Mahindra cars in India (18)

Autocar India

•35m

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis 1.5 petrol, it does not have an SUV body style, but at your budget and with your 90% city use and 50 km a day, it is the easiest and most comfortable three-row you can live with daily. Coming from your i10, the Carens will feel much bigger, but it is still friendly in traffic: light steering, a calm engine and good all-round visibility make daily driving and parking far less stressful than most big seven-seaters. There's also a smooth enough clutch, and you could also consider the automatic, which is a bit above your budget. The ride is comfortable over speed breakers and broken patches, there is proper space in the second row, and the third row is very usable for kids or shorter adults, and the air-con vents for all rows help in hot weather. If you do want a true SUV feel, however and can manage a bigger car and are ok with a lower mileage, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO.

Kia Carens Clavis

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•25s

The Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7L is substantially more expensive than the Maruti Brezza ZXI+; however, you get a lot more for the money. In addition to features like ADAS, all-wheel disc brakes, etc, you also get a more powerful 131hp turbo-petrol engine. It makes the drive experience far more effortless, both in the city and on the highway. Also, the XUV 3XO's cabin feels a lot more upmarket and airy, not only due to the bright interiors, but also due to its panoramic sunroof. As a product, it is certainly superior to the Brezza.Space-wise, though, the Maruti Brezza is similar, and both cars feel equally capable over bad and broken roads. The Brezza has an edge in terms of boot space, and its fuel-efficiency will be better than the Mahindra's. The Maruti's overall ownership experience with its wider service network is likely to be trouble-free as well. In case you're going for the Brezza, wait for the updated version which is likely to be launched in a few months.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•21h

Go for the Mahindra XEV 9S or Mahindra XEV 9E, both of which are more spacious than the Mahindra BE 6, which feels surprisingly cramped, especially for rear seat passengers. The 9E and 9S have front seats too, and they get a three-screen layout too, which your front passenger is likely to appreciate on long drives. The XEV 9E has an edge over the XEV 9S on account of its slightly firmer suspension setup, which results in a more settled highway ride.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra BE 6

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder S Hybrid for your 50-50 city-highway mix and focus on long-term ease and low running cost; it suits you better. In daily traffic, it feels calm and very smooth because it uses electric power at low speed, so you use less fuel without any effort. Toyota’s hybrid tech has been around for years here and abroad, service is simple, and resale is strong. The hybrid battery is backed by a long warranty, and Toyota dealers can confirm the exact years and price for a replacement if ever needed, which should ease that worry.One thing to be aware of: the Hyryder Hybrid is not very quick when you want a fast overtake on the highway, and the boot is smaller than you may expect. If you often carry five with big bags, check this.If your heart wants size and you regularly carry 6-7 people or drive on rough roads a lot, the Mahindra Scorpio N Z4 diesel manual makes sense for its strong pull and tough build. Just accept higher fuel use, a heavier clutch in traffic, bigger tyres and brakes to maintain, and the need for regular, longer drives to keep the exhaust filter clean. Plus, the ride quality is nowhere near as good as the Toyota, and despite how much Mahindra has refined it, a ladder frame SUV will never be as refined or settled on the road as a monocoque SUV.For your plan to keep the car for decades, the Hyryder S Hybrid will be easier and cheaper to live with. When you test drive, do one quick highway pass in the Hyryder to judge pick-up, and crawl in slow traffic in the Scorpio N to feel the clutch effort.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Mahindra Scorpio N

Autocar India

•23h

Go for the Toyota Innova Hycross GX(O) 7-seater at your budget, it gives you the best mix of space, comfort and easy daily use. It drives like a modern car, not a heavy ladder-framed people mover, so the steering is light, the ride is comfortable, and the petrol-automatic powertrain keeps things smooth in traffic. The third row is genuinely usable for adults, the cabin is airy, and Toyota’s service network and resale are strong, which makes ownership simple over many years.One thing to be aware of: the GX(O) is petrol-only, so it will use more fuel than a diesel when fully loaded or on long highway runs. Also, it skips some of the fancy features you see in costlier trims, so if you want all the tech, you will have to stretch or look elsewhere.Pick the Toyota Innova Crysta only if you do a lot of highway driving with seven people and luggage. It's diesel pulls strongly, and the car feels tough on bad roads, but it is manual-only, so the clutch can feel heavy in traffic, and the cabin feels older. Choose the Mahindra XUV 7XO if you want more features and strong performance for the money. But know that the third row and boot with all seats up are smaller than the Hycross.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Innova Crysta

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 petrol automatic - with your very low running and focus on comfort and a fun drive, it suits you best. The XUV 7XO petrol is very smooth and quiet at low speed, and performance is impressive. The ride is comfortable, steering is light, the seats are supportive, and the Mahindra is loaded with features too.Do keep in mind that the petrol's fuel efficiency is very low, however that shouldn't be much of a concern for you since your usage is minimal. One area where the Tata Safari stands out over the XUV 7XO is the third row. The Safari offers enough space for adults to sit comfortably, while the XUV’s third row is better suited for occasional use, with limited comfort on longer drives. However, if you will have kids in the third row for the most part, the XUV will serve you well.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1d

The Mahindra XEV 9S is a seven-seater, and uses the same battery and motor as the BE 6. Its seats are also broader and more supportive, and its plusher ride makes it comfier while dealing with bad roads. Overall, it is the more practical choice, and does well as a family EV.The BE 6 on the other hand feels sportier to drive on account of its interior setup and dynamics. Despite its exterior dimensions, cabin space feels cramped, however if you're going to be driving by your self, alone or with one more passenger, this shouldn't be a concern. Alternatively, you could consider the XEV 9E, which is a good balance between the BE 6 and XEV 9S - it feels sporty to drive, and has comfy interiors too.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Autocar India

•2d

What you’re experiencing is not unusual with EVs like the Mahindra XEV 9e. The standard Goodyear tyres are tuned more for efficiency and low rolling resistance, which helps maximise range, but that does come at the cost of outright grip, especially on wet roads and loose surfaces like sand. This is further amplified by the nature of the car itself — it is a relatively powerful, rear-wheel-drive EV, and the instant torque delivery means it is quite easy to overwhelm the rear tyres if you are not very progressive with the throttle in slippery conditions.The good news is that you can upgrade tyres without affecting your warranty, as long as you stick to the same size, load index and speed rating recommended by the manufacturer. Moving to a more grip-focused tyre will make a noticeable difference in wet braking, traction and overall confidence.Do keep in mind that while better tyres will improve grip, they will not completely eliminate the characteristics of a powerful rear-wheel-drive EV. Smooth throttle inputs and careful driving in low-grip conditions will still be important. That said, upgrading from the stock tyres is a worthwhile step if you are looking for more confidence and safety in challenging conditions.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Autocar India

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel 7-seater. With your Rs 22 lakh budget and a monthly run of 1,000-1,500 km, it is a more complete upgrade from your Duster. The diesel engine is strong, refined and feels effortless both in the city and on the highway, making long trips relaxed and overtaking easy. With the updates, the ride quality has also improved, now feeling more plush and comfortable, even compared to the Tata Safari. Overall, it is the more modern, easier and more well-rounded SUV to live with.One thing to be aware of: the third row in the 7XO is best suited for occasional use, as space and boot capacity with all seats up are limited. This is where the Safari still has an advantage, offering a more accommodating third row with better space and support for longer journeys.In terms of cabin quality, however, the Safari does not have a clear advantage. The 7XO feels just as premium, if not more modern, with better technology and overall fit and finish, so the decision really comes down to whether you prioritise third-row comfort or a more effortless driving experience.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•3d

The used EV market is still evolving, and while your experience with the Mahindra XUV400 has been very positive, it is important to note that battery health and long-term performance can vary depending on usage patterns, charging habits and operating conditions. Covering over 1.17 lakh km with no noticeable range drop is encouraging and reflects what many modern EVs are capable of, but it may not be identical for every user. That said, EVs do have fewer moving parts than ICE cars, which generally makes them simpler to maintain over time.At present, the biggest challenge for used EVs is buyer perception. There is still uncertainty around battery health, replacement costs and long-term reliability. It is largely because there is no widely standardised, easy-to-understand battery health certification in the resale market. This lack of transparency makes buyers cautious and affects resale values. However, as EV adoption increases, this is expected to improve with better diagnostics, longer warranties and more structured resale ecosystems.Given your high daily running, you are in a use case where EV ownership typically makes strong sense from a running cost and ease-of-use perspective. In such a scenario, it is usually more practical to continue using the vehicle and extract maximum value rather than focus on near-term resale. While the used EV market is still maturing, it is likely to become more stable and transparent over time, which should improve buyer confidence gradually.

Mahindra XUV400