4 Rs 12 Lakh SUVs Compared!  » MotorOctane

Everyone is talking about the Sierra, Creta, Duster and other mid-sized SUVs at the moment. But what if you want an SUV at a more affordable price? Today, let us look at which SUV is the best buy if you are on a tight budget of Rs 12 Lakh!
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Hyundai Exter

Pricing – 

• Rs. 6.78 lakh and Rs 11.26 lakh (on-road, Mumbai)

Key Features – 

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• Cruise control
• Electric sunroof
• Rear Parking Camera
• 8-inch infotainment screen
• Digital driver’s display

Powertrain – 

• 1.2-litre NA petrol (82 bhp & 114 Nm)
• 1.2-litre NA Petrol-CNG (bi-cylinder) (68 bhp & 95 Nm)

Gearbox – 

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Pros – 

• The dual-cylinder layout means optimised boot space in CNG variants
• Refined engine
• 3-year/ unlimited km warranty

Cons – 

• No turbo-petrol options
• Looks are not everyone’s cup of tea
• No CNG-AMT option

Also Read: These Creta Rivals Get Discounts Of Up To Rs 2.5 Lakh

Tata Punch

Pricing – 

• Rs 6.62 lakh – Rs 12.23 Lakh (on-road, Mumbai)

Engine –

• 1.2-litre NA petrol (87 bhp & 115 Nm)
• 1.2-litre turbo-petrol (118 bhp & 170 Nm)
• 1.2 litre NA Petrol-CNG (bi-cylinder) (68 bhp & 95 Nm)

Gearbox –

• 5-speed manual (NA variants)
• 6-speed manual (turbo variants)
• 5-speed AMT (NA variants)

Key Features- 

• Ventilated front seats
• Electric sunroof
• 360-degree camera
• 10.25-inch infotainment screen
• 7-inch digital driver’s display
• wireless charging 

Pros – 

• A dual-cylinder layout means better boot space in CNG trims
• Most powerful turbo-petrol engine in the segment. 
• No other car offers a turbo-petrol for less than Rs 10 lakh
• Feature-packed
• 5-star GNCAP
• Good Looks 
• CNG-AMT powertrain

Cons- 

• You can get a mid-variant Nexon for the price of a Top-end Punch

Also Read: Land Cruiser For The Price Of A Tata Punch!

Renault Kiger

Pricing – 

• Rs 6.76 lakh and Rs 12.22 Lakh (on-road, Mumbai)

Powertrain – 

• 1.0-litre turbo-petrol (99 bhp & 152 Nm)
• 1.0-litre NA petrol (71 bhp & 96 Nm)

Gearbox – 

• CVT (turbo variants only)
• 5-speed manual 
• 5-speed AMT (NA/CNG variants only)

Key Features – 

• 7-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless charging
• Ventilated front seats
• 8-inch infotainment screen
• Cruise control
• 360-degree parking camera

Pros – 

• Great looks
• Feature loaded
• Punchy turbo engine
• CNG AMT option
• Only car in the list to offer a CVT
• Best boot space in the segment (400 L)

Cons – 

• No factory-fitted CNG options
• Relatively poor service network when compared to other automakers. 

Also Read: Your Favourite Tata SUV Spotted With A New Design!

Citroen C3 

Pricing – 

• Rs 5.88 lakh to Rs 11.10 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).

Engines – 

• 1.2-litre NA petrol (80 bhp & 115 Nm)
• 1.2-litre CNG
• 1.2-litre turbo-petrol (109 bhp & 205 Nm)

Gearbox – 

• 6-speed manual (on turbo variants)
• 5-speed manual (on NA variants)
• 6-speed AT (on turbo variants)

Key Features – 

• 360-degree camera
• Wireless charging
• Cruise control
• 10.25-inch infotainment screen
• Fully digital instrument cluster

Pros – 

• Longest wheelbase amongst competition (2540 mm)
• Good feature list
• Impressive ride quality
• Cheapest of the 4 cars
• The only car to offer a torque converter unit
• Best torque figures in the segment (205 Nm)
• Quirky looks

Cons –

• Poor brand image
• Poor sales network and after-sales service

Also Read: Government To Delay The Launch Of This Scorpio Rival? 

Which One To Buy –

All cars have their own upsides and downsides. The looks can be subjective, but we can compare them on the basis of value for money. 

On paper, the Citroen C3X seems like the clear winner. Many people often look past the C3 when looking for an affordable compact SUV. It gets a practical interior, powerful turbo options and a 6-speed AT gearbox, while being the cheapest of the lot. But Citroën’s after-sales service is poor, and the option is unviable for people living outside major cities. If you are willing to ignore the after-sales woes, the C3 is the best pick. 

The Punch is the freshest face on the block, with the longest feature list and the most powerful turbo engine. This is often the safe pick by customers, and you can’t go wrong with it. The after-sales network is solid, and this is the best bet if you want a powerful SUV under 12 lakhs. 

The Kiger is a great SUV with striking looks (arguably, the best amongst the 4). But it falls behind the Punch in terms of power figures and features, while being on the more expensive side of the spectrum. Additionally, the after-sales service isn’t as great as that of Tata and Hyundai.  

The Exter is the sensible pick. It may lack in features and power, but it is a Hyundai, which means it is pretty reliable, and your after-sales experience will be smooth. 

Also Read: New Fortuner Rival Revealed!

Final Verdict – 

In the end, it all comes down to the customer’s priorities.  If you want – 

• Fuel economy – all the above-mentioned cars have similiar economy figures.
• VFM – Citroen C3
• Aftersales – Exter / Punch
• Practicality – Kiger (for petrol-only), Exter (for CNG)
• Performance – Punch 
• Ride quality – C3
• Safety – Punch 

Also Read: India’s Best-Seller In Danger?

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