News

Buying a 7 seater for outstation trips: Used Innova or new Maruti XL6

8th March 2024, 13:04 by Dev Shah

My core problem is that though I can afford a new one, I am not able to draw myself to splurge 2 to 3 million rupees on a new car.

BHPian PNTLovesNano recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi to all the SUV/MUV lovers, I need sound and thorough advice.

As my signature says, I have had owned three cars Maruti Alto (2011, sold after 90K kms), Tata Nano (2014, light use, secondary car), and Hyundai Grand i10 (2019, current primary car). For a long time, since 2008 at least, I wanted to own a seven seater.

Recently, I went to Maruti, Kia, and Mahindra showrooms to check out the seven seaters. Kia Carens costs 18L, Scorpio 17-21L, and XL6 15L. All have their own strengths and weakness. However, I was mightily disappointed with Scorpio's 3rd row. I don't think I can put even a 10 year kid on a 300kms drive. From June onwards, I will require a powerhouse. Monthly twice I will be doing Bangalore-Sandur, and once every second month Bangalore-Tirupati, and once every quarter Bangalore-Mantralaya.

After having done the above trips multiple times in each of my three cars, yes including the puny Nano, I want to now go for the bigger machines. However, the only problem is Vitamin M, aka money. The prices of cars have gone through the moon and the new ones are outrageously expensive. My core problem is that though I can afford a new one, I am not able to draw myself to splurge 2 to 3 million rupees on a new car. Hence, I was thinking about a used Innova.

A used Innova Crysta is again prohibitively expensive in Bangalore. A 2016/17 1L kms on odo costs 15-18L. I can as well go for a new one instead of used Crysta. Alternatively, I feel XL6 is a better buy than the pricey used Crysta. This overall cost-cutting took my practicality elsewhere. I think about XL6, Carens, and Crysta, only Crysta is the safest.

My question to the MUV world is:

Is a ten year old Innova worth the trouble? Will Toyota's bullet proof reliability see me over the next 15 years?
Is plonking 25L over Crysta (base model, I know :() worth the bucks?
Which used cars six/seven seaters worth looking at? Honda BR-W, Mahindra Xylo, Mahindra XUV500, or something else?
Is a monthly run of 3K good for a six-seven seater?
Any other advice that I need to look out for?

Here's what BHPian manofinfinity had to say on the matter:

10-year-old Innova would not be a problem if the previous owner maintained it properly, heck even today we see pristine condition qualis which are 20 years old and running fine.
Buying a new Innova for 25 is any day better than buying a used one for 15 lakhs with over 1 lakh km on the Odo.
I think innova would be the perfect and ideal choice, the others you mentioned are not full-size three-row mpv except Carens.
I would suggest finding a used crysta under 15 lakhs with low mileage in the GX AT variant, anything above 15 is too much in the case of used Innova Crysta.

Here's what BHPian Sanidhya mukund had to say on the matter:

As someone who owns an Ertiga VXI CNG 2021, a 2024 Innova Hycross ZX (o) and regularly uses a 2021 Innova Crysta GX 2.4 BS6, I would strongly suggest one thing: If you can afford a new Innova, you should not even think about the XL6. The ride quality, high speed stability, comfort levels, durability and sure-footedness and confidence of an Innova over long distances simply blows cars like the XL6 and Ertiga away.
XL6 and Ertiga are decent city cars. Think of them as a larger Swift that just happens to have 3 rows of seats. But for long highway drives with family? They simply do not feel confidence inspiring. Also do consider the MG Hector Plus and the XUV700. You could get their mid-spec models for the same price as an entry level Innova. For someone who desires features, tech and modernity without breaking the bank, they make a decent case for themselves. The XUV700 comes with strong engines as well.

Here's what BH{ian JediKnight had to say on the matter: