SUV Cars

The SUV is now the default new car in India. What buyers usually mean by the word is a raised hatchback or a compact crossover rather than a ladder-frame off-roader, and the appeal is practical: extra ground clearance genuinely helps on broken roads, speed breakers and monsoon flooding, and the high seating position gives a clearer view through dense traffic.

CarQuill India currently tracks 19 SUV models. Prices run from ₹6.00 Lakh for the Exter up to ₹97.50 Lakh for the X5. Models come from Mahindra, Hyundai, Kia, Skoda, BMW, Maruti Suzuki, Tata and Toyota. Fuel options across the range include electric, petrol, diesel, cng, petrol (cng) and petrol-hybrid. Every model here offers an automatic.

What to weigh up before you buy

Check ground clearance in the specification rather than trusting how tall a car looks, since some models are only marginally higher than the hatchback they are based on. Sub-four-metre SUVs enjoy a lower tax rate, which is why so many are exactly 3,995 mm long, and that length limit costs boot space. If you rarely leave tarmac, front-wheel drive is enough and saves both money and fuel.

Written by the CarQuill India editorial team. Prices and specifications are indicative and change by city, variant and dealer.