Best Compact SUV Models

The Ford EcoSport is available in a powerful diesel engine, a refined petrol engine and a more fun turbocharged petrol unit. The latest generation of the crossover comes with a lot of new features, packaged well in a premium interior. Being a global product, the EcoSport offers excellent build quality too. The crossover also gets class-leading safety features such as Ford’s Emergency Assistance – a system which uses the paired smartphone to contact emergency services in the event of an accident.

The Nexon is one of the strongest contenders in the compact-SUV segment. It is also the first compact SUV from the Indian brand. The funky looks derived from Tata’s Impact Design 2.0 philosophy has won in attracting the younger mass. Available in a petrol or diesel engine and mated to either a manual or AMT gearbox, the Nexon offers just enough to be a practical, yet fun, daily-use vehicle. The Tata Nexon also ticks a lot of boxes, if features are what you are looking for.

The Maruti Brezza is without any doubt, the most popular compact-SUV in India. With only a diesel engine in offer, the Vitara Brezza is aimed to be just one thing: A compact and practical vehicle just for Indians. The Brezza offers ample amounts of space and seat support, even while being under four metres of length. And because of the trust of Indians in Maruti, the Vitara Brezza has also got good resale value, alongside the brand’s excellent sales and service network.

The past few years saw Honda Car India launching products in all affordable segments in the country. This includes the compact-SUV segment too and the Japanese brand introduced the WR-V to gain a good market share. As with most recent Hondas, the WR-V comes with a cluttered design on the exterior while offering a feature-rich interior. There is enough space on the inside and comes with a lot of equipment including SatNav, WiFi and voice recognition. The WR-V is available in both petrol and diesel engines; the same as in most other Honda models.

The Renault Duster, although not being under four metres of length, is one of the first SUVs that spread the compact-SUV trend in the country. Identical to the Nissan Terrano, the Duster’s diesel engine is offered in two states of tune – 85bhp and 110bhp. Both showcase good low-end torque while the 110bhp performs well on the highways, thanks to its 6-speed gearbox. The diesel Duster is available in manual, CVT and AMT variants.

With the sharp and elegant styling, the Hyundai Creta is most preferred by young families. The body shows a mature form of Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic’ design language and offers enough space for five passengers. The new Creta comes feature-rich and doesn’t compromise on safety either. The Hyundai Creta is also seen more as a status symbol among the middle class, thanks to its neat styling and premium feel. For all these reasons, the Hyundai Creta even became the best-selling SUV in India at a point.

The Terrano is basically a Renault Duster with a Nissan badge. It is one among the few cars Renault and Nissan jointly developed for India. Available in both petrol and diesel engine options, the Nissan Terrano is perhaps the most-outdated compact-SUV on the list. The diesel engine is available in two states of tune, just as in the Duster – 85bhp and 110bhp. The SUV has got lots of low-end torque and offers good mileage too. Space is also on the higher side for both passengers and luggage. The Terrano has gone through only one facelift while the Duster has improved a lot from its first iteration.

The Mahindra TUV300 can be considered as an improved version of the Bolero. While the looks of the TUV300 are not at all impressive, the boxy design offers good interior space and headroom. The interiors are also loaded with all the essentials including faux leather seats, touchscreen infotainment system, front seats with lumbar support and even an under-seat storage. While the regular TUV300 is a five-seater, there is a lengthier TUV300 Plus version that can seat seven.

Though the most premium entrant on the list, the five-seater Jeep Compass is essentially a compact-SUV. Being the most affordable product from the iconic American company, the Jeep Compass is a favourite to many. The SUV features excellent build quality along with good all-round capability. The five-seater has won numerous awards since its launch in July 2017. Coming to the looks, the most distinct body element of the Compass or any Jeep for that matter, could be the bold eight-slat grille. The Jeep Compass also gets a four-wheel drive option in the top variant.