I am buying my first car with a strict budget of ₹20 lakh. I want an SUV with good pickup and speed, a smooth transmission, and high ground clearance suitable for both on-road and off-road use, and it must have 4×4 capability. What should I consider?

Autocar India

•15w

The Mahindra Thar will easily fall within your Rs 20 lakh budget - it is a rugged off-roader with plenty of ground clearance and strong engine performance. If this is going to be the primary car in your household, you could opt for the Mahindra Thar Roxx MX5 diesel-MT 4x4 variant instead. It will be more convenient when you want to ferry more than one passenger, due to its 5-door arrangement.

However, if you want something that's a lot more polished, refined and car-like than the Thar/Thar Roxx. Also, if you're willing to sacrifice performance, you could consider the AWD variants of the Maruti Victoris or Toyota Hyryder.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

Thar

from ₹11.48 Lakh

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹14.41 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.23 Lakh

Toyota

Urban Cruiser Hyryder

from ₹12.79 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Mani Nair

•6d

I would like to know the launch time of the Toyota Rav4/Hybrid. Secondly, could I get a pre-owned strong hybrid in Chennai? If so, what’s the process?

Autocar India

•2d

Toyota currently has no concrete plans to launch the RAV4 hybrid in India. It’s primarily developed for international markets and, given its size and positioning, would end up being far too expensive here, especially since it’s not much larger than the Urban Cruiser Hyryder.If you’re looking for a strong-hybrid alternative, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder is the closest match in our market right now. For a pre-owned Hyryder in Chennai, the easiest and safest route is through our partner platform Spinny, which is India’s leading used-car marketplace. Spinny typically has certified used Hyryders listed in major cities, including Chennai, and each car goes through a detailed multi-point inspection, so you know exactly what you’re buying.You can simply visit Spinny’s website, set your location to Chennai, filter for Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong hybrid, and shortlist a few cars based on budget, variant and mileage. From there, book a test drive, check the car’s history report, and if everything checks out, Spinny will also help with paperwork, finance and transfer, which makes the whole process far more transparent and hassle‑free.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Rengaraj K

•15h

I live in Bangalore, and my usage is around 800 km per month, with 70% in the city and 30% on highways. I have shortlisted the Toyota Hyryder Hybrid (eCVT), Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 DSG, and Kia Seltos 1.5 DCT. Please help me choose one. I currently own a Toyota Yaris CVT.

Autocar India

•12h

You are doing mostly city driving in Bangalore with some highway use, and you are already used to a smooth CVT experience. The Toyota Hyryder hybrid fits this perfectly. It is extremely smooth, quiet and effortless in traffic, often running on electric power at low speeds, which makes it far more efficient in city conditions. It also offers a relaxed driving experience on highways with consistent efficiency. This makes it the most comfortable and least stressful option for daily use.Now, comparing your other choices. The Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 DSG is easily the most fun to drive. It is quick, engaging and feels very stable at high speeds. But in city traffic, the DSG is not as smooth as a CVT, and achieving good fuel efficiency in the city will be difficult. It is better suited as an enthusiast’s car rather than a daily comfort-focused option.The Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo DCT sits somewhere in between. It is more refined than the Taigun and feels more premium inside, but the DCT still behaves like a performance-oriented gearbox. In stop-go traffic, it is not as seamless as a hybrid or CVT, and fuel efficiency will be noticeably lower than the Hyryder.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Volkswagen Taigun

Kia Seltos

Narayan

•1w

Hi Autocar team, I am planning to upgrade my vehicle. I currently own a Nissan Terrano, which has done over 3.5 lakh km and still runs very well. However, due to its age, its parts are wearing out, and Nissan service takes a long time (often 15 days to a month) to replace parts, sometimes even suggesting unnecessary replacements. I am confused between the Victor's Strong Hybrid and the GV Strong Hybrid. I am getting a good discount on the GV. My main concern is that the GV does not have a crash test rating, whereas the Victor's has a 5-star rating. Plus, can you tell me how much I'll pay in tolls for ride quality? Since Terrano has excellent suspension, is that acceptable, or should I avoid Maruti Duo & Toyota? After-sales service is very important to me, so if you suggest any other vehicles, please recommend from well-established brands.

Autocar India

•1d

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Maruti Suzuki Victoris share the same Global C platform and are structurally as well as mechanically identical, so the crash structure and safety levels should be very similar. However, since you're concerned about having a certified 5-star rating, the Victoris is the safer bet as it has been officially crash-tested by Bharat NCAP and awarded a 5-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection. The rating applies to all Victoris variants, including the strong hybrid models. The Victoris is also the newer model with additional features like a larger 10.1-inch infotainment system, ADAS, and improved tech over the Grand Vitara.Regarding everyday use, the strong hybrid powertrain is exceptionally well-suited for city driving with long daily commutes. The system operates in near-silent EV mode for extended periods in city traffic, switches seamlessly between electric and petrol modes, and delivers excellent fuel efficiency. This Toyota-based strong hybrid technology is both smooth and refined in operation.As for ride quality, you will need to adjust your expectations coming from the Terrano. This Nissan car suspension setup was indeed exceptional on broken roads and offered a plush ride. The Grand Vitara and Victoris, while comfortable, have a slightly firmer setup that may not quite match the Terrano's ability to absorb bad road surfaces. However, the ride is still acceptable for most conditions.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

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