[desidino]

Originally Posted by sunilch

All these factors point to Innova Crysta. Except for the rare requirement of a AWD or 4x4, every other factor will be fulfilled by it to the 'T'.

And it will be a keeper too. For full safety perspective, get the top most variant. It has the highest NCAP rating.

Thank you Sunilch. Yes, it is a tossup between XUV 700 AWD and Innova Crysta. Leaning towards XUV though, since AWD may come handy on Himalayan roads.

[neeraj08]

Rant*

Post the launch of Alcazar, the news of XUV700 had me eagerly waiting for the price and variant unveil, since I am passively looking for a 3-row car within a budget of 15-18L on-road. There aren't much options to choose from in this bracket, even less if you decide to go for Petrol-AT options. The Crysta GX-AT Petrol and the Alcazar Prestige(O)-AT Petrol cost more than 20L OTR.

The surprise from Mahindra's initial price reveal of XUV700 eventually turned to a shock when they unveiled the complete list of variants (engine-gearbox-trim combinations). Mahindra aren't offering the 7-seater Petrol-AT combination in any variant below AX7.

Instead of offering plethora of 23 variants (currently) of 700, won't it be better to offer a customizable option for the buyer, so that they can choose their own fuel-gearbox-trim combination? I guess we are yet to reach that era in the Indian automotive scene.

Anyways, will now keep a keen eye on the threads of next-gen Scorpio, Alcazar's cousin from Kia and the XL6 facelift all due in 2022.

*Rant over

PS - The XL6 still remains the most VFM offering with Petrol-AT option.

[diwakarmuthu]

I had been looking around for similar threads as I am on a similar quandary now. My current steed is a 2010 Scorpio LX. I have recently relocated to Bengaluru and currently looking for options in the 7 seater category. Having used to the high driving position of the Scorpio, I am looking for similar cars in this space.

Looking for both new and pre-owned options

Requirements
1. AT for sure. For the last 2 months, I have been driving MT in BLR traffic and have already made the decision it should be an AT
2. Must be a 7 seater. The full usage will probably be only for 5 or 6 times a year. Rest of the time, it would be primarily used as boot space for our road trips
3. Reliability - Prime importance. The LX is a no nonsense car without any of the electronic gadgets. It is as mechanical as it gets, just wish they had provided the air bags then
4. Safety - Key factor in deciding. Minimum 2 Airbags mandatory along with basic safety options
5. Ingress / egress - Parents are nearing 80 years young, so I need to look into their comfort as well

Options I am considering now

New Cars under consideration Under 22L INR

1. XUV 700 - Definitely bang for the buck. Too confusing to find the right variant and features. But I am pretty confident, you can get a good specced AX7 under 20L. I generally avoid Mahindra for the first year or two considering the issues that get addressed in later batches

2. Tata Safari - The heart says yes. But, I am looking at the dark edition options and they are going upwards of 25L for the top end variant. I am exploring the XT or XTA or XZ variants. But all go over 20 L. I can stretch my budget a bit, but still being Tata, I am skeptical about the build and other issues. It is my personal opinion though

3. New Innova Crysta GX - No doubt here. Bullet proof reliability, 15 year life, keep munching miles. Design and T board are not to my liking. I hope they had some differentiation here.

4. Wait for new Scorpio, but should give it at least a year before I can pull the trigger

5. Not considered - Alcazar, Hector Plus, Carens, Marazzo - These cars don't communicate with me

Pre-Owned (in this order) - 14 - 18L

1. Hexa - XTA or above variants - I absolutely love this car. The driving dynamics are pretty good for a car of its size and it has been debated widely here. I have seen some copies in BLR, but with more than 60k kms on the odo, am thinking if it would be a wise move. Will keep looking for low run, well maintained copies

2. XUV 500 - If 1 doesn't workout, then XUV 500 2019 & above year would be my choice. Yes it would set me back anywhere from 16L to 20L, but it gives you minimum 10 years of hassle free ownership

3. Innova Crysta - If not for the T badge, this would have been #1 on my list. I am looking for GX AT, V AT or ZX AT. I am open to looking for options from year 2017 & above, but the value it holds and the current market for pre owned Innovas make it a difficult decision. So in two minds about it

4. Honda CRV 2.4 AT - This is not a 7 seater, but the large boot and the AT along with Petrol makes a case. Being Honda, things like long term support, mileage, etc keep me thinking. There are good 2014 versions available for less than 15L, but, still thinking?

5. Mahindra Scorpio (3rd Gen) - I remember seeing AT in the 3rd gen, but hardly find any availability in the market now. With the new generation on the cards, am looking only for VFM deals here

6. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport - This has been a dream car for ages for me. You can find 5-7 year old ones within 14-17 L bracket. But absolutely no guarantee on spares and long term reliability. Also features wise at this price bracket, personally don't consider it VFM

One car that misses the above list is the Ford Endy. I absolutely love the car and have driven extensively as well. But used ones in BLR touch 25L and above, even the 2.2 Trend AT gets quoted similar figures. I will look for options in this space, if I get a good copy, why not.

Folks and Brethren, please do add any cars that I should explore. Also please do give your inputs

Thanks for your time

[lamborghini]

If you're considering a pre-owned 5 seater CRV, why not have a look at the current Tucson Petrol which should fall perfectly in your budget.

Of the other options, the Innova is king of practicality and comfort - if you want a family car, this is it! I'd strongly look around for a pre-owned 2.8D Innova though since it will be daily driven, in city - no DPF / BS6 issues, the 2.8 is fairly powerful too.

The all rounder & emotional choice would be the XUV700 though - it's fresh, and looking at the waiting periods - I wouldn't be surprised if most of the niggles are resolved by then
I really like the Harrier / Safari, but with the XUV - Mahindra has done a stellar job + you're quite happy with Mahindra so I assume it would get an advantage there.

[swageo]

The only reason holding me back from Crysta is its already 6yrs old, and new model is going to come early 2023. I too keep car for about 15yrs. So why buy something, that will get out dated in an year !!!.

[padmrajravi]

Originally Posted by swageo

The only reason holding me back from Crysta is its already 6yrs old, and new model is going to come early 2023. I too keep car for about 15yrs. So why buy something, that will get out dated in an year !!!.

New Crysta will for sure come, but the prices will also go up 20-30 percent in my opinion. If it is Crysta that you want, better get it as soon as possible.

[ColAjayDrives]

Originally Posted by diwakarmuthu

I
Requirements
1. AT for sure. For the last 2 months, I have been driving MT in BLR traffic and have already made the decision it should be an AT
=======
5. Ingress / egress - Parents are nearing 80 years young, so I need to look into their comfort as well


Thanks for your time

Hi,
Do try out the Kia Carens and the Safari. Currently the XUV 700 seems to be the best market choice for your list above. But the waiting period is a bummer.

[diwakarmuthu]

Originally Posted by lamborghini

If you're considering a pre-owned 5 seater CRV, why not have a look at the current Tucson Petrol which should fall perfectly in your budget.

Thanks will check it out. I did see a couple of Tucson's in Carwale but had run more than 80k, so not considering them.

I will do TD of XUV 500 AX7 AT shortly. Will get back once I am done with the TD

Originally Posted by ColAjayDrives

Hi,
Do try out the Kia Carens and the Safari. Currently the XUV 700 seems to be the best market choice for your list above. But the waiting period is a bummer.

@ColAjayDrives, I am not too interested with Carens, currently I am not considering it, but will do a test drive to understand better.

[RoverX]

UPDATE:

Exactly one year later, and the search for 'The perfect 7-seater SUV / MPV under 25 lakhs' still continues. All the new launches in this space have done little to help me cement my decision.

• The Tata Safari, although updated with more equipment, is still being pestered by niggling gremlins. It's baffling how a product can be on the market for ~3 years and still not be completely sorted. The absence of boot space with all three rows up is a major downer, too.
  
  
• The Mahindra XUV 7OO still has a waiting list stretching to well over a year. Not to mention we're hearing of just as many quality lapses from Mahindra as from Tata, what with the malfunctioning ADAS, sagging suspension, glitching HU, etc. The diesel MT is one hell of a powertrain, though!
  
  
• The Hyundai Alcazar still looks hideous and its interior packaging is nothing to write home about. Not to mention the top-end Signature variant is only offered with an automatic tranny.
  
  
• The Kia Carens looks plain weird. For all its practical virtues over the Alcazar, I still can't digest the odd-ball design. Why the Korean twins are hell bent on flooding global markets with polarizing designs, is beyond me!
  
  
• The Maruti twins carry over the same jaded formula with a better (and much needed) auto 'box. They were not in contention before, and still aren't.
  
  
• All of these cars (with the exception of the Mahindra) are still an unknown quantity in the crash safety ratings.

Adding to the list of woes is the impending expiry of registration for our Hyundai i10 (March 2023) and limited parking space, which, as we saw here (Case Study - How parking space affects upgrading), has a significant bearing on upgrade plans. Thus, I'm facing another conundrum consisting of the following conflicting options:

• Keep the i10 going and put my upgrade plans on hold until I find the perfect vehicle. The problem with this option is that the car has begun showing rust on structurally crucial panels, and I dread risking my family on even on a reasonably long journey outside city limits. The mechanicals are still sound, but electronics have started malfunctioning (it's a good thing there aren't many).
  
  
• Let go of the i10 and replace it with a slightly larger hatch, and relegate the 7-seater car plans to the future. If I were to go down this option, I'm almost sold on the Tata Altroz iTurbo despite all its shortcomings. The Hyundai i20 has stretched the price envelope ridiculously far for the segment, and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, for all its upgrades and equipment, doesn't feel special enough. Here's hoping Tata would offer 6 airbags before the October 2022 deadline, and maybe (wild wishes, for sure) even surprise us with a full horsepower + tranny treatment like the Nexon. Fellow BHPians PrasannaDhana (a formal salute to your painstakingly updated thread, sir!) and yesyeswe have not only corroborated my findings from the iTurbo test drive, but their own experiences have also given me that much more confidence in the product.
  
  
• Let go of the i10, compromise on the 7 seats, and go for a large 5-seat car, which can strike a balance between city-friendly dimensions and interior room, perhaps a sedan. I was intrigued by the Honda City eHEV and absolutely tempted by the Škoda Slavia 1.5 MT (boy, what an engine that is!), but the prices on both put a big fat dampener on my enthusiasm. If I were to consider 5-seat SUVs in this space, my list would include the Tata Harrier, the Kia Seltos, and the Škoda Kushaq, all of which share the pros and cons with their other brethren from the respective stables. Hypothetically, I'd pick the Tata Harrier, just because it's half a size bigger than the competition (yes, I suffer from the more-car-per-car bias).

Now, I know the second and third options are the least financially prudent, since I'd just be kicking the can down the road with my requirement of a 7 seater. I really don't wish to replace our i10 with a gargantuan car, given Mumbai's congestion, it would lead to ~50% more time and fuel expenses. I'm not sure if there are any upcoming launches in the < ₹ 25 lakh 7-seater space, although we keep hearing updates on the Avanza / new Innova (wipe that smug smile, Toyota!) and the upcoming Honda SUV every now and then.

I'm not usually this indecisive, but my complex requirements and the existing compromised offerings have made it so. I hope to pick my fellow BHPians' brains on this matter!

[priam]

Gentlemen, i currently own a petrol swift dzire which is almost 9 years old...I am earnestly looking for an upgrade to a seven seater SUV (actually a five seater with a big boot...my outstation trips are luggage intensive, and I don't want any clamour for space)..my yearly running is 6000 km approx (predominantly within city and occasional outstation drives) and I am interested in petrol variants

So after reading umpteen reviews and test driving few vehicles I have homed onto XUV 700 AX7 L petrol and Alcazar Signature petrol seven seater...The confusion remains because of the following reasons:-

XUV 700:- Mighty gem of an engine ..butch SUV stance and ride quality is all amazing..Three things which I particularly didn't like, one is lack of premium quotient in the cabin with lot of poor quality plastics thrown (door panels in particular), second is news of random battery discharges when not in use..This would trouble me as I often don't use my vehicle for a month when I am out for long office trips and third is insane waiting periods with no commitment from any dealer.

Alcazar:- A very premium cabin, tons of features, typical of Hyundai..I didn't find it to be cramped as many say... What has unnerved me is that somehow the car hasn't been a runaway success unlike majority Hyundai cars and somehow it baffles me...so buying a car which isn't popular in the market may lead to future sales support and maintenance issues. Though my heart goes for alcazar, I am mighty confused...Pls advise it's XUV 700 AX7 petrol vs Alcazar Signature seven seater petrol.. Looking forward for a feedback.

[Durango Dude]

I think the best would be an Innova Crysta Diesel GX AT. It's ex showroom is a shade below Rs 21 L and must be perfect fit for your budget.

[RedMaw]

Originally Posted by RoverX

UPDATE:

Exactly one year later, and the search for 'The perfect 7-seater SUV / MPV under 25 lakhs' still continues....

I know you have rejected Hector Plus based on proportions but I would implore you to do a TD. No harm in giving it a try.