[Sanidhya mukund]

Hello all,


I currently own a 2014 Mercedes C-Class W204 with 40k on the odo. It has been maintained immaculately and was quite a well equipped car for its time. (Memory seats, Panoramic Sunroof, Sat-Nav, dual Zone AC etc.). I also own a 2021 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga VXI CNG. This one also has 40k on the odo.

Both cars are running fine, but both have shortcomings that have created a void in my garage: I don't have a car that is suitable for long journeys! The Merc is too low, has no space in the back and is too old to be taken to remote areas where help would not be available in case something goes wrong. On the other hand, the Ertiga is new, spacious, reliable, abuse friendly and has good ground clearance, but is simply too unsafe to be taken beyond city limits.

I am thus looking to add a 3rd car to my garage, with the following set of requirements:

1. Safety - 6 airbags, 3 point seatbelts for all passengers, all those acronyms and abbreviations is what I am looking for. A solid build is also a bonus.

2. Reliability and abuse friendly nature - This is going to be a chauffeur driven car and will be taken on road trips to rural areas.

3. Ground clearance - Not looking for sedans (Not that you get any nowadays) as the car may have to deal with broken roads frequently.

4. Should have 7 seats and loads of space for luggage when being used as a 5 seater.

5. Delhi NCR, so diesels are absolutely out. There is already the 10 year rule, and add to that, rumours of an absolute ban on diesel cars by 2027. I plan to keep this car for long, so I simply do not want to be forced by legislation to give it up so soon. I am aware that petrol SUVs are not known for their FE figures, but then i have the Maruti for city driving.

With these requirements in mind, I have gone ahead and booked the Toyota Innova Hycross VX (O) 8 seater in Sparkling Black Crystal Shine. I have been quoted a waiting period of 12-15 moths. However, I am having second thoughts about my choice; The Ertiga was a decision that was made with the head only, and while the car does serve its purpose well, I do not particularly like it. It feels very insipid and bland. I am unfortunately getting similar vibes from the Innova Hycross, especially because of the cheap interiors and accentuated by the fact that I cannot get a ZX model due to the bookings being closed.

Therefore, I would appreciate some help choosing among all the Petrol, automatic, 7 seat UVs available in India:

1. MG: Visited the flagship showroom in Gurgaon and loved the ambience of the dealership. Courteous sales staff as well. They showed us a Hector+ Sharp Pro with captain seats and explained the features well.

Hector Plus:
+ Affordable price.
+Loaded to the gills with tech and features.
+Welcoming interiors, good fit and finish.
+Spacious cabin and a cavernous boot with all seats folded.

- Looks U-G-L-Y. Hate the proportions.
-Questionable reliability.
-Feels a bit dated now. The Baojun 530 has been around for a while.
-The suspension and engine make it a bland and insipid ride, much like my Ertiga.


2. Mahindra: Visited the Lajpat Nagar dealership. Again, a good sales experience, although the showroom was cramped and they did not have an AX7L XUV for display. I did not like the Scorpio N because the space management in the back was rather poor. It also lacked some very basic features such as a 3-point seatbelt for the middle rear passenger, height adjustable seatbelts for the front occupants and an auto-dimming IRVM. Some of these were missing in the XUV700 as well, but that car more than makes up for it by offering tonnes of modern tech. Rejected the N, but shortlisted XUV700.

XUV700:
+Great looks and road presence.
+Loaded with tech.
+Spacious cabin and comfortable seats.
+Value for money pricing.
+5 star safety.
+Advanced suspension set-up with FSD and a nice 200 BHP petrol engine.

-The reliability is a big question mark, going by the number of niggles and breakdowns reported all over the internet.
-Does not have a 3-point seatbelt for the middle rear passenger.
-With the third row up, there is Zero boot space.


3. Toyota: Visited a couple of dealerships. At both instances, the experience was average at best. The sales guy at the Gurgaon dealership had to be pestered with questions to get him to open his mouth. All he did was point to the waiting period chart and said that if you want an Innova, you will have to join the queue with thousands of other people already waiting for one. No display car or test drive car available. No test drive for Fortuner available either. The Delhi Dealership was a little better, with them having a Hycross available for test drive. The sales guy was also more responsive. This is the dealership where we have booked our Hycross.

Fortuner 2.7 petrol:
+Looks and road presence.
+Proven reliability.
+Body on frame construction and the Hilux pedigree mean that it is indestructible.
+A proper, old school SUV, kinda like the late 1990s Pajero. Quite charming.

-Though the interior quality is okay, the design is quite dated.
-The car has been around for a while and it shows.
-The Obnoxious image associated with it.
-Difficult to enter and exit for the elderly.
-Scary FE figures.

Innova Hycross:
+Value for money pricing.
+Reasonably well equipped.
+Superb Fuel economy.
+Very Spacious and comfortable.
+Very quiet when on EV mode.

-Cheap plastics.
-You cannot get the ZX or ZX (o) even if you want to.
-Aspirational worth is lower than the others as it is an MPV and looks Van-like.
-Feels insipid and bland like my Ertiga.


4. Skoda: I am yet to visit the Skoda Dealership, but I have seen the Kodiaq inside-out as my Aunt recently got one.

Kodiaq:
+Lovely interiors. They feel like they belong in an Audi Q5
+A technologically advanced mechanical package; Haldex AWD, DSG gearobx, TSI engine.
+Solid build quality and a very likeable design.
+9 Airbags and a 5 star Euro-NCAP rating.
+Scope for discounts.

-Complex mechanicals could lead to reliability concerns, although I am yet to hear horror stories like Mahindra and Tata.
-Potentially expensive spares and upkeep.
-A new model has already been unveiled globally.


Besides these, I have also considered the upcoming Kia Carnival and the Nissan X-trail, but am not too keen on those because the Kia is a bit too big for city traffic and the Nissan is not likely to be the best in terms of service and availability of spares. In the end, this is in essence a head vs heart battle. The Hycross is the perfect choice as far as the head is concerned, but the heart absolutely hates it. Your valuable inputs would really be appreciated.


Eagerly awaiting your responses.
Thanks,
Sanidhya

[Raghav07]

Hello Sanidhya!

After seeing your requirements, I feel there is only one car fit for this and its a car that we have in our family.

The Kia Carens 1.5 DCT!

My uncle has one and its been fantastic for him.
The engine is thirsty in the city(7-10 kmpl in heavy traffic with Eco Mode) but gives great highway figures(15-16 with a record 18).

Also has great features and space. And the looks are good too.

Please have a look at the Carens, and see if it fits your needs.

If it doesnt, please let us know. I feel many people are going to suggest Carens.

Hope this post helps.

Regards, Raghav

[jinojohnt]

While I do not want to comment on the positive/negative aspects of each car, listing below some cars that you may not have thought of (All from different budgets):
Jeep Meridian
Isuzu MU-X
Tata Safari
Hyundai Alcazar
Citroen C5 Aircross (only 5 seats but still)
Citroen C3 Aircross (automatic to be launched soon)
Kia Carnival (new model launch around the corner)

[Sanidhya mukund]

Originally Posted by Raghav07

Hello Sanidhya!

If it doesnt, please let us know. I feel many people are going to suggest Carens.

Originally Posted by jinojohnt

While I do not want to comment on the positive/negative aspects of each car, listing below some cars that you may not have thought of (All from different budgets):
Jeep Meridian
Isuzu MU-X
Tata Safari
Hyundai Alcazar
Citroen C5 Aircross (only 5 seats but still)
Citroen C3 Aircross (automatic to be launched soon)
Kia Carnival (new model launch around the corner)

Thank you for the replies, guys! I did consider the Alcazar and Carens, but this time, I’d like to get something from the C+ or D segments. These two are great products in their own rights, but are half a segment below what I’d like.

Meridian, Safari, Carnival, MU-X, or for that matter, even MG Gloster are all great products that I am forced to overlook due to the fact that they are diesel only models, and Delhi-NCR laws are very anti diesel.

[fhdowntheline]

Originally Posted by Sanidhya mukund

Thank you for the replies, guys! I did consider the Alcazar and Carens, but this time, I’d like to get something from the C+ or D segments. These two are great products in their own rights, but are half a segment below what I’d like.

Meridian, Safari, Carnival, MU-X, or for that matter, even MG Gloster are all great products that I am forced to overlook due to the fact that they are diesel only models, and Delhi-NCR laws are very anti diesel.

That leaves you with only the Kodiaq as a viable option. It has the build, quality and performance that you need.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Sanidhya mukund

With these requirements in mind, I have gone ahead and booked the Toyota Innova Hycross VX (O) 8 seater in Sparkling Black Crystal Shine. I have been quoted a waiting period of 12-15 moths.

Best choice. Wait for it.

Also visit a Maruti showroom and check on Invicto waiting periods. You might get lucky.

Place enquires or deposits with all Maruti & Toyota dealers in your region.

Choices that should be next up:

- Kodiaq
- XUV700

No such thing as a perfect car, but all of the above are good / excellent cars. Pick the one that best suits your requirements. Happy shopping

[Nonstop-driver]

If you can wait a little, wait for 2024 Kia Carnival. Rumours are that it will sport a hybrid powertrain to help FE numbers a bit.

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by Sanidhya mukund

I am thus looking to add a 3rd car to my garage

Once you get the automatic 7 seater, you don't need the Ertiga CNG in your garage anymore right?

Sell Ertiga CNG, buy Innova Hycross seems like a good trade.

[Sanidhya mukund]

Originally Posted by SmartCat

Once you get the automatic 7 seater, you don't need the Ertiga CNG in your garage anymore right?

Sell Ertiga CNG, buy Innova Hycross seems like a good trade.

True, if I buy the Hycross, the Ertiga will no longer be needed. The Hycross can easily serve the role of a beater car. However, if I end up getting something like the Skoda Kodiaq, I think the Ertiga would then have to be retained for beater car duties.

[Shreyans_Jain]

How important are those last 2 seats? If their use is only occasional, nothing like the XUV700. Or the Kodiaq if you want something properly premium. Great cars, both of them. Can’t go wrong with either. Mahindra mStallion petrol engine is an absolute beast, and the rest of the car is also beautifully engineered. Kodiaq is the same, dressed in a high end suit. Mind you, the third row of both cars is suitable only for children or for small adults. That too only for short distances.

If the last two seats are important, or if you need the ability to haul 7 people + luggage, your only option is the Innova HyCross/Invicto. For all its shortcomings, and there are a ton of them, it has an actually usable third row and still retains a decent usable boot for weekend luggage. No other car can do that, as of today.

The new Kia Carnival is still some time away, and there is no clarity if they will launch a hybrid option or if it will be diesel only like before.

[Sanidhya mukund]

Originally Posted by GTO

No such thing as a perfect car, but all of the above are good / excellent cars. Pick the one that best suits your requirements. Happy shopping

Thank you for the reply, GTO!

As you said, the Innova is almost the perfect car for my requirements. However, it is the heart that spoils the game! I already have a boring Indo-Japanese MPV, so the heart simply hates the idea of getting another one. What the heart wants is something good looking, fast and agile, but then those cars are not as suitable for rural areas as the Innova/Fortuner. Basically I will have to pick between a fun biased garage (Merc, Kodiaq/XUV, Ertiga), or a practicality biased one (Merc, Innova/Fortuner, Ertiga).

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

How important are those last 2 seats? If their use is only occasional, nothing like the XUV700. Or the Kodiaq if you want something properly premium. Great cars, both of them. Can’t go wrong with either. Mahindra mStallion petrol engine is an absolute beast, and the rest of the car is also beautifully engineered. Kodiaq is the same, dressed in a high end suit. Mind you, the third row of both cars is suitable only for children or for small adults. That too only for short distances.

The new Kia Carnival is still some time away, and there is no clarity if they will launch a hybrid option or if it will be diesel only like before.

Thank you for the reply!

The last two seats will only be used occasionally, i.e. when we have other people accompanying us for road trips. Since such instances are going to be rare, I am not too fussed about third row comfort.

My primary concern with the XUV700 and especially the Kodiaq is the fact that their engines are sensitive to fuel octane number and quality. That is normally not an issue in Delhi-NCR where you can get XP95 readily, but as you venture out to the rural areas of neighbouring states, you soon find yourself struggling to find anything other than regular petrol and diesel. In fact this is one factor that severely restricted the mobility of my C200 CGI. This is where the Innova and Fortuner shine. Not only are they E20 ready, but also run just fine on regular petrol. They are not at all sensitive to fuel quality. You will never hear somebody left stranded in these cars because the 'EPC' light started to glow after refuelling.

Agree about the Carnival: Most major automotive magazines claim that India is only getting the 2.2 diesel, which makes it a difficult car to pick for us Delhi-NCR people. Also, while it is a good chauffeur driven car, it is absolutely pathetic when your chauffeur is on leave; 5 metres long and 2 metres wide. A bit of a mountain to drive.

[Raghav07]

Like GTO said, the Hycross is still the best option. Please wait for it. Also interesting how you couldn't book ZX(O) variant. My friends father booked it about 6 months ago and got it today actually. VX(O) variant is still loaded with features. Please wait for it, it will be worth it. Its a Toyota

[nova.19_exe]

Hey Sanidhya!

Let me start off by saying, keep the Innova Hycross booking!

You can also check out cars like the Kia Carens, Jeep Meridian!

But the next best options, in my opinion after the Hycross, are Mahindra XUV700 and the Skoda Kodiaq!

Happy hunting!

[ex-innova-guy]

I would suggest you to go with your heart and get the Kodiaq as you seem to hold your cars for long but you should wait for sometime given there is no clarity about E20 compliance.

If fuel efficiency and fuss free ownership is a consideration then nothing like the Hycross as you can never go wrong with a Toyota. I agree that the interiors are too bland for the price and thus Kodiaq for the win!

Also, there is nothing more enjoying then shopping and taking more TDs, eh?

Originally Posted by Raghav07

Also interesting how you couldn't book ZX(O) variant. My friends father booked it about 6 months ago and got it today actually.

Toyota has temporarily stopped taking bookings of Innova Hycross ZX & ZX (O) variants. (Toyota temporarily halts bookings of Innova Hycross ZX & ZX (O) variants)

[Raghav07]

Originally Posted by ex-innova-guy

Toyota has temporarily stopped taking bookings of Innova Hycross ZX & ZX (O) variants. (Toyota temporarily halts bookings of Innova Hycross ZX & ZX (O) variants)

I am aware of this. This happened in April I believe. I will confirm the exact month of booking and let you know from my friend.