Best SUV Cars under ₹15 lakhs in 2021
SUVs have taken India by storm with sales steadily being higher than hatchbacks and sedans. A Sports Utility Vehicle or SUV usually refers to any car that has a high ground clearance, soft off-roading capabilities, and spacious interiors. A quick look at the current cars offered by the manufacturers in India, there are three clear segments within the SUV car segment. This segmentation offers customers the opportunity of owning the best SUV car at their budget.
If you’re looking for SUVs in India, there are plenty of options to choose from. For the purpose of this buying guide, the SUVs will be segmented according to their price categories. These are the best SUV under 15 lakhs in India 2021.
Best Micro SUV
The micro SUV segment is a very recent introduction to the SUV car segment. These cars are not true SUVs but instead are small hatchbacks with high ground clearance and SUV-like styling. Considering these are technically hatchbacks, micro SUVs are also the most affordable in this segment.
Renault Kwid
The Renault Kwid is the pioneer of this segment, providing a SUV-like experience at a fraction of the cost of an actual SUV. In many ways, the Kwid’s USP is that it’s a very different kind of entry level car that many find appealing.
With the Kwid you get a decently high ground clearance and a muscular exterior design that gives it an appearance of a small SUV. A choice of fuel efficient engines combined with manual and automatic transmission options make the Kwid ideal as a compact city car. The interior also offers plenty of space with essential features like dual front airbags and touchscreen infotainment system. All this at a price range starting from just ₹3.12 lakhs.
Renault Kwid Features
Engine options: 0.8-litre petrol engine | 1.0-litre petrol engine
Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission | 5-speed AMT
Mileage: 20.71 kmpl (0.8-litre) | 21.74 kmpl (1.0-litre)
Boot space: 279 litres
Ground Clearance: 184 mm
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso
For once, it was Maruti that had to respond to competition and the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso is the answer to the Kwid. Like the Kwid, the S-Presso is a fresh take on what an entry level car should be and it has found its place in the Indian market.
Unlike the Kwid, however, the S-Presso does not pair its high ground clearance with a muscular exterior body. Instead, Maruti has opted for a more conventional hatchback design, which makes it appear as a more sedate SUV. Nonetheless, this micro SUV offers a very fuel efficient engine along with a choice of a manual or AMT transmission. Even though it is an entry level SUV, there is quirky interior styling that features dual front airbags and a touchscreen infotainment system.
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Features
Engine options: 1.0-litre petrol engine
Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission | 5-speed AMT
Mileage: 21.4 kmpl
Boot space: 270 litres
Ground Clearance: 180 mm
Best Compact SUV
The compact SUV under 15 lakhs segment is rapidly growing and manufacturers are focusing on bringing value-focused cars to take the crown. These compact SUVs can be considered as smaller versions of mid-size SUVs, delivering a very capable SUV-like experience.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza
Maruti was late to the compact SUV party but the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza met all expectations at launch.
The Vitara Brezza ticks all the right boxes with good ground clearance, spacious interiors, and capable engine options. If you’re buying new, the Vitara Brezza is only available with a petrol engine while used Brezza cars will be found with diesel engines. Both these engines are paired with a manual or AMT transmission. In either case, the Vitara Brezza is a refined compact SUV to own.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Features
Engine options: 1.5-litre petrol engine (new) | 1.3-litre diesel engine (used)
Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission | 4-speed AMT
Mileage: 18.76 kmpl (Petrol) | 24.3 kmpl (Diesel)
Boot space: 328 litres
Ground Clearance: 198 mm
Ford EcoSport
Ford introduced India to the compact SUV segment with the Ford EcoSport. As a pioneer, the EcoSport delivered a very SUV-like experience in a compact package.
The muscular body and SUV styling elements of the EcoSport make it the most SUV-like car on this list. The option of powerful diesel and petrol engines paired with a manual or automatic provide a powerful driving experience. Combined with Ford’s famed handling, the EcoSport is a capable compact SUV that is suited for the city and the occasional soft off-roading.
Ford EcoSport Features
Engine options: 1.5-litre petrol engine | 1.5-litre diesel engine
Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission | 6-speed automatic transmission
Mileage: 15.7 kmpl (Petrol) | 21.7 kmpl (Diesel)
Boot space: 352 litres
Ground Clearance: 200 mm
Mahindra XUV300
Stylish, aggressive and very compact, the Mahindra XUV300 introduces a very unique compact SUV experience. Drawing from Mahindra’s experience of building capable SUVs, the XUV300 is a powerhouse to contend with.
The XUV300 can be seen as a baby XUV500, exuding a muscular and confident road presence. Paired with the powerful Mahindra engines, the XUV300 is prepared to thrill on those long highway drives. This compact SUV is well-equipped with features like a sunroof and up to 7 airbags. An added advantage for the XUV300 is the 5-star Global NCAP rating, which adds more confidence in the safety capabilities of this compact SUV.
Mahindra XUV300 Features
Engine options: 1.5-litre diesel engine | 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission | 6-speed automatic transmission
Mileage: 20 kmpl (Diesel) | 17 kmpl (Petrol)
Boot space: 257 litres
Ground Clearance: 180 mm
Hyundai Venue
Hyundai’s focus on tech features finally made its way to the compact SUV segment with the Hyundai Venue. The Venue features similar styling to the larger Creta, which helps it stand out from the competition.
A high ground clearance paired with a clean exterior design makes the Hyundai Venue perfectly suited for urban SUV duties. The Venue also offers smooth manual, automatic and semi-manual iMT transmissions paired with diesel, petrol or turbo petrol engines. The addition of a sunroof and up to 6 airbags, make the Venue an ideal compact SUV for the city.
Hyundai Venue Features
Engine options: 1.4-litre diesel engine | 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine | 1.2-litre petrol engine
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission | 6-speed iMT transmission | 6-speed DCT automatic transmission
Mileage: 23.7 kmpl (Diesel) | 18.27 kmpl (Turbo petrol) | 17.52 kmpl (Petrol)
Boot space: 350 litres
Ground Clearance: 195 mm
Kia Sonet
The Kia Sonet is a very close cousin to the Hyundai Venue. It’s meant for those looking for a more sporty compact SUV that is as loaded with tech as the Hyundai.
With a focus on a sporty aesthetic, the Kia Sonet features angular design elements and a sportier driving experience. With the same engine and transmission options as the Venue, the Sonet is geared towards providing a smooth city driving experience. The ventilated seats, sunroof, and 7-speaker Bose sound system provide a very premium passenger experience.
Kia Sonet Features
Engine options: 1.5-litre diesel engine | 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine | 1.2-litre petrol engine
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission | 6-speed iMT transmission | 6-speed DCT automatic transmission
Mileage: 24.1 kmpl (Diesel) | 18.2 kmpl (Turbo petrol) | 18.4 kmpl (Petrol)
Boot space: 392 litres
Ground Clearance: 205 mm
Tata Nexon
Tata took a different approach for their compact SUV. Instead of a conventional SUV design, the Tata Nexon employs a unique, quirky design that has proved immensely popular in India.
The Tata Nexon has now received its first facelift, which gives it a more mature appearance while retaining the high ground clearance and SUV-like stance. There’s plenty of power on offer from the petrol and diesel engines as well, which lend themselves very well to spirited highway drives as well as casual city runs. The added 5-star Global NCAP safety rating along with a 8-speaker Harman sound system make it a safe and premium passenger experience.
Tata Nexon Features
Engine options: 1.5-litre diesel engine | 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission | 6-speed AMT
Mileage: 21.5 kmpl (Diesel) | 17 kmpl (Petrol)
Boot space: 350 litres
Ground Clearance: 209 mm
Nissan Magnite
Nissan’s latest efforts to improve its fortunes in India is to bring a very competitive compact SUV. That compact SUV is the Nissan Magnite, which launched at the end of 2020 and becomes one of the new compact SUVs to consider in 2021.
The Nissan Magnite comes with a very aggressive design that manages to be minimalist at the same time. Since, the Magnite leans more towards the sportier end of compact SUVs with a turbo petrol engine and a CVT automatic transmission. To further complement the sporty driving experience, the Nissan Magnite features angular interior styling as well as some tech features like wireless charging.
Nissan Magnite Features
Engine options: 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine | 1.0-litre petrol engine
Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission | CVT automatic transmission
Mileage: 20 kmpl (Turbo petrol) | 18.75 kmpl (Petrol)
Boot space: 336 litres
Ground Clearance: 205 mm
Renault Kiger
Renault’s India formula is to provide compact cars that don’t skimp on features or practicality. We’ve seen it with the Renault Kwid and Triber, and now the Renault Kiger looks to offer the same practical value in the compact SUV segment.
The Renault Kiger looks like a more grown up and beefier version of the Kwid. It follows the same philosophy by offering a muscular body to cement itself as a capable compact SUV. The option of a turbo petrol engine and a CVT transmission further make the Kiger an attractive option for an enjoyable driving experience. With a focus on practicality rather than flair, the Kiger is equipped with a well-laid interior designed to offer a lot of usable space.
Renault Kiger Features
Engine options: 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine | 1.0-litre petrol engine
Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission | CVT automatic transmission
Mileage: 20 kmpl (Turbo petrol) | 18.75 kmpl (Petrol)
Boot space: 407 litres
Ground Clearance: 205 mm
The SUVs we’ve listed here are designed with the primary aim of tackling India’s notoriously bad roads. Apart from high ground clearance, these SUVs provide a variety of designs that will appeal to every customer. It’s no wonder that SUVs have become as ubiquitous as hatchbacks in India. At under ₹15 lakhs, there are a wealth of SUVs on offer, and we’re sure there’s one built specifically for you.
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