When it comes to SUVs under 20 lakhs in India, there are several outstanding options available. In this blog, we will not rank the cars, as each one has its strengths and target audience. Instead, we will explore the best SUVs for specific categories, helping you make an informed choice based on your preferences and requirements.
Best “Fun to Drive” Car: Volkswagen Taigun
With its classic and timeless design, impressive performance and uncompromising safety features the Volkswagen Taigun emerges as the top choice for those seeking a thrilling and engaging driving experience.
The Taigun offers two engine options: the 1.0L engine and the 1.5L engine. Whichever option you choose, you can’t go wrong. However, for the automotive enthusiasts who frequently embark on highway drives, the 1.5L engine would be the ideal choice. Its additional power and performance capabilities will enhance your highway driving experience. On the other hand, if you primarily drive in the city, the 1.0L engine will be more than enough to satisfy your driving needs.
The Taigun has few notable features:
- The Taigun is a joy to drive. The precise handling, responsive steering, and agile nature of the Taigun make every journey a thrilling experience. Whether you’re navigating city streets or embarking on a weekend adventure, the Taigun’s dynamic capabilities ensure a fun and engaging drive. The VW Taigun provides a greater sense of stability and a grounded feel, particularly when cornering. This attribute enhances driver confidence and ensures a smooth and controlled ride. The Taigun’s well-tuned suspension system and well-balanced chassis contribute to its impressive stability, allowing for a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience.
- When it comes to safety, the Taigun (and Skoda Kushaq) sets new benchmarks in its segment. It has been rigorously tested and achieved a 5-star safety rating for both adult and child occupants in the Global NCAP crash tests making it the safest car in India.
- Even though VW Taigun and Kushaq are smaller in dimensions from their competitor cars, it is important to note that these two cars have the longest wheelbase in the segment enabling them to offer the largest legroom to its passengers.
Honorable Mention: Skoda Kushaq
The Skoda Kushaq, a sister car of the Volkswagen Taigun, carves its own distinct identity in terms of design and performance. The Kushaq’s aesthetics cater to the younger crowd with a more modern (not timeless) and expressive SUV design.
Similar to the Taigun, the Skoda Kushaq offers a 5 star safety rating, an enjoyable and engaging driving experience. However, during our testing, we noticed that the Kushaq exhibits slightly greater body roll compared to the Taigun when cornering. While this doesn’t significantly hamper its driving dynamics, it is worth mentioning as drivers will feel more confident in the VW Taigun compared to the Kushaq.
Drawback: However, a notable drawback of these two cars lies in their size. Despite offering ample legroom to passengers, both vehicles have slightly smaller dimensions compared to their competitors, making them less suitable for accommodating three passengers in the back seat.
Best “Allrounder” Car: Hyundai Creta
The Hyundai Creta has established itself as one of the most popular mid-size SUVs in India, offering a wide range of features, ideal dimensions, and impressive all-around capabilities.
- The Hyundai Creta excels in providing a host of advanced features, making it a standout choice for those seeking a well-equipped SUV. Features include a responsive infotainment system, smartphone integration, advanced safety technologies, BOSE sound systems, and convenience features such as wireless charging and panoramic sunroof.
- The Hyundai Creta achieves a harmonious balance in size, positioning it as an exemplary mid-size SUV. It strikes the sweet spot with dimensions that provide ample room for three passengers in the rear row while maintaining exceptional maneuverability on the road.
- One of the key strengths of the Hyundai Creta is its versatility as a great all-rounder. It combines a comfortable ride, responsive handling, and efficient engines, making it suitable for both urban commuting and highway cruising.
Drawback: However, with all this, there’s one down side to this car. All the high end features (bigger infotainment, panoramic sunroof etc.) come only in the top model.
This is where Kia Seltos (Creta’s sister car) comes to the rescue!
Honorable Mention: Kia Seltos (Best “Value for Money” Car)
If you are looking for a feature-loaded SUV right from the entry-level model, the Kia Seltos deserves an honorable mention. With its extensive range of features, the Seltos caters to buyers who prioritize value for money without compromising on essential features. Rest all, from driving dynamics to fit and finish, everything is the same in the two cars.
Drawback: However, Kia and Hyundai should focus on enhancing the safety ratings of their vehicles by utilizing higher-quality materials.
Best “Economical” Car: Toyota Hyryder
I’m not going to tell you its features list, as now-a-days every car in a particular segment offers more or less the same features with 2-3 changes here and there.
But where this car shines is in terms of economy and fuel efficiency. What sets it apart is the availability of a hybrid variant right from the lower model. This hybrid offering gives the Toyota Hyryder an edge over its competitors in terms of fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness.
Also, this car has 3 benefits over the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara (its sister car from Maruti), which is why the Hyryder earns this mention. The benefits are:
- As Toyota is known for its best customer service across the world, the Hyryder offers better after sales service than the Grand Vitara.
- Between the Toyota-Maruti collaboration, Toyota is the one offering the hybrid system to Maruti, hence making it a more reliable option than Grand Vitara.
- And last but not the least, Toyota has greater brand value than Maruti, hence giving the Hyryder a higher resale value than its Maruti counterpart.
Drawback: However, as I am mentioning one major flaw with each car in the segment, this car doesn’t offer great “fun to drive” experience to its passenger and also, as it shares its platform with Maruti, its safety rating (yet to be tested by Global NCAP) won’t be good either.
Conclusion:
In the competitive market of SUVs under 20 lakhs in India, each car caters to different preferences and priorities. For those seeking an exhilarating driving experience, the Volkswagen Taigun stands as the “Fun to Drive” champion. The Hyundai Creta takes the crown for being the “Allrounder” SUV, although the Kia Seltos offers great value for money. When it comes to economy, the Toyota Hyryder’s hybrid variant makes it the top choice.
Remember to assess your needs, consider test drives, and take into account factors such as design, features, performance, and economy when making your final decision.
CARBINGE 
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