10 most affordable SUVs in India

SUVs attract the most demand among Indian mass-market buyers thanks to their high ground clearances, ease of ingress/egress, and greater perception of safety. Compact SUVs particularly hit a sweet spot, as their sub-4m proportions additionally enable easier maneuverability and attract lower taxation, thereby being easier on the pocket. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 cheapest SUVs you can currently buy in India, ranked in descending order of their base ex-showroom prices.

10. Skoda Kylaq

Starting price: Rs 7.59 lakh

The Kylaq is Skoda's entry-level model, and its aggressive pricing, competent powertrains, and substantial feature set translated to significant success on the sales charts. Skoda sells the Kylaq with a lone 115hp 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox.

9. Mahindra XUV 3XO

Starting price: Rs 7.37 lakh

The XUV 3XO is the cheapest Mahindra car in India at the moment, and among the more enthusiastic options on this list. It’s offered with two 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engines outputting 111hp and 131hp, as well as a 117hp 1.5-litre diesel mill. A 6-speed manual is standard across all three engines, with the petrol ones additionally offering a 6-speed torque converter automatic and the diesel a 6-speed AMT.

8. Tata Nexon

Starting price: Rs 7.32 lakh

Tata is the only carmaker with two models on this list, and the Nexon is the first of them. Initially launched in September 2017, the Nexon is also the oldest SUV here, but continues to accrue very strong sales numbers. The Nexon gets 120hp 1.2-litre turbo-petrol, 100hp 1.2-litre turbo CNG, and 115hp 1.5-litre diesel engine options, along with manual and automatic transmissions.

7. Kia Sonet

Starting price: Rs 7.30 lakh

The Kia Sonet narrowly edges ahead of the Nexon to clinch seventh place. Kia offers the Sonet with three engine options: an 83hp 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, a 120hp 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, and a 116hp 1.5-litre diesel. Gearbox options comprise a 5-speed manual for the NA petrol, a 6-speed iMT and 7-speed DCT for the turbo-petrol, and a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic for the diesel engine.

6. Toyota Taisor

Starting price: Rs 7.25 lakh

Toyota’s most affordable SUV, the Taisor, is a rebadged version of the Maruti Fronx. It comes with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine in 90hp petrol and 76hp CNG guises, as well as a 100hp 1.0-litre turbo-petrol motor. A 5-speed manual is standard fit for the NA petrol and CNG engines, with the former additionally getting a 5-speed AMT. The turbo-petrol Taisor can be had with 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic options.

5. Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Starting price: Rs 6.85 lakh

Based on the Baleno hatchback, the Fronx stands as a more stylish alternative to the Brezza in Maruti Suzuki’s compact SUV line-up. The Fronx expectedly offers the same petrol, turbo-petrol, and CNG engine options as the Taisor, along with their respective gearbox options, but is Rs 40,000 cheaper than its Toyota twin at the base level.

4. Renault Kiger

Starting price: Rs 5.76 lakh

Though the Renault Kiger received a facelift in 2025 with updated styling elements and more features, it remains among the cheapest SUVs on sale in India. The Kiger comes with a 72hp 1.0-litre petrol engine with manual and AMT options, and a 100hp 1.0-litre turbo-petrol with manual and CVT options. A dealer-level CNG kit is also offered for the Kiger, and costs Rs 79,500 more than the naturally aspirated petrol version it’s based on.

3. Hyundai Exter

Starting price: Rs 5.64 lakh

First up on the podium is Hyundai’s entry-level SUV, the Exter. Though the Exter gets a sole 1.2-litre 4-cylinder engine in 83hp petrol and 69hp CNG states of tune – a 5-speed manual is standard, with the petrol additionally offering a 5-speed AMT – Hyundai sells the subcompact SUV in a staggering gamut of variants – nearly 30.

2. Nissan Magnite

Starting price: Rs 5.62 lakh

While the Magnite is essentially Nissan’s version of the Kiger, it outprices the Renault SUV by Rs 14,000 at the base level. Expectedly, the Magnite shares its 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol and turbo-petrol engines with the Kiger, as well as the dealer-fit CNG option. However, the Magnite is one of only two SUVs on this list to offer an AMT gearbox with its CNG powertrain.

1. Tata Punch

Starting price: Rs 5.59 lakh

With the 2026 Punch facelift, Tata not only introduced several styling tweaks, feature upgrades, and a new 120hp turbo-petrol engine, but also reduced its starting price by Rs 40,000. This makes the Punch the cheapest SUV in India right now. Aside from the new turbo-petrol motor, the 2026 Punch retains its prior 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated engine in 88hp petrol and 73hp CNG guises, along with their manual and AMT options.

All prices are ex-showroom, India.