Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 2.2 Diesel MT

Autocar India

•4h

The Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 diesel AT is a solid choice for your budget. The engine pulls strongly even with a full family and bags, the automatic changes gears smoothly, and the tall seating and wide glass make daily city driving easier. On long trips, it feels steady at speed, the seats are supportive, and it is feature-loaded.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 L automatic - for your focus on reliability, easy upkeep and safety, it is the safer pick over the Tata Harrier. In daily use, the 7XO feels smoother and lighter to drive, especially in the city, and the automatic makes traffic stress-free. Mahindra’s network is wide, and parts are easy to get, which helps keep maintenance simple. The 7XO comes from the proven XUV700 line, and in the AX7 L, you get strong safety tech. It includes multiple airbags and driver aids that warn and even act if you’re distracted, which adds real peace of mind.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

•5h

We would recommend the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo in the Techno trim. Engine refinement is very good, with no vibrations at idle, and it remains smooth even while driving. Power figures are class-leading at 163hp and 280Nm of torque, offering strong performance. Since you have some off-road driving to your farm, the Duster's generous ground clearance of 212mm will come in handy, and the boot space is also very large at 518 litres. So you should be able to carry some of your farm produce. The only downside is rear space, which is a bit tight, but since you are a family of four, it should not be too much of an issue.We are yet to put the Duster through our full instrumented test cycle, but efficiency should be at par with others in the segment, but certainly not class leading. However, given its other traits that suit your requirements, this is the car we would recommend.If you can stretch your budget to about Rs 20 lakh, you could consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO. While you may not need its seven-seat capacity, folding the third row gives you a very large boot, which is useful for carrying farm produce. The ground clearance is also good, and if your roads are difficult, you could even consider the AWD version, though this would come at a higher price still.

Renault Duster

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2d

The Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 Diesel AT is an excellent all rounder. For your 1,200-1,500 km a month, mostly city with a few long trips, and a growing family, it fits best across comfort, space, ease of use and long-term running costs. The diesel automatic is smooth in traffic and relaxed on highways, so you will not feel tired on those 2,000km long drives in a year. The extra row is handy with two kids and luggage; with the last row folded you get a huge boot. Mahindra’s service network is wide, and long-term ownership is generally simple.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•2d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 Luxury AWD diesel automatic (7-seater) - for your mix of highway, city and a bit of rough road, it feels like a decent step up from your Alcazar while staying in the Rs 30 lakh range. The diesel has strong pull, so overtakes on the highway feel easy even with a full family, and the automatic gearbox, makes long drives and traffic much less tiring. Thanks to its thoroughly re-engineered suspension, ride comfort is good over broken patches and the cabin feels wider and more solid than your Hyundai. One thing to be aware of: the last row is fine for kids or short trips, but not very roomy for tall adults, and with all three rows up the boot is small. Also, it is a big car, so tight city parking needs some care. Moreover, while the diesel's mileage is better than the petrol's, it's not great and warrants a light foot for good numbers.Another alternative that gets you more spacious and comfortable seats and a better highway ride, the Tata Safari Accomplished X+ diesel automatic is worth a look, but it does not get 4WD.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

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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

•2h

Pick the Tata Safari petrol. It meets most of your requirements, though fuel consumption will be high, particularly in the city. As a daily car, it is easy to drive, has light steering and a smooth automatic transmission, and runs well on bad roads. The second row slides, so you can share space with the third row when you have 6 or 7 on board, and getting in and out is easier than in the Mahindra XUV 7XO. On the highway, it feels steady and quiet.If fuel efficiency is a big concern, consider the Kia Carens Clavis with turbo petrol DCT combo. It will be slightly more efficient than Safari, and the third row is even more comfortable. In terms of safety, it has a comprehensive safety suite but it hasn't yet been tested by BNCAP.On the test drive, take the Safari on the highway and check the stability and overtaking performance.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•4d

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

•5d

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

•2d

The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good choice in the segment, though you will rely heavily on the infotainment screens for many functions, including the AC, which your dad might not appreciate. Consider the Kia Carens Clavis with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol DCT instead. It has physical controls for major functions and a simpler user interface for the infotainment system. It is also more compact and therefore easier to drive and park in the city, where you will be spending most of your time. Despite its dimensions, the third row in the Kia is actually more usable than the one in the Mahindra. With 90 percent slow city use and a 70-year-old driver, the petrol is a better choice, and you avoid DPF issues that can crop up with limited use.One thing to be aware of: the Carens Clavis won’t ride as plush as the XUV 7XO. If that is a priority, then go for the Mahindra instead. Also, if the Clavis’s MPV-like design doesn’t appeal to you, then consider the Tata Safari petrol.On the test drive, do a long run in bumper-to-bumper traffic and check two things: how the DCT reacts at low speeds and how easy it is for your dad to get in and out of the second and third rows.

Kia Carens Clavis

Mahindra XUV 7XO