Some of the types that are available in India include hatchback, sedan, SUV, crossover, MPV/MUV, sportback, coupe, SUV coupe, convertible and pickup truck.

BHPian Aditya recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Which one is your preferred body style and why?

Cars come in various body styles. Manufacturers are continuously looking to attract more customers by coming up with new body styles. While some would prefer an SUV for its butch looks, some prefer small hatchbacks and others want the exclusivity that a coupe or convertible gives. Here's a look at some of the body styles that cars available in India come in.

Hatchback

Some of the cheapest cars you can buy today are hatchbacks. They have a shorter wheelbase and are smaller in size than other types of cars. This means that they are easier to drive and park in crowded cities. If the rear seatbacks are folded, a hatchback can carry a good amount of cargo too.

Coming to the drawbacks, since the cars are small in size, interior space is limited, especially at the rear. Also, with all seats occupied, the boot is smaller in size compared to other cars. Apart from this, many hatchbacks have low roofs making ingress & egress difficult.

Sedan

Sedans, in general, have more cabin space than hatchbacks, making them more comfortable. They also have more boot space than hatchbacks and you can keep your luggage out of sight of others in the covered boot. Out on the open roads, these cars ride and handle well making them fun to drive.

However, there are some drawbacks to be considered as well. Because of the extra length (due to the boot), these cars are not as easy to drive and park in crowded areas. They have low roofs which hamper ingress & egress. Many sedans ride low and have poor ground clearance.

SUV

People love SUVs for their commanding driving positions. Their large size gives them an advantage on our roads where "might is right" and other road users tend to give you way. SUVs have a lot of space on the inside, and usually also get a third row of seats. Most have four-wheel drive and high ground clearance which makes them capable off-roaders. Their large wheels and chunky tyres help them tackle bad and broken roads with ease.

On the downside, their size makes SUVs cumbersome to use in the city and because of their high floor, ingress & egress are an issue, especially for the elderly. The cars are bulky and have lower fuel efficiency. They are not very good to drive on the road either and many of them have a bouncy ride.

Crossover

Crossovers are generally just hatchbacks with more ground clearance and plastic cladding and roof rails which lend them a rugged look. Those who find SUVs too large, but still want a rugged-looking car, will find them appealing. The increase in roof height also aids ingress & egress and the higher ground clearance helps them tackle high speed-breakers and broken roads with ease.

However, very few crossovers come with all-wheel drive (let alone four-wheel drive) and that means they may not be as capable as traditional SUVs off the road and not as good to drive on the road as sedans or hatchbacks due to their taller stance. Crossovers are usually 5-seaters and rarely get a 7-seater option which makes them less practical than SUVs.

MPV / MUV

Recently, we had a thread on why MUVs / MPVs are the most competitive body style today. They come with higher seating which means a better view of the road and seating for 5-7 people. Their large size & butch styling along with commanding road presence is important in India where "might is right" on the road. They have large and powerful engines and high ground clearance which is necessary to deal with the large bumps and uneven & unpaved patches of road - a common problem in India.

However, like SUVs, the highway manners of these cars are also not as good as other body styles. Besides, many of them have a utilitarian image which may not go down well with urban buyers. Again, due to their large size, driving and parking in crowded cities will be a problem.

Sportback

A sportback is a sedan with a sloping rear end to give it a sleek and sporty look. Such cars are rare in India and appeal to those wanting some exclusivity. These cars have a liftgate rather than a boot lid. This gives one a large boot opening.

On the downside, the sloping roof restricts headroom for rear seat passengers. Low-placed seats can make ingress & egress difficult too.

Coupe

Coupes are two-door cars with a low roof. They look sporty and usually feature powerful engines. They are more driver-focused. They bring exclusivity and desirability.

On the downside, coupes are expensive and low on practicality. Low seating means ingress & egress is not easy. Some come with rear seats but the rear headroom is compromised. Coupes also have low ground clearance which means the driver has to be careful while negotiating speed breakers and potholes.

SUV Coupe

BMW first came out with this new body style with the X6, combining the high ground clearance of an SUV and the sporty looks of a coupe. Very soon other players like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volvo introduced similar cars. SUV Coupes have seating for four and good luggage space.

Like regular coupes, they are expensive and the rear headroom is compromised thanks to their sloping roof line. Their styling can divide opinions too. Rear visibility is poor as well.

Convertible

One of the coolest body styles out there. Convertibles are exclusive and very desirable. With very few of them on our roads, you easily stand out. The biggest plus point of a convertible is the wind in your hair feeling.

However, the cars are expensive and are generally heavier than coupes thanks to the roof mechanism and they also need extra strengthening for their chassis. Even with the modifications, many convertibles are not as sporty to drive as their coupe siblings. Convertibles can't be used regularly in dusty, hot or rainy conditions. Besides, most convertibles are suitable for two occupants rather than four.

Pickup Truck

Pickup trucks are popular in countries like the US and Australia where they are used as workhorses. Some of them have great off-road capability as well. They have seating for four and a large loading bay that can hold more cargo than any other car.

Just like MPVs, pickup trucks suffer from the utilitarian image. They are also too big for Indian cities and parking a pickup truck can be very difficult. Additionally, if the loading bay does not have a cover, the cargo in it is at risk of being stolen.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

My picks:

• Sedans, especially fast sedans. I love European sedans (Virtus, Octavia, 5-Series, M340i, S-Class)
• SUVs: Big & tough ones like the Thar, Scorpio-N, Safari, Endeavour are really my style. Great looks + practicality.
• Crossovers: We have such great crossovers in the market today! Among the affordable ones, I love the Kia Seltos & Nexon EV.
• Coupe: Will definitely own a Mustang, 911 or F-Car one day.

Not my scene:

• MPV / MUV could never be my primary car due to the "van" styling & image. I am a sucker for vanity.
• SUV Coupe is just a way-too-confused & awkward bodystyle to my eyes.
• Convertible isn't my scene (unless it's a 4x4). I'd rather own a Cayman over a Boxster. There isn't a single sportscar I'd buy in convertible guise.
• Pickup Truck: In the USA, yes, because of models like the F150 in luxury editions. In India, it's a pointless bodystyle, although very stylish.

Here's what BHPian MotorDev had to say about the matter:

Voted for Sedan.

I still favour them over any crossover or SUV because of the generous boot space they provide and their appealing aesthetics. Plus, they handle quite nicely as well.

Here's what BHPian vattyboy had to say about the matter:

Voted for SUV Coupé

Looks Delicious

Here's what BHPian CArspeed had to say about the matter:

It’s Sedan for me for the following reasons:

• Comfortable ride
• Flickable and agile
• That proper car-like classic looks

The SUV may be good for the ingress and egress but my dad and other elders prefer my Altis to Compass since according to them they don’t feel tired in Altis even after a long ride plus their feet don’t swell in Altis since they are able to stretch their legs without bending it too much.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The only other turbo I have driven is the 1.5 Carens DCT, and I never really connected with that powertrain during the test drive.

BHPian vvs29 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Completed 1100kms in Fronx Turbo Alpha AT. I have mentioned by selection criteria and test drive experience here. To summarize, I'm 6ft 4in tall, looking for a car that can be small enough to replace our AStar and be powerful enough to also replace our 4th Gen City CVT. It seemed to fulfill both purposes. We liked the noise insulation, ride quality, highway manners and performance.

About the purchase experience, we purchased it from ABT Nexa Guindy. The delivery ETA was quoted to be 45 days. Ended up getting it in 30 and this was after a week delay in connecting the car from Bangalore to Chennai. I requested for a PDI in their yard before releasing the loan disbursement. They agreed to it, but asked me to hand over the A star when the allotted car was shipped from the factory. I was able to select the insurance I wanted and their default option was good enough. I also had informed then at booking time that I wanted only select accessories and not the entire list. They mentioned I needed to pay the amount for the max insurance quote and accessories during payment, but I will be refunded based on what options I select. Though it took ~20 days after the delivery, I did get the expected refund.

I had selected, door visor, 3D floor mats and mud flaps from the accessories. The 3D floor mats came a week after delivery. At delivery time, I had also asked for the grey with red accent rear underbody spoiler. They said they'll get me one but they couldn't get the stock. I'll try to source it from the official accessories page by Suzuki. The silver one doesn't really sit well with the rest of the back/car for us. The telematics system, Suzuki Connect, took a week to activate as well. The Fasttag is from IDFC bank. I would have liked if I was given a choice. I would prefer a more mainstream bank, though I haven't faced issues with it yet.

As for the car itself, we are thoroughly enjoying driving it. The very fact that we have covered more than a thousand kms in a month is a testament to it. Our experience from the test drive holds up. Loving how the suspension keeps us comfortable over rumble strips, patch works, smaller potholes, etc.

The car sounds a bit boomy when giving more than light throttle input at 1k RPM. However, things are refined above 1.5K and the pull puts a smile to my face above 1.8K-2K RPM. Please keep in mind that this is my first turbo experience though. The only other turbo I have driven is the 1.5 Carens DCT, and I never really connected with that powertrain during the test drive. I wanted something and the powertrain was busy doing something else. Back to the Fronx, over flyovers, if I want to avoid that boomy sound, I just pull the left paddle and get a gear down and it pretty much holds it till I descend.

Over flat roads though, pulling the paddles in D mode holds the manual mode a bit longer than I'd like. I would expect it to revert back to D after a 2-3 seconds of releasing the throttle, but it stays in M mode more than that and I have to upshift using the paddles and wait for it to revert to D. When I switch to manual mode via the shift lever, I have a feeling that it automatically shifts down, but I'm not sure. I need to notice that more carefully sometime.

One thing I missed updating in the test drive post was that the steering felt very video game like and the weighing up around 120 felt too artificial. However, I have gotten used to it and it does the job quite well. My wife like it very much as its light in the city. I still kinda prefer my 4th gen City's steering (in the city at least, haven't done road trips yet to have a comparison there). I also kinda like the full steering circle instead of the flat bottom thing.

Lights are sufficiently bright for the city. Not sure about rains. Keeping the headlight level at 2-3 seems to be right. The max setting is almost approching high beam state. Suzuki have erred on the side of caution with auto headlamps. They light up at 4pm itself once the sun is over to the side, or if I'm under a bridge even though it's sunny outside, or even under a tree cover.

The front seats lack lumbar support. I have to slide down a bit to be comfortable. The City has a bit too much and this has too less. Thinking of getting one of those cushions for the back. Though they seem to go too much in the other direction. The seat is also not deep enough as the City, for my wife to sit cross legged like on the floor.

I liked the 360deg cam more than I expected. Helps in getting used to the size of the car quickly and also in navigating very tight urban spaces. The auto-IRVM doesn't dim enough at night, at the high beams still do irritate me a bit. I would prefer going back to manual IRVM actually. As for keyless entry, if I take out the key while the engine is running, it sort of gets confused and doesn't recognize the key for a while even after bringing it inside. I have had to switch off, get out and reenter the car to get it to recognize the key a couple of times.

The telescopic steering doesn't come closer as much as I'd like. I think it comes out only a bit more than the one without telescopic adjustment. If I recline well to have a comfortable sitting position, I have to almost fully stretch my arms to reach the steering. So I still slide the seat a bit forward and have my leg bent a bit more than I'd like and change it up to have more recline to give a break to my back when driving for a long time.

Have done 2 tankfuls and got 10.2 and 9.8 kmpl. The MID showed 11.4 and 11 respectively. Driving was fully in the city. Completed the first service post that. It was supposed to be free but I insisted on changing the engine oil and filter and got a bill of ~3800 for it. The manual recommends changing the oil only at the 12 month service.

It took a while getting used to the brakes. For the first 500kms, the initial bite was very less and then it was too much when pressed a bit more. It was tricky to get the car stop smoothly. The auto start stop (ASS) cutting off the engine and the additional braking due to regen didn't help either. After 500kms though, the bite is more progressive and I've gotten used to the regen. I still switch off the ASS though. I saved 500ml during the first tankful according to the MID. Not worth the additional jerks for me.

The telematics system works well. I switch on the engine and AC when I start from the house to the parking. By the time I start driving, it would have done the 90sec idling which helps the engine and turbo to warm up. The location tracking works well as well. I compared it to Google Maps' location sharing feature and it updated the location a bit more frequently than Google.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

4 speed AT gearbox is very convenient in the city.

BHPian Shrek8421 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

I bought a preowned Maruti S-Cross.

• Odo 10k
• Reg Nov 2021
• Silver Zeta AT
• Single owner and well maintained.
• 1 dent fixed on left panel and windshield replaced due to a crack from a stone.
• 11L vs 14.3(OTR)

Initial impressions:

• Ride is sublime and handles amazing.
• 4 speed AT gearbox is very convenient in the city. Yet to test on the highway.
• Lots and lots of space. Coming from a Ritz.
• Smartplay studio works fine. Wired AA but no issues so far.
• Boot is small but convenient due to no loading lip.
• MID is monotone but all important info is available
• Getting 10 to 11kmpl in Bangalore traffic.
• Performance is linear and responsive.

Few issues:

• Existing OEM mats are of poor quality. Velcro has come off and need to be replaced.
• Turning radius takes getting used to.
• Rear camera lacks adaptive guidelines but has adequate clarity.
• NVH is audible when pushed.
• Gearbox is slow to shift in lower gears compared to the new 6AT.
• Overall I am extremely happy with the car. It drives like a dream and the experience can't be captured on a spec sheet.

I have a few questions:

• Will Grand Vitara mats fit the S-Cross?
• Should I get extended warranty?
• Any other accessory suggestions.

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

Two accessories I can recommend:

• Wireless Android Auto: It is such a convenience. No more fiddling around with usb cables.
• Internal TPMS. I would recommend Treel from JK. I got the same. Happy with their after sales service and warranty. One of the sensors stopped working after ~ 1.5 years and they promptly couriered me the replacement.

BHPian Shrek8421 replied:

Thanks a lot for the suggestions.

• Which wireless AA did you get? There seems to be lack of options in India.
• I was hoping to get an external one because of the complicated fitment. But I will check JK out.

Is it accurate? Does it work only on solar or does it need charging?

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

I am using external TPMS (many options available on amazon). I have never had the need to charge it and the battery is always charged through solar. I have driven for extended hours during night time as well. Display based TPMS are better than app based ones which consume some phone battery for sure to transmit data via bluetooth. Also, there is no need for pairing and you can remove and refit the sensors in any car (if required). The only con is that you need to remove them if you wish to fill air in the tyres. I need to do this once in two months on an average. A special tool is provided as an anti theft measure so you need to keep that with you at all times as well. I have kept it along with my car documents.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Its a good looking car. From the rear, I felt it looks a bit like the Mercedes GLA.

BHPian shankar.balan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I went to a Nexa showroom nearby with my Dad and took a look at the Fronx. An odd name yes, but I like the car a lot. Some observations:

Feels nice inside. All sorts of safety kit - 6 airbags et al. (Of course we have to wait for the safety ratings.)

A good looking car. From the rear it looks a bit like a Merc GLA. Roomy and comfortable to sit in. Good sized boot. Useful 60:40 split rear seats. No rear seat recline. Front driver seat has all the usual adjustments including height adjustment but the height adjustment doesn't make it to the front passenger seat. Nice 190mm ground clearance will help us in our Indian operating conditions.

That torque converter 6 Speed AT mated to that 1 litre Turbo petrol engine will make for a very nice car with a reasonably good amount of grunt. The paddle shifts are a nice touch as is the 360 degree camera. I think at 16.4 lacs on Road Blr it is going to be hit. It will fly off the shelves rather rapidly.

It will be necessary to upsize the tyres to 205/55/16 that's absolutely for sure.

All in all a very nice family vehicle for 4 persons to travel in considerable comfort and confidence.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My new car is an XL6. A very nice car, buttery smooth and sleek. But on highways I sometimes miss the raw power of the Aria.

BHPian Roshith recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As I bid goodbye to my gentle giant – as I call my Aria, it is a time for reminiscences. Mine was the Pure Model – 2011. This is also the longest we have held on to any car. 86000 kms and 10+ years.

Across the last 10+ years of ownership, the going has largely been good. She has taken us places across India – Pondicherry, Goa, Ooty, Coorg, Athur, Mugambika, Chettinadu, Kolli hills, Kodai, almost throughout Kerala – all the “big” family functions. My younger daughter after her birth came home in the car, my teary eyed elder daughter for the first time moved away to her hostel with her bulk of books and study materials in the car. When we were fortunate enough to build a second home in Kollam almost 70km’s away from Trivandrum where I stay – the Aria carried us in complete comfort with the last seat folded and a truck load of things, including a pestle set with nary a squiggle. She has never left us stranded anyway – even one of the infamous flood spells in Trivandrum was undertaken with elan. The Aria was a hot favourite among my colleagues too – from official trips to Kochi some countless weddings, food jaunts, baptisms, house warmings and what not.

I have been chastised, hounded and my car judging abilities pulverised to a pulp- the minute I decided to go for the Tata Aria instead of the favourites of those time like the XUV 500 and the all-time favourite Innova.

There used to be a polite silence when I drive up in the Aria which is my second car. We have an Ignis automatic too. If you have bought a Tata then people irrespective of their knowledge of things automotive feel somehow “qualified” to bad mouth your choice. If not anything else- it is the resale Value. Adjectives like Tata’s flop car, Tata trying an Innova, maintenance problems, rust issues, shoddy after sales service, resale etc. are bandied about.

The need for a new car:

We had a Bolero at that time. In three years, it had done around 35000 kms. Though it was a bullet proof vehicle – its brick like dynamics, not to mention that it was a bit tiring to drive especially over long distances made us look for a new car.

The Bolero was a tad done up with alloys, fender flairs and even a Hummerisque bonnet applique and Hella Rally lights which subsequently went into the Aria too. Of all the cars that I have owned, the Bolero was the one where there was almost nil depreciation for a three-year-old vehicle. I had brokers, acquaintances, friends queuing up when it was put on sale. The inability to keep up with triple digit speeds, lack of safety features, vibration and all convinced me to go in for a new car.

Since we had a smaller car in the house – at that time it was a humble Maruti 800 – we wanted a six or seven seater for the occasional long journeys and for those journeys when the in-laws or my parents would join.

Cars under consideration then – had looked at the Toyota Innova and the XUV 500 which was all the rage those days. I didn’t even need to test drive the Innova as it was known for its bullet proof reliability. But we couldn’t afford it back then.

The XUV 500 was seriously considered. We test drove the vehicle, but I thought it a bit gimmicky and “overdone” (no offence to owners of the vehicle). Also, had been hearing of some electrical gremlins in the initial batch of vehicles. Being in the advertising industry had noticed TATA Aria’s very slickly done TV and print campaign. It was christened as India’s first crossover. I liked the looks of the vehicle very much , though my wife said the front end looked like a TATA Indica cab. Test drive of the Aria was done at Das Motors and both me and my wife were impressed with the luxurious (at that time) interiors as well as the very high set seating positions. What impressed me the most was the smoothness of the engine or at least the perceived feel of it when you sit inside and close the door. It was truly built like a tank. My daughter liked the roof cubby pockets and the squarish designed interiors were also very interesting.

We were then sold on the Aria and decided to get it as we were offered a very good deal on the Bolero. I don’t remember the amount we got, but we got a very deal for the Bolero. In fact more than what we expected. Seat covers and the window roof guards were offered as freebies. I did the Teflon coating which was a “must have” accessory those days. We thus booked the Sardinia Red and I ordered the alloy wheels from the safari, as the Pure “Fabric” variant came with steel wheels.

The Aria was quiet a handful in Trivandrum city traffic, but on long journeys it was a literal locomotive and unlike the Bolero, one never feels tired even after a long stint behind the wheel. Even the passengers don’t feel too tired.

Ownership experience:

Many find it hard to believe but, in my 10+ years of using the truck, I didn’t have any major expenses. The TATA after sales service was the pits and after trying out two different service centres – I finally settled for an FNG near my office recommended by a friend whose Pajero Sport is also serviced there.

Parts replaced:

I shifted from fully synthetic oil to normal mineral oil after a few years but I made it a point to replace the oil every 5000 KM including the filters. Major expense during the total running in of 86,000 km was I had to replace the clutch assembly at around 45000 kilometers and the first set of tyres again at around the 45000 mark. The rear dicky support struts gave away and I think the replacement cost a whopping 8k. One of the injectors was also replaced during the warranty period after which they had to be again serviced and recalibrated at around 30000 km . The wiper assembly unfortunately gave up the ghost. A new assembly was again costly (around 18 to 21K if I am not mistaken), but fortunately my FNG guy came to the rescue and it was quickly refurbished . Apparently, the gears had worn out and the gear from a Maruti 800 was used for this. The drive shaft was also corrected at the lathe along with new bushes. The starter assembly had also developed a problem and it was again repaired at a fraction of the cost for a new one. Polishing of rotor, Ac clutch overhaul were some of the other problems encountered over the years.

Even I find it hard to believe, but unlike Tata horror stories that I came across – some in this forum itself, the Aria has been very dependable – not once has it ever failed on the road (a puncture and a weak battery were problems that happened while she was parked in the house and hence did not leave us stranded).

I think the fact that I used to get even a small squeak looked after and a no compromise outlook on changing the oils stringently also paid dividends. Spares were also very easily available and at the most there was a two or three day delay in sourcing some parts.

A few years back I had the seats replaced for more comfort. Other than that I have tried to keep most things as original as possible.

Positives:

• The presence – Everyone made way for the Aria – the oversized Indica visage made sure that everyone made way for it
• It was a power House and could easily keep up and smoothly overtake most other cars on the road.
• The view – The high set view ensured, you were towering over others on the road and ensured a very commanding position
• The brakes – very sharp and gave you unlimited confidence though by Gods Grace never had to put it to the test.
• The Build quality – I had a Nano too, and compared to the Nano the build quality was really good.
• Very comfortable rear seats.
• Very dependable and trouble free.

Negatives:

• Wallowy nature – with just two people in the front seat, the car used to bounce” around a bit.
• The AC vents – The AC vents due to their design – could never be fully closed.
• Lack of storage space – though it had plenty of space for knick-knacks in the roof area – the lack of storage space in the dash board area was a real let down.
• The size – was quiet handful to park especially in crowded city areas.
• The major shock I had was when I put up the car for sale. Locally a few people in Kerala came and offered ridiculously low offers for the car . Luckily, I got a very good offer from Chennai by a young driving enthusiast couple and that is where she is now. All of us were very teary eyed and my daughters were crying their hearts out when we bid good bye to the car.

My new car is an XL6. A very nice car, buttery smooth and sleek. But on highways I sometimes miss the raw power of the Aria. She will be missed. She had taken us to so many places.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Our Ciaz is efficient, spacious, and comfortable for our family of 5 members, even for long journeys. But it doesn't feel safe and solid over highways and isn't reliable over rough roads.

BHPian shauryadabas recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi everyone,

We are looking for a new SUV/Crossover to complement our 2015 Ciaz petrol manual. Me and my brother are out of home for most of the year and both the cars will be primarily driven by my father (aged 50).

Why a new car:

Our Ciaz is efficient, spacious, and comfortable for our family of 5 members, even for long journeys. The problem is that it doesn't feel safe and solid over highways and isn't reliable over rough roads (with the rear suspension sagging completely under full load). With only 2 airbags and a light build, it doesn't inspire confidence when traveling with family.

These reasons have compelled us to consider buying a safe, solid SUV/crossover for highway drives. Ciaz will continue its duty for the in-city commutes but will retire from high-speed highway drives once we get our hands on the new car.

Must haves and feature requirements:

• Budget is in the 20-25 lakh bracket with a strong preference for top-end petrol/diesel trims. Automatic is preferred over manual but we still have a doubt if it will be easy to drive an automatic car along with a manual Ciaz simultaneously. Views from any member who has experience of driving automatic and manual together will be highly appreciated.
• As already highlighted, safety, stability, and solid build are core requirements. In addition, it should have a good ground clearance and robust suspension for bad roads. Though, AWD/4x4 is not a must-have.
• Spacious, smooth, and comfortable for 5 passengers with enough boot volume for weekend luggage.

We don't mind skipping some feel-good features but the car should be dynamically sorted with a trouble-free and safe run for at least 10 years.

I have not added my car preferences intentionally because I want to hear honest and unbiased suggestions from my fellow members!

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Would say that the XUV700, Compass & Harrier / Safari (if you can live with the niggles & inconsistent build) are pretty much the pick of the lot in the 20 to 30 lakh range. If he likes comfy cruisers, you must consider the Hector AT too, which is especially a hit with the elderly.

Except for the XUV700, the others will be almost readily available in showrooms.

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

The Mahindra XUV700 would fulfil your needs perfectly, you get both petrol or diesel engine options with automatic transmission, feature loaded car with 5-star GNCAP rating, spacious and comfortable, available with 5 seater and 7 seater options as well.

The only downside is you would have to wait quite a while to get your hands on one.

The Tata Harrier/Safari would be the next best pick, they are readily available too.

The Jeep Compass would be a bit over your budget.

The MG Hector/Hector Plus are good options to consider as well.

With regards to your question on automatics and manuals. The automatics nowadays are super smooth with seamless shifts and quite fast as well. With the increasing traffic in the cities, automatic transmissions are truly a boon, once you get the hang of it, you sure won't regret your purchase. Manuals, however still are the best for driver engagement and for enthusiasts.

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

Few pointers:

• You have not mentioned the annual running. if it is low, Diesel should be out of the picture as BS6 engines require minimum running. So TATA siblings are out of the picture. Compass is already out of the budget I guess.
• You have mentioned safe run for at least 10 years. Not sure if that means Safety. If yes, then Korean siblings are out of contention.
• That leaves you with Mahindra SUV's and Hector (plus). One thing to keep in mind is that both give abysmal mileage on petrol.
• If you do not consider safety as just merely ratings, then KIA Carens is a good choice.
• Base model (or the next one) Innova is also not a bad choice I feel.
• No matter which car you chose, 99% of cars are available if you know how to deal with dealers.

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

Since your objective for the car is safety aim for the highest GNCAP score.

That would mean the XUV700 and considering your 700-800km per month usage you could get away with a Petrol MX5 if you want.

But if you cannot wait that long then the Harrier/Safari would be the alternates but would miss out on a GNCAP rating and the other issues already mentioned.

The Jeep Compass wouldn't match in space like you said and recent reports by members leave a poor taste and personally I keep them in the same hit/miss service category as TML especially due to the prices they command.

If you intend to research further here's an excellent thread addressing your use case by Poitive. Even if you don't intend to read it at length, I would suggest to check out the TD experiences.

PS : I would suggest to check for the XUV700's realistic waiting period from the dealer. It varies on location and models. I have a feeling that petrol variants should have a shorter waiting time.

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

You should really try out the Alcazar. I test drove it last week for my cousin, I felt it as a complete package at 23 lakhs OTR NCR. It comes with all the bells and whistles and is comfortable. Given it’s a Hyundai, wouldn’t have much of niggles which we are seeing nowadays in out of showroom cars and the waiting period could be skipped as well.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As bland as the crossover is, it is the new family sedan. Every automaker from every country is building one.

BHPian Arsenic recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This series is inspired by the Automotive History series of the YouTube channel Ed's Auto Reviews. Do subscribe to their channel!

Crossovers. The world's dullest vehicle. A car with the charisma of a chalkboard. Every car purist hates them. Damn you, Mitsubishi - for turning the iconic Eclipse into a boring grocery-getter. Damn you, Ford - for selling a generic electric midsize crossover with no personality as a Mustang. Damn you, Chevy - for bringing back the Blazer as an unexciting midsize piece of junk. Damn you...

Everybody is making a crossover. Look at Ferrari: they hated the concept of the SUV. Then again, anything to fund the F1 team...

Lotus, an iconic British manufacturer known for its lightweight sports cars (and its continuous use of Toyota engines) unveils an... electric crossover as the future of the brand?

And then there's Mitsubishi, who discontinued the iconic Pajero just to concentrate on selling soccer mom SUVs. Then again, with the new ASX just being lazy rebadge of a Renault Captur, perhaps they too hate SUVs. Or perhaps they just hate selling cars. Back to air conditioners, I guess.

As bland as the crossover is, it is the new family sedan. Every automaker from every country is building one. Some of them are not that boring. Some of them are generic rehashed bargain-bin stale recycled processed 'car loaf'. Either way, let's begin.

The Americas

USA

I want to showcase the most 'unique' crossover in every country. So an unexciting Equinox or Compass will not be shown here. I'd rather show something more interesting - the Ford Evos.

But it's not technically American, you say. It's China-only for now, and won't be coming to North America.

Well, what would you rather I show? The Escape Hybrid?

The EVOS is a unique combination of sedan, wagon and crossover. It's certainly one of the more interesting cars Ford has released in the past few years (Mach-E, anyone?) and seems to effectively be a Mondeo for bad roads. The EVOS is produced by the Chang'an Ford joint venture and features a massive touchscreen on the dashboard on the inside which spans the whole dashboard. The 'I-hate-screens' crowd probably won't enjoy this one.

This probably would've been a lovely car in the Indian market. Or it could've been the next Chevrolet Sail, but let's try to stay positive. If only...

Brazil

Brazilian automakers are unfortunately few and far these days. However, an honourable mention to the Fiat Fastback, a South-America-only fastback crossover developed by a not-so-South-American company. Decent-looking thing, this.

The Rest of The Americas...?

Wow, this was a short one.

Europe

Britain

The British public is buying lots of crossovers. And lots of British companies are making British crossovers for the British to enjoy. Which of these, however, is the most 'quintessentially Bri'ish' crossover?

Any of the newer Range Rover models? The proud Tata fans won't let me call it British, so let's not get ourselves cancelled on Twitter...

Lotus Elite? The proud Geely fans won't let me call it British, so let's not get ourselves cancelled on Weibo...

MG ZS? It's not a roadster, but it is a quintessential MG in a way. It's an affordable 'thing' that doesn't have much in terms of the 'wow factor', but hey, it works and looks decent. Ah, but SAIC owns them...

Bentley Bentayga? Rolls-Royce Cullinan? No, one's a glorified Touareg and the other is tailored specifically for a Qatari oil baron.

It all just leaves us with the Aston Martin DBX. Some readers will obnoxiously point out that Geely recently took out a 10% stake in Aston Martin. To all those readers, don't worry, I know. Now shut your piehole, as 83-year-old Debbie from Essex would say.

This is a crossover that the crumpet-enjoyers will proudly endorse. The only crossover that Bond would consider driving when he doesn't want to give the DBS to the valet guy. It is stylish, it is luxurious. And depending on the version, it is fast as well (the mad DBX 707 comes to mind) - perfect for everyone who needs a car that can cruise while they sip their cuppa.

Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic

A quick VAG rapid-fire round of quick crossovers:

Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT - a ridiculously good-looking fast crossover with a twin-turbo V8 that makes 630 hp and enables the German beast to get from 0-60 in 3.1 seconds.

Cupra Formentor - SEAT's take on the performance crossover, the Formentor is the first vehicle designed specifically for the Cupra brand. One might be tempted to say it looks a bit like an MG ZS with a different body kit, but crossovers have genuinely become this generic nowadays.

Skoda Enyaq Coupe RS iV - essentially an Octavia RS on steroids, this fastback crossover offers some pretty good electric power and torque combined with some simply clever design. Honestly, all it does is make me want Skoda to make an ICE-powered Kodiaq VRS. But hey, the trees need saving.

France

Just like the Ford Evos shown earlier, the Citroen C5 X is a unique combo of a sedan, a wagon and a crossover. This time, however, the C5X is actually sold in its home market (unlike the EVOS) and dare I say the Citroen looks better. Well done, my baguette-munching brothers.

The C5X also comes with a PHEV variant and is Citroen's flagship. No wonder France is the home of fashion.

Continue reading BHPian Arsenic's crossover list for more insights and information.

Crossover-styled MPVs are intriguing. This trend was kicked off in India by the Maruti XL6 which is based on the popular Ertiga.

BHPian Arsenic recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The above video had me thinking - which truly is better as a family car, an MPV or an SUV/Crossover?

This discussion has become interesting in recent years due to the rise of the 7-seat mid-size (US: compact) crossover segment thanks to cars such as the MG Hector Plus and Tata Safari, which means that no longer are we just comparing Innova vs Fortuner, but we can now also make a comparison for lower segments, such as Carens vs XUV7OO.

So, let's begin.

MPVs

Advantages

• Sometimes, the third row may end up being better than an equivalent SUV/Crossover. (case in point: my Innova Crysta vs my friend's Fortuner)
• Usually better road manners due to the lower ground clearance.
• Generally, easier to manoeuvre and park on narrower roads. (larger vans like the Carnival and Vellfire are exceptions)

Disadvantages

• Less ground clearance makes MPVs less rough-road friendly.
• Limited to no off-road capability. That being said, the RWD Crysta is probably better off-road than the FWD Safari/Hector+.
• No options between 45-85L. It's a straight jump from the Carnival to the V220d/Vellfire.

The Interesting Middle Ground: Crossover-Styled MPVs

Crossover-styled MPVs are intriguing. This trend was kicked off in India with Maruti's XL6, based on the popular Ertiga. In 2022, Kia threw their hat into the ring with the Carens, which was effectively a stretched version of the Korean automaker's highly successful Seltos compact (US: subcompact) crossover. Globally, examples include the Toyota Veloz, based on the Ertiga-sized Avanza and the Geely Okavango pictured above. These are a decent choice if you want the practicality and versatility of an MPV with the height and road presence of an SUV.

7-seat SUVs

Advantages

• Some SUVs (like the MG Gloster pictured above) actually do offer decent third-row space for adults.
• Amazing off-road capability! All body-on-frame SUVs currently on the market are RWD, if not 4x4.
• More abuse-friendly than monocoque MPVs. (but not any tougher than a BOF Marazzo/Crysta)

Disadvantages:

• A lot more body roll compared to a monocoque MPV.
• Expensive for a properly refined model! Even the top-end Scorpio-N breaches the 30L mark in some regions.
• Larger SUVs are trickier to pilot on narrow roads compared to smaller MPVs.

7-seat Crossovers

Advantages:

• Monocoque construction means that ride quality is comparable to a Carens/Ertiga/Carnival.
• Ingress/Egress is closer to an MPV than a big butch SUV.
• Generally cheaper than large body-on-frame SUVs.

Disadvantages:

• There is still some amount of body roll due to the ground clearance.
• Not as good off-road as a body-on-frame SUV, since most crossovers are FWD.
• 3rd row comfort usually isn't as good as a body-on-frame SUV or an MPV.

Do share your thoughts on this matter, BHPians!

Here's what BHPian Nilesh5417 had to say about the matter:

If the definition of a family is 5 and more than occasionally 5+2 (kids), nothing beats a proper MUV. I shopped around a lot before I decided to finally accept it and got a Marazzo. Family trips with 5+2 at least till Kolhapur from Pune have never been more fun and comfy. Sometimes even Goa (usually with 5) with a stop on the return leg. Marazzo has also been exceptionally car-like when I drive it alone for work or within the city and great FE is the icing on the cake.

Recently, travelled a lot around Rajasthan in the Kia Carnival and my belief is only more firm.

With all its compromises around GC, FE, road manners when loaded, relatively lower set of features, low luggage space unless you get a roof rack or pack light etc, it is still your best bet for a comfortable family trip IMO.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say about the matter:

As of today, the best cars in the Indian market to ferry 7 people comfortably with their luggage are:

• Kia Carnival
• MG Gloster

Honourable mention to the Innova Crysta and Tata Hexa. A family car needs to carry 6 or 7 adults in adequate space and comfort along with their weekend luggage. No other car fits the bill.

Everything else is a compromise. You’ll have to make do with a super cramped and/or poorly positioned third row or zero boot space or inadequate powertrains or bouncy ride for the third row or lack of width for seating 3 abreast in the middle. Every other car, be it XL6 or Carens or Kodiaq or Fortuner or XUV700… they all suffer from some combination of this.

All talk of body style is redundant as far as the end customer is concerned. As long as the product meets the requirements at a fair price, it will be in business.

Here's what BHPian sunikkat had to say about the matter:

It depends on what constitutes a family - is it a mix of elderly + kids, no.of family members etc. For my family of 2 adults, 1 elderly and 1 kid, I feel my Octavia is a family car.

And big SUVs cannot be a good family car, at least for mine. My mom has arthritis and climbing up those big SUVs like Fortuner, Endeavour etc. is definitely not an option.

So one size wouldn’t fit all. But in general, an MPV or a 7-seater crossover seems to be a good fit for most as a family car.

Here's what BHPian rakesh_r had to say about the matter:

I'd go for a traditional MPV like the Crysta, any day. The one thing that I hate about Monocoque is the way the car squats down when fully loaded. The Crysta in turn gets more comfortable when fully loaded and perfectly tackles bad rods. Sadly it's a dying breed, with the Crysta Diesel axed, what do we have now?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As I don't like changing things, I would keep this car easily for 10 years atleast so I am confused if I should wait for the new Brezza.

BHPian Snowflakes recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHPians,

I need your valuable inputs in buying our first car (automatic).

At the start of this year we had shortlisted the Ecosport & Polo as one of our next cars, but then the rumours of ford shutting shop started and we put our purchase on hold. Then we started looking at the Polo but could not get hold of one before it was discontinued.

I haven't considered Kia or Hyundai cars for there safety aspects. Decided not to go for the XUV300 & Nexon as they are AMTs and their ASS is a hit or a miss.

Now I have narrowed down the search to the S-Cross Zeta version. I know lot of people have mentioned it's a 4 speed AT but after reading multiple reviews here I felt it should suffice my needs. In a year I may travel around 10k kms. Now with this news coming out should I go ahead with this booking as nearby Nexa dealer has promised a delivery within next 6 weeks or should I drop this car as it's reaching it's end of life. As I don't like changing things, I would keep this car easily for 10 years atleast so I am confused if I should wait for the new Brezza. The reason for not pursuing the Brezza is the wait times would be atleast 4-6 months at the time of launch.

So, need your advice on whether I should go ahead with this purchase or look for which other cars.

Here's what BHPian amol4184 had to say on the matter:

• IMO, we are at a pivotal point in the life of S-Cross and waiting out all upcoming launches by Maruti would be wiser because:
• MS will probably launch the next gen S-Cross which looks like an entirely new (and better looking) car compared to current one.

You are going to hang on to the car for 10 years which is a long time. I personally would not want to get stuck with last of the generation old product that does not have anything exceptional going on for it. I mean its not a bad car but its not iconic in the way the VW Polo is/was.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Whichever car I decide to keep, it has to serve us for at least the next 3 years by which time I'm assuming there will be multiple viable EV options to chose from.

BHPian S2K recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone,

I will be in a position in few months where I will have to decide which one car, from the two we have in the family, should I keep and let the other one go.

The choice is between a 2017 MS Baleno RS and 2020 BS6 Ford FreeStyle Titanium+ petrol. We will have to let one of these cars go as we get a new one in the latter half of the year.

Background on the cars:

Baleno RS:

• The car was bought in Diwali of 2017 and later this year will complete 5 years. There is no extended warranty coverage on the car at this point of time.
• The Baleno RS was my dad's daily use car and for a few years, was also the only car in the house, which meant it was also used for periodic highway trips mostly between Mumbai, Pune, Nasik and Raigad.
• With this kind of running, we have already put up about 40k KM on the odometer.
• The car has been maintained well wrt all the prescribed servicing being done from MASS on time.
• There have been some minor but multiple accidents like an auto bashing against the door and fender, or a cow jumping in front of the car on highway and damaging the bumper, etc. All of this has however been rectified by bringing the sheet metal in shape and have not replaced any sheet metal.
• Mostly used by my dad, and while he is a smooth driver, he does get impatient at times and does end up driving aggressively for a couple of minutes or so, and so the car has seen its fair share of high speed bumps over potholes or speed-breakers, roadside driving and also some aggressive braking.

Ford FreeStyle:

• The car was bought in December 2020 during the pandemic as I needed to start working from office on daily basis.
• Primary reasons for buying Freestyle over other cars were the good driving dynamics, better build quality than other cars in the same segment, better pricing, sort of novelty factor(since not many other Freestyle are visible on roads), and the increased ground clearance as well since I had to frequently travel to a couple of places with not so good road conditions.
• The car that I bought was the demo unit for the BS6 launch that was manufactured in March 2020 but since the showrooms were closed for quite long time due to lockdown, it was not that used. However, the car still had 5k KMs on the odometer already. I decided to get it because I got discounts to the tune of 1.25L on the car and despite all the run, neither the dealer tried to hide it or tamper with the odometer nor did the car seemed damaged or worked on. Got it checked by multiple independent mechanics and also used some trusted insider sources at the dealer and they assured that car had been treated fairly.
• In a span of one and half years, the car has clocked in more than 11k KMs since the purchase and the odometer reading stands at 16k+ KMs as of now.
• The car is being used as my daily drive within city as well as for frequent intercity trips (between Mumbai-Nashik-Pune). It has also been on a couple of road trips, to the Konkan region and to Goa as well. The car easily tackled the bad roads, handled some off-road situations (where the road was completely washed away, higher GC helped), cruised quite effortlessly on the smooth roads and kept everyone cool and comfortable even on hot days with 5 adults on board.

Pros and cons for each car:

Baleno - Pros:

• The car is spacious. Very much so when compared to FS. Sitting 5 adults is a normal affair in Baleno with all 5 being comfortable on a long ride. With Freestyle, 4 adults can seat comfortably but getting in the 5th one will affect the rear sit comfort. In any case, Baleno has a clear advantage here.
• The comfort that the MS badge provides in terms of service options, parts and accessories availability and a not very high pricing on them
• The infotainment system supports Apple Carplay, which is of high use when going to new places within city or in new cities.
• The ride comfort of the car is good, when compared to FS since on FS, the suspension can sometimes feel a tad stiffer for the Indian city roads.

Baleno - Cons:

• Baleno is very common on the road. The minor visible differentiation and badging the car RS does not help at all. A fish in the sea.
• Despite being badged the RS, the handling is nowhere close to how the FS drives. Neither is the engine sporty, despite being turbo-charged, nor is the steering feel and cornering as enjoyable. (I still have limited driving experience on RS and going to try it out more in next few weeks).
• The interior feels dated, with the build, look and feel of all components inside seeming to be of lesser quality when compared to FS.
• Even though its an MS machine, the 1L Booster Jet didn't sell much, and repairs and maintenance can prove to be expensive if any need arises.
• On the safety front, the Baleno lacks totally with just 2 airbags, not a very strong build, and no active safety features as well.
• The music system is not at all impressive and if I have to use it as my primary car, I will have to upgrade at least the speaker system to something that has enough balance and loudness.
• With the recent intercity drives and the advent of speed cams, I've come to realize the use of cruise control and it is sorely missing in this vehicle. There are external mods available, but not sure of compatibility and reliability of those.
• There is no warranty coverage for the car and the car being 5 years old entails some extra maintenance and replacement, that might lead to higher ownership costs.

FreeStyle - Pros:

• The ride and handling of the car is just great and gives a driving pleasure that Baleno is not even remotely able to.
• The build quality of the vehicle, both exterior and interior, is definitely better and confidence inspiring.
• The active and passive safety kit on the car is good with traction control, corner stability control, anti rollover protection hill-start assist, and 6 airbags.
• The car stands out the in the crowd and is an underrated beauty. She looks cute when you want her to be cute, she looks hot when you want her to be hot. The silhouette of the car is one of the best looking ones in the market I feel. Just looking at her puts a smile on my face, sometimes a huge grin. (Yes, I'm definitely in love with her!)
• Ford's servicing till now (1 before and 1 after Ford's exit) has been reliable, inexpensive and assuring. The best service experience I've had with any brand.
• The car has be handled, maintained and treated very well and no stones have been left upturned whenever something has felt off.
• The audio system in the car satisfies my car audio needs for now and I don't feel like it needs to be upgraded.
• The car is under extended warranty for next 3 years, though I have some doubts about it due to Ford's exit.

FreeStyle - Cons:

• The largest disadvantage that FS has is the interior space. When compared to Baleno, FS lacks considerably. Be it the read seats, the headroom or even the boot space. The Baleno has a very clear advantage in this department. FS works well with 4, not so well with 5, but just barely manageable.
• Ford's exit has put some pressure on the service experience and from the instances I've come across from people online, the service experience has become slightly slower and slightly expensive than before though the service quality has not been affected. This might lead to expensive repair or maintenance work ahead with the risk of the car being at SC for longer than expected duration.
• The infotainment on the FS does not support Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and my current work around is sticking my phone on dashboard, but sometimes, it does seem to be a little cumbersome.
• Cruise control is missing in FS too. Again mods are available but not sure of the reliability and its effect on warranty/insurance.
• Ford's exit. Mentioning second time, because while everything has been good and great till now, I am worried if it still stays the same afterwards as well.

Some other factors:

• FS is my first personal vehicle that I bought with my own money and I've grown more attached to it than anything else (my girlfriend even jokes on how I care more about the car than about her). So emotions are high and I will need some hard convincing of myself if I have to let her go.
• The girlfriend mentioned above is soon going to be my wife and we have a travel list which, if its only both of us, will be easily traveled in the FS. If either set of parents get involved in any plan, Baleno will offer more comfort, for sure.
• Whichever car I decide to keep, it has to serve us for at least the next 3 years by which time I'm assuming there will be multiple viable EV options to chose from. There's a very high chance that my next car will be an EV and I might even delay that purchase if there are no good options available in the market.
• The daily running costs for both the vehicles are almost same with both offering about 13kmpl mileage in the city and 19-20kmpl mileage on the highways. So none of them have any advantage with respect to the running costs.
• While running costs are not a major concern right now (I am somehow managing the dent of increased fuel prices on my finances), if the fuel costs get high enough that it becomes a no-brainer to use an EV, I will jump to the EV sooner than I mentioned.

I would request the more experienced and knowledgeable forum members to share some advice and guide me on which vehicle to keep based on the above points and also some other points I should think about but haven't.

Thanks,

Sanket.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Both cars are good and have a lot of life left in them. First things first, you are selling & changing cars too early. Two threads you just have to read:

5 year old car: Keep, sell, swap?

How a more expensive car can work out cheaper

To answer the thread question, between the two, I would keep the car that makes me smile more. In your case, it is clearly the Freestyle, so retain that. You'll get good money for the Baleno as there is a used car supply crunch currently. On the other hand, your Freestyle will suffer a major depreciation hit today...and so will it 4 years from now (because of the Ford exit). Your warranty will ensure a fuss-free ownership.

Ford will continue to support your car. And there are enough Figos, Freestyles & Aspires on the road for the after-market to as well.

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

For me, it's a no brainer. I will any day keep the much safer / better built freestyle with 6 air bags, over the Baleno any day. I will not look beyond this, if I were to decide which car to keep.

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

Hi S2K, your concern regarding Fords exit is valid. In 2020, I booked FS along with my friend and in June Ford bumped the price up by 50K which my friend was ready to absorb but not me. During same time I persuaded another friend to buy the EcoSport diesel over the Brezza and he listened to me.

After Fords exit, I felt sorry for both of them and I keep checking on them if they have any trouble with service. I know hardly I can contribute if they are dissatisfied customers. Still I feel if I had not persuaded them so much to buy Ford , they would be in much mental peace.

However I can see they are very happy Ford owners till date. Both of them keep appreciating great diesel mileage, strong build and comfort of co-passengers in long drives.

It's hard to say if Fords service quality will deteriorate in future. But considering your current observations and the inputs from my friends I feel keeping the Ford will be a good decision.

Thanks.

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

Why selling the Freestyle is a bad idea :

• Cars take a massive depreciation hit in the first year (after road tax and the 3 year insurance is factored in).
• Since you had purchased a demo car, I am assuming that RTO records will show you as the 2nd owner. Higher the no of owners, lower the resale value.
• Compared to Ecosport, Freestyle was less popular and sales numbers were poor. Again, lower resale value.
• The elephant in the room: Ford's exit has dampened the resale value.
• You enjoy driving Freestyle more than Baleno.
• Safer car.
• Most Important: It tugs at your heart.

Why selling the Baleno is a good idea :

• Has a higher resale value (MSIL+Baleno combination).
• Since you mentioned some aggressive driving, it'll not age very well. (May need early suspension and related parts).
• Has lesser safety features than the Freestyle.
• Taking a bigger rental car (Innova , Marazzo, Ertiga etc) for your combined family trips is a better option. You can enjoy a different car.
• Finally, I would advise against installation of cruise control from 3rd party vendors. It may void warranty, and there are safety risks involved.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.