Affordable diesel-powered vehicles have become a dying breed, especially after the introduction of BS6 norms. With stricter emissions, diesel engines have become a lot more expensive due to the technology. Many leading automobile manufacturers have even exited this market altogether like Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Skoda, Volkswagen, Renault and Nissan. There’s still some hope as there are a couple of companies who still believe in the oil burner. We find out what are the most affordable diesel-powered SUVs in India.
Kia Sonet (Rs 9.79 lakh to Rs 15.69 lakh)
Kia launched the facelift Sonet in January 2024 bringing back the diesel in manual transmission. The compact SUV has a 1.5-litre diesel engine under the hood that produces 114bhp and 250Nm of torque. It available in three transmission options — 6-speed manual, 6-speed clutchless iMT and 6-speed automatic torque converter. According to Kia, the iMT and the automatic return a mileage of 22.30 kmpl and 18.60 kmpl respectively.
Mahindra Bolero / Bolero Neo — (Rs 9.89 lakh to Rs 10.91 lakh / Rs 9.90 lakh to Rs 12.15 lakh)
Both the Mahindra Bolero and the Bolero Neo are steady and reliable workhorses. They might not come with all the pizzazz like the modern compact SUVs do, but the Mahindra duo are based on a ladder frame. The Neo is based on the Mahindra third-generation chassis like the Scorpio and the Thar, while the Bolero sticks to the older version. Both the vehicles are powered by the 1.5-litre powertrain mated to a 5-speed manual but have different outputs. The Bolero churns out 75bhp and 210Nm while the Neo produces 99bhp and 260Nm.
Mahindra XUV300 (Rs 10.21 lakh to Rs 14.75 lakh)
Mahindra will soon take out the facelift XUV300 and the prices mentioned are for the current model. The 1.5-litre diesel has the segment’s best figures of 115bhp and 300Nm of torque. It is available in either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed AMT gearbox. The XUV300 was the first compact SUV to be equipped with four disc brakes, dual-zone climate control and standard six airbags.
Hyundai Venue ( Rs 10.71 lakh to Rs 13.44 lakh)
Like the Kia Seltos, the Venue is powered by the 1.5-litre engine which has an output of 114bhp and 250Nm of torque. Unlike the Kia compact SUV, the Venue is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Tata Nexon (Rs 11.10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh)
Tata Nexon is one of the best-selling compact SUVs in the market. The vehicle received significant updates last year in both design and features. The Tata SUV continues to be powered by the 1.5-litre diesel with 113bhp and 260Nm. The engine comes mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed AMT.
