We would strongly suggest opting for a 7-seater. Having a safe car but carrying six persons in a 5-seater is equally, or even more, unsafe. We recommend the Kia Carens Clavis, as it meets your space requirements. In the Clavis, you have enough room to mount two child seats (highly recommended for child safety) along with four adults, ensuring good comfort. The ride quality is also comfortable, and it is a large, practical car.
Yes, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine doesn’t have the punch of the 3XO’s turbo petrol engine, and if that is something you are after, then we would recommend stretching and going for the base variant of the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It is a 7-seater, although the third row is not as comfortable as the Clavis, but it is good enough for children, and the turbo petrol engine is powerful and has effortless performance.