Best Crossover Cars in India in 2024 - Price, Mileage, Specifications

Crossover cars came about with the need for urban driving requirements in modern cities. These cities have a mix of well-paved roads, segments of rough, unmaintained stretches and even suffer deteriorating road conditions during monsoons. The ideal car to ply on these roads would then need to have ample ground clearance, fit bigger wheels and tyres and some amount of lower body protection. Although, the urban jungle also necessitates the car to be compact in dimension unlike a mid-size or full-size SUV.

Thus born was the crossover car – a hybrid of a hatchback and an SUV, encasing the compact footprint of the former and the ruggedness of the latter. The best crossover cars are usually based on hatchbacks albeit with the shape and qualities of an SUV. CARS24 has compiled an extensive list of affordable crossover cars in India to help narrow down on your ideal crossover car. 

Best Crossover Cars in India in 2024

1. Renault Kwid | Ground Clearance - 184mm

At first glance, the Kwid appears to be a regular hatchback given its smaller dimensions as an entry-level car. Take a closer look and the SUV-esque shape starts becoming more apparent. Unlike a regular hatchback, the Kwid sports plastic claddings and faux-skid plates for added body protection. This greatly reduces the chance of damages to the metal body when venturing off the beaten path, making it a versatile compact crossover car.

Despite being relatively affordable, the Kwid boasts of many features like digital instrumentation, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment and safety features such as reverse parking camera, Electronic Stability Program, tyre pressure monitoring system, and more that are available in the higher trims. A couple of standout features include 184mm of ground clearance which is impressive for a small hatchback, as well as 279 litres of boot space.

Renault Kwid Key Specifications

Renault Kwid Key Features

2. Maruti Suzuki Ignis | Ground Clearance - 180mm

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis begs you to have a think about its styling. Quirky yet attractive, even retro from some angles, the Ignis looks purposeful as a hatchback. It doesn't sport heavy claddings on the side but the flared wheel arches have a subtle layer of plastic protection. Maruti Suzuki has even specced it with front and rear faux-skid plates which may offer basic bumper protection but definitely enhances its sporty looks.

The Ignis is similarly-sized to the Celerio albeit being a premium Nexa product. It does come equipped with modern features including a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and automatic climate control, among others. The more useful bits that would be helpful in selecting a crossover car are features like 60:40 split folding rear seats, 260-litres of boot space and 180mm of ground clearance.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis Key Specifications

Maruti Suzuki Ignis Key Features

3. Renault Triber | Ground Clearance - 182mm

The Renault Triber is a great example of a crossover car only in its case; it fuses a hatchback and a MUV. An MUV offers the utility of either carrying more luggage or passengers to a comparable hatchback. The Triber boasts a seating capacity up to seven people while still being as compact in size as a premium hatchback. What’s more, is that Renault has specced the Triber with roof rails, plastic claddings and faux-skid plates on the bumpers to complete its rugged appearance.

The Triber’s 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine offers adequate power and is fairly fuel efficient too. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or an automated-manual transmission (AMT) for added choices. 625 litres of boot space is available in the Triber, with the last row of seats being easily removable. 182mm of clearance is ample for light off-road tracks while modern convenience features will keep the occupant happy.

Renault Triber Key Specifications

Renault Triber Key Features

4. Nissan Magnite | Ground Clearance - 205mm

The Nissan Magnite is a ground-up SUV design as Nissan doesn’t currently offer hatchbacks in its product portfolio in India. The underpinning of the crossover car, however, is shared with the Renault Triber and Kwid. This is thanks to the Renault-Nissan alliance, which co-developed a common platform that can be extended to serve the individual profile of their cars. Thus, the Magnite is compact and hatchback-size in dimensions and sports substantial plastic claddings to the lower body to enhance the SUV look. 

With 205mm of ground clearance, the Magnite can easily tackle rough roads and it even has a supple ride quality to match. It’s a great value proposition with features like wireless charging, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay connectivity, as well as a generous 336 litres of boot space.

Nissan Magnite Key Specifications

Nissan Magnite Key Features

5. Tata Punch | Ground Clearance - 187mm

The Tata Altroz provides the base for the Punch but a quick look at it won’t reveal any similarities whatsoever with the former. But that’s just how crossover car designs work. The Punch is in line with Tata’s SUV portfolio and is the smallest of them packing quite the punch with its feature list. The overall styling is dominated by massive plastic cladding for the lower third of the car giving it all the protection for venturing onto dirt roads.

The Tata Punch gets features like the Traction Pro Mode that detects wheel slippage and helps with traction on slippery surfaces. The 187mm of ground clearance helps too while a 366 litre boot adds to its practicality. It’s even loaded with features like auto headlamp, rain sensing wipers, voice activated sunroof and automatic climate control.  are just some noteworthy mentions that help set the Punch apart.

Tata Punch Key Specifications

Tata Punch Key Features

6. Tata Tiago NRG | Ground Clearance - 181mm

The Tata Tiago NRG is more of a traditional example of a crossover car. The easiest way to give a regular hatchback some amount of rough road credentials, is by slapping on body claddings. This provides basic protection while definitely lending a rugged look to what is otherwise a regular Tiago hatchback underneath.

Tata did however, uprate the suspension on the NRG to be more robust. It also resulted in a 11mm increase in ground clearance over the regular Tiago, measuring in at 181mm. Apart from this, the Tiago NRG essentially mimics the top trim features of the Tiago but misses out on features like automatic climate control. Being a smaller hatchback, the Tiago NRG offers 242 litres of boot space with a folding rear seat back for a bit more practicality.

Tata Tiago NRG Key Specifications

Tata Tiago NRG Key Features

7. Maruti Suzuki Fronx | Ground Clearance - 190mm

At first glance, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell that the Fronx essentially hides the Baleno inside. Maruti Suzuki has worked on the exterior extensively to bring its crossover car inline with its urban SUV family. Thus the Fronx looks like the Grand Vitara’s smaller sibling and many have claimed it to be one of the best-looking hatchbacks on sale today.

Inside the Fronx however, the Baleno becomes instantly recognisable with identical interior elements. The colour scheme is differentiated and the Fronx only adds a wireless phone charger to the Baleno’s list of features. There’s 308 litres of boot space on offer with split and folding rear seats for storage flexibility. 190mm of ground clearance is 20mm higher than that of the Baleno, justifying the crossover car’s purpose, The Fronx too, like the others in this list, sports front and rear faux-scuff plates for light body protection.      

Maruti Suzuki Fronx Key Specifications

Maruti Suzuki Fronx Key Features

8. Hyundai Venue | Ground Clearance - 195mm

Hyundai has used its K2 platform for Venue which underpins the i20 hatchback as well as the Kia Sonet. However, the similarities between the i20 and the Venue end there. The venue is a very attractive SUV crossover car appeals to a large audience. A wide range of pricing options dividing its various trims is a major factor; hence, its list of features is impressive. Apart from that, the Venue steps away from the traditional styling of crossover cars that are usually dominated by plastics on the exterior. The rugged elements have been kept minimal in the Venue.

The Venue offers space, comfort and choices of petrol, turbo-petrol and diesel engines. It sits 195mm off the ground, making clearance from obstacles on rougher surfaces easier while a 350-litre boot with split-folding rear seats will make for SUV-like hauling duties albeit in a smaller overall package.  

Hyundai Venue Key Specifications

Hyundai Venue Key Features

9. Tata Nexon | Ground Clearance - 208mm

The latest facelift of the Tata Nexon makes it a very contemporary-looking compact-SUV. Originally, the Nexon was based on the Tata Indica platform hence the crossover possibility. Although, over the years, the Nexon has been upgraded to Tata’s modular platform, bringing in modernity and safety aspects to fore. The Nexon appeals to a wide spectrum of people with room for five passengers and 382 litres of boot space. Part of its appeal is also due to the fact that it has an extensive feature list in the top-trims. They include voice-activated sunroof, ventilated front seats, 10.2-inch infotainment and instrument clusters, air purifier and lots more.

As a crossover car, the Nexon sports 208mm of ground clearance to get over obstacles if venturing into unpaved roads. The massive design update also makes the Nexon look futuristic thus rugged external elements have been kept to a minimum on the sides. The front and rear faux-skid plates too are very well integrated. Powered by peppy engines, the turbo-petrol is an exciting performer, while the diesel, although equally powerful, will be more frugal. 

Tata Nexon Key Specifications

Tata Nexon Key Features

10. Kia Sonet | Ground Clearance - 205mm

Like the previous two entries in this list, the Kia Sonet represents a premium option in crossover cars in India. It shares its platform with the Hyundai Venue and the i20 hatchback. The Sonet however, is very stylish in its design and the latest updates have only made it look more aggressive. A powerful stance, LED lighting and minimal plastic claddings that look cohesive with the overall design make for a very sporty-looking SUV. The Sonet manages to successfully step away from traditional crossover styling.   

205mm of ground clearance and a respectable 385 litres of boot space make for practical applications for adventures as well as tackling urban roads. The feature list is extensive with higher variants getting ADAS functionality including Adaptive Cruise Control, wireless Android and Apple device connectivity and many modern convenience features. Engine options too are plenty with the Sonet being the only offering in its segment with a diesel-automatic powertrain.

Kia Sonet Key Specifications

Kia Sonet Key Features

Conclusion

The best crossover cars are a great combination of the abilities of an urban SUV with the advantages of a compact hatchback. You can enjoy the same features, space and even performance of the equivalent hatchback albeit with the added advantage of tackling rougher surfaces and a more commanding driving position. The extra body claddings can prove to be protective and the higher ground clearance will see you sail through potholes and deteriorating surfaces with ease. Going forward, we will see an influx of crossovers that combine the shape of a sedan with the qualities of an SUV as the genre gains more popularity.

FAQ

Q. Which is better, SUV or crossover?

The selection would largely depend on your personal requirements. Crossover cars are a great middle ground especially if large interior space and the need to seat more than five people isn't a priority.

Q. Is a crossover safer than an SUV?

Safety of a car, of any size or category, largely depends on the design, build quality and safety features thus a larger SUV may get a lower safety rating than a smaller crossover or vice versa.

Q. What is the difference between a crossover and a hatchback?

Think of a crossover car as a hatchback with longer suspension travel, bigger wheels and tyres, lower body claddings and more ground clearance. They may share similar interior features, space and engines. A crossover is usually more adept at dealing with bad roads.