Hyundai Alcazar vs Tata Safari

autocar.india

•9w

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 cars 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

•12w

If performance is your biggest priority and you still want a large family SUV without stretching the budget too far, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic is the one we would pick. Its 2.0 turbo petrol feels the strongest and most effortless in this group, whether you are overtaking on the highway or driving with a full load of passengers. The automatic gearbox also suits the engine well and makes daily driving much easier, while the cabin itself feels spacious, comfortable and well-equipped. Even in lower or mid variants, you still get the same strong engine, which helps keep costs under control.The Hyundai Alcazar 1.5 turbo petrol DCT is the more polished and city-friendly alternative. It feels lighter to drive, and refinement is excellent, but the DCT gearbox is not always the smoothest at crawling city speeds and can feel slightly jerky in stop-and-go traffic. It also does not have the same effortless punch or road presence as the Mahindra when fully loaded. The MG Hector petrol is spacious and comfortable, but performance is nowhere close to the Mahindra, and despite having a smaller engine, fuel efficiency is not one of its strengths either.The Tata Harrier and Tata Safari are now available with Tata’s newer 1.5 turbo petrol engine, but performance is adequate. It still does not feel as effortless or as strong as the Mahindra’s larger 2.0 turbo petrol, especially in a full-size SUV application. The Mahindra Scorpio-N petrol is also very powerful and rugged, but compared to the XUV 7XO, it feels less polished and more old school in everyday driving.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Alcazar

Tata Harrier

Tata Safari

Mahindra Scorpio N

autocar.india

•1w

With a yearly running of just 6,000km, petrol is the sensible choice, and the Hyundai Alcazar is a good option. It is a comfortable, easy-to-drive family SUV with a hassle-free ownership experience, and the 1.5 turbo petrol engine paired with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is powerful enough and relatively efficient too. Plus, since you're coming from a Creta, you'll be familiar with the Hyundai network and could even ask for a loyalty discount. However, the Alcazar’s third row is not as spacious as some larger cars in the segment, so if you genuinely need a proper 7-seater, it may not be the ideal solution. What's more, if your Creta is the 2020 or newer model, you'll find the Alcazar perhaps a little too familiar on the inside.The Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus are good options that offer more space. However, as you have noted, they're not fuel efficient at all, and moreover, in your budget, you will only get a low to mid-spec variant, whereas you will get a fully-loaded Alcazar. Another option to consider, though not an SUV, is the Kia Carens Clavis. Its MPV shape is more space-efficient, and you actually get more passenger and luggage room than the Alcazar, with the same efficient engines, for around the same price.

Hyundai Alcazar

Hyundai Creta

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

MG Windsor

autocar.india

•13w

Your usage and requirements point to a tough yet comfortable diesel SUV with lots of space. In that use, the Tata Safari 6-seat diesel automatic Accomplished X+ fits you best. It rides comfortably on broken surfaces, feels steady at highway speeds, and the captain seats in the middle row are wide and easy to get in and out of, which matters when you are in the car for hours every day. They're also widely adjustable and even ventilated, which is a bonus. The diesel with an automatic gearbox means less effort in slow stretches and relaxed cruising between towns, and diesel makes sense for your monthly distance.Know the trade-offs. With all three rows up, boot space is tight, so plan for a roof carrier if you carry a lot of luggage, and Tata's aftersales and service network isn't quite as good as some other brands. If you are fine with a manual, the Toyota Innova Crysta 7-seat diesel remains a great long-term workhorse and is very reliable too. However, it's not as comfortable or well equipped as the Tata Safari.As for EVs, your two options are the Vinfast VF MP7 and the BYD eMax7. However, due to their long wheelbases, slightly lower ground clearances and underbody battery packs, we'd recommend sticking to an ICE MPV for your usage on rough roads and quarries. Additionally, their dealership and after-sales networks are still limited compared to Tata and Toyota.

Tata Safari

Toyota Innova Crysta

Vinfast VF MPV 7

BYD eMax 7

autocar.india

•22w

The ideal upgrade for you would be the Kia Carens Clavis. It has all the positives from the Maruti Ertiga but in a much more premium package. The engine is more powerful, it is extremely practical, and despite being a 5+2 seater, it is easy to drive in the city. The third row space is also usable for adults, especially in city drives. On the highways, too, it offers a comfortable ride and a decent amount of room in the third row with all three rows up. Being a Kia car, the equipment list is quite comprehensive, and you wouldn't miss many features with this MPV.The Mahindra XUV 7XO is also good, but it is a bit too large for the city, and the third row space isn't as good or usable as the Kia's. The Hyundai Alcazar struggles with third-row room while carrying over the underpinnings of the Clavis. The Tata Safari isn't easy to use in the city, courtesy of its size and cramped third-row space, and the Toyota Innova HyCross, in its petrol-only guise, is quite inefficient and has to sacrifice a whole bunch of features too, unless you spend upwards of Rs 30 lakh and get the strong-hybrid version.The Carens Clavis will tick all the necessary boxes and at a reasonable price point, making it the best pick for you.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Alcazar

Tata Safari

Toyota Innova HyCross