The Tata Safari was launched a decade ago to the Indian market. Tata Safari with its slightly puffed yet elegant body and comfortable interiors became the darling of the young middle class urban elite. Safari comes in eight trims and two drive configurations, front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. It comes with two engine options: a 2.2L VTT diesel that churns out 138 bhp and 2.0L MPFI petrol that produces 125 bhp. Estimated fuel economy is 9/13 km/l (city/highway). It is furnished with a height-adjustable driver's seat, power windows, a climate control system, and a tilt power steering. The Safari comes with a starting price tag of Rs 6.47 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
2 2009 Mahindra Scorpio
Since decades, Mahindra & Mahindra is known to supply general purpose vehicles to the Indian mass and the tradition is maintained with the launch of Mahindra Scorpio. This SUV became an instant hit and created a wave of enthusiasm among young professionals. The 2009 Scorpio comes with a new engine. The all-new 2.2-litre, four-cylinder mHawk diesel pumps out 120 bhp, which can be considered the right kind of output for Indian conditions from an SUV. The new engine comes with the micro hybrid mode. What this does is to switch off to standby when the vehicle does not need the engine, such as in idling conditions. This is believed to make some contribution to fuel conservation.
The 2009 Scorpio is given a new grill, which comes with a central ‘silver tooth’. As the name suggests, this fork-like shape for the grill makes it more noticeable. This feature is common to the Bolero, as well as Mahindra's new introduction, the Xylo. The new headlights get a highly powerful and piercing ‘projector’ lenses. Available in four variants, the 2009 Mahindra Scorpio is available within the price range of Rs 7 Lakh to Rs 9 Lakh
The 2009 Scorpio is given a new grill, which comes with a central ‘silver tooth’. As the name suggests, this fork-like shape for the grill makes it more noticeable. This feature is common to the Bolero, as well as Mahindra's new introduction, the Xylo. The new headlights get a highly powerful and piercing ‘projector’ lenses. Available in four variants, the 2009 Mahindra Scorpio is available within the price range of Rs 7 Lakh to Rs 9 Lakh
3 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
After having established itself as an undisputable leader in the small car segment, Maruti Suzuki has set foot in the SUV market with the launch of Grand Vitara. This SUV comes to India with a single petrol engine option, a 5-seater configuration, and an enthralling exterior design that resembles the Honda CR-V. The gutsy 2.0L VIS Inline-4 petrol engine churns out 119.5 bhp and is linked to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission. An all-wheel-drive configuration is standard and the fuel economy is 10.3 km/l for variant with automatic transmission and 11.2 km/l for variant with manual transmission. The starting price tag for the Grand Vitara is Rs 13.8 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
4 Chevrolet Captiva
The SUV is blessed with aggressive looks, classy exterior & interiors and uncompromised performance. The engine follows the Common Rail Direct Injection fuel system coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission and powered by 2.0L Inline 4 cylinder delivering 150bhp. The car now comes with automatic transmission that adds value to the already competent car. Available only in single diesel variant, Captiva offers the fuel economy of 9/12 km/L (city/highway). Chevrolet Captiva comes with a starting price of Rs 19.9 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
5 Ford Endeavour
Struggling to cope with the new Globalised competition, Ford was not to lag behind others while vying for the Indian pie. The Endeavour may look a bit obsolescent, but it has user-friendly interiors with plenty of legroom. The car comes with a common 2.5L turbocharged diesel VGT Inline-4 engine which generates 141 bhp and is propelled by a 5-speed manual transmission. The only difference between the two available variants is the drive configuration, which is rear-wheel-drive (RWD) for one and all-wheel-drive (AWD) for the other. The car comes with alloy wheels and tubeless tyres. The estimated fuel economy of the car is 7/10 km/l (city/highway). The Endeavour comes with a starting price tag of Rs 14.72 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
6 Mitsubishi Outlander
This Stunning SUV is launched in India by a joint venture of Hindustan Motors and Mitsubishi. Designed meticulously, the Outlander is gifted with brilliant styling, faultless performance, unmatched fuel efficiency, and innovative engineering. This SUV offers driving pleasure with its convertible smooth 2WD mode to rugged 4WD mode. The car is propelled by a 2.4L MIVEC I4 engine which delivers 168bhp. The gearbox offered a 6-speed INVECS-III CVT with a 6-speed manual mode controlled through paddle shifters. The estimated fuel economy is 8/11 km/L (city/highway). The starting price tag is Rs 20.20 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
7 Porsche Cayenne
Porsche is well-known for imparting unique sporty character to its cars and the same is truly reflected in the design and aesthetic of the Cayenne. Continuing Porsche’s legacy of excellence in automotive engineering, the SUV exudes both elegance and masculinity at the same time. The naturally aspirated 3.6-litre V6 engine produces 290 bhp. Complimenting the high energy is the invigorating engine sound that is unique to every Porsche car. With awe-inspiring power and well-balanced acoustics, it goes from 0 to 100 km/h in a span of 8.1 seconds and can touch a top speed of 227 km/h.
A ‘Sport’ mode on the car offers a quicker pedal response and more dynamic as well as direct engine performance. It also assists in achieving a firmer ride and responsive handling. The Porsche Traction Management (PTM) on the SUV combined with Porsche’s enhanced Stability Management system tune the ride for optimum off-road performance. The maximum ground clearance of 241 mm and air suspension confirm the superior traction and smooth driving dynamics. The luxurious and powerful Cayenne SUV models sell within the range of Rs 56 Lakh to Rs 1.5 Crore (ex-showroom price).
8 Mitsubishi Pajero
The Japanese car maker Mitsubishi entered the fray of the lucrative Indian SUV market with its Pajero. The Pajero has a military-vehicle sturdy front with a boxy rear. It is great off-road and tackles difficult terrain with panache. The Pajero comes in a single variant SFX with a 2.8L turbocharged Inline-4 diesel engine that churns out 117 bhp and is coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission. The Pajero also has height-adjustable driver seat, ABS brakes, and climate control. This all-wheel-drive vehicle has an estimated fuel economy of 8/11 km/l (city/highway). The Pajero comes with a starting price tag of Rs 19.80 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
9 Honda CR-V
This is a top-end luxury SUV one will simply love to own. This extremely popular, new-age urban vehicle has sold over 2.5 million units across 160 countries, and its popularity doesn't show the slightest sign of waning.
The Honda CR-V is as stylish as a premium SUV can get. Its wonderful GCON body, catchy tail gate design, attractive front cabin, cockpit-like interior and sun roof combine deftly with the luxury that is packed inside.
There is a seemingly unlimited set of interior amenities and comforts inside. A dynamic dashboard, dual climate control, plush leather upholstery, multi-info display, adjustable tilt-telescopic steering and Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) reduction feature are some of the wonders of this vehicle. It has a terrific feel of the road. Its superior stability and road handling complement the high view that offers wonderful visibility. This gives the driver a feeling of being king of the road.
The Honda CR-V comes in 3 variants with two 2.0L i-VTEC and 2.4L i-VTEC engine that gives out 141 bhp and 151 bhp, respectively. Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), dual SRS airbags, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), security alarm and immobilizer are some of the safety features that the CR-V comes with.
Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), dual SRS airbags, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), security alarm and immobilizer are some of the safety features that the CR-V comes with. The price of the car falls within the range of Rs 17 Lakh to Rs 19 Lakh.
The Honda CR-V is as stylish as a premium SUV can get. Its wonderful GCON body, catchy tail gate design, attractive front cabin, cockpit-like interior and sun roof combine deftly with the luxury that is packed inside.
There is a seemingly unlimited set of interior amenities and comforts inside. A dynamic dashboard, dual climate control, plush leather upholstery, multi-info display, adjustable tilt-telescopic steering and Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) reduction feature are some of the wonders of this vehicle. It has a terrific feel of the road. Its superior stability and road handling complement the high view that offers wonderful visibility. This gives the driver a feeling of being king of the road.
The Honda CR-V comes in 3 variants with two 2.0L i-VTEC and 2.4L i-VTEC engine that gives out 141 bhp and 151 bhp, respectively. Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), dual SRS airbags, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), security alarm and immobilizer are some of the safety features that the CR-V comes with.
Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), dual SRS airbags, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), security alarm and immobilizer are some of the safety features that the CR-V comes with. The price of the car falls within the range of Rs 17 Lakh to Rs 19 Lakh.
10 Audi Q7
Audi Q7 is a full size luxury SUV built on the customized version of the Volkswagen 7L platform. Enhanced with Audis Quattro all-wheel drive system, it has an option of three engines in petrol and diesel version - 3.0L V6 Turbo diesel that churns out 230bhp, 3.6L V6 delivering 276 bhp and 4.2L V8 producing 350bhp. It is available in three variants - 3.0 TDI Quattro, 4.2 FSI Quattro and 3.6 FSI Quattro. The engine is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The estimated fuel economy is 7/9 km/L (city/highway). Its price tag starts at Rs 53.4 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
