Mahindra cars in India (18)

autocar.india

•16h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic. It suits your city-heavy use, is the most feature-rich here, and its turbo petrol has serious shove for highway and mountain climbs. It is easy to drive in traffic, rides comfortably, and the automatic is smooth. Tech like a 360 camera helps in tight city spots, and the safety and ADAS kit are handy on long trips.One thing to live with: fuel economy in the city will be far lower than your Grand Vitara. Expect single-digit kpl in heavy traffic.The next best alternative is the Tata Safari petrol automatic. It's got a refined engine and very smooth automatic gearbox. Again, fuel economy will be significantly down on your Grand Vitara, so account for that. The Tata feels tough and packs in plenty of equipment in the top end. Of the others, the Scorpio N and Thar Roxx aren't as comfortable while the MG Hector's high speed ride comfort and engine performance aren't great for highway and mountain drives.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra Scorpio N

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Tata Safari

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

MG Hector

autocar.india

•15h

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. The steering still feels natural, the ride stays calm at speed, and the 2.2 diesel has effortless shove for quick highway passes while returning impressive mileage. Sure, being much larger in size, it might not feel as agile or as convenient to drive as your Figo, but that's something you will have to get used to.Alternatively, you could consider the Honda City hybrid too. It is a very efficient sedan which recently got a mid-life makeover and some new features. Yes, the City is expensive, but it is the only hybrid sedan on this side of Rs 30 lakh.If you're not in a hurry to buy, the strong-hybrid versions of the Renault Duster and Nissan Tekton could be worth waiting for.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Honda City

Renault Duster

Nissan Tekton

autocar.india

•19m

A correction, first. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx does not come with a CVT. The base 1.2-litre petrol engine is offered with an AMT, while the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol gets a torque-converter auto combination. Both versions are fuel-efficient for their respective engine type. However, given your priorities, the Fronx AMT makes more sense. It isn't the slickest gearbox, but it is smooth enough for everyday city driving. What really strengthens the Fronx AMT's case is its fuel economy, which is comparable to that of a manual car. You will not have any issues with spare parts or service costs. The Fronx Turbo AT offers a smoother, punchier experience, but fuel economy takes a hit. The Honda Amaze CVT is very smooth and refined, making for a practical package. However, mileage isn't as good as the Fronx AMT, and long-term ownership costs will be higher than those of a Maruti, too.The Mahindra XUV 3XO with the torque-converter automatic is an exciting option, but doesn't fit your key requirements. The turbo-petrol engine and torque converter auto combo isn't particularly efficient.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Honda Amaze

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•1d

Get the Maruti Suzuki Fronx petrol. It fits under Rs. 15 lakh easily, is very easy to drive in the city, and gives good real-world mileage, so your running costs stay low without the fuss of CNG or charging. Maruti’s huge service network also keeps ownership simple for many years. The flip side is it isn’t very exciting to drive, and the rear isn’t the widest, but as a first, no-drama car, it just works.If your daily drive is mostly city and you have a private parking spot with power, an EV will save the most per km. Look at the Tata Tiago EV for the cheapest entry, or the Tata Punch EV for a more solid small SUV feel. If you do long highway trips or 1,000+ km a month, diesel makes sense - the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Mahindra XUV 3XO diesels are the pick. If you only want rock-bottom fuel costs and don’t mind slower performance, CNG works - Maruti Wagon R CNG for city or Ertiga if you need 7 seats.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch EV

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•1d

The best 7-seater for your budget is the Mahindra XUV 7XO, and you can comfortably get a mid variant (AX5) with an automatic within Rs 25-27 lakh on-road in most cities. The 7XO diesel is the pick of the range, offering strong performance, good refinement and sensible economy, and it probably has the best blend of performance, ride, handling and overall comfort in this segment. Its main weakness is the third row, which isn’t very spacious or comfortable for adults on long journeys, so it works better as an occasional-use or kids’ third row.If the third row is critical for you and will be used regularly by adults, the Tata Safari is worth considering, because its third row is more genuinely usable and comfortable. The Safari’s 2.0 diesel is quite outdated, but the newer 1.5 turbo petrol is smooth, refined and reasonably efficient for a petrol in this class.If you’d prefer something smaller and more city-friendly, the Kia Carens Clavis is also a good option, with a more compact footprint and easy manners in traffic, while still giving you three rows of seats for family use. It won’t match the 7XO for highway presence or outright performance, but for urban-heavy usage, it makes a lot of sense.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•3d

While hybrids are a great option and do deliver maximum mileage, in your budget of Rs 20 lakh, you will only get a base model variant of the three hybrids in this price range, namely the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Grand Vitara, and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Hence, we would recommend going with a diesel, of which there are many options within your budget.If you want a larger vehicle, we would recommend the Kia Seltos diesel, which you will get in the mid-spec HTK (O) and HTX variants within your budget. It's a modern SUV with great space and comfort, and a lot of the latest features and tech. Its diesel engine is not the strongest, but it is very smooth and efficient, and can be had with a stutter-free torque converter automatic gearbox.If you don't mind a smaller car, go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO, whose diesel engine is even more powerful than the one in the Seltos. It will feel stronger out on the highway, helped by its smaller size and lighter weight. It's got a spacious cabin and a comfortable and stable ride that feels like an SUV from a segment above. Do note, however, that its boot is not that large, in case you travel with luggage frequently, and it uses an AMT-type automatic, which isn't very smooth. Best of all, however, you can get a fully loaded version within your budget.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

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The Seltos DCT is a solid choice for your needs. It has plenty of performance for trips to the hills, enough space to comfortably accommodate five passengers when needed, and a premium-looking cabin that is packed with features.The Innova Hycross, being a three-row MPV, will naturally feel more spacious when fully loaded. But since you are usually driving with no more than two people, it can feel a bit cumbersome in the city. Also, the naturally aspirated engine in the Hycross does not have the same punch as the Seltos’ turbo-petrol.Overall, the Seltos fits your needs better. If you do want a three-row vehicle, then the Kia Carens Clavis or the Mahindra XUV 7XO are worth considering as well.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•4d

The Hyundai i20 Asta (O) IVT would be the recommendation here. Your priorities are comfort for five adults, predominantly city driving and a smooth automatic gearbox. The i20 delivers very well on all three counts. Its rear seat is among the roomiest in the premium hatchback segment, the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in Delhi's stop-start traffic, and the overall driving experience is relaxed and refined. It is also easier to drive and park than an SUV in crowded urban conditions.The Kia Sonet HTK+(O) DCT and HTX DCT offer a more powerful turbo-petrol engine and a higher seating position, but the rear seat isn't as accommodating for three adults, and the DCT transmission isn't as seamless in heavy traffic as Hyundai's IVT.If you want an SUV, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza AT and Mahindra 3XO AT are the alternatives worth considering. Both have wider cabins and are among the best five-seaters in this price bracket. Importantly, both use conventional automatic gearboxes that feel smoother and more natural in everyday city driving than the Sonet's DCT. The Brezza scores well on refinement, efficiency and ease of ownership, while the 3XO offers a more premium cabin and stronger performance.

Hyundai i20

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•2d

Yes, the XUV 7XO base diesel is a solid upgrade from your 2017 Creta if you do long highway runs. The 2.2 diesel pulls stronger, sits at cruise with less effort, and the bigger, heavier Mahindra car feels more settled at speed and over broken roads. You also get a roomier cabin and boot, which helps on long trips with family and luggage.Be ready for a few compromises. It is a big SUV, so parking in tight city spots takes getting used to, and the diesel manual’s clutch can feel heavier than your Creta’s in traffic. Expect slightly lower kpl than your old 1.6 diesel.Overall, the XUV 7XO AX is a strong choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•4d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT 2WD. With 70% city use, the AWD hardware is just extra weight on most days, costs more to purchase, and will be less fuel efficient. For HP and UK hill trips on normal tarmac, the diesel’s torque, good tyres and the drive modes are enough for climbs and wet hairpins. Simpler 2WD also means fewer drivetrain parts. You’ll only feel AWD’s real benefit in snow, slush, or on steep, broken tracks. If that kind of terrain is a regular thing each winter, then spending on the AWD makes sense.

Mahindra XUV 7XO