BHPian adigoel08 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Hey folks, I’m in a bit of a dilemma and could really use some advice from all the experts and enthusiasts in the community. I’m looking to replace my Ford EcoSport diesel MT with a new ride, budget capped at 25 lakhs (that’s a stretch budget). My driving is mostly city-focused, but I do hit the highway about 3-4 times a month for ~400 km trips. We’re a family of 5, but when my sister and brother-in-law visit, we’re 7. While we could take out our second car (a hatchback), I’d love for all of us to be together in one vehicle. Now, here’s where things get tricky. Most “7-seaters” in this price range aren’t truly spacious in the 3rd row for adults. And I’m not a fan of the MUV look-Carens and similar models just don’t do it for me. So, I’m torn between the XUV700 and something like a Brezza or Venue. Creta and Seltos are also in the mix, but they feel like just slightly bigger 5-seaters, which doesn’t seem worth the extra 5-6 lakhs for me. Plus, they’re super common in my circle, and I’m looking for something a bit different. I’m really drawn to XUV700 for its looks and power, but I’ve read so many horror stories about Mahindra’s ASS, tech glitches, and issues with suspension and brake pads. Unfortunately, no one in my circle has firsthand experience with it, so I’m in the dark here. I am inclined to get a diesel automatic, but I’m stuck on whether to go for a 5-seater or a 7-seater. And if I do go for a 5-seater, is it worth splurging on something like the Creta, or should I stick to a sub-4m option? Would love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions-anything that could help me make a solid choice! Here’s what BHPian arnav17 had to say about this query:My uncle recently upgraded from his 2015 XUV500 diesel manual to an XUV700 AX7 L Diesel AT. In his opinion, the power on tap is miles ahead and addicting as compared to the previous model. Need to enquire of him if he has faced any minor issues but no major issues so far. The XUV will surely prove to be a reliable companion. I would have suggested the Tata Safari facelift but since you are aiming at bulletproof reliability, it will take time for the niggles to get ironed out. So if you lean towards Safari, you might want to wait for a few more months in my opinion. The third row in the XUV is okay for short drives and I can confirm this with personal experience, but it is definitely not the best out there. In fact, I found the Ertiga to be more comfortable. Brezza, Venue, Nexon etc are not true blue SUV’s and since you might require 7 seats some times, they don’t make practical sense, and since you love the XUV700, I would recommend you to go ahead with it. The AX7 is starting at a lower price of 19.47 lakhs too right now.Meanwhile, here’s what BHPian ani_meher added:Pure 5 seat usage Sub 4m = 3XO, Brezza Pure 5 seat usage 4.3m = Creta / Seltos / Hyryder or GV strong hybrid if sensitive to mileage / Roxx (?) Occasional 7 seat focussing on luxury 4.5m = Alcazar, with some great discounts going on for pre-facelift clearance. Facelift should come with ADAS and new Creta like interiors Regular 7 seat focusing on spaciousness 4.5m = Carens. Comfort in all 7 seats, very welcoming looks for a family, especially in top trims with beige interiors. SUV with uncomfortable third row seats 4.7m+ = Scorpio N SUV with partially comfortable third row seats 4.7m+ = XUV700 MUV x SUV with all comfortable 7 seats = Innova Hycross, hybrid if running is high. In your case, I wlll recommend Alcazar or Carens if you need all 7 seats regularly. Alcazar facelift is due next month, and Carens is due next year.Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
