Top 5 most fuel efficient SUVs in India
With fuel prices skyrocketing every passing month, fuel economy has become the most important factor to consider before stepping into a dealership and purchasing a vehicle. Petrol prices crossing the three-figure mark means that diesel continues to hold favour with customers. And even though the pandemic took a big swing at the automobile sector, the SUV market has had a sudden surge in sales and showrooms are getting busier by the day.
Keeping all the above factors in mind, we have comprised this list of 5 SUV's that are not only cheap to buy but are also friendly to your wallet when it comes to running them. For the purpose of authenticity, we have strictly stuck to the ARAI-tested efficiency figures.
1) Kia Sonet
Kia Motors India sent the Sonet as their candidate in the sub-four-metre SUV and it turned many heads with its design style and features. It turns out to also be the pick of the lot when it comes to fuel efficiency. The 1.5 litre diesel with a manual transmission returned 24.1 kmpl as per the ARAI certification. The turbo-diesel engine produces a healthy 99PS and 240Nm of torque. Pair that up with its aggressive looks and -nose grille and its numerous segment-leading features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen and interior build quality, you get a good bang for your buck on this Korean best-seller.
The Ford Freestyle has been around for quite sometime now and still holds its place as probably the sportiest looking sub-four-metre SUV on the block. The 1.5 litre diesel variant makes a decent 100PS and a maximum of 215 Nm of torque, it still manages to return 23.8 kmpl. And being one of the cheapest cars on this list, it even projects a nice-looking interior along with Ford's SYNC 3.0 system.
3) Honda WR-V
The tiny SUV, known as the Honda WR-V, has done pretty well in a competitive market. Its 1.5-litre diesel engine is available with a 6-speed manual gearbox and puts out a maximum power of 100PS with 200Nm of torque. The Honda WR-V returns a fuel efficiency of 23.7 kmpl. Despite being sub-compact in size and its smaller looks compared to its competition, the WR-V offers best-in-class cabin space with a highly practical layout and a decent amount of onboard features to make life easier.
In early 2019, Hyundai released the Venue sub-4 metre small SUV in India. Because of its stylish appearance and feature-rich interior, it is presently the best-selling SUV in the country. Based on the bigger Hyundai SUVs including the Palisade, it comes with Hyundai's Blue Link connected technology, which includes an Internet connection and a slew of other capabilities. It shares its 1.5 litre turbo-diesel engine with the Sonet and makes the same 99PS and 240Nm of torque. The punchy engine delivers an excellent 23.3 kmpl.
5) Tata NexonÂ
The last to make it to the list of most fuel-efficient SUV's is the Tata Nexon. With a 1.5 litre engine that produces 110Ps and 260Nm of torque through an AMT unit, it is the most powerful SUV in its class. It also returns a fuel efficiency of 22.4 kmpl which is staggering numbers from an engine that already produces a lot of power. The sub-compact SUV comes with several first-in-segment features including multi-drive modes, a floating dashtop screen and the 'Grand Central Console'.
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