The Toyota Innova Crysta would be an easy choice if the requirements are only for a reliable and low-maintenance seven-seater. It has a strong and trusty 2.4-litre diesel engine that can cover some serious kilometers without flinching. However, it does fall short of features and equipment, and the interior is more about function than form. The touchscreen and infotainment are old-school and downright dated, the buttons and plastics are hard and scratchy, and there aren’t plush goodies like a sunroof, ventilated seats or wireless connectivity.
The Mahindra Scorpio N, on the other hand, has a more modern interior with the latest tech. The interior feels rich, and it is strong in performance and refinement, too. The downside is that the Scorpio is not comfortable for seven adults despite being a seven-seater. The third row is cramped, and with the three rows up, there isn’t much space for luggage. The Crysta is a lot more practical.
Another option worth considering is the Kia Carens Clavis. It is a three-row MPV with good space across all rows. It also gets a refined diesel option, and Kia cars are reliable, too. The interior of the Clavis feels upmarket, and it is impressive when it comes to practicality.
A no-nonsense 7-seater with the bare minimum features would be the Crysta in its GX Plus variant. A fun-to-drive, hardy SUV would be the Scorpio-N, and a practical and feature-rich choice would be the Carens Clavis.