SUVs have been the blue-eyed boys for the Indian car market for almost a decade now. Such has been the craze of SUVs that hatchbacks, which were once the most desired segment for first time car buyers in India, have witnessed a significant drop in market share.
Now, there are plenty of SUVs/crossovers to consider in a budget under the Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom) mark. That said, most of these options are pseudo SUVs and can be described as hatchbacks on stilettos. Let us take a look at all the SUVs/crossovers available for sale in India under Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom).
Tata Punch
Price: Rs 5,99,000 (ex-showroom)
Tata Punch is not only the highest-selling SUV in India but also the best-selling passenger vehicle overall in the country for the past two months. Starting at just Rs. 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the Punch introduces SUV flavour to the budget end without compromising on build quality or equipment.
The interior again showcases Tata’s new focus on quality with textured surfaces and appealing design. Storage spaces abound while the cabin feels airy, helped by the large windows. Feature highlights include a 7-inch touchscreen, a fully digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control, push-button start, auto headlamps, and more. Available solely as petrol for now, the 1.2-litre unit puts out 85 bhp through a 5-speed manual delivering a mileage of 18.97 kmpl.
Hyundai Exter
Price: Rs 6,12,800 (Ex-showroom)
The Hyundai Exter is another quite affordable SUV with its price starting from 6.13 Lakh (ex-showroom). Hyundai EXTER is equipped with 3 powertrain options – 1.2-litre Kappa Petrol engine (E20 Fuel Ready) available with either a 5-speed manual transmission or an AMT. It is also available with 1.2-litre Bi-fuel Kappa petrol with a CNG engine kit mated to a 5-speed Manual transmission.
In terms of features, the micro SUV comes equipped with voice enabled Smart Electric Sunroof and Dashcam with Dual Camera that boasts of front & rear Camera, a 5.84 cm (2.31”) LCD Display, Smartphone app based connectivity and Multiple Recording Modes. Hyundai EXTER builds exceptional customer confidence with 26 Safety Features.
Renault Kiger/Nissan Magnite
Price: Rs 5,99,990 (Ex-Showroom)
Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite shate the same underpinnings, both powered by a 1.0L Turbo petrol or a 1.0L naturally aspirated petrol engines. Both SUVs are offered a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard with the options of a CVT and 5-Speed Easy-R AMT transmission options. Safety-wise, Kiger and Magnite come equipped with four airbags for driver and front passenger safety, along with seatbelts featuring pretensioners and load-limiters for the driver.
Mahindra XUV 3XO
Price: Rs 7,49,000
Mahindra recently launched the XUV 3XO in the market at a starting price of Rs 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom). A heavily reworked version of the outgoing XUV 300, the 3XO offers better features, comfort and looks more modern than the latter. Engine options include: a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol unit (109 bhp / 200 Nm), 1.5-litre diesel engine (115 bhp / 300 Nm) and a 1.2-litre TGDi turbo-petrol engine (128 bhp / 230 Nm). All engines are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. While both the turbo-petrol engines get an optional 6-speed AT, the diesel unit is offered with a 6-speed AMT.
Hyundai Venue
Price: Rs 7,94,000 (EX-showroom
Hyundai Cenue is equipped with 3 engine options including two petrol units – an 82 bhp 1.2-litre petrol and a 118 bhp 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, and a 1.5-litre diesel unit which produces 115 bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque. All three engines are available with a manual transmission, while an optional seven-speed DCT and a six-speed iMT are offered with the turbo-petrol units.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx
Price: Rs 7,51,000 (Ex-showroom)
Maruti FRONX comes with a 1.0L K-Series Boosterjet petrol engine alongside a 1.2-litre K12 NA petrol engine which satisfies the needs of a wide range of buyers. It offers a wide range of features such as Head Up Display with turn-by-turn navigation, 360 View Camera, wireless smartphone charger, 22.86cm (9”) HD Smart Play Pro+ infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. FRONX is available in as many as 10 colour options that consist of monotone and dual-tone paint shade options.
Kia Sonet
Price: Rs 7,99,000 (Ex-showroom)
Kia Sonet has made waves in the Indian market with its striking design and plethora of features. The Sonet carries typical Kia traits of sharp design lines and a loaded equipment list catering to youthful buyers. Prices now start from Rs 7.99 lakh, spanning a range of powertrain options.
The Sonet proudly flaunts the signature tiger nose grille flanked by LED headlamps with integrated DRLs adding flair. 16-inch crystal cut alloys amping up the style quotient. Step inside the dual-tone cabin boasting the largest touchscreen in class besides remote start and sound mood lighting, increasing the cool factor.
Tata Nexon
Price: Rs 7,99,000 (Ex-showroom)
Tata Nexon is one of the highest-selling SUVs in the market behind Punch with prices starting from Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The main USP of Nexon is its rich feature list and the plethora of options available including number of trims and powertrain options.
Tata Motors offers two engine options with Nexon— a 1.2L turbo petrol engine and a 1.5L diesel engine. This goes along with a plethora of transmission options including a 5-speed manual, a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed AMT, and a 7-speed DCT automatic.
