[RahulNagaraj]

Tata Safari Facelift

Review Link

Mahindra XUV700

What you'll like:

• 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...

What you won't:

• Negligible boot space with the 3rd-row seat up. Either 5 on-board 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

Review Link

MG Hector Plus

Review Link

Hyundai Alcazar

What you'll like:

• A 3-row family car that's well-built inside out
• User-friendly interiors look really good (brown shade is awesome) and have quality parts
• Economical 1.5L diesel is available in MT & AT variants. Offers good driveability
• Comfortable ride quality with neutral road manners
• Unladen ground clearance of 200 mm is perfect for Indian roads
• The Alcazar's safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, auto-hold, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (fully digital instruments, 360-degree camera, 2nd-row wireless charger, panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, Bose sound system, cooled seats & loads more)
• Hyundai's competent after-sales service & wide dealer network

What you won't:

• Oddball love-it-or-hate-it face. We find the Alcazar's front design to be weird & overdone
• 2nd-row legroom is mediocre (captain seat variant). Compromises have been made to accommodate the 3rd-row & boot
• 3rd-row seat is best suited to kids only. Not really a place for adults
• Rs. ~3 lakh OTR premium over the Creta on the higher variants is too much!
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment
• Competitors like the Tata Safari & MG Hector Plus offer way more spacious cabins
• Some misses (no petrol AT 7-seater variant, auto wipers, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trims etc.)

Review Link

Kia Carens

What you'll like:

• Fresh styling that will appeal to a larger audience (unlike the polarising Alcazar)
• A practical & sensible 3-row family car that's well-built. 3rd-row seat is actually useable
• User-friendly interiors look really good (blue shade is awesome) and have quality parts
• Economical 1.5L diesel is available in MT & AT variants. Offers good driveability
• Impressive ride quality with neutral car-like road manners
• The Carens' safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS etc as standard.

What you won't:

• 3-star GNCAP safety rating is disappointing (related discussion)
• 2nd-row legroom is just ordinary, despite the seat travel of the 1st-row being restricted
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment
• Some niceties missing vs the Alcazar - no 360-degree camera, no full virtual dials, no panoramic sunroof
• Competitors like the Tata Safari, MG Hector & XUV700 offer way more spacious cabins

Review Link

Mahindra Scorpio-N

Review Link

Toyota Innova Crysta

What you'll like:

• Indestructible build & durability. The Innova is known for its bullet-proof reliability
• Spacious, flexible & practical cabin. An extremely comfortable long-distance commuter
• Upmarket interiors. The ZX AT variant is very plush
• 148 BHP diesel engine is powerful enough and gets user-selectable driving modes
• Balanced suspension & road manners. High-speed stability is rock-solid
• Top-notch safety kit. 7 airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all
• Feature packed! Leather seats, LED headlamps, mood lighting, cruise control & lots more
• Toyota's excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

• Hefty price tag!
• Top ZX variant is unavailable with a middle-row bench seat (8 seater)
• Lower variant's interior looks too basic
• Heavy steering at parking / low speeds. Can get cumbersome in the city
• Poor sound quality from the ICE. Cheap speakers beg for an upgrade

Review Link

BHPian rajeshsundaram's Review Link

[Omkar]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[MotorDev]

Voted for the XUV700. Why?

- The XUV700 offers a diverse range of engine options, comes at a lower price than the Safari facelift, and provides similar features.

- While I admire the Safari facelift's design, the exclusive availability of a diesel engine, ergonomic concerns, and minor issues mar the overall experience.

- Moving on to the Hector Plus, the association with Chinese manufacturing affects its image despite its commendable feature set and value-for-money proposition. However, the third-row seating feels like a mere afterthought.

- The Alcazar, while feature-rich, disappoints in terms of space. The second-row seating doesn't match up to the comfort offered by the Creta, and the third-row feels like it's there just for the sake of it. Furthermore, the Alcazar's styling doesn't impress me.

- The Carens stands out as a well-rounded choice, excelling in various aspects except safety. It offers a variety of engines and is an attractive package overall.

- The Scorpio N, although excellent for off-road enthusiasts, caters specifically to that niche market. Regarding comfort, the XUV700 takes the lead, while the Scorpio N shines in SUV capabilities.

- Regarding the Innova, I find it relevant to mention the Innova Hycross, which stands out as a strong contender. The Innova Crysta, on the other hand, feels outdated. The Innova Hycross proves to be a great family car with a substantial feature set.

Additionally, when considering the options, it's crucial to include the Invicto in the discussion.

In summary, my preference ranks the XUV700 at the top, followed by the Safari facelift in second place, and the Innova Hycross in third.

[FAIAAA]

Voted for XUV700

Well said Motordev. You have covered most points. In addition,
1. Xuv700 has optional AWD ( still feel an SUV should have 4*4/ AWD else it's a crossover) and while both Indian manufacturers have QC issues, inconsistent quality and ASS, I would lean towards Mahindra over Tata
2. Hector plus - no diesel automatic, CVT is not for enthusiasts and poor FE. Good ride but boat like handling
3. Alcazar got it's space management wrong, though having driven both Alcazar and it's twin Carens, I feel the former has a more solid build.
4. Amazing all rounder, but more MPV than SUV
5. Scorpio N is a true blue SUV in this list of SUVs and would lose out on the driving dynamics, feature set and comfort of monocoques vs BOF.
6. Crysta / Hycross / Invicto - I am amazed at the space management in latter 2. Also petrol hybrid is a great option for those in NCR. Great option for those considering an MUV

So, in summary
Scorpio N if you are looking for a true blue SUV
XUV700 or Safari for a premium cross over
Crysta or Hycross/ Invicto for large MPV
Carens for mid sized MPV

[turbowhistle]

Voted for XUV700 as we are evaluating a vehicle from same segments maybe in next 2 years in diesel avatar.

Had an opportunity to keep both XUV700 and First Gen Harrier with me for few days thanks to friends and family and the lack of QC on Harrier became pretty evident once I drove it for few hours. I have to test drive the new gen Safari which seems like a big improvement feature wise and also has an updated steering ( I had so many issues with the Harrier steering, at speed the weight is all over the place and the car pulled to left constantly). Compared to that, XUV700 feels much more rounded and premium product which feels sorted as well.

I come from Duster and Mini Cooper ownerships so am not averse to spending few days/weeks at ASS but expect them to be competent at least. Harrier left me a bit disappointed to be honest after driving it for 1000-1200km.

Carens/Alacazar don’t cut it for me because of the puny diesel engines. I know I wont be able to live with it despite the long feature list.

Hector Plus will not be considered, never liked the brand and never understood the hype around it.

Innova is too old and Hycross is simply too expensive for what it offers so it boils down to XUV700. Hopefully a mild refresh will be available in next 1-2 years and that can be the one I get.

[buzzy_boy]

Voted for the Crysta. Absolutely niggle free. It covers for our XUV's downtime - which is a lot for a 20 lakh Rupee vehicle.

At 1,00,000 KMs, many vehicles would show signs of age, but the Crysta ticks along as if it's just settling down for the show!

[Amrit@wheels]

Voted for the XUV700, easy choice. It offers everything from a VFM MX variant to the fully loaded top variants with all the bells and whistles. The driving pleasure it offers for its size is just unmatched. It is also very versatile, from being a fun-to-drive car to a comfortable family car. Crysta comes a close second.

[Old_Salt]

Voted for XUV700!

Had the XUV500 for 8 years and the most sensible rule for Delhi NCR forced me to part ways.

Was really excited about Safari, as I have my booking for the XUV700, but don't see the petrol engine being launched in the near future.

During my search a few months ago it was crystal, nothing from Maruti/MG/Hyundai or Kia.It was then very easy to narrow down the choices.
Loved the Tiguan, but its not budget friendly, and my opinion of Innova has always been of a Taxi, irrespective of the comfort it offers.
Between Scorpio and XUV, the choice was to go for the premium product from Mahindra.

[vijuk21]

Voted for Others :
I wanted to vote for Innova Hycross as I felt it has all my requirements and good boot space with 7 / 8 seat configuration.

Crysta is equally good but since it is a diesel and the image it has as fleet car is a deterrent.

[Kosfactor]

There has been quite a few videos popping up in certain youtube channels , comparison of Safari Vs Car XYZ etc, Jimny Vs XYZ, there is even a Jimny Vs GWagen video. Many have come up in the last few days.

I think we know the reason if we see the October sales report.

[madhukarmohan]

Voted for others - Jeep Compass. Solidly built car with great driving dynamics. No other cars in the list have greater highway stability than Compass. And now after the launch of new AT variant, it is affordable to many.

[KrisTvpm]

For obvious reasons well articulated by other members, my choice would be:

*XUV700 - from the given list of choices

*Innova Hycross - if that were an option too

[Joe367]

Is the waiting period for XUV700 still 1½ years or has it reduced?

[Old_Salt]

Originally Posted by Joe367

Is the waiting period for XUV700 still 1½ years or has it reduced?

I have my booking since July 2023, with estimated delivery in March 2024.
My neighbour however booked it two days ago and told me he is getting it delivered on Diwali.
So, depends, if you can express your eagerness to the SA or can pull some strings.

[careind]

Voted for the XUV700 and M&M for the class leading power/torque, the optional AWD, and the ASC experience being marginally better than TATA.

There were more happy stories with the ASC though it had its share of niggles. Even in the forum, there were not much disappointments expressed with the promptness or enthusiasm of M&M ASC albeit the result.

MG Hector doesnt have an AT Diesel in this time and age! And personally, call me a jingoist, I felt like arming the enemy whenever the mind wandered to MG/SAIC
Hycross gets you to point A to point B with no frills and hassles, but nothing exciting about it. I also felt the interiors were a bit drab. And we pay the reliability premium in advance, which rakes up the initial cost.
Scorpio-N has a step up cabin, as in Safari, which didnt suit my preference. The space management in the rear is also poor even with the rear seats up.
Alcazar is , pardon me owners, really a glorified Creta which needs two parses to confirm. Engine options were also not that great with Diesel.
Carens I loved everything about it, but the tinnish build. That was enough to make me stay away from it.