Hi, I currently own a Maruti Suzuki Ciaz petrol and am planning to upgrade to a new SUV. My monthly driving is around 600 km, with one or two long trips in a year. I am confused between the petrol and diesel variants of the Mahindra XUV 7XO. Additionally, I am also considering the Mahindra XEV 9S and would like to know whether an EV would be suitable for my usage pattern.

Autocar India

•19h

For your usage and budget, an EV like the Mahindra XEV 9S works well. The top-spec Pack Three Above with the larger 79kWh battery fits well within your budget, and for that, you'll get all the bells and whistles. This suits you because the XEV 9S is smooth and quiet, with no gear shifts, so stop-and-go traffic feels easy and less tiring. The taller seat makes getting in and out simple, and the view out is good. Some things to be aware of - Mahindra EVs are known to suffer a few software glitches, though these should be fixable with OTA updates, and some find the ride quality a bit soft, so check if you're comfortable with that. The XEV 9e does a better job in this respect.Additionally, considering you're using it mainly in the city, you might find it quite large for your needs. If you're looking at something more compact, the BYD Atto 3 is also worth considering at this price range.

Mahindra XEV 9S

BYD Atto 3

Autocar India

•1d

With 10,000-12,000 km a year and equal city and highway use, we would recommend the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. It feels smoother and quieter in daily use, the automatic is easy in traffic, and it has a strong pull for quick highway passes when the car is full. It also packs more active safety tech, which is reassuring on long trips with family. Most of all, it doesn't feel as cumbersome to drive around town.On your DPF worry: both the XUV 7XO and the Tata Safari use the same type of filter to trap soot. With your 50 percent highway mix, the system usually clears itself. DPF trouble mostly shows up with very short, slow city trips only. Simple habits help: once every week or two, do 15-20 minutes at a steady speed on a ring road, don’t switch off mid-cycle if you see a DPF message, use good fuel, and keep the car on the latest software at service.The Safari diesel automatic is the one to pick if you value a softer low-speed ride and a roomier third row, but its engine and gearbox aren't as smooth or refined as the XUV's. Overall, for your mix of city and highway, the XUV 7XO diesel automatic lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•1d

Mostly Bangalore city uses about 15,000 km a year, and moving up from a Tiago - in that brief, the Tata Safari Adventure X+ Diesel automatic is the better fit. You save around Rs 3 lakh and still get the core things you’ll feel every day: a very comfortable ride over broken roads and speed bumps, a punchy engine, smooth automatic, and loads of space for family and luggage. Coming from a Tata, service and running costs will feel familiar too, which helps in Bangalore.What you give up versus the Mahindra are a few fancy extras and some advanced driver aids. If most of your driving is inside the city with the odd highway trip, you won’t miss them much. The Safari does feel big in narrow lanes and parking spots, and the diesel automatic can feel a touch slow to jump off the line if you stamp on the pedal, so plan gaps.If you do long highway runs often and value safety tech that keeps distance and warns you, the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T is worth the extra, and the engine is a bit more refined. Otherwise, for your use and budget, the Safari suits you better.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO