1 Toyota Fortuner
If the Toyota Innova Crysta is a more family-oriented car from the Japanese carmaker, the Fortuner is the true sibling of the MPV, promising a robust road presence and power-packed performance.
The ladder-frame chassis SUV segment-dominating Toyota Fortuner heavily relies on its ultra-reliable massive 2.8-litre diesel engine, which gives the SUV an unmatched performance capability and high resale value as well. The resale value will certainly climb high as the full-sized diesel SUVs gradually go extinct. Fortuner is known for its power-packed engine, a 4x4 drivetrain and high ground clearance.
2 Mahindra Scorpio-N
The Mahindra Scorpio-N has given a rejuvenated life to the iconic and highly popular nomenclature. Powering the Mahindra Scorpio-N is a heavy-duty 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine, which delivers massive low-end torque that its petrol-powered sibling can't match, especially over long-distance runs or under fully loaded conditions. The SUV is built on a robust body-on-frame chassis. It gets a shift-on-the-fly 4WD drivetrain and a top-notch safety rating.
3 Mahindra Thar
The Mahindra Thar might be an extremely popular SUV, but the Thar diesel has every reason to be discontinued in future when the emission norms get even more stringent. The three-door lifestyle SUV demands steady, low-speed grunt during off-roading, which is promised by the 2.18-litre mHawk diesel engine churning out 370 Nm torque. This makes the SUV crawl through mud, steep inclines, and deep sand where petrol motors struggle. The SUV comes packing mechanical locking differentials, high approach and departure angles, and rugged configurations.
4 Kia Sonet
The sub-compact SUV market in India, which is the country's most competitive passenger vehicle segment, has almost entirely abandoned diesel engines. The Kia Sonet is one of the rare survivors in this space, which offers the customers a highly refined 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine. It offers over 20 kmpl fuel economy, making the SUV a practical and cost-effective favourite of urban customers. The six-speed automatic and manual gearbox options, a premium tech-forward interior, and compact dimensions further enhance its appeal.
5 Tata Safari
Tata Motors' flagship offering, the Safari, is a key model in this list. The SUV bearing iconic nomenclature draws power from a Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre Kryotec diesel engine. The Tata Safari diesel promises a smooth, effortless driving experience when accelerating, even with a full seven occupants onboard. Adding more appeal to it are the advanced technology-aided features, panoramic sunroof, terrain response modes, five-star safety rating, etc.