Tata Safari

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel 7-seater. With your Rs 22 lakh budget and a monthly run of 1,000-1,500 km, it is a more complete upgrade from your Duster. The diesel engine is strong, refined and feels effortless both in the city and on the highway, making long trips relaxed and overtaking easy. With the updates, the ride quality has also improved, now feeling more plush and comfortable, even compared to the Tata Safari. Overall, it is the more modern, easier and more well-rounded SUV to live with.One thing to be aware of: the third row in the 7XO is best suited for occasional use, as space and boot capacity with all seats up are limited. This is where the Safari still has an advantage, offering a more accommodating third row with better space and support for longer journeys.In terms of cabin quality, however, the Safari does not have a clear advantage. The 7XO feels just as premium, if not more modern, with better technology and overall fit and finish, so the decision really comes down to whether you prioritise third-row comfort or a more effortless driving experience.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Tata Safari Petrol Accomplished X+. For your 70 percent highway usage, it is the more rounded choice when it comes to ride comfort, safety and high-speed stability. The Safari feels more planted at expressway speeds, deals with broken roads with greater composure, and overall gives you a stronger sense of confidence on long journeys. It also benefits from proven crash safety credentials, which adds to its appeal as a family SUV.In comparison, the Kia Carens Clavis GTX+ is easier to drive and more practical, especially if you regularly use all three rows. Its lighter controls, smoother low-speed behaviour and more usable third row make it better suited to mixed city use and carrying more passengers. However, it does not feel as solid or as planted as the Safari at higher speeds, particularly on uneven highways or in crosswinds.If your driving is largely highway-focused and you value stability and reassurance over outright practicality, the Safari petrol is the better fit. The Carens makes more sense if you prioritise space and everyday ease, but for your usage, the Safari is the stronger long-distance companion.

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•2h

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 petrol automatic for mostly city use with the odd highway run once or twice a year; it suits you better than the MG Hector. The petrol engine feels strong even with a full load. So, it needs less effort, and the AX7 brings many safety features and driver aids that lower stress in city driving. Mahindra’s service reach is also wider than MG's, which helps if you travel outside big cities.One thing to be aware of is that the petrol will use more fuel in heavy traffic, and the third row, while better than the Hectors, is best for short trips.If the third row is a priority, then the Tata Safari petrol is a good choice too.On your test drive, do a tight U-turn and reverse into a small slot; you’ll feel why the XUV 7XO is easier to live with in the city.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•2d

The Chery-based Jetour T2 will be the first product from JSW Auto, and it is expected sometime before the festive season this year. JSW is planning to launch the Jetour T2 with a fairly high spec, so it won't be cheap and is expected to cost around Rs 38-40 lakh. For that money, you get a 380hp plug-in hybrid variant with around 610 Nm of torque. It is larger than both the Mahindra XUV 7XO and the Tata Harrier/Safari in most dimensions and boasts a 580-litre boot. So if you are looking at the Jetour T2, you need to put aside a budget of Rs. 40 lakh

JSW Motors Jetour T2

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•6d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 L (7‑seater) diesel. Within a 30 lakh budget and high monthly running of 2,500km, you'll appreciate this SUV's practicality, comfortable and feature-rich cabin and punchy and efficient diesel engine.The one thing you give up is generous boot space with all three rows up. You’ll fit roughly 2 cabin‑suitcase bags, so longer trips will require you to plan your luggage. If comfort matters more than tech, consider the Tata Safari Accomplished+ 7‑seater diesel instead. It has a more spacious third row.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•6d

The Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol manual will make a great highway companion for your needs. With 8,000-9,000 km a year, petrol is the right call; diesel usually starts to make sense above about 15,000 km/year. The XUV 7XO’s 202hp turbo feels effortless for quick 80-120kph overtakes, which is helpful on open highways. Its long wheelbase keeps it planted at speed, and the wide, supportive seats are great for long stints. The ride and handling balance, with the new suspension setup it received with the facelift, is phenomenal too.If you find that the third row is not spacious enough, then look at the Tata Safari petrol instead.On the test drive, take it on the highway and check stability, ride comfort and overtaking performance.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•1w

The Tata Safari petrol is a very good choice for your needs. During our first drive, we found its performance to be quite effortless despite the modest 1.5-litre displacement. We recorded a 0-100kph time of just 10.5 seconds, which is very respectable for a vehicle of this size. The engine has strong low-down grunt, which helps it pick up speed effortlessly, and it felt adequate even with six people on board. On the expressway, it maintained high speeds with ease and made quick overtakes when required. We haven’t yet driven it in the hills, but all evidence suggests it should be just fine.If performance is still a concern, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good alternative. The best way to address your concerns is to take an extended highway test drive with at least five passengers on board. Assess whether its overtaking performance feels adequate for your needs and, if possible, find a hill to do a gradient test.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1w

Purely financially, it isn’t optimal to sell your car so soon, as 12-18-month-old cars take the sharpest depreciation hit. Expect a resale value of approximately Rs 20 lakh for your outgoing car - a financial hit of around 20 percent. If you still wish to satisfy your itch to upgrade to a larger car, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It is thoroughly modern, and it’s a genuine size upgrade over your Hyundai Creta with a punchier engine, and the nicest drive in this class. Of course, it isn't the most spacious 7-seater out there; space in the third row is tight, but for occasional use it does the job.If you plan to use all three rows regularly, you could even opt for the Tata Safari. It is more spacious than the Mahindra, and its road presence is great too.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Creta

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•1w

Between your choices, the Mahindra XUV 7XO offers better value for your money. In terms of performance, the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine in the XUV 7XO has a definite edge over the Safari’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol. In AX7 trim, it is also better equipped than the Adventure X trim of the Safari and is almost on par with the Accomplished trim at a significantly lower price.It also offers superior ride quality. The Safari does have a slightly more comfortable third row, but if this is not a priority for you, then the XUV 7XO is the better choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•2w

For your requirement, the Kia Carens is actually a very good fit, and yes, it makes sense to consider it. Your usage is quite low at around 500 km per month, so a petrol automatic or manual is the right choice. Diesel is not required and may not suit such low running.The biggest reason the Carens works for you is the flexibility of 7 seats. It is also a comfortable car, especially for family usage. The ride quality is well-suited for city and highway driving, and the second and third rows are usable, which is important in your case.For your 1 km kuccha road, the Carens can handle it without any issues as long as you drive carefully. The suspension is compliant enough for mild rough roads, but it is not a hardcore SUV. So you will need to go slowly over bad patches.If you want something more rugged with better ground clearance, you can also consider the Tata Safari. It is better suited for rough roads and has a stronger SUV stance. While it is not as flexible or practical as the Carens as a 7-seater, it is still decent for family use. It is also a better 7-seater than something like the Mahindra XUV 7XO, where the fixed middle row makes the third row less flexible and more cramped.Go for the Kia Carens if your priority is comfort, space and flexibility for family use. Consider the Tata Safari if you want better rough-road ability and a more rugged feel, but with some compromise on third-row practicality.

Kia Carens

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO