I am looking for an SUV under Rs 25 lakh, and I have a yearly running of around 12,000km. Should I go in for a petrol, diesel or hybrid? I will mainly be using this vehicle for long drives, with 5-6 people on average.
Santosh N Asuti, Bengaluru
Autocar India says: Since your requirement is to seat 5-6 passengers, it’s best you go in for a three-row SUV. This narrows down your choice to the Hyundai Alcazar, Mahindra XUV700, Tata Safari and the MG Hector Plus. The Tata Safari is the most spacious of the lot and has the most comfortable third row, so if you regularly travel with 6 people, this is your best option. Besides, the Safari has just been facelifted, and has more features and a smart new look.
However, the Safari’s diesel engine is still its weak point and there is no petrol option. The XUV700 has much better engines and feels more refined too. Also, given your relatively low running, you can even opt for the smooth and quiet 2.0 litre petrol for the XUV700. The XUV700’s third row isn’t as good as the Safari’s, but it’s a better vehicle overall.
Also See:
2021 Mahindra XUV700 review, test drive
2021 Mahindra XUV700 video review
Tata Safari facelift review: Flagship SUV goes more upmarket
Tata Safari facelift video review
