It’s well known that diesel engine options have considerably reduced in the budget segment in recent years, more so if you are looking for a practical people’s mover. Thanks to higher fuel efficiency and lower cost, diesel is especially suited for such long-haul vehicles. However, you are currently limited to just three diesel MPVs under Rs 30 lakh. Here’s what each has to offer.

Kia Carens

Price: Rs 12.65 lakh-19.67 lakh

The Carens is currently the most affordable diesel MPV in the market and is offered with a 115hp, 250Nm, 1.5-litre diesel engine, mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The Carens' third row scores big on space and comfort, and the rest of the cabin is very well appointed too. In fact, it has the most premium and feature-loaded cabin of any MPV in the sub-Rs 20 lakh price range. The Carens diesel is suitable for average city driving and makes for a genteel cruiser on the highway, but under full load, the engine does feel slightly out of breath. That aside, the Carens is easy to drive and comfortable to be driven in. It’s also priced quite reasonably, therefore, offering good value for what it is.

Mahindra Marazzo

Price: Rs 14.59 lakh-17 lakh

The Marazzo, when it launched in 2018, was the only bridge between the Maruti Ertiga at one end and the pricier Toyota Innova Crysta at the other. Although a little pricey for its age, especially in context of its much newer rivals, the Marazzo remains an underrated MPV that impresses with its refinement and space. It hasn’t sold as much as it should have, but it’s a well-rounded package that is comfortable and easy to drive, is decently well equipped and feels robust too as it's based on a body-on-frame chassis. The 123hp, 300Nm 1.5-litre diesel engine is solely offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It’s a very refined engine with wonderfully linear power delivery and a pretty broad torque spread. However, flat-out acceleration isn’t very impressive and the Marazzo builds up speed in a relaxed manner.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Price: Rs 19.99 lakh-26.55 lakh

The Innova Crysta has been the benchmark in the MPV segment for both fleet and private buyers for years now. It’s renowned for its spacious cabin, well-appointed interior and, of course, the reliability that comes with the Toyota badge. It also has the distinction of being the only rear-wheel drive MPV on sale in India. The 150hp, 343Nm, 2.4-litre diesel engine is offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Innova Crysta makes for a great long-distance cruiser that has a healthy amount of grunt at low and medium engine speeds, but it doesn’t quite have the top-end performance. The MPV, however, has gotten pricier over the years and doesn’t come across as the best value-for-money offering.