Marazzo Total Points: 65.4

It’s safe to say that the Mahindra Marazzo was the surprise of this year’s ‘Best of 2018’ test. While I had driven it previously – and had been hugely impressed by it – my colleagues saw it in the flesh for the first time during this mega test. And it was clear very quickly that the Marazzo would do quite well this year.

- Ravi Ved

The most impressive feature of the Marazzo is the space it has on offer. On our track day, we used it extensively to ferry a full load of seven passengers, and not one of them complained of insufficient room. Frankly, it’s a result of smart packaging and bold development from the designers at Mahindra. Unlike some of the other vehicles in the segment, the Marazzo is front-wheel drive with a transversely mounted engine – and this gives it two advantages. First, more space in the cabin – the wheelbase of the Marazzo is longer than the Toyota Innova Crysta, even though it’s shorter in length. Second, a lower floor makes ingress and egress much easier. Adding to the comfort factor is the roof-mounted air-conditioner that keeps the cabin cool, even in the third row.