Mahindra Scorpio-N, Tata Safari or something else – here are India’s best 7-seater cars with INR 20 lakh

The car market in the sub-Rs 20 lakh space is expanding rapidly in India as more and more manufacturers are unveiling new products in a range of segments. Numerous manufacturers have entered the 7-seater SUV / MPV category in this price range due to high demand.

Check out this list of the best 7 seater cars in the Indian market right now priced under Rs 20 lakh (former showroom):

Kia Carens

Starting price – Rs 9.60 lakh (ex showroom)
This Kia offering is one of the cheapest minivans available on the Indian circuit under Rs 20 lakh due to its extensive feature list and range of powertrains available. It features a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected car technology, cruise control, digital driver display, one-touch electric folding function for the second row of seats, ambient lighting , ventilated front seats and a single glass roof.

A 1.5-liter NA petrol engine (115hp / 144Nm), a 1.4-liter turbo petrol engine (140hp / 242Nm) and a 1.5-liter diesel engine (115hp / 250Nm) ) are the engine choices offered with the Carens. A 6-speed manual transmission is one of the available transmissions, while turbo petrol and diesel engines can also be used with a 7-speed DCT and 6-speed AT, respectively.

Mahindra Scorpio-N
Starting price – Rs 13.54 lakh (former showroom)
Mahindra & Mahindra’s latest Scorpio-N is a high-end alternative to its predecessor Scorpio. The Scorpio-N is the perfect choice for customers looking to purchase a bold and rugged SUV to take anywhere thanks to its ladder frame chassis, the only one in the midsize SUV segment.

The new Mahindra Scorpio-N is powered by a 2.2-liter diesel engine that generates 132 hp / 300 Nm in its lower configuration and 175 hp / 370 Nm (400 Nm with AT) in the upper configuration; along with a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing maximum power of 203 hp and maximum torque of 370 Nm (380 Nm with AT). It also comes with a rear-wheel drive configuration as standard and with an optional 4WD configuration for the diesel engine.

Nanny Safari
Starting price – Rs 15.25 lakh (ex showroom)
A three-row version of the Harrier midsize SUV has reintroduced the Tata safari nameplate. The Safari runs on a 2.0-liter Kryotec diesel engine generating 170PS of maximum power and 350Nm of maximum torque, paired with a 6-speed MT and optional 6-speed AT.

Tata Safari features an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 9-speaker JBL audio system, iRA connected car technology, a wireless phone charger, an air purifier, a panoramic roof, an electrically operated driver’s seat, ventilated seats in the center and front row and more.

MG Hector Plus
Starting price – Rs 16.15 lakh (former showroom)
The MG Hector Plus starts in India at a base price of Rs 16.15 (former showroom) and offers both 6-seater and 7-seater configurations. The three-row SUV features the same 1.5-liter (143 PS / 250 Nm) turbo petrol and 2.0-liter (170 PS / 350 Nm) diesel engines from FCA as the five-seater Hector.

A vertically stacked 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, connected car technology, wireless phone charger, ventilated front seats, panoramic roof, rain sensing wipers, power tailgate, ambient lighting and many more functionality is included in the SUV.

Hyundai Alcazar
Starting price – Rs 15.89 lakh (former showroom)
The Alcazar is the three-row version of the Creta, just like the five-seater SUV-based Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus SUVs. The 1.5-liter diesel engine (115hp / 250Nm) remains the same as the Creta, but the Alcazar is available with a 2.0-liter NA petrol engine with 159hp / 191Nm, unlike the Creta.

The Hyundai Alcazar features a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with connected car technology, similarly sized fully digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, cruise control, ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, on-command panoramic voice sunroof and more.

Mahindra XUV700
Starting price – Rs 16.53 lakh (former showroom)
Customers vying for this Mahindra offering are currently going through long waiting periods thanks to its strong demand since it hit the Indian market last year. Mahindra offers this midsize SUV in both 5 and 7 seater configurations. The 7-seater AX3 diesel model starts at a price of Rs 16.53 lakh (former showroom).

The XUV700 is equipped with features such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a similarly sized digital driver display, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, up to 7 airbags, heating electronic parking, as well as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) including autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control.

Toyota Innova Crista
Starting price – Rs 17.86 lakh (former showroom)
The only car on this list available in both 7-seater and 8-seater configurations is the Toyota Innova Crysta. The MPV is large enough to accommodate three people in the back row, so the 7-seater variant has two captain’s chairs in the center row, while the 8-seater model is equipped with a bench seat.

A 2.7-liter NA petrol engine generating 166 hp and 245 Nm and a 2.4-liter diesel producing 150 hp and 360 Nm units drive the Innova Crysta. Both engines are paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and an optional 6-speed AT torque converter.