[RahulNagaraj]

Toyota Innova Hycross

Toyota Innova Hycross Pros:

• A great-looking MPV. SUV’ish styling packs appeal
• Upmarket interiors, good comfort in all 3 rows and usable boot (even with 3rd row up)
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable rear ottoman seats, multi-zone climate control, connected car features, leather upholstery, drive modes, etc.
• Hybrid powertrain makes it lighter on the pocket than diesel and future-proof too. Very good fuel efficiency (expect city FE of 15-17 km/l)
• Impressive performance with a sub-10 second 0-100 km/h time (Toyota claims 9.5 seconds)
• Monocoque construction results in sorted handling and comfortable ride quality
• Brilliant NVH levels result in a quiet and serene experience inside the cabin
• Toyota's bullet-proof reliability, excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences
• Safety features such as 6 airbags, Toyota Safety Sense (ADAS), ABS, ESP, TC, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, TPMS, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all

Toyota Innova Hycross Cons:

• Premium pricing. More expensive than the already-pricey Innova Crysta
• Top-end variants are only available with captain seats in the middle row. No bench option is inexplicable!!
• 18" wheels with 50 profile tyres compromise the overall stance; they look very small
• Monocoque construction won’t be as rugged & abuse-friendly as the Crysta's body-on-frame build
• Rear seat ottomans are useless for taller passengers
• Average sound quality from the JBL system, poor camera resolution and a basic infotainment system display
• Missing features such as rain-sensing wipers, lumbar adjustment, boss lever on the front passenger seat...
• The already-good ride quality could be even better with higher-profile tyres (e.g. on craters). 225/50 sidewalls are on the shorter side

Link to Review

Mahindra XUV700

Mahindra XUV700 Pros:

• Handsome styling matched to solid build quality. Has street presence, feels robust
• Very spacious interiors with comfy seats and sorted ergonomics. 6-footer passengers welcome!
• 182 BHP turbo-diesel & 197 BHP turbo-petrol make for a potent line-up
• Smooth 6-speed torque converter Automatics available with both engines
• Sorted suspension with good road manners & high-speed stability
• AWD is available for the adventurous, unlike most FWD crossovers in the segment
• Loaded with features like radar-based driver assistance system, pop-out door handles, panoramic sunroof, driver memory seat, 360-degree camera, 10.25" infotainment & instrument cluster etc.
• 12-speaker Sony audio system is fantastic! You'll enjoy its sound quality
• Safety features include 7 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, hill descent control, driver drowsiness detection, TPMS, ISOFIX...

Mahindra XUV700 Cons:

• Negligible boot space with the 3rd-row seat up. Either 5 onboard, or 7 with a roof-top carrier
• Cramped 3rd-row seat is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
• Petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 197 BHP & torque-converter AT
• Some cabin plastics & a few rough areas don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV
• Missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, ventilated seats, paddle shifters, full-size spare wheel, ambient lighting, rear sunblinds...
• Concerns over niggles & bugs in a freshly baked, complex Mahindra. We saw 2!
• Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• AWD is available just with the Diesel AT, and not the MT or petrol motor

Link to Review

Kia Carnival

Kia Carnival Pros:

• A truly luxurious MPV that’s also high on practicality
• Top quality, spacious & comfortable interiors. 3rd-row is usable for adults too
• Fantastic engine & gearbox combination! 2.2L diesel & 8-speed AT impress
• Comfy ride quality & neutral road manners
• Available in 7, 8 and 9-seater configurations
• 540L boot space with all three rows up and 1,624L with the third row down
• Impressive kit (2 sunroofs, premium Harman Kardon sound system, electric rear doors & more)
• 5-star safety rating. Kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, CBC etc.

Kia Carnival Cons:

• Massive size can make it cumbersome in the city, while parking & in narrow lanes
• Ordinary urban fuel economy due to the 2.2-ton weight, 197 BHP engine & AT gearbox
• Underbody does scrape on bad roads & large speed bumps, especially with a full load
• Top Limousine variant isn't sold as an 8-seater & its 3rd-row access is difficult
• Steering is a level too firm at parking speeds & a level too light at 120 km/h
• Some misses such as paddle shifters, a skinny spare tyre, no auto-wipers or front camera...
• Model is now 5 years old in the international market; next-gen Carnival is being tested
• Stylish 4x4 SUVs like the Fortuner / Meridian / Kodiaq can be had at the same price

Link to Review

Tata Safari

Tata Safari Pros:

• The iconic brand “Safari” is back! We agree with using the legendary nameplate for this car
• Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
• Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
• Extra 3rd row of seats brings lots more practicality & utility
• Superb captain chairs available as an option for the middle row (top variant only)
• Extras over the Harrier include rear disc brakes, TPMS, e-parking brake, auto-hold, boss mode…
• Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
• 168 BHP 2.0L diesel offers good driveability and a punchy mid-range
• Smooth & competent 6-speed automatic transmission
• Sufficient ground clearance + terrain response system for rough and wet roads
• Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, rest break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
• Features such as the panoramic sunroof, Eco & Sport modes, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control…

Tata Safari Cons:

• Heavy steering gets cumbersome at parking / u-turn / crawling speeds (<5 km/h)
• 3rd-row access is too difficult in the captain seat variant
• Negligible boot space with all the seats up - a paltry 73 litres
• Safari AT’s focus is on smoothness & comfort; gearbox is not the most responsive
• Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability. Our test car had a problem too!
• Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (12 months is the norm today)
• Diesel engine does get loud above 3,500 rpm & its engine note is quite sad too
• No petrol option (almost all competitors offer it). No AWD for enthusiasts either
• Although improved, the Safari's steering @ 120 km/h is still a level too sensitive
• Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• By 2021 standards, we’d expect wireless charging + front / 360 camera + ventilated seats
• We don’t agree with the excessive chrome (outside), impractical white interiors & 18” rims (bit firmer ride)

Link to Review

MG Hector Plus

Link to Close Look

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the UVs section. Thanks for sharing!

Customers sure are spoilt for choice now, aren't they! God bless competition . And this isn't even including indirect competitors like the Carens, Scorpio-N etc.

[nfsfreak]

Voted for Kia Carnival.

I'm currently looking for a comfortable 7 seater, having checked all cars in this list and Jeep Meridian, MG Gloster as well, with a budget of 45L. I currently drive XUV 500 - 2017 model.

My current preference is

1. Carnival - waiting for facelift - Auto Expo.
2. Innova Hycross - Waiting for test drive vehicle. have an active booking but will decide after my test drive, which would happen by first week of Feb per local dealers.
3. XUV 7OO - have an active booking with expected delivery date of Apr 2023 - will proceed if above options don't work out.

I sorely miss Endeavor which would have been my obvious choice for upgrade (was in my personal wishlist) but wouldn't want to go pre-owned route now & take a chance with Ford shutting its shop here.

Listing my observations on the cars checked based on my order of preference - Sorry for the long post, but this could help others in similar predicament.

• Kia Carnival - Loved the ride and ease of drive though the car is BIG. Truly a comfortable 7 seater by a mile, compared to others in the list. Current drawback is lack of features (360 camera, adaptive cruise/ADAS etc) and a dated model but not real deal breakers for me.
  With facelift, I hope will get more features and remains within my budget (wishful thinking).
  
  
• Innova Hycross - I liked Crysta's comfort and this being a Toyota, I just went ahead with booking without even test driving the car by looking at the initial pics and variants list (a first for me) based on Toyota's surprising efforts to match the features - Sunroof, ADAS etc and the new look is not van like, which was a concern before.
  But second row captain seats only in ZX(O) is a very big downer for me - why Toyota? why!!!. Even to carry 5 we need to use third row that would compromise the boot space. XUV scores high here, as boot space is more with folded 3rd row, for carrying 5. Now it depends on my test drive with family - especially the ride quality and third row comfort for 3, to really proceed with the existing booking.
  Current timeline for vehicle delivery is 90 days promised by the dealer.
  
  
• XUV 700 - not a big upgrade in terms of space and seating comfort compared to my current car but really liked the ride quality, safety kit, features (hopefully the niggles are getting sorted in the fresh batches). Downers for me - White interiors (nightmare to maintain), manual IVRM, non-slidable second row seats. Also i don't like the new look but i think that would grow on you over time.
  With no major red flags, I just went ahead with my booking last week of Dec 2022 (Diesel AT AWD - Electric Blue) and surprisingly, the delivery date per initial communication is Apr 2023.
  
  
• Safari - loved the look. Surprisingly found XUV 7OO ride better than Safari (was thinking otherwise, hearing famed Hexa/old gen Safari ride quality).
  Second row comfort is better in XUV, but third row is comparatively better in Safari with slidable second row. Scored better in terms of comfort features that matter - Ventilated Seats, Electric IVRM, Slidable second row etc but missed 360 camera and ADAS (i think it will be part of next facelift). Overall it was a real close finish, but seating comfort and ride quality tilted the scale towards XUV ahead of this.
  
  
• Gloster - loved the space on offer, features list (matched almost all the features of XUV and offered some more like ventilated seats). High & commanding seating position but the ride quality was harsh and my home minister did not like the drive. So removed from my list straight away. Also expensive on the list with no discounts on offer (top variant is close to 50L).
  
  
• Jeep Meridian - Not a real 7 seater. Third row is only for kids. Heck, even in middle row - you can only comfortably seat 2. I think Jeep consciously wanted to ensure middle passenger is not welcomed - with no head rest or seat belt. With 3 in back seat, it was not comfortable at all. So it is 4 + 2 seater.
  But I loved the car for its ride quality, stability and interior quality. Actually test drove the car clearly knowing I wont be getting this as I heard great things about the capability of this car. The test drive was very enjoyable as the SA had helped with roads/sections that you can really test this car - bad/no roads ride, highways etc. Great car for 4.
  
  
• Hector Plus, Kodiaq - They not real 7 seaters, strictly 5+2. Last row space and comfort is laughable and only for kids below 5 feet height. For Kodiaq, i did not even get the test drive vehicle from my local dealer.
  Haven't driven Hector Plus after checking the third row space & having driven Gloster

[inwester]

Of all the cars mentioned here, Kia Carnival is from a segment above. I also think it will be priced accordingly when the new one is launched in a few months, with top end approaching 50 lakhs on-road.

Toyota Hycross is a good 5-10 lakhs higher than comparable variants of XUV, Safari and Hector Plus. The Toyota cars in India just don't make you feel special inside, not even the top end Innova or Fortuner. Maybe Hycross is different, we'll see.

Tata Safari without electronic power steering (EPS) I won't even consider. Hector Plus engines and transmission doesn't offer enough choices. So they're compromised IMHO.

Of the remaining bunch, I think XUV 700 is the sensible option, if you can get past the brand image and historical minor niggles with Mahindra. Great choice of engines, transmissions and drivetrains, sorted suspension and steering, loaded with features etc.

[jthomas]

Voted for New Hycross. Haved booked as well.
- For its SUVish looks
- Hybrid powertrain ( a step closer to EV)
- Mileage
- Reliability.

[FAIAAA]

Voted for the XUV700.

Having extensively test driven all the options barring the Hycross, can say it's a great combination of excellent powertrains mated superbly to reliable TC gearboxes , quality interiors and so on ( niggles notwithstanding)

Came close to picking up the petrol AT but seeing 5-7 kmpl on an extended test drive in the city made me stop right there. And thats where the Hycross will shine .

[JShah]

Voted for the Hycross (Have a current booking for the Vx) for the below reasons,

- A proper 3rd row which can be used comfortably by adults atleast for shorter distances
- Hybrid technology makes more sense to us currently than a fully electric vehicle
- Historically a very reliable brand, a glitchfree and troublefree ownership of our current Innova (1st gen) for 17+ Years.

[sanjayrozario]

Voted for the Hycross.

1) Toyota's reliability
2) Hybrid powertrain is better than a full EV
3) Looks less MPV-ish & more SUV-ish

[aamishdhingra]

An excellent first up post to go ahead and refresh all the models, quite imaginatively.

Voted for the Innova Hycross:

1. The after sales services are a delight.
2. Hybrid is an icing on the cake.
3. Since I already own a Mahindra (Thar 2020), niggles are a pain. Have absolutely no energy to invest in the Maintainence of a car.

[Heisenberg_ad]

Voted for Hector plus.
You should have added innova crysta to the list, to make it more interesting.
Would love to see which Toyota does people pick.
Old school torquey diesel or new gen hybrid.

[car_crazy1400]

Voted for the Innova Hycross.

Have had a great experience with Toyotas esp. Innova.

I really do like the Kia Carnival but its too big for daily city use and begs for a chauffeur.

Mahindra diesel have issues as I am facing with my year old XUV 500 with DEF.

[for_cars1]

Originally Posted by Heisenberg_ad

...You should have added innova crysta to the list, to make it more interesting.
Would love to see which Toyota does people pick.
Old school torquey diesel or new gen hybrid.

Carnival deserves a 1st spot but the main issue I see is the FWD setup and lower ground clearance for such a long vehicle. They should increase the Carnival's clearance to atleast 200mm to make it practical.

XUV700 would be a good top of the list choice.
Between the two Toyotas, I'd pick the Innova Crysta over the Hycross. A tried and tested torquey Diesel anyday compared to the rather yet-to-be-time-tested complex hybrid tech.

[amahale]

Voted for XUV700 - have an active booking for AX7L Petrol Automatic

The ZX(O) variant of Hycross is comparable in terms of features to the AX7L variant of XUV700. Comparing these two specific variants -

Hycross ZX(O)
1. Better fuel economy
2. Better 3rd row seats
3. Bigger boot space (with all 3 rows up)

XUV700 AX7L P AT
1. Better looks, both interior and exterior (personal opinion)
2. Better driving experience due to a more performant petrol engine (as per the reviews)
3. Cheaper by atleast 5L
4. 2nd row bench seats as compared to the captain seats in the hycross - THIS was the main reason I did not go for the Hycross

Kia carnival is big on space but is a bit dated and a tad expensive.
Tata Safari doesn't have the feature list and the driving experience like the XUV700 or Hycross

[ppc_rgs]

I cannot vote, here is my take.

Hycross

I'm in the market for a 7-seater and almost zeroed in on XUV700, but never booked it. Mainly due to low FE and long waiting periods.

When Hycross was launched, it interested everyone at home. I impulsively booked ZX(O), mainly wanted to be early in the queue if we decide to buy this.

In the last two days, somehow, I started reading more about MG Hector Plus and Gloster. Honestly, I have not paid any attention to MG before. I'm planning to visit the MG showroom this weekend, but my mind is still with Hycross. Waiting for test drive.

[fusionbang]

Voted for Safari just for it's SUV looks and a better 7 seater compared to others (considering only the top variant).

Also, Tata just launched a Dark red edition with new infotainment, new instrument cluster, ADAS and 360 camera. So facelift should be launched pretty soon.

If not for the looks, my vote completely goes for the XUV7OO.