong electric powertrain that delivers an ultra smooth driving experience with very low running costs. It is easier to drive than the Safari and works better as a city vehicle. However, for long trips involving distances of over 400 km, you would need to rely on public charging, which isn’t always convenient.

The Tata Safari petrol is also smooth to drive, but it is costlier to run and maintain. That said, it is more practical, offers much better third row seating, and gives you the flexibility of refuelling anywhere, making it the more stress free option for long journeys.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Safari

from ₹15.44 Lakh

Mahindra

XEV 9S

from ₹21.10 Lakh

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Latest questions in the community

Sachin Rathod

•5d

I am confused between the Hyundai Alcazar and the Tata Safari in the diesel manual variants. My annual running is around 40,000 km, mostly on highways. I am looking for a car that offers decent mileage, strong safety, and reasonable maintenance costs. Which one would be the better choice for my usage?

Autocar India

•20h

With your kind of usage around 40,000km a year, mostly on highways, the Tata Safari diesel would be the better option for you overall.The main reason is that the Safari is simply the stronger highway car, which is where you’ll be spending most of your time. Its 2.0-litre diesel engine produces more torque than the one in the Hyundai Alcazar, and that extra pulling power really helps during highway driving. Especially when overtaking or cruising with a full load of passengers and luggage. The Safari also has a more substantial feel and tends to feel more planted and stable at higher speeds, which is something you will appreciate on long highway runs. Safety is another area where the Safari has an edge.The Alcazar’s advantage lies in efficiency and ease of use. It is slightly more fuel-efficient and feels lighter and easier to drive in city conditions. Maintenance on Hyundai models is also generally predictable, and service networks are very strong. However, given that your driving is predominantly highway-based, these benefits may not be as significant for your usage pattern.In terms of running costs, both being diesel means fuel costs will remain relatively manageable, even with such high annual mileage. The Alcazar will likely return slightly better fuel efficiency, but the difference isn’t dramatic enough to outweigh the Safari’s advantages in performance, stability and overall highway ability.

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Shreyas Kp

•2d

Hi, my main use will be in Bangalore city. My everyday running is about 20 km, and I am looking for an SUV. I am very confused between the Legender and the Kodiaq. Please help.

Autocar India

•1h

Given that your usage is primarily within Bangalore city, the Skoda Kodiaq is easily the better choice for you. It's got the lighter steering, tighter turning radius and is generally easier to drive and park. The Skoda also delivers far better ride comfort and refinement, and a more polished experience on the whole. A well-finished and feature-loaded cabin also makes the Kodiaq the better choice.The Toyota Fortuner does have greater road presence, reliability is excellent, and it's also the one with the better (still not great) third row seating. However, the Fortuner's key highlight is its off-road ability and durability that comes through over rugged use. For a city vehicle, though, it comes across as crude and unwieldy.

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Harsh sharma

•21h

Hi, I want a car for the long term, at least 8 to 9 years, with a reliable and spacious automatic petrol engine and a big boot space. My running will be about 1000 km per month, mostly in the city, with a couple of outstation trips every 3 months. I am confused between the new Seltos HTX DCT and the Hector/Hector Plus top models. I seek good features with a futuristic approach, as the car should not get obsolete in 4 to 5 years.

Autocar India

•1h

The Kia Seltos would be the right pick for you. The second-gen Seltos was launched just a few months ago and packs in the latest features. Further, the new Seltos is built on a new-gen platform that brings with it advancements in technology and refinement, as well as the promise of greater safety. In that sense, the Seltos is a newer and more future-proof package. The Seltos DCT HTX is a good pick.The MG Hector has been refreshed multiple times, but under the skin, it is no different to the car that was launched in 2019.

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