3. Maruti Vitara Brezza
Maruti Vitara Brezza is the new kid on the block and in the short period of time that it’s been in business, Brezza has managed to scare the competition enough that the companies are rolling up their sleeves and working on facelifts and updates of their SUVs. Maruti Brezza is a compact SUV that is very well planted and gives you a confident drive. The surprising package of Brezza is its ride quality which can at times even challenge the rides of some of the larger SUVs as well. The engine on it is a DDis 200 with a capacity of 1248cc. You’ll feel every now and then that the company could have fitted a bigger and more powerful engine but this isn’t all that bad (of course, we would’ve liked the bigger, better!)
The design is subtle and there aren’t any head-turning features but it gets all the basics like large wheels, masculine hunch, LED lamps etc. All in all, with the ride quality, decent interiors, efficient engine along with a decent list of features, Brezza does rank quite high on the list of the best SUVs in India under 10 lakhs, and quite rightfully!
The missing petrol engine is sort of a disappointment but the news is that we will soon be seeing a BoosterJet turbo petrol mill powering the Brezza which might prove quite beneficial for the SUV’s popularity. The interior quality at times can feel like a let-down especially when we compare it with rivals like EcoSport which offers a more solid built. However, one advantage that gives Brezza the necessary push that it needs is the wide Maruti service network which makes the ownership experience fuss-free.
| Price | Rs. 6.99 lakhs – Rs. 9.68 lakhs |
| Engine | 1.3litres diesel engine |
| Power | 89.7PS @ 4000rpm |
| Torque | 200Nm @ 1750rpm |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Mileage | 24.3kmpl |
| Pros | Decent looks, handling, ride quality |
| Cons | Not the best interiors, small boot, Base variants are too elementary |
*Prices are ex-showroom New Delhi
4. Mahindra KUV100
Mahindra KUV100 is a little big to be a hatchback but a little smaller to be called a compact SUV in its true sense. It’s sort of a SUV hatchback; if we really have to give it a name. In terms of its drive and interiors space, it feels like a compact SUV. It has a really bold design that can feel a little too much but on the inside it is quite pleasing. It has a spacious and airy cabin with decent amount of equipment on the central console. It offers a 5 seater and a 6seater option. The five seater option gets two captain seats in the front while for the 6 seater, the first row gets a bench seating. However, in our opinion though, it’s best that you seat 5 in the car; whether it is the 5 seater or 6 seater options.
It is offered with a 1.2-litres petrol engine and a 1.2-litre diesel engine. Both the engines are capable and an excellent choice for the city driving whereas on highways you might miss a little punch that a compact SUV usually offers. In terms of features, it offers ABS across all variants and that is a big plus. The diesel engine is more refined than petrol while you would find yourself wishing for a bit more cabin insulation at times.
| Price | Diesel – Rs. 5.48 lakhs – Rs. 7.1 lakhs Petrol – Rs. 4.56 lakhs – Rs. 6.18 lakhs |
| Engine | Diesel – 1.2litres Petrol – 1.2litres |
| Power | Diesel – 78 PS @ 3750rpm Petrol – 83.1 PS @ 5500rpm |
| Torque | Diesel – 190Nm @ 1750 – 2250 rpm Petrol – 115Nm @ 3500 – 3600rpm |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Mileage | Diesel – 25kmpl Petrol – 18kmpl |
| Pros | Unique size, good interior space, city drives |
| Cons | Too much styling, NVH is poor, badly calibrated steering |
*Prices are ex-showroom New Delhi
