Flashback 2016: Five Most Searched SUVs On CarDekho

You won’t believe the count of clicks these cars received!

2016 was a SUV-hungry year and once we started digging into our internal database, it only made the outcome more evident. Based on our data, more than 2.7 crore clicks were clocked by 23 SUV models on our portal. The top five most searched SUVs accounted for 1.4 crore out it. This figure stands second only to the top five most searched hatchbacks in 2016.

We Indians just adore SUVs, especially if they fall within our budget. Before zeroing down on a car, we would normally analyse how fuel efficient it is, whether there’s enough space available for you to park it safely and what’s the annual cost of maintenance. But a competitively-priced SUV tosses all those core car-buying rules out of the window. We are happy to trade all the tedious but practical aspects in exchange for an imposing road presence and psychological prestige. In our heads, the imposing presence helps in towering over other motorists in their tiny hatchbacks or low-to-the-ground sedans, whereas the prestige goes hand-in-hand with our basic principle of “the bigger, the better”.

This interest towards SUVs has risen steeply over the past few years, thanks to the introduction of some brilliant products in the sub-4 metre segment and the compact-SUV space. Here is the list, in reverse order, of the top five most popular SUVs on the CarDekho portal.

5. Mahindra Scorpio

Number of Clicks: 16.7 lakh

Price Range: Rs 9.68-15.48 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Mahindra Scorpio has ruled its segment ever since the first-gen model, which came out in 2002. Over the years, the Scorpio has matured nicely to become one of the best value-for-money SUVs on sale today. Just like every other car, the Scorpio has its flaws. But Indians love it for its sheer road presence and spacious interiors. Mahindra has even upped the game in the engine department for the Scorpio. Apart from the S2 variant, which still gets the old 2.5-litre m2DICR turbo-diesel engine, all other variants boast a 2.2-litre mHAWK turbo-diesel engine, tuned to pump out 122PS of power and a healthy 280Nm of torque. The Scorpio isn’t just about brute force though. Features like Intelli-Hybrid technology, automatic wipers, voice assist system and a six-inch touchscreen infotainment system make it equally sophisticated to own.

4. Honda BR-V

Number of Clicks: 20.9 lakh

Price Range: Rs 8.88-13.04 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Honda made its debut in the compact-SUV segment in India with the BR-V, which was launched in May 2016. While it looks funky and promises to be a reliable product, the BR-V hasn’t managed to clock the sales figures anywhere close to what Honda had anticipated. Even though it isn’t a popular choice among car buyers, the BR-V still managed to crack the top five list of most searched SUVs on our portal. This becomes an ideal example of a car which is searched a lot online but isn’t being bought at the same pace as others in this list. Honda BR-V is available with petrol and diesel powerplants. Both the engines are the same, tried-and-tested units which do duty in the Honda City.

3. Ford EcoSport

Number of Clicks: 21.5 lakh

Price Range: Rs 6.92-9.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Ford is known to be one of the most persistent carmakers in the country. It had a forgettable Indian debut during the mid 90s when the Ford Escort was literally annihilated by the Honda City. Ford kept going, by introducing some of the best drivers’ cars under the Rs 10 lakh mark until it made one for the masses, the first-gen Figo. The success of the Figo gave the American carmaker real insight into what an Indian customer is after. Out came the EcoSport in 2013 and redefined the sub-4 metre SUV segment. It is practical, fun to drive, loaded with features and isn’t that heavy on the wallet. Since its launch, the EcoSport has been Ford’s bread and butter in India. Even today it is one of the best value-for-money prospects under the Rs 10 lakh mark. Customers can opt for one out of the three engine options available - 1.0-litre petrol EcoBoost, 1.5-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel.

2. Hyundai Creta

Number of Clicks: 25.1 lakh

Price Range: Rs 9.22-14.58 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

The Creta falls in the same price bracket and segment as that of the Honda BR-V. Unlike the BR-V though, the Creta is a very well thought-out package. It is brilliantly put together, loaded to the gills with gadgetry and can be opted with one of the three engine options on offer. While the 1.4-litre diesel, producing 90PS of power and 220Nm of torque, is only available with a five-speed manual transmission, the 1.6-litre diesel (128PS and 260Nm) and the 1.6-litre petrol (123PS and 151Nm) can be coupled with a six-speed manual or a six-speed auto. Feature list on the Creta includes driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, automatic climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and 17-inch alloy-wheels. And finally, it is a Hyundai product, which is expected to stay intact far beyond its warranty period and deliver a good resale value.

1. Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Number of Clicks: 59.2 lakh

Price Range: Rs 7.19-9.88 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

There is a simple rule in India which everyone follows to be on the safe side of the pool - if you’re buying a car, buy a Maruti Suzuki product. There are two reasons behind it - Maruti Suzuki has the biggest sales and service network in the country and its products seldom receive a horror story. Clearly, the Japanese car firm saw potential in the sub-4 metre SUV segment as, in March 2016, it entered the segment with the Vitara Brezza. Even the carmaker wasn’t ready for the overwhelming response that the car received. This was reflected in the waiting periods for the Brezza which are stretching up to 6 months across the country. It is yet to reach its first anniversary and the car has already clocked close to 2 lakh bookings since its launch. In the course of doing so, it replaced the Ford EcoSport to become the daddy of the segment. It is currently offered with a diesel engine (Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre) only and come 2017, we expect the country’s largest carmaker to introduce a petrol engine in the Vitara Brezza’s lineup.