They say one size doesn't fit all, so we say, how can one SUV suit all? We are all different, and we want to experience our SUVs in our own unique ways. With this thought in mind, we set out to find the best SUV for different needs. Here is our list of the 5 best SUVs for 5 different needs, with all of them under 15 lakhs.
This need fits quite a lot of us, doesn't it? For a car to be a daily driver, it must score decently on almost all fronts: worthy performance, good looks, enough features and most importantly, comfort. Our pick in this category is the siblings Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. But they are two cars, you will say. Are they? Under the hood, they offer the same 3 engine options: a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol that produces 113 bhp with 144 Nm torque, a turbo-petrol that churns out 158 bhp with 253 Nm torque and finally, a 1.5-litre diesel that produces 114 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. Their features are the same: a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a fresh 10.25-inch digital driver's display, dual-zone climate control, 360-degree camera, air purifier, electric parking, panoramic sunroof and a Bose sound system. The only exceptions are the screen with the air purifier, illuminated power window buttons that all come with auto up and down, a heads-up display and rain-sensing wipers being extra on the Seltos. The interiors are also similar, with just different themes. Very similar. The most significant difference is in the looks and the ride, with the Seltos being better looking and the Creta being more comfortable. With all these things combined, these cars make for great daily drivers, with the looks, comfort, features and power all sorted out. You can buy the Creta at a starting price of 10.99 Lakh while the Seltos is 10 thousand cheaper, starting at 10.89 Lakh.
Maybe some of us live in areas with bad roads or just enjoy taking our cars for fun. For all those people, we suggest the favourite car of Indians these days, Mahindra Thar. This rugged SUV was made for the off-road. There is a choice of 3 engines with the Thar, two diesel and one petrol. In diesel, we have a 1.5-litre engine producing 117 bhp and 300 Nm of torque and a 2.2-litre engine that produces 130 bhp and 300 Nm of torque. The petrol option is a 2.0 Litre powerhouse that produces 150 bhp and 320 Nm of torque. The 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre petrol options get an AWD drivetrain that makes it easy for the Thar to tackle the offroad. The Thar also stands tall with a ground clearance of 226 mm, one of the highest in all SUVs. Its rugged design also adds to the rider's confidence in patchy terrain. You can bring home a thar at an ex-showroom price starting at 11.35 Lakh.
If you are looking for a car that can seat your big family or large friends group, you need a 7-seater. While the options for a 7-seater in 15 lakhs are limited, we think the best in this small bunch is the XUV700. It is a versatile SUV with engine options in petrol and diesel: a 2.0-litre petrol that produces 197 bhp and 380 Nm or torque and a 2.2-litre diesel that gets two tunings, one producing 152 and 182 hp. These can be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. It is also feature-rich with the twin 10.25-inch screens for infotainment and instruments taking centre stage; other features include an electronically adjustable seat, automatic climate control, AdrenoX informatics system, and a SOny 3D audio system. It offers ample space in the first two rows, with the third row offering enough space for adults to take short trips while the kids can even fit for longer ones. The price of the XUV700 starts at 13.99 Lakhs.
The world is transitioning to EVs and many people are liking this transition. If you are one of them and want an EV under the 15 Lakh budget, then your best pick is the Tata Nexon EV. It is the electric version of the popular Compact SUV from Tata. It gets all the nitty-gritty of the Nexon with an electric powertrain. It has a single motor setup produces 127 bhp in the medium range and 143 bhp in the long range. The battery pack in the medium range has 30 kWh, providing a range of 325 km in the former and 40.5 with a 465 km range in the latter. It looks sleek, produces no sound and saves you money on fuel in the long run. You must shell out at least 14.49 Lakh (ex-showroom) for the Nexon EV.
If running cost is the key for you, but you don't like the idea of EVs, then you belong to this category. The cars that would suit you the best are the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder or the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. Two cars, again? You said that, right? Well, my answer is the same as it was for the Creta and the Seltos. They are different cars, are they? They don't even have as many differences as the Seltos and Creta. Yes, they get different looks and different interior shades. But what are we interested in? The sweet mileage and that is present in both the SUVs. They get both a mild hybrid and a strong hybrid option. The mild hybrid engine is a 1.5-litre petrol guzzler that can produce 102 bhp and 136.8 Nm of torque. This engine gives a mileage of 21.12 kmpl with the manual 2WD, 20.58 kmpl with the Automatic FWD and 19.39 kmpl with the Manual AWD. Impressive, right? But wait, it gets better. The potent hybrid works with a 1.5-litre engine, producing 91 bhp and 122 Nm of torque. While the power figure sounds a little dull, how good is the mileage? 27.97 kmpl, yes, sub 30 kmpl in an SUV! So, if you want to use the minimum amount of petrol and save some bucks, these are your picks. It is also not like you will have to compromise much on features, as they get ventilated seats, a digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch infotainment screen, automatic climate control, wireless charging, 6 airbags and a heads-up display. The Grand Vitara starts at 10.99 Lakh, while the Urban Cruiser Hyryder comes at a higher premium, with a starting price of 11.14 Lakhs.
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