Skoda Kodiaq RS 2.0 Turbo Petrol

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Go for the Innova HyCross ZX. For a chauffeur-driven 500 km Delhi-Haridwar run every week, the strong-hybrid keeps fuel costs low and cruises quietly, which matters when you are in the back seat for hours. The second row is spacious with captain seats, and Toyota’s service reach on that corridor is unmatched, so long-distance peace of mind is high.Skoda Kodiaq Lounge feels more premium and is nicer to sit in, but its petrol thirst will sting with your weekly highway use, and upkeep outside big cities can be fussier. A used Kia Carnival gives the most lounge-like comfort and space, and its diesel suits highways, but you take used-car risks and NCR’s 10-year diesel rule can chop remaining life if the car is a few years old.One caveat on the HyCross ZX: the 18-inch wheels make low-speed bumps a bit firm, and the engine can sound busy if pushed. No clear, confirmed HyCross facelift is around the corner in India, so it is not worth waiting just for that.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Skoda Kodiaq

Kia Carnival

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•2w

The Skoda Kodiaq would be the right choice for you. Assuming you opted for a Kia Seltos 1.4 Turbo DCT for the way it drives, you'll like the Kodiaq's driving manners. It's got a peppy engine and neat handling, and there's also the added safety net of all-wheel drive. The Kodiaq also feels like an upgrade thanks to a more premium and upmarket interior ambience. Quality levels are really good, and it feels like an expensive car. Fuel economy isn't great, but for your kind of usage, running costs won't pinch. Routine service and spares will be pricier than the Toyota, though.The Toyota Innova Hycross is roomier and more efficient (if you take the hybrid), but doesn't match the performance and general feel-good factor of a Kodiaq.

Skoda Kodiaq

Kia Seltos

Toyota Innova HyCross

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Pick the Skoda Kodiaq. Your usage is mostly in Bengaluru city, and the Kodiaq is the best all-rounder of this lot. It's spacious, comfortable, refined and well equipped, but also comes with AWD and enough ground clearance to handle bad roads and the odd trail without fuss. It rides and handles far better than ladder-frame SUVs like the Fortuner, feels properly premium inside, and is far less tiring in traffic.The Fortuner is unstoppable off-road, but in the city, it is big, bouncy and heavy to drive, and you will pay more for less comfort. The next-gen Fortuner is unlikely to go on sale this year. The BMW X1 is great for city use, but it is not very powerful, and FWD, which isn't great for off-road use; also, the space is tighter than the others. The Innova Hycross hybrid is the most spacious and practical, with the best mileage of the lot, but it lacks that SUV road presence and status.Overall, the Kodiaq is the best choice, but bear in mind petrol costs in heavy traffic will be higher than the HyCross, and the third row is best for kids only.

Skoda Kodiaq

BMW X1

Toyota Innova HyCross

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•2w

Both your shortlisted cars are excellent options, but given your requirements, the Toyota Camry is the better bet. The main consideration is mileage, and there is nothing quite like a hybrid to maximise that. Toyota has been a pioneer of strong hybrid tech for decades, and the latest Camry showcases the best of that know-how, with a smooth and efficient drive that uses the e-motor regularly to save on fuel. With a total system output of 230hp, it has more than enough grunt for highway use as well.What's more, Toyota's reliability and low-maintenance reputation precede it, and you should be able to use the Camry for years without issue. Only possible downsides are that its ground clearance isn't as much as that of an SUV, and it isn't particularly exciting from behind the wheel, since you drive yourself.The Skoda Kodiaq is a good option too, especially on the driving front, with its punchy 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and solid-feeling chassis. It's also got more space as well as better ground clearance, which should come in handy on road trips. However, on most other fronts, it can't hold a candle to the Camry, and that's especially true of mileage, which will be in single digits for the most part.

Toyota Camry

Skoda Kodiaq

autocar.india

•3w

Pick the Innova HyCross ZX(O). For a hard Rs. 40 lakh cap it fits cleanly, it is the most comfortable and spacious for family, and it is far easier to live with daily. The smooth hybrid makes city drives effortless and quiet, and on broken roads, it just takes the abuse without rattling everyone. Your 20 percent off-road sounds like rough trails rather than rock crawling, and the HyCross will handle that sort of bad-road stuff better than you expect. But, the Innova isn't particularly fun to drive.If you really crave driver fun, the Kodiaq is the one that puts a smile on your face. The 2-litre turbo petrol and AWD make it genuinely enjoyable on highways and hills and the cabin feels richer. Two catches, though. It likely stretches past Rs. 40 lakh on-road in most cities, and its third row is tighter, and you have to be a bit careful off the beaten path.The Fortuner petrol is the most capable off-road, but for 80 per cent on-road use, it feels heavy and bouncy, the steering is not friendly in town, and it guzzles fuel.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Fortuner

Skoda Kodiaq