SUVs Under Rs 10 Lakh: Spoilt For Choice
Which is the best compact SUV under Rs 10 lakh? We look at the pros and cons of all the SUVs in this segment.
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Are you looking for an SUV with a budget of Rs 10 lakh? The good news is that there are a number of SUVs in this range in the market. But picking one won’t be an easy task.
The Quint has compiled a list of the available SUVs in this range. This list should help you make an informed decision. Some of these SUVs are quite popular and hence we have sorted them in order of their average sales figures over the past six months.
Maruti Vitara Brezza
Price range: Rs 7.25 to Rs 9.9 lakh
Average monthly sales: 9,600
The Maruti Vitara Brezza is one of the most popular compact SUVs available. It has won a lot of admirers with its sporty looks and frugal diesel engine. The Brezza has a 1.3 litre diesel engine that puts out 89 bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque with a five-speed manual transmission. Since it is fairly light, those power figures are decent enough. It is feature rich, with the top-end variants including touchscreen infotainment systems with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
Why pick: Rugged looks; ground clearance; features
Why ignore: Bumpy ride quality; sound insulation
Mahindra Bolero
Price range: Rs 6.9 lakh to Rs 8.6 lakh
Average monthly sales: 6,800
The Mahindra Bolero is a rugged workhorse. It has been around for nearly two decades now and has been getting constant upgrades to keep up with the times. The latest improvement of the Mahindra Bolero saw its bumpers getting shortened to bring its total length under 4 metres. It was also given a 1.5 litre diesel engine and some refinement. It continues to be popular in tier two cities.
Why pick: Tough as nails; totally utilitarian
Why ignore: Not stylish enough
Ford EcoSport
Price range: Rs 7.2 lakh to Rs. 10.8 lakh
Average monthly sales: 3,800
The Ford EcoSport is popular with buyers looking for a peppy and modern looking compact SUV. It comes with a 1.5 litre diesel engine with a five-speed manual transmission, putting out 99 bhp of power. It also has the option of a 1.5 litre petrol with a six-speed automatic transmission or a 1-litre turbo-petrol (Ecoboost) engine that puts out 123 bhp of power. It is a fun-to-drive compact SUV and has quite a decent feature list.
Why pick: Peppy diesel engine; fun-to-drive; refined turbo petrol motor
Why ignore: Rear seat not too spacious; may be too quirky for some
Mahindra KUV100
Price range: Rs 4.6 lakh to Rs 7.8 lakh
Average monthly sales: 2,400
The Mahindra KUV100 is one of the most inexpensive mini SUVs you can get. It comes with 1.2 litre, three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, putting out 82 bhp and 77 bhp of power respectively with five-speed manual transmissions. It features a three-seat up front design on some variants, so you could technically carry six passengers. The gear shift is on the dashboard, freeing up floor space. It is a practical alternative to a hatchback for those on a tight budget.
Why pick: Value-for-money alternative to a budget hatchback
Why ignore: Quirky design
Mahindra TUV300
Price range: Rs 7.6 lakh to Rs 9.9 lakh
Average monthly sales: 2,200
Built like a tank, is how Mahindra advertises the TUV300. This vehicle is built on the Scorpio chassis, but is slightly smaller. Its boxy design invites love it or hate it reactions. It comes with a 1.5 litre diesel engine in two states of tune – 84 bhp and 100 bhp. It is offered with a five-speed manual or a five-speed AMT (automated manual transmission), which makes it ideal for less than perfect city roads.
Why pick: Value-for-money; rugged build
Why ignore: Boxy design may put off some buyers
Honda WR-V
Price range: Rs 7.75 lakh to Rs 10 lakh
Average monthly sales: 2,100
The Honda WR-V was launched in March and has been fairly well received. It is based on the Jazz platform, but has been beefed up to give it its SUV looks. The Honda WR-V comes with a 1.2 litre petrol and a 1.5 litre diesel engine. The 1.2 litre petrol engine feels under-powered for the size of the vehicle. But the 1.5 litre diesel is well suited to it. It is fairly spacious inside and feels airy because of the large glass area. There is no automatic variant for now.
Why pick: Spacious and refined
Why ignore: Looks like a Jazz on steroids; under-powered petrol variant
Maruti S-Cross
Price range: Rs 8.1 lakh to Rs 12.1 lakh
Average monthly sales: 2,012
The Maruti S-Cross is a pretty potent crossover, but only in its 1.6-litre diesel version. Unfortunately, that only comes on the top-end Alpha variant now, which is over Rs 12 lakh ex-showroom. The other variants come with the 1.3 litre diesel engine putting out just 90 bhp of power. That’s about the same as the Vitara Brezza, and if you are not looking for that slightly premium look and a little more space, the Brezza is a better choice.
Why pick: For the 1.6 litre diesel
Why ignore: Looks too understated; no petrol variant
Mahindra NuvoSport
Price range: Rs 7.7 lakh to Rs 10.2 lakh
Average monthly sales: 96
The Mahindra NuvoSport is a re-worked Mahindra Quanto, which was in turn based on the Xylo. It sports the same 1.5 litre diesel engine that comes with the TUV300, but it is just not popular, despite the facelift. Between the TUV300 and the NuvoSport, the former has better handling and driving dynamics. Given its dismal monthly sales figures, it is quite possible that Mahindra may discontinue the NuvoSport.
Why pick: To be different
Why ignore: Quirky looks; body roll
We have left the Mahindra Thar out of this list because it is pretty niche and is meant for those who are looking for some serious off-roading. For those looking for slightly premium compact SUVs, between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, choose between the likes of Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster, Honda BR-V and Nissan Terrano.
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