Long drives offer a perfect escape from a busy lifestyle. But you need a suitable car to ensure an excellent driving experience and comfort during long-distance journeys.
Best Indian cars for long drives: check top options
Published on 4 Oct, 2021, 9:51 AM IST
Updated on 3 May, 2024, 5:23 AM IST
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There are multiple characteristics you should evaluate to figure out which car is best for long drives. A car for long drives should be spacious enough, offer reasonable power, comfortable seats and provide good boot space. Fuel efficiency is also important to keep your long journeys easy on the wallet.
Keeping all that in mind, we have created a list of the best Indian cars for long drives for you.
Best Cars for Long Drive in India
| Model name | Fuel type | Body type | Seating capacity | Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo | Petrol | Hatchback | 5 | Rs. 6.27 lakhs - Rs. 9.99 lakhs |
| Honda Jazz | Petrol | Hatchback | 5 | Rs. 7.65 lakhs - Rs. 9.89 lakhs |
| Skoda Rapid | Petrol | Sedan | 5 | Rs. 7.79 lakhs - Rs. 13.29 lakhs |
| Maruti Ciaz | Petrol | Sedan | 5 | Rs. 8.72 lakhs - Rs. 11.71 lakhs |
| Honda City | Petrol/Diesel | Sedan | 5 | Rs. 11.16 lakhs - Rs. 15.11 lakhs |
| Renault Kwid | Petrol | Hatchback | 5 | Rs. 4.06 lakhs - Rs. 5.59 lakhs |
| Tata Tiago | Petrol | Hatchback | 5 | Rs. 4.99 lakhs - Rs. 7.04 lakhs |
| Hyundai Grand i10 Nios | Petrol/Diesel | Hatchback | 5 | Rs. 5.28 lakhs - Rs. 8.50 lakhs |
| Maruti Dzire | Petrol | Sedan | 5 | Rs. 5.99 lakhs - Rs. 9.08 lakhs |
| Honda Amaze | Petrol/Diesel | Sedan | 5 | Rs. 6.32 lakhs - Rs. 11.14 lakhs |
| Hyundai Venue | Petrol/Diesel | SUV | 5 | Rs. 6.99 lakhs - Rs. 11.85 lakhs |
| Maruti Vitara Brezza | Petrol | SUV | 5 | Rs. 7.61 lakhs - Rs. 11.19 lakhs |
| Mahindra XUV300 | Petrol/Diesel | SUV | 5 | Rs. 7.95 lakhs - Rs. 13.33 lakhs |
| Hyundai Creta | Petrol/Diesel | SUV | 5 | Rs. 10.16 lakhs - Rs. 17.87 lakhs |
| Renault Triber | Petrol | MUV | 7 | Rs. 5.50 lakhs - Rs. 7.95 lakhs |
| Maruti Ertiga | Petrol | MUV | 7 | Rs. 7.96 lakhs - Rs. 10.69 lakhs |
| Mahindra XUV500 | Diesel | MUV | 7 | Rs. 14.22 lakhs - Rs. 20.07 lakhs |
| Kia Carnival | Diesel | MUV | 7 | Rs. 24.95 lakhs - Rs. 33.99 lakhs |
| BMW X5 | Petrol/Diesel | SUV | 5 | Rs. 76.50 lakhs - Rs. 80 lakhs |
| Land Rover Discovery | Petrol/Diesel | SUV | 7 | Rs. 88.06 lakhs - Rs. 1.19 crores |
| Lexus LS | Petrol | Sedan | 4 | Rs. 1.91 crores - Rs. 2.22 crores |
Read on to find about the best car for long-distance driving in detail.
Here is a list of the best cars for long drives you can buy in India.
Volkswagen Polo
Price: Rs. 6.27 lakhs - Rs. 9.99 lakhs
Volkswagen Polo is a 5-seater hatchback that gets a connectivity suite to track your trip, fuel cost, driver behaviour monitoring, etc. The cabin and boot are spacious enough for five passengers and their luggage. The vehicle is available with 1-litre Multi-point Injection (MPI) petrol engine and 1-litre Turbo Stratified Injection (TSI) engine that come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or torque converter automatic gearbox options.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 16.47 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Solid build quality, dual front airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 280 litres |
Honda Jazz
Price: Rs. 7.65 lakhs - Rs. 9.89 lakhs
Honda Jazz is an easy-to-drive hatchback, especially when you drive the automatic variant. The vehicle gets a user-friendly, spacious cabin, making it one of the best cars for long road trips. The power comes from a 1.2-litre petrol engine, which you can have with a 5-speed manual or a 7-speed Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) option.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.2-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (CVT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 17.1 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Strong body structure, multi-view rear camera, speed alert, crash sensor, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 354 litres |
Skoda Rapid
Price: Rs. 7.79 lakhs - Rs. 13.29 lakhs
Skoda Rapid is a classy-looking sedan that impresses with its easy handling and peppy engine performance. For passengers, it offers a well-finished interior with spacious rear seats. You can have it with the 1-litre petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual or torque converter automatic transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 16.24 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Crash sensing fuel cut-off, engine immobiliser, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 460 litres |
Maruti Ciaz
Price: Rs. 8.72 lakhs - Rs. 11.71 lakhs
Maruti Ciaz is a spacious 5-seater sedan perfect for family road trips. The mild-hybrid technology keeps the petrol consumption under control, which helps to maintain a good fuel economy. The Ciaz gets a 1-5-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.5-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 20.04 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Anti-theft device, rear parking camera, hill assist system, crash sensor, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 510 litres |
Honda City
Price: Rs. 11.16 lakhs - Rs. 15.11 lakhs
Honda City is a fun-to-drive sedan due to the 7-speed CVT transmission option you get with a 1.5-litre petrol engine. The cabin has been designed to offer a good knee room for passengers in this 5-seater car. Apart from a petrol engine, you can have this vehicle with a 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.5-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (CVT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 18.4 kmpl (petrol), 24.1 kmpl (diesel) |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | ISOFIX child seat mounts, lane-watch camera, 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 506 litres |
Best mileage cars for long drives
Mileage is one of the significant factors when selecting the best car for travelling long distances. Thus, below is a list of mileage car options you can choose from for long drives.
Renault Kwid
Price: Rs. 4.06 lakhs - Rs. 5.59 lakhs
Renault Kwid is one of the most fuel-efficient budget cars you can buy. Even though the price is lower than many other hatchbacks, the Kwid offers impressive ride quality and comfort with features like voice recognition, a reverse parking camera, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The engine options include 0.8-litre petrol and 1-litre petrol units with a 5-speed manual and Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) options.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 0.8-litre/1-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (AMT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 22-25 kmpl (depending on the variant) |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Reverse parking camera, emergency wheel, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 279 litres |
Tata Tiago
Price: Rs. 4.99 lakhs - Rs. 7.04 lakhs
Tata Tiago is another hatchback you can choose for its fuel economy, build quality, and safety. The 4-star safety rating from Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) speaks about its build quality. The car is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine, which comes mated to a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.2-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (AMT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 23.84 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Key-in reminder, corner stability control, speed alert, anti-theft device, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 242 litres |
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
Price: Rs. 5.28 lakhs - Rs. 8.50 lakhs
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios can deliver fuel efficiency between 21 kmpl to 26.2 kmpl depending on the variant and fuel type. It offers generous headroom and knee room for passengers in the rear seat. You can have this hatchback with a 1-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. However, there are 1.2-litre petrol and diesel engine options available as well with a 5-speed manual or AMT gearbox.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1-litre/1.2-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (AMT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 21-26.2 kmpl (depending on the variant and fuel type) |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Engine check alert, side and front impact beams, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 260 litres |
Maruti Dzire
Price: Rs. 5.99 lakhs - Rs. 9.08 lakhs
The claimed fuel efficiency for Maruti Dzire is one of the highest in its segment. This sedan gets a 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual or AMT gearbox. Features such as cruise control, voice control, and automatic climate control make this car comfortable on long journeys.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.2-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (AMT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 24.12 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Suzuki, Heartect body, electronic stability control, rear camera, ISOFIX child seat mounts, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 378 litres |
Honda Amaze
Price: Rs. 6.32 lakhs - Rs. 11.14 lakhs
Honda Amaze is a compact sedan popular for its peppy engine performance and impressive fuel efficiency. The passengers experience a comfortable ride in the back seats due to ample headroom and knee room. You can have this car with a 1.2-litre petrol or a 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual or 5-speed CVT transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.2-litre/1.5-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (CVT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 18.3-24.7 kmpl (depending on the variant and fuel type) |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Advanced compatibility engineering, key-off alert, rear camera, crash sensor, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 420 litres |
Best SUVs for long-distance driving
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are admired for their spacious cabins, ride stability, and features that make road trips easier. Hence, SUVs are the best choice if you are looking for a comfortable driving experience on long journeys.
To find the best comfortable car for long-distance driving, you can consider one of the following SUVs.
Hyundai Venue
Price: Rs. 6.99 lakhs - Rs. 11.85 lakhs
Hyundai Venue is considered one of the safest and feature-rich SUVs in India. It comes with one diesel and two petrol variants. Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) option is available with the 1-litre petrol engine.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1-litre/1.2-litre/1.5-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (DCT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 17.5-23.4 kmpl (depending on the variant and fuel type) |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Emergency assistance, hill assist, ISOFIX child seat mounts, speed alert, electronic stability control, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 350 litres |
Maruti Vitara Brezza
Price: Rs. 7.61 lakhs - Rs. 11.19 lakhs
Driving Maruti Vitara Brezza is a fun and relaxing experience. The SUV is spacious enough for five passengers and offers enough boot space for luggage storage. The suspension is capable of isolating the cabin from the impact of potholes and bumps on the road.
The car gets its power from a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission or a torque converter automatic gearbox.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.5-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 18.76 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Suzuki TECT body, reverse parking sensor, pedal release system, brake assist, power door locks, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 328 litres |
Mahindra XUV300
Price: Rs. 7.95 lakhs - Rs. 13.33 lakhs
Mahindra XUV300 is known for its stable driving experience in different road conditions. The SUV comes with 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options mated to a 6-speed manual or AMT transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.2-litre/1.5-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (AMT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 17 kmpl (petrol), 20 kmpl (diesel) |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Curtain airbag, corner braking control, rear camera, tyre-position display, 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 259 litres |
Hyundai Creta
Price: Rs. 10.16 lakhs - Rs. 17.87 lakhs
Hyundai Creta is a compact SUV that offers a quiet and comfortable cabin for passengers. You get multiple variants based on engine and gearbox options. There are two petrol and one diesel engine options available. The petrol engines get 6-speed CVT and 7-speed DCT automatic transmission options. The diesel engine is available with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.4-litre/1.5-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (CVT, DCT, torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 17-21 kmpl (depending on the variant and fuel type) |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Curtain airbags, lane change indicator, seatbelt reminder, 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 433 litres |
Best 7-seater cars for long journeys
Sometimes a 5-seater SUV doesn’t offer enough space for a family or group of friends on long journeys. That’s when you should look for 7-seater cars for long drives. Here are the 7-seater cars best-suited for long journeys.
Renault Triber
Price: Rs. 5.50 lakhs - Rs. 7.95 lakhs
Renault Triber is a Multi-utility Vehicle (MUV) with a 7-seater capacity, which you can convert into six, five, four, and even two-seater. The vehicle gets its power from a 1-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual or AMT transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (AMT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 18.29 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 7 |
| Safety | Rear parking camera, speed alert, crash sensor, 4 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 625 litres |
Maruti Ertiga
Price: Rs. 7.96 lakhs - Rs. 10.69 lakhs
Maruti Ertiga is a comfortable Multi-purpose Vehicle (MPV) from Maruti Suzuki that lets you ride confidently over uneven roads or potholes. The cabin offers spacious seating and storage options. You can have the Ertiga with a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 1.5-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 17.99 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 7 |
| Safety | Brake assist, stability control system, crash sensor, dual airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 209 litres |
Mahindra XUV500
Price: Rs. 14.22 lakhs - Rs. 20.07 lakhs
Mahindra XUV500 is a 7-seater SUV you can drive on highways and busy city roads as well. Though the car has limited boot space, it is considered suitable for long drives due to the spacious seating and ample knee room and headroom for passengers. The vehicle is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or torque converter automatic gearbox.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 2.2-litre |
| Transmission | Manual/Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 15.1 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 7 |
| Safety | Manual override, crash sensor, 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 93 litres |
Kia Carnival
Price: Rs. 24.95 lakhs - Rs. 33.99 lakhs
Kia Carnival is one of the most comfortable 7-seater MUVs. The car is quite spacious from the inside and offers various features such as VIP seats, dual sunroof, etc. The boot space is massive to carry a lot of luggage on your road trips. The vehicle runs on a 2.2-litre diesel engine mated to an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 2.2-litre |
| Transmission | Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 14.11 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 44446 |
| Safety | Roll-over mitigation, curtain airbags, cornering brake control, tyre pressure monitor, 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 540 litres |
Best luxury cars for long-distance driving
If you don’t mind the high cost, the luxury vehicle segment also has some exciting options of cars for long drives.
BMW X5
Price: Rs. 76.50 lakhs - Rs. 80 lakhs
BMW X5 is a burly luxury SUV with on-road and off-road driving capabilities. The interior of this SUV gets dynamic lighting, climate control, and multifunction seats. The iDrive technology supports voice/gesture commands, a touchscreen panel and a customisable display. There are two petrol and two diesel engine options available with automatic transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 3-litre |
| Transmission | Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 11.24-13.38 kmpl (depending on the variant) |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Safety | Cornering brake control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, crash sensor, brake energy regeneration, 360-degree view camera, 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 650 litres |
Land Rover Discovery
Price: Rs. 88.06 lakhs - Rs. 1.19 crores
The Land Rover Discovery gives you a perfect balance of luxury and practical elements suitable for long-distance cruising. The interior is comfortable, spacious and allows reconfiguration of seats to increase the storage area. This SUV is available in three petrol and one diesel engine option. All engine options come mated to torque converter automatic transmission.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 2-litre/3-litre |
| Transmission | Automatic (torque converter) |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 8.93-12.05 kmpl (depending on the variant and fuel type) |
| Seating capacity | 7 |
| Safety | Traction control, electronic parking brake, adaptive cruise control, rear parking camera, reverse parking sensors, 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 258 litres |
Lexus LS
Price: Rs. 1.91 crores - Rs. 2.22 crores
Lexus LS is a sedan as luxurious from the inside as it is from the outside. The cabin of the LS gets premium-quality leather upholstery and comfortable seating for four passengers. The vehicle gets a hybrid powertrain setup with a 3.5-litre petrol engine that runs in conjunction with 2 electric motors. The engine comes mated to a 10-speed CVT gearbox.
Specifications
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 3.5-litre |
| Transmission | Automatic (CVT) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel economy | 15.4 kmpl |
| Seating capacity | 4 |
| Safety | Inclination sensor, road sign assistance, electronic stability control, traction control, 14 airbags, ABS, EBD, etc. |
| Boot space | 430 litres |
Long drive precautions during a car journey
The following precautions will help you enjoy safe long car journeys.
Fill the fuel tank in advance and plan your fuel station stops
Manage your speed as per the road conditions, weather, and visibility
Stick to a stable speed on highways
Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles
Drive in your lane and give appropriate signals while overtaking
Make sure that your car is in the right gear before overtaking another vehicle
Use appropriate signals to inform other vehicles about your movements
Note: All the prices mentioned in this article are ex-showroom, Delhi and the fuel economy/mileage is as per the ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India).
Frequently asked questions
Below are some of the common questions answered to help you buy a car for long drives.
What should I look for when looking for a car for long drives?
When looking for a car for long-distance driving, you may want to evaluate vehicles with respect to their cabin space, seating comfort, and luggage storage. At the same time, it would be helpful to ensure that the car offers decent ride quality and fuel efficiency to make long journeys convenient and budget-friendly.
Which is a good budget car for long drives?You can choose between the following budget-friendly cars for long drives:
Renault Kwid (Price: Rs. 4.06 lakhs - Rs. 5.59 lakhs)
Tata Tiago (Price: Rs. 4.99 lakhs - Rs. 7.04 lakhs)
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios (Price: Rs. 5.28 lakhs - Rs. 8.50 lakhs)
Renault Triber (Price: Rs. 5.50 lakhs - Rs. 7.95 lakhs)
Volkswagen Polo (Price: Rs. 6.27 lakhs - Rs. 9.99 lakhs)
If you are looking for a small car for long drives, the following choices may help:
Honda Jazz
Renault Kwid
Tata Tiago
Despite being small cars, these vehicles have impressive fuel efficiency, driveability and comfortable seating.
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