The rise in the popularity of automatic transmission cars has touched every sphere of the Indian automotive scene. Even the SUV segment has traditionally been a manual transmission market, seeing a growth in demand for automatic transmission-equipped vehicles. Also, with the likes of Toyota Fortuner being a really aspirational but equally costly product, it’s actually the smaller SUVs that rule the roost. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best automatic SUV under 12 lakhs –
The first vehicle on our list is a sub-compact SUV that has won many hearts since its introduction around the middle of the last decade. Now available with a petrol engine, the Brezza can even be bought with a 4-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. It’s also quite spacious, dynamically sorted, and has matured looks. Combined with the effortless driving from the refined petrol engine and the automatic transmission, this SUV turns out to be a good option for the everyday commute as well as occasional highway drives.
Next, on our list of best automatic SUVs under 12 lakhs, we have a car that is far from being a best-seller but still enjoys a massive fan-following due to its high safety rating. The Tata Nexon is available in both petrol and Diesel engine variants, with both the motors optionally offered with an AMT. This makes the Nexon a good buy if you’re looking for a powerful, good-looking, and stylish compact SUV that’s easy to drive due to automatic gear shifts. It’s also priced quite well and comes with enough features.
Up next, we have another sub-compact SUV that no longer sells in good numbers but continues to have a fair amount of fan following. The Ford Ecosport is a dynamically proven vehicle that looks quite good in spite of its age and comes with a slick-shifting automatic transmission for its petrol variant. The EcoSport also offers many features and a sufficiently high amount of safety.
The Hyundai Creta received a generation upgrade last year and ever since, it’s been the most popular compact SUV in the market. The Creta is currently available in three engine variants and what makes it the best automatic SUV under 12 lakhs is the fact that all three motors can be bought with an optional automatic transmission. While the 1.5-litre petrol can be had with a CVT, the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol can be bought with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 1.5-litre turbo-diesel can be purchased with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Renault Duster might be getting a bit too long in the tooth now but it’s definitely a capable compact SUV that is being sold at the right price. The Renault Duster is for those who don’t wish to buy a sub-4-metre model but don’t want to spend Hyundai Creta money either. It’s currently being sold with a 1.5-litre petrol engine that can be purchased with a CVT. The Duster offers great dynamics, sufficiently spacious cabin and is easy to purchase and run.
The next model on our list of best automatic SUV under 12 lakhs is the Mahindra TUV300, a rugged offering that is not too high on luxury features and comfort but definitely more capable off the beaten tarmac than its polished rivals. The TUV300 comes with a 1.5-litre Diesel engine that can be ordered with an AMT, which is something that will surely help you with a stress-free drive in the city and even on the highway.
The next model on our list is another Mahindra. The XUV300 is based on the Ssangyong Tivoli and offers great dynamics. It’s available with powerful petrol and diesel motors, both of which can be purchased with an AMT. Other highlights of this sub-compact SUV include a long list of features, Cheetah-inspired looks, and a fairly spacious cabin. The boot space, however, is on the lower side.
Next, we have the Kia Sonet, another SUV that is available in three engine variants and as many automatic transmission options. Based on the Hyundai Venue, the Kia Sonet looks sportier and even offers a stiffer suspension for a more fun-to-drive experience. It’s being sold with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. While the former is available with a dual-clutch automatic transmission, the latter is being sold with an optional AMT. Additionally, there’s also a 1.5-litre Diesel engine option that can be purchased with an optional 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The Kia Sonet also offers many features and a premium ambience inside the cabin. All this makes it one of the best automatic SUV under 12 lakhs.
If our list here includes the Kia Sonet, it’s only natural for the Hyundai Venue to also make it to our post here. The Venue isn’t as sporty as the Kia Sonet but it’s definitely more comfortable. It’s also a tad cheaper to maintain but it offers the same engine and transmission choices, which means regardless of what motor you choose, there will be an optional automatic transmission that you will be able to pick. In terms of features, it is as brilliantly equipped as the Kia Sonet, which means you get a comfortable and feature-loaded model that can provide you with a good travel experience, especially if you factor in the stress-free driving experience that the automatic transmissions offer.
The last model on our list of best automatic SUV under 12 lakhs is also the newest car we have here. The Nissan Magnite is one of the most exciting SUVs on sale in the market. It’s available with both naturally-aspirated and turbo-petrol engines, with the latter being sold with an optional CVT. The automatic transmission is well-tuned and offers a good mix of sportiness as well as a more comfortable driving experience. The Magnite also looks quite good and comes with many premium features, such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, LED headlamps and DRLs, 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, automatic air-conditioning, wireless charging, air purifier, JBL audio setup, and ambient lighting.
Are you planning to buy a second-hand automatic SUV? CARS24 not only offers you a wide range of used cars to choose from but even takes care of all the documentation, including the RC transfer, absolutely free of cost. You can even use our used car value calculator to find out the accurate resale value of any car on sale in the country. You can contact us to sell your used car and get the best price for it.
