Diesel cars in India (60)

autocar.india

•2h

For your 70km daily running with 80 percent on state highways, the Harrier is the better fit. The 2.0-litre diesel produces 170hp and 350Nm, making it considerably more effortless than the Sierra’s 1.5-litre diesel, particularly for overtaking and sustained highway cruising. The Harrier also has excellent high-speed stability and ride quality, which should suit your usage well.The Sierra Accomplished Diesel is the newer and more compact option. It has a slightly better ride over broken roads and its smaller dimensions will make it easier to manage in the city. Its diesel is also more economical in real-world testing, but the difference is small on the highway: 14.56kpl for the Sierra versus 14.36kpl for the Harrier.In your case, the Rs 1.6 lakh discount on the Harrier makes the decision even easier. You get the larger, more powerful engine, better highway performance and a substantial discount, while the Sierra is still a new product without a long-term ownership track record.

Tata Harrier

Tata Sierra

autocar.india

•2d

Both the Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue are the best diesel automatic compact SUVs on sale today, especially if the priority is effortless long-distance driving with low running costs. Both use a strong 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 116hp and 250Nm, paired with a smooth six-speed torque-converter automatic. This is an important advantage over the AMT automatics offered in several other sub-four-metre diesel SUVs, as a torque-converter feels more natural and refined in traffic, while also being better suited to relaxed highway cruising.For driving extensively across India, this powertrain makes a great deal of sense. The diesel’s strong low-end torque gives both SUVs confident overtaking ability even with passengers and luggage on board, while the automatic takes the effort out of city traffic and long days behind the wheel. The Venue diesel automatic has an official fuel-efficiency figure of 17.9kpl, while the Sonet diesel automatic is rated at around 19kpl, though real-world figures will naturally depend on driving conditions.Between the two, we would pick the Hyundai Venue. It is the fresher product, has a marginally longer wheelbase and feels a touch roomier than the Sonet, particularly in terms of overall cabin ambience. More importantly for someone planning extensive travel, Hyundai’s wider service network across India offers additional peace of mind for routine maintenance or support away from home. The Sonet remains an excellent alternative, particularly if you prefer its styling, cabin design or a particular variant’s feature mix. But for your requirement of a reliable, easy-to-maintain, no-nonsense diesel automatic SUV that can cover serious distances comfortably, the Venue would be our first recommendation. Choose a sensible mid-spec diesel automatic variant if available, and avoid paying extra for features you do not need, such as a sunroof.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

autocar.india

•2d

No, the Tata Punch is not expected to get a diesel engine this year or early next year. Given your annual running of 20-21,000 km with a 50:50 city-highway split, diesel car still makes the most financial sense, especially since you do not want to deal with CNG queues or electric car charging limitations.The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is the best fit for your requirements. It offers significantly more ground clearance than your Hyundai i20, which will be useful on village roads and in tier 2 cities. The diesel engine is efficient and well-suited to your running, and this Mahindra car is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, making it a comfortable upgrade from the i20. It also fits within your Rs 10-13 lakh on-road budget in Gurgaon.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Punch

Hyundai i20

autocar.india

•4d

With an 80+ km daily commute and a budget under Rs 15 lakh, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is the most sensible upgrade from your S-Cross diesel. The 3XO diesel is one of the few strong diesel options left in this price bracket, and it is well suited to your high daily running. The engine is punchy, efficient and well proven, and the car itself is spacious, comfortable and well equipped for the money. It also offers a good balance between city usability and highway stability, making it a strong all-rounder for your usage pattern.The Hyundai Venue diesel is also worth considering, especially if you're considering the automatic version. The Venue HX5 diesel-auto will fall within your budget - it is smooth, refined, and is likely to return respectable fuel efficiency.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

autocar.india

•5d

For your 8,000- 10,000 km annual running and frequent highway and mountain trips, the XUV 3XO diesel manual remains the first choice. This Mahindra car has compact dimensions that are useful on narrow mountain roads, while the diesel has plenty of low-end torque for climbs and rough terrain. It also offers strong safety credentials and is much easier to live with as an everyday car.If your Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir trips involve genuinely challenging terrain and you want a more capable off-roader, the Thar 3-door is the more specialised choice. The 2.2-litre diesel with 4WD offers a proper low-range transfer case, making it far more capable off-road than the 3XO.However, the Thar is less practical for everyday use. It is a four-seater, has limited boot space, and the rear seats are less convenient to access. The 3XO is therefore the better all-rounder, while the Thar makes sense if off-road capability is a major priority.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Mahindra Thar