Kia Sorento

autocar.india

•4d

We'd recommend the Kia Sorento if you’re looking for a premium seven-seater within Rs 50 lakh, particularly if comfort and refinement are priorities. The diesel makes more sense if most of your driving is on the highway, where its strong torque and relaxed cruising ability should come in handy. However, if your usage is predominantly in the city, the hybrid would be the better choice, offering a smoother, quieter and more refined experience.The Skoda Kodiaq is arguably the better driver's car, but it doesn't quite match the Sorento for ride comfort. The Toyota Fortuner, while rugged and capable, also falls short in terms of ride comfort and overall refinement. The Sorento strikes a better balance for someone who wants a comfortable, upmarket family SUV that can handle daily commutes as well as long-distance trips. The interior feels plush, the feature set is extensive and the ride comfort is class-best.

Kia Sorento

Skoda Kodiaq

Toyota Fortuner

autocar.india

•4d

Given your requirements the best choice would be a Mahindra XUV 7XO. Compared to the 700, there are substantial changes in the 7XO with regard to the suspension and ride quality. It also has a lot of tech and with your Rs. 30 lakh budget you can actually get a top-spec AX7 in luxury trim, which gets all the bells and whistles. It gets a very smooth and powerful petrol engine, a smooth gearbox, and a lot of space in the second row. It is also a seven-seater, so the third row is also spacious. If not you can even always fold it and use it as a massive boot. The Sorento is also a good choice but its starting price of over 30 lakh is hard to justify especially when you consider your requirements, which the 7XO fulfills properly. The Mahindra would be the best recommendation.Between a diesel and a petrol, it depends on your usage. If you don't travel a lot and you don't cover a lot of kilometers over a year, a petrol is always better so we would recommend you go for the petrol.If an EV is something you want to choose, then the Mahindra XEV 9S is the best choice as you get the same space as you do on the 7XO, but in an all-electric guise.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Sorento

autocar.india

•1w

Thank you for your kind words on our content.Of the vehicles on your shortlist, the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD is the best. It's got a strong diesel engine and a smooth gearbox, which make long journeys absolutely effortless. Kia has also packed the Sorento with features that uplift comfort levels inside. The third row isn't the best, though the Jeep Meridian and Mahindra XUV 7XO are also not great in this regard. Kia's proven reliability also makes the Sorento an easy model to recommend for your usage.

Kia Sorento

Jeep Meridian

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•3w

If your Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI is running well and you only do occasional long highway drives, there is no strong financial or practical reason to change it right now. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a superb long-distance car with excellent comfort, refinement and a proven diesel engine that is well suited to highway cruising. At 80,000km, there is still life left in it as a well-maintained Mercedes diesel, and the cost of upgrading to a new car is unlikely to be justified by your current usage pattern.The Kia Sorento Hybrid is a very different proposition. It is a large, comfortable and well-equipped SUV, but the hybrid system is designed to deliver its biggest benefits in mixed city and highway driving. On long highway runs, the fuel economy advantage over a diesel is less pronounced, and this Kia car does not offer the same driving experience as the E-Class.If you are looking for a change, the Sorento Hybrid is a sensible and practical family SUV, but it is not a direct replacement for an E-Class in terms of driving experience or long-distance comfort. If your usage remains occasional long highway drives, it makes more sense to keep the E-Class and enjoy it for a few more years. If you want a change for the sake of something new, the Sorento Hybrid is a great option.

Kia Sorento

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

autocar.india

•3w

For your mix of 350 km of highway driving each week and another 150 km in the city, the Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid is a sensible recommendation. It combines good fuel efficiency with easy city driving, a comfortable highway ride and, crucially, a genuinely usable third row. If you regularly travel with adults in all three rows, it makes the strongest case. Toyota’s reputation for reliability adds to its appeal for long-term ownership. The Kia Sorento is a good alternative, especially since you are already leaning towards it. We would favour the diesel if highway cruising is your priority, although your city running means the hybrid deserves consideration too. The Sorento feels more plush and better appointed, and we would rate it above this Toyota car as a highway cruiser.What could be the deal-breaker is the third row. It is better suited to children or occasional use by adults. The low seating position leaves you sitting with your knees raised, rather than comfortably supported, so make sure your intended passengers try it before you decide.On safety, we would not judge the Sorento by the reputation of other Kia models sold in India. Safety is model-specific, and the Sorento generation tested by Euro NCAP earned five stars. The Skoda Kodiaq is the driver’s choice here, with excellent dynamics and a premium cabin. If self-drive enjoyment matters more than maximum passenger space, it is very appealing. However, its third row is less accommodating than the Hycross’s, and its petrol-only powertrain is unlikely to match the Toyota hybrid’s economy for your usage.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Sorento

Skoda Kodiaq