Diesel is surely on the decline, especially in compact cars. But where there is choice, diesel still contributes a reasonable share to overall volumes. In the sub-4m SUV segment for instance, only five of the dozen or so cars come with a diesel engine option, and where it’s available, it makes up about 15-20 percent of sales. Here, we have ranked the five best diesel-automatic compact SUVs with a monocoque chassis currently available in the market.
Kia Sonet
Pricre: Rs 9.80 lakh – Rs 14.17 lakh, Autocar rating: 8/10
The Kia Sonet uses a 116hp 1.5-litre diesel with a 6-speed torque converter. It’s not particularly sporty, but it offers the best blend of refinement, efficiency, and performance, while being well priced. The Sonet has a premium interior and an expansive features list, but rear seat space and ride comfort are not among its strong points.
Mahindra XUV 3XO
Price: Rs 9.22 lakh – Rs 13.90 lakh, Autocar rating: 8/10
The Mahindra XUV 3XO’s 117hp, 1.5-litre diesel stands out with class-best 300Nm torque. It’s a punchy engine with decent levels of refinement, but the 6-speed AMT isn’t as polished as the ATs offered by rivals. The XUV 3XO is priced well, comes well-equipped and has a nice ride and handling balance. It can also seat three abreast at the rear, but boot space is limited.
Hyundai Venue
Price: Rs 11.81 lakh – Rs 15.64 lakh, Autocar rating: 8/10
The Hyundai Venue gets the same diesel-AT combo as the Sonet, which means it’s a smooth and refined powertrain, serving well as a mile muncher or even as a city runabout. The Venue is slightly more spacious, more premium and better equipped than the Sonet, but it is a lot more expensive at the top end.
Tata Nexon
Price: Rs 10.65 lakh – Rs 14.02 lakh, Autocar rating: 7/10
The Tata Nexon pairs its 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel with a 6-speed AMT gearbox. The engine offers a strong mid-range grunt, but it gets gravelly as you push harder; the AMT gearbox also takes away from the refinement. However, the Nexon impresses with a tough SUV feel, has a roomy and feature-laden interior and is good value, too.
Kia Syros
Price: Rs 12.73 lakh – Rs 15.80 lakh, Autocar rating: 7/10
The Kia Syros is the third SUV on this list to get the same Hyundai-Kia 116hp, 1.5-litre diesel-AT powertrain. Its characteristics fundamentally remain the same, but NVH levels are noticeably higher. The Syros has the most spacious interior, with quality and features on par with the Venue, but the diesel-AT comes only on top trims, making it expensive.
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