Mahindra XUV700

The Hyundai Alcazar and Mahindra XUV700 are both competent SUVs. However, given your requirements, the Hyundai Alcazar would be a better fit for you. 

The Hyundai Car is slightly smaller in terms of dimensions, and that, coupled with its light control, means it's easier to drive in the city. It also gets a refined 116hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine that can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The Hyundai Alcazar mileage is 20.4kpl for the diesel manual and 18.1kpl for the automatic (company claimed).

Since you are looking for an additional car and mainly for office commutes, a sub-4-meter car along with an automatic transmission would be best. Check out the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, it is compact enough for the city, and the automatic gearbox is a torque converter unit. It is much smoother than an automated manual (AMT), which is what most others at this price offer. 
 

Having a Mahindra XUV 400 means you would be used to a smooth drive and a higher seating position, too, both of which you will find in the Brezza. It also fits within the sub-4-meter dimension and thus would be a tad easier to find parking in the city. 

Both the Toyota Innova Hycross and the Mahindra XUV700 are good options considering your requirements. 

Between the two, however, the XUV700 would have the edge with respect to your two requirements for ride comfort and safety. Do bear in mind, though, that a facelift is due next month, and thus, if you are going in for the Mahindra Car, we would advise you to wait. 

Considering your monthly running is under 1000km, and most of your driving is in the city, we suggest going for the petrol version of the Mahindra XUV700. While the diesel will be more efficient, it is over a lakh more expensive than the equivalent petrol variant, and with your limited usage, it will take years to recover that cost. Additionally, since around 70 per cent of your driving is in the city, there is a higher chance of facing DPF clogging issues with a diesel engine.

We would also recommend waiting a bit before making the purchase, as the XUV700 facelift is just around the corner. It is expected to come with updated styling, more features and possibly changes to the suspension.

Given your limited city running, you could also consider the soon-to-launch Mahindra XEV 9S, which is a seven-seater. We expect it to be priced slightly higher than the Mahindra XEV 9E five-seater, and it should carry the same battery size, offering a good range. With home charging, its running costs will be much lower than the petrol or diesel XUV700.

The Mahindra XUV700 is a reliable and well-packaged SUV that is strong on road presence, has a good amount of equipment and a strong set of powertrains. Both, the petrol and diesel engines are strong, and while the diesel is more efficient, check if your annual mileage is above 15-20,000km. The Tata Harrier/Safari have a stronger road presence but are not as reliable or efficient as the Mahindra.