Mahindra cars in India (18)

Autocar India

•11m

For your usage, we would suggest the Innova HyCross Hybrid rather than the XEV 9e or XEV 9s. The reason is that you are replacing a Crysta, and once you have lived with an Innova, you tend to appreciate things like space, practicality and long distance comfort more than headline technology. The HyCross feels like a natural evolution of what you already have. It is significantly more fuel efficient than the Crysta, the hybrid system is exceptionally well suited to a 60 km daily city commute, and for your monthly 500 km highway trips, it remains one of the most effortless cars you can buy.The XEV 9e and 9s are impressive EVs with strong performance, big batteries and low running costs. If your driving was almost entirely city based, they would be easier to recommend. However, for a family that regularly does longer highway trips, the HyCross still offers a level of convenience that is hard to beat.Between the two Mahindra cars, the 9e is the better choice. It has a more balanced ride and handling setup, feels more premium inside and out, and is the more complete product overall. The 9s feels noticeably softer, which can make it feel slightly bouncy over undulating roads.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Toyota Innova Crysta

Autocar India

•51m

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. For Spiti’s narrow, broken mountain roads with light to moderate snow, the Jimny’s small size and low weight make life easier. It is simpler to place on those cliff-edge tracks, its narrow tyres bite better on packed snow, and visibility is excellent. The 4x4 with low range works cleanly, and Maruti’s service reach in Himachal is wider if you do need help.Be ready for one compromise. The 1.5 petrol loses power at high altitude, so climbs will be slow and you will use lower gears more often. Cabin and boot are smaller too.If you regularly travel with four adults plus big luggage, or you expect fresh, deeper snow, the Thar’s extra torque and higher clearance give you more headroom. But for a typical winter, Spiti run in light to moderate snow where control and confidence matter more than brute force, the Jimny is the better tool.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Mahindra Thar

Autocar India

•5h

The Mahindra Scorpio N is due for a facelift later this year, so if your father likes it and doesn't mind waiting, it could be worthwhile. However, while it has great road presence, it won't meet your other requirement of good mileage. The Scorpio N is a large, heavy, ladder-frame SUV whose focus is on strong performance and responsiveness, rather than mileage, so prepare for much lower figures than what you get in your Kia Sonet. Moreover, owing to its top-heavy ladder-frame layout, it won't drive as well as the Sonet, at least in terms of handling and sharp dynamics. What you get instead is a commanding driving position and a tough, robust feel from the driver's seat. For a good mix of road presence and driving dynamics, check out the Tata Sierra. You'll get a decently feature-packed variant around Rs 20 lakh. Also, it is the most spacious in the class, and the turbo-petrol and diesel engines come with a smooth torque-converter automatic that works well around town and on the highway. Moreover, since it is a monocoque SUV, it has more car-like driving dynamics, easier manoeuvrability, better ride quality and better refinement. For your requirements, the Sierra is the better pick.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Kia Sonet

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•9h

Buy the Mahindra Bolero only if you truly need a tough workhorse for rough roads, villages, or daily abuse. It’s built simply and strongly, shrugs off bad patches, and the diesel is easy to live with. Parts are cheap, any roadside mechanic knows it, and it will carry people or luggage without fuss. If your routes are narrow or broken, it just suits that life.If most of your driving is city family use, it’s not the best pick. The cabin is basic, noisy, and the ride is bouncy. Steering is heavy in traffic, there’s no automatic, and it feels slow on highways. The third-row side-facing seats aren’t great for kids or long trips, and the safety kit is modest compared with newer SUVs.So, yes, it’s a good option for hard use and rural duty. If your week is mostly city runs, school drops, and weekend highways, you may not enjoy living with it.

Mahindra Bolero

Autocar India

•13h

You should go for the Mahindra XEV 9S. It's a proper three-row EV, and it fits your use case perfectly. With home solar charging, your running costs are very low, and the smooth, quiet drive is just right for city runs as a 4-seater. When you do need six or seven seats, the third row is reasonably spacious, and for your 500 km trip every couple of months, you’ll need just one quick top-up at a highway charger.Do note that with all three rows up, boot space is tight, so your highway trips will require some planning.Alternatively, consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It isn't as feature-rich and doesn't have as much range as the XEV 9S, but its third row is more comfortable for adults.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 petrol manual. Your driving is mostly highway and you plan to keep it 10-12 years, and this one feels the most relaxed and secure at speed, with a comfy second row and a big, usable boot when the third row is folded. The performance, refinement and reliability of the engine is also very good but the only downside is a low fuel economy, single digits or low double digit figures if you are careful. But since your driving is low this should not be a big issue. The XUV 7XO is E20-ready, as are the others, so your ethanol worry for the next decade is largely covered. If blends rise beyond E20 later, expect a small drop in economy across all petrol rather than a single clear loser. Between the rest, the Tata Safari would be an option, as it too offers a very good ride quality and stability at speed is good. The third row is also more comfortable but this would not be an advantage for you given that it would remain a luggage area only. As for the Scorpio N, it is tough but heavy and bouncy on long highway runs and noticeably thirstier; it suits rough roads more than long fast cruises. The Alcazar is easier to drive in the city and will use less fuel, but it is narrower, and it does not feel as planted or as reassuring as the Mahindra or the Tata on long highways.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Mahindra Scorpio N

Hyundai Alcazar

Autocar India

•1d

Get the Mahindra Scorpio N 4x4 because it’s the best mix of real off-road ability and 7-seat family use without having to spend Fortuner money. It has a proper 4x4 system with low range, so steep climbs, rocks and slush are not a worry, yet the ride is comfy enough for daily runs and long trips with family. Coming from a Swift, you will find it easier to live with than the Toyota Fortuner, thanks to lighter controls and a friendlier size in the city.However, the third row is fine for kids or short adults, and the boot is very small with all seats up. Also, there is some noticeable body roll, and the diesel does get noisy when revved hard. If you truly want the toughest 7-seater that can take abuse and don’t mind a stiff ride or a much higher price, the Toyota Fortuner 4x4 is the one. However, for value, family comfort and off-road ability, the Scorpio N 4x4 is the sweet spot.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Toyota Fortuner

Autocar India

•2d

The Kia Syros HTK (base) Turbo-Petrol MT variant is an excellent family car that seems to meet your requirements of comfort, highway stability and good air-conditioning. Additionally, this car is surprisingly spacious despite being under four metres in length. Alternatively, you could consider the new Hyundai Venue HX2 Turbo-petrol MT or Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX M. Both of which are good options, and should be in the Rs 10 lakh on-road price.If you're keen to explore used options, we'd recommend getting the newest possible example covered by factory warranty for added peace of mind. You could consider a Honda City or Maruti Grand Vitara (or Toyota Hybrid), which are safe, sensible options that should be priced at around Rs 10 lakh.

Kia Syros

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

•4d

If you will be using the vehicle frequently on the highway, go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic - it gets you the safety net of ADAS and the convenience of adaptive cruise control. It also offers ventilated front seats, which are very useful in our conditions, along with several other premium features. However, if you are on a tight budget and don't frequently travel on the highway, the AX7 trim will suit you fine. The price jump is about Rs 2.5 lakh, which can be hard to justify if you aren't going to use the features much. If you are strictly on a budget and drive mostly in the city, the AX7 diesel automatic saves money without losing the core engine, space and basics.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•4d

The Hyundai i20 IVT is one of the best fits for Mumbai city driving. The IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, the cabin feels genuinely premium, reliability is strong, and it is comfortable enough for four adults while still being easy to park and manoeuvre in the city.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze CVT is a good choice too. The CVT is smooth, Honda’s reliability reputation is excellent, and the rear-seat comfort is better than the i20 if you regularly travel with four to five adults. It also feels more relaxed on occasional highway trips.If rear-seat space and overall width for five passengers matter more, then the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is worth considering, even if it means choosing a lower variant. It feels more substantial, has a wider rear bench and is more comfortable for five adults than the i20 or Amaze. The downside is that it will not feel as feature rich as the i20 or Amaze, and fuel efficiency is not as strong either.

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

Mahindra XUV 3XO