Petrol 7 Seater Cars in India (20)

autocar.india

•1w

The Tata Safari is the more expensive and more premium SUV option, but it is larger and heavier than the other two cars you've listed. Also, it is available only with a turbo-petrol, which given its weight, isn't going to be very efficient in the real world. Lastly, the controls like the gearbox and clutch are heavier compared to the other two which feel relatively effort-free. So we'd rule out the Safari.Given you're usage, opting for a CNG version will keep a check on your running costs. Both Maruti and Kia offer factor CNG options with their respective manual gearbox versions of the 1.5 petrol engine.The Maruti Suzuki XL6 is a sensible choice here, given its reputation for reliability, ease of maintenance and Maruti's unmatched service network, which is important for a long-term owner. However, we'd recommend you to go for the Kia Carens Clavis which feels more premium than the XL6. The Clavis' cabin feels more upmarket, space is excellent, it is better equipped, refinement is better, and now it also offers a factory-fitted CNG variants. Overall, the Clavis CNG feels like the more polished offering, hence it gets our vote.

Kia Carens Clavis

Tata Safari

Maruti Suzuki XL6

autocar.india

•4w

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis HTX (O) Petrol DCT. Your annual running of 12,000-14,000km with a mix of city, highway and occasional hill drives is pretty healthy actually, but given your other concerns like DPF regeneration and NCR policies, petrol is the safer long-term choice. A turbo petrol gives you the punch you need out on the highway and in the hills, while also the benefits of a petrol engine that you're looking for. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more powerful and more rugged SUV, but the Clavis is the better family car. It has a more usable third row, a more spacious and practical cabin, and a more comfortable ride for everyday use. On the DCT, yes, it can feel a bit hesitant at low speeds and in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but Kia’s DCT is one of the better ones in the market, and it is not a deal-breaker. The slight lag you felt in Normal mode is more to do with the car’s tuning than the gearbox itself. Switch to Sport mode and it feels much more responsive. The Clavis is not as powerful as the XUV 7XO, but it is quick enough for family use and much easier to live with in the long run. And as you pointed out, the heavier, more powerful XUV 7XO petrol is is nowhere near as efficient as the Clavis.

Kia Carens Clavis

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•4w

Go for the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic. With 7,000-8,000 km a year and 80 percent highway usage, the diesel makes more sense. The XUV 7XO diesel is a strong, refined engine with excellent highway performance and significantly better fuel efficiency than the petrol, especially at steady highway speeds. The petrol turbo is a good engine, but in a large 7-seater like the 7XO it will return noticeably lower fuel economy on long highway runs, and that difference adds up over time. The diesel automatic is smooth, has plenty of torque for effortless overtaking and cruising, and the ownership experience is strong. At your running, the diesel premium will take a few years to recover, but the fuel savings and the better highway driving experience make it worthwhile. The only reason to pick the petrol would be if your usage was predominantly city or you had a strong preference for petrol refinement. In your case, the diesel automatic is the clear recommendation.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•5w

With 10,000 km a year plus quarterly 500 km highway runs, a petrol automatic is the right choice. Your priorities are fuel efficiency first, then space, then power. That points you towards a hybrid, because it will give you the best fuel economy in city driving without sacrificing performance on the highway.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the best fit. It is a full hybrid, so it delivers excellent fuel efficiency in city conditions, and the petrol engine is strong enough for highway driving. It is also spacious enough for a family, and the hybrid system keeps running costs low over time. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid is mechanically identical, but the Victoris has a slightly more premium interior and a better feature list at a similar price. However, the boot space in both cars is small as the hybrid battery eats into it. If you need a 7 seater, the Kia Carens is the better option. It is spacious, comfortable and well equipped, but it will not match the Victoris Hybrid for fuel efficiency.Go for the Victoris Hybrid if fuel economy is your top priority. Choose the Carens only if you genuinely need seven seats.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Carens

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

autocar.india

•5w

Given your usage pattern of predominantly long-distance driving with occasional city use, the strong hybrid HyCross is the more sensible choice. The hybrid system delivers its benefits in both city traffic, as well as on long highway runs, making the premium you pay for the hybrid totally worth it. The naturally aspirated petrol, while smooth, is a gas guzzler that only makes sense for extremely limited urban use.The Invicto is essentially the same car as the HyCross underneath, so it is absolutely worth considering if you prefer the Maruti dealership experience or find a better deal. The decision between the two should come down to pricing, availability and your preferred service network rather than the product itself.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Maruti Suzuki Invicto