Suv in India

The term SUV originally stood for Sports Utility Vehicle that would usually be a large, tall car with lots of space and a powertrain capable of tackling most terrains, no matter the weather. It is now used as a broader term for cars chunky proportions and high ground clearance. That is why models like the Renault Kwid and Maruti S-Presso are sometimes referred to as micro-SUVs. However, the more appropriate representation of an SUV would start from the likes of the Jeep Compass and the Tata Harrier.

As the name suggests, a compact SUV is smaller than a regular SUV. It is usually less than 4.5 metres in length and designed primarily for urban use rather than off road. Examples of compact SUVs include Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos while the Renault Duster is a rugged exception, but it no longer gets an AWD variant. Meanwhile, conventional SUVs are larger in size with more cabin space and they usually get a AWD or 4x4 variant as well, like the Jeep Compass or Hyundai Tucson.

The sub-compact SUV category pertains to SUV-esque vehicles that fall under the sub-4m tax bracket which makes them more affordable than compact SUVs. These models are similarly equipped in terms of features these days but usually get less powerful engines. The sub-4m segment is possibly the most competitive in India at the moment with over 8 models to choose from. However, the compact SUVs like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos record higher monthly sales, perhaps thanks to fewer competitors.

Most SUVs are either 5 or 7 seater offerings. The standard SUVs are usually 5-seaters with the exception of the Mahindra XUV500 while full-size SUVs like the Ford Endeavour offer three rows of seats. Now, Tata and MG are introducing three-row versions of their standard SUVs, i.e., the Gravitas and the Hector Plus.

Thar, Scorpio, Punch, Creta, Nexon are best SUV cars in India.

C3 Aircross, Kushaq, Gloster, Meridian, XUV700 are latest SUV cars in India.

Magnite, Kiger, Exter, Punch, XUV 3XO are the lowest price or affordable SUV cars in India.