Best SUVs Under 20 Lakhs

S.Sriram

editor

Off late, the demand for SUVs in India has increased massively. Earlier on, SUVs weren’t highly sought after due to their size, high running costs and very limited options. However, with the recent influx of more compact and affordable SUVs, their demand has literally skyrocketed. Both domestic, as well as international manufacturers, are investing competitively in this segment which has led to a dramatic increase in their numbers on road. In light of this, we have collated a list of the best SUVs under 20 Lakhs available in India. We will be covering both small and nimble compact SUVs as well as the big and brawny 7 seater SUVs in this article.

So let’s have a look at what we feel are the best SUVs under 20 lakhs in India.

Top 10 Best SUVs Under 20 Lakhs in India:

Ford EcoSport

Starting off our list of the best SUVs under 20 Lakhs is the extravagantly popular Ford EcoSport. Following the segment topping Vitara Brezza, the Ford EcoSport is the next best-selling model. It was launched back in 2013 in competition to the segment pioneer, the Duster. Earlier this year, the face-lifted EcoSport was launched with an updated appearance and fresh interior layout. The EcoSport has received a very positive response in the market courtesy its distinct design. It also packs a lot of equipment and is probably the safest car in the segment with 6 Airbags, ABS, ESP, EPA and a lot more.

 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is the most popular car on this list of best SUVs under 20 lakhs. The Vitara Brezza entered the compact SUV segment much later than the other cars, in 2016. However, thanks to Maruti Suzuki’s well-established name and unbeatable service network, it sold like hotcakes in the market. Currently, it averages in excess of 12000 units a month and has resulted in excruciatingly long waiting times. Despite that, the sales figures of the Vitara Brezza are only rising. The Vitara Brezza sports some really neat styling with a very bold front face. It also boasts of several features like projector headlamps, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a reversing camera, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and more.

Mahindra Scorpio

The next car on our list of best SUVs under 20 lakhs is one of the oldest in our country. The legendary Mahindra Scorpio was launched way back in 2003. While it still retains, the silhouette and chassis of the original car, it is thoroughly updated in every other aspect. The latest Scorpio boasts of a thoroughly updated, modern design, engine, and equipment. The Scorpio has always been a hit in the market. Being here for 16 years, it has built a very strong reputation and fan following. The Scorpio was also Mahindra’s first car to implement their proprietary Micro Hybrid system. It also comes in 3 engine options catering to a wide variety of customers. While it is certainly not as refined and plush as its competitors, it’s still a butch, robust, no-nonsense offering and that’s why it makes it to our list.

Renault Duster

The Renault Duster is the car that kicked off the compact SUV segment in India. In broad terms, you can say that is the car responsible for this newfound demand in the country’s SUV segment. The Renault Duster was launched in 2012 and has since then gone through one significant facelift in 2016. Despite its small size, the Renault Duster is a very robust and sturdy vehicle. The 210mm ground clearance and AWD system give it decent off-road capabilities as well. It’s also kitted with loads of safety equipment like Dual Airbags, ABS, EBD,ESP, Traction Control and Hill Hold Assist

Hyundai Creta

Following the Vitara Brezza, the Hyundai Creta is the next most popular vehicle on our list of best SUVs under 20 lakhs. The Hyundai Creta competes unlike the Brezza competes in the 4 metre+ Compact SUV category unlike the Brezza. The Creta was originally launched in 2015 and rose to an immediate success streak as a potent urban SUV. It received a facelift in 2018 which primarily boosted its appearance. The Creta also incorporates Hyundai’s successful “Fluidic” design language making it quite a good-looker. It also boasts of the regular Hyundai brownie points like outstanding refinement, a butter-smooth engine and elegant interiors. While it doesn’t have any boast-worthy off-road capabilities, it performance on tarmac is flawless and challenged by very few .

Jeep Compass

We now come to perhaps the most luxurious and off-road ready vehicle on our list of best SUVs under 20 lakhs in India. The Jeep Compass is the most-affordable offering in India from the legendary American carmaker, Jeep. Apart from the fact that a 3^rd of seats isn’t available, there is absolutely no other gripe you can have with the Compass. The Compass looks wonderful from the outside with its Grand-Cherokee inspired styling. Its build and interior quality are absolutely top notch. It has two very potent petrol and diesel engines that put out some really power-packed performance. Its on-road behavior and equipment list are also really appreciation-worthy. Lastly, its off-road capabilities are impeccable and are certainly the best on this list of top SUVs below 20 Lakhs.

ALSO SEE: All you need to know about the Jeep Compass

Tata Nexon

Tata is on a spree of launches in the past few years in almost all segments. Their latest launch in the market was the Nexon compact SUV. The Nexon is also the most affordable car on this list of top SUVs under 20 lakhs in India. But worry not this affordability doesn’t come at the cost of quality.  In fact, the Nexon is much better constructed than most of its rivals. Straight off the bat, the Tata Nexon has a really distinctive appearance giving it a tonne of street presence. Its diesel variant is particularly praise-worthy for its rock-solid performance. Adding to that it is also shod with a lot of features like multiple driving modes, LED DRLs, projector lamps, and an 8-speaker Harman sound system to name a few. As a welcome move, Tata sells the Nexon with dual airbags, ABS and Isofix seats as standard across all variants explaining its outstanding sales figures.

Mahindra XUV500

The next car on our list of best SUVs under 20 Lakhs is again from the house of Mahindra. The XUV500 is their current flagship car which took birth back in 2011. Currently, a thoroughly improvised 3^rd generation is being sold which was launched in 2018. The prime selling point of the XUV500 is value-for-money. It’s a gorgeous full-size SUV that is packed with loads of equipment and quality which won’t dent your wallet too hard either. Be it the outside or the inside, the XUV500 oozes premium-ness and the interiors are particularly luxurious. While it is primarily meant for the road, it’s a decent off-roader as well. Its torque-packed engine and capable AWD system are quite sufficient for tackling mild-medium non-tarmac duties. The safety factor is also top notch with 6 airbags, Rollover Mitigation System, ESP, ABS and EBD.

Honda BR-V

Honda’s BR-V was launched in India as a more affordable alternative to the lack-luster performing CR-V. The BR-V is a much better-suited vehicle for our country as it sits in the sub-15 Lakh price bracket and consists of a 3^rd row of seats as well.  The BR-V is a very potent and well-built car. Its interiors are extravagantly spacious and feel very comfortable. While it does have a more MPV-like appearance, its 210mm ground clearance is actually quite sufficient to tackle the occasional rough patches. Honda has also packed it with loads of equipment like projector headlamps, keyless entry and start-stop function, roof-mounted AC vents and their signature paddle shifters. Honda also offers dual airbags as standard across all variants with ABS and EBD only omitted on the petrol base model.

Tata Hexa

We have now reached the final car on our list of best SUVs under 20 lakhs in India. The Tata Hexa is the successor to the Aria which pretty much failed on launch due to its pricing. Unlike the Aria, the Hexa fits the SUV bill much better from every perspective. For starters, the car is huge and has loads of road presence. Like all the new Tatas, the quality and refinement factor is also high on the Hexa.

Its interiors are also very spacious and well-constructed. This is one of the few cars where the 3^rd row of seats is actually usable for adults. Tata has also packed the Hexa with several features like selectable driving modes, auto wipers, ORVM De-mister, electronic smart AWD module, and a top-notch 10-speaker JBL audio system. It is also loaded with safety equipment consisting of 6 airbags, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, ESP and Hill Hold/Descent Control