I'm looking to buy an SUV (petrol or diesel) with strong road presence, good fuel mileage, and low maintenance. My budget is around ₹25 lakh. I'm also open to a quality used model (post-2023) with under 20,000 km. Can you recommend options?

autocar.india

•5h

The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI is the best petrol SUV to buy with a budget of Rs 13 lakh, provided driving experience is a priority. If long-term reliability, low maintenance and a wide service network matter more, the Maruti Brezza is the better choice.At this budget, the Skoda Kylaq stands out for its excellent steering, confident handling and proven 1.0 TSI engine paired with a well-sorted chassis. It also undercuts many rivals while offering a premium feel and remains the enthusiast's choice in this segment. The only compromise is that the rear seat is better suited to two adults than three, and it misses out on a few convenience features offered by rivals.For buyers who simply want hassle-free ownership, the Brezza deserves serious consideration. Its naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth, reliable and inexpensive to maintain, while Maruti Suzuki's service network and strong resale value make it one of the easiest compact SUVs to own over the long term.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•4h

Go for the MG Windsor Exclusive. At Rs 14 lakh, it offers the best ownership experience of the three. The Windsor is a genuinely spacious family car with a comfortable ride, a premium cabin and a strong feature set. It feels like a proper step up from your 2018 Nexon, with a more mature driving experience and a much more spacious rear seat. The Nexon Empowered 45 is a good car, but it is essentially an evolution of what you already own, and the Windsor simply feels like a bigger upgrade for the money. The Punch Empowered S40 is a solid value proposition, but it is a smaller car and does not feel as premium or as spacious as the Windsor. The only real drawback with the Windsor is that MG's service network is not as extensive as Tata's, but it is still a well-supported product in most major cities. Overall, the Windsor Exclusive is the best fit for your budget and your upgrade expectations.

MG Windsor

Tata Nexon

Tata Punch

autocar.india

•6h

Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 turbo DCT SX(O). It gives you Level 2 ADAS features, a big panoramic sunroof and feels nice to drive on long highway runs. It will likely sit closer to your Rs. 23 lakh cap than the Alcazar, which usually crosses it. If you truly need the third row a few times a year, the Alcazar DCT also works well, and it gets all the features you're looking for, but the last row is best reserved for short durations.About fuel, don’t overthink it. Hyundai’s current 1.5 turbo petrol is E20-ready and runs fine on today’s fuel. E27 or E30 is not around the corner yet, and buying now will not put you at a disadvantage in a few months.

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Alcazar