The diesel SUV segment in India has taken a colossal hit, however, these five offers you value for money performance under Rs 15 lakh. Here’s what’s on offer for budget-minded buyers on the hunt for torque and thrift.
The diesel SUV scene in India has changed significantly following the implementation of the BS6 norms. Major manufacturers Maruti Suzuki, Honda and Volkswagen have totally moved out of diesel, so there is very little choice involved but some interesting options.
Market Reality: The End for Diesel SUVs?
In addition, stricter emissions standards and increased production costs have made today’s diesels much more expensive. The equipment needed to make diesel cars BS6-compliant has driven up costs, prompting a number of carmakers to completely discontinue offering diesel power.
But there’s hope. For now, there are five diesel SUVs under Rs 15 lakh that are on sale from various manufacturers that cater to various buyer’s taste and budgets.
The Top 5 Cheapest Diesel SUVs
1. Mahindra Bolero – 9.70 Lakh to 10.93 Lakh
The Mahindra Bolero is still the most affordable diesel SUV in India and is priced at Rs 9.70 lakh. This toughie comes with a 1.5-litre diesel motor which develops 75bhp and 210Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Based on a rugged ladder frame chassis construction, the Bolero offers a rugged and tough-beat look that can tackle anything that comes in its way. Though not as modern as one would like, it’s a trusted workhorse with low costs of ownership to boot and is quite popular in the rural markets.
2. Tata Nexon – Between Rs 9.99 lakh and Rs 15 lakh.
The Tata Nexon has become one of the best-selling compact SUVs in India. The 1.5-litre diesel comes tuned for 113bhp/260Nm and can be paired either with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed AMT automatic gearbox.
The latest changes have brought more refined design details and up-to-date safety tech. This triple play of contemporary design, smart packaging and value pricing has turned the Nexon into a segment benchmark.
3. Mahindra XUV 3XO – Rs 7.99 lakh to Rs 15.80 lakh
Mahindra XUV 3O Generations The Mahindra XUV 3O is a value-for-money vehicle, and comes with 1.5-litre diesel engine that makes 115bhp and 300Nm of torque. This is the highest torque of any segment competitor, providing strong legwork for city and highway maneuvering.
The XUV 3O is offered with 6-speed manual and 6-speed AMT transmission, and gets features like four disc brakes, dual-zone climate control, six airbags as standard etc.
4. Kia Sonet – Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 15.69 lakh
The Kia Sonet made a comeback in the diesel category with the January 2024 facelift. The 1.5-litre diesel engine delivers 114bhp and 250Nm of torque, paired to three transmission options –
6-speed manual, 6-speed clutchless iMT and 6-speed automatic.
In automatic and iMT, it offers fuel economy of 18.60 kmpl and 22.30 kmpl respectively. The Sonet can also boast of Kia’s exhaustive warranty and service network.
5. Hyundai Venue –Rs 10.79 lakh to Rs 13.44 lakh
The Hyundai Venue makes it to the top five with its 1.5-litre diesel engine that produces 114bhp and 250Nm of torque. The Venue only comes with the 6-speed manual option, unlike its Kia cousin.
The Venue offers an extraordinary 24.2 kmpl of mileage. Some of the standard and premium features list are powered drivers seat, sunroof, connected car technologies and Level 1 ADAS.
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What Makes These SUVs Special
Both target certain buyer tastes. The Bolero is for those customers who want a utility focused vehicle that delivers maximum ruggedness. The Nexon provides the best value for money. The XUV 3X0 has best in class performance figures.
On the other hand, the Sonet is available in a number of transmission choices, and the Venue is fuel-efficient as well as premium feature-packed.
MARKET OUTLOOK: Hefty but Narrow Choices
The shrinking of diesel SUV segment is indicative of the wider change in the automotive industry; with a trend for electrification as well as of more CNG options. But there are these five models that show the diesel powertrain still has some unique virtues in the right application.
Torque delivery is still the diesel’s biggest ace, with effortless highway cruising and fantastic towing ability. When you pile on the miles, diesel remains more cost-effective than its petrol counterpart, although more expensive to begin with.
Now, the selection of diesel SUVs in the Indian market isn’t too wide, however these are engineered to give you serious bang for your buck. Each has found its place, and buyers still have some good options even though the segment has not renewed any interest in the new millennium.