I am planning to purchase the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7. My daily driving is around 30 km in the city (15 km each way) with almost no traffic, along with an additional 200 km of highway driving per month. Should I opt for the diesel manual variant? I am concerned about potential DPF regeneration issues.

Autocar India

•1m

For your usage, the Mahindra XUV7X0 AX7 diesel manual does make sense, and your concern about DPF regeneration is understandable, but not a major issue in your case. Your daily 30 km runs with low traffic allow the engine to operate at steady speeds for long enough to support passive regeneration, and the additional 200 km highway drive every month further helps keep the system healthy.

Where the diesel really suits your usage is in its strong low-end torque, which will feel effortless, especially when the car is loaded with passengers or luggage on highway trips. It also makes sense from an efficiency point of view, given your monthly running.

So overall, diesel is a safe and suitable choice for your usage pattern, and you should not worry too much about DPF issues. However, if your driving pattern ever shifts to very short, slow city runs, then a petrol option would be the simpler alternative.

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XUV 7XO

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Marisetty Venkata VIdyadhar

•4d

I own a Ford EcoSport Titanium diesel manual transmission 2015 model. I would like to upgrade to a new automatic petrol car. Please suggest a car that has very good build quality and has a 5-star safety rating. I stay in Hyderabad and need to go through bumper-to-bumper traffic. I have heard of DCT/DSG heating problems in heavy traffic, so I am considering a torque converter, CVT, or wet-clutch DCT. I am not sure if this is the correct decision, but I need a good, durable, and efficient automatic transmission that is smooth in slow-moving traffic. My usage is 70% city and 30% highway, so highway performance, stability, and good handling are also important. I am also looking for a car I can keep for 10-15 years, so durability and relevant features are important. I am not looking for very high-end tech, but I do want useful safety and comfort features. I also considered a 7 seater so that I can use the third row for luggage room, or occasionally, when my family members grow after a kid's marriage, maybe we would use the third row seating for a city outing. However, I am also fond of good boot space. So, not able to decide here. My budget is 25 lakh. Can you please suggest a car that is strong, safe, robust, and reliable in the above budget?

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the updated Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the new 8-speed automatic. It has a five-star crash rating, a robust build, and a smooth 8-speed torque-converter automatic, along with good stability and handling for your 70:30 city–highway mix.Your bumper-to-bumper driving will benefit from the torque-converter’s low-speed smoothness, avoiding the DCT/DSG heat concerns you mentioned. It is a five-star safety-rated car with six airbags, ESC and ISOFIX mounts for long-term peace of mind. Highway stability is confident at triple-digit speeds, while 188mm of ground clearance and a 385-litre boot keep it practical. For 10-15 years of ownership, the 1.0 TSI engine is tried and tested, and the automatic is a safer bet than dual-clutch units. Do opt for the maximum extended warranty available.The one thing you give up is advanced driver assistance. The Kushaq doesn’t offer ADAS features like adaptive cruise control or lane-keep assist, so keep that in mind.If you genuinely need a third row, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO instead. It is also a five-star safety-rated vehicle and uses a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic. However, fuel efficiency from the petrol engine in the city will be lower, and its larger size means it is not as easy to drive in traffic.During the test drive, crawl at 5-10kph with the AC on to judge smoothness from the gearbox, and also do an 80-100kph highway run.

Skoda Kushaq

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Himanshu

•2d

Please suggest between Seltos IVT HTX/GTX petrol and Mahindra XUV 7XO automatic petrol AX5/AX7. The car will be mainly for driving in Mumbai city with occasional long-distance travel.

Autocar India

•7h

Choose the Kia Seltos IVT petrol in GTX guise. Its IVT smoothness and relatively compact size make it easier to drive in Mumbai traffic, especially important since that’s where you’ll be spending most of your time.The IVT (CVT) is smooth and seamless in operation and works rather well with the refined 1.5-litre NA engine. The engine feels responsive to light inputs and creeps smartly, making it very easy to drive in stop-and-go traffic. It also simulates shifts in eight steps, so it feels more natural than most CVTs and doesn’t exhibit too much of the rubber-band effect they are known for.What you do give up is the space and outright performance of the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It is significantly larger, has more room on the inside and even a third row suited for occasional use. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol is also very powerful and hauls this big SUV with remarkable ease, but expect poor fuel efficiency in city use.On your test drive, spend 10 minutes in start-stop traffic to assess creep and brake feel, attempt a tight U-turn, and confirm if rear-seat space is adequate for your family.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Dex

•4w

Hi sir, I’ve owned a Honda Amaze for the past 12 years, and now I’m looking to upgrade to a more powerful and comfortable car, with a budget of ₹30 lakh. My driving pattern is about 600 km per month in the city, mostly bumper‑to‑bumper traffic and long trips of 1,000-1,500 km every three months (which may increase in the future). Should I split my purchase into getting two cars or go for one? For example, I’m considering an EV with battery‑as‑a‑service (like the Punch EV priced around ₹6.5 lakh) for city use, and then a mid‑luxury SUV such as the Tata Safari or Mahindra XUV for highway trips. A 5+2 seating configuration could be a preferred option for long drives. Or should I stick to one car that can handle both city driving and outstation trips? I’m also looking to keep the car for at least 10 years. Which drivetrain would be most suitable for my needs?

Autocar India

•2h

It's not a bad idea to split your budget in two, between an EV for the city and a more powerful vehicle for outstation trips. However, we would suggest you alter the split slightly, spending more on the EV and less on the larger vehicle. Rs 6.5 lakh for a Tata Punch EV sounds attractive, but in reality, you will have to spend around Rs 19,000 per year more on battery rental, over and above charging costs. It also has to be borne in mind that this is an ex-showroom price and only gets you the base model.Then, if your next vehicle under consideration is a Mahindra XUV 7XO or Tata Safari, your remaining budget will again only get you a low- to mid-range model. Thus, we would instead recommend going in for a mid-range Punch EV (with or without BaaS) and spend the rest of your budget on either a Hyundai Alcazar or Kia Carens Clavis. Both these 7-seaters offer ample space, comfort, power, luxury and features, and should be well suited to your outstation trips.

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