Jeep Cars Under 20 Lakh in India (2)

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Considering your needs and budget, you should take a look at the Jeep Compass 2.0 diesel manual 4x2, ideally a 2018-2020 Sport or Longitude. It suits your brief because the torquey engine gives a strong shove from low revs, so this diesel car pulls cleanly in 3rd and 4th without needing frequent downshifts. That makes quick highway passes easy. It also feels steady at speed, and the build feels solid, which adds confidence on long drives. Do note a couple of trade-offs. The clutch can feel a bit heavy in slow city traffic. Rear-seat and boot space are not as generous as those of larger rivals, so if you often travel with five adults, keep that in mind. Service costs will also be higher than those of a Maruti or Hyundai.

Jeep Compass

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For your usage, which is mostly highway driving with occasional rural roads and long trips, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel manual is the better fit. It offers a more relaxed and effortless driving experience, especially over long distances.An important point in your case is what you are upgrading from. Your Jeep Compass diesel uses a 2.0-litre engine, and moving to the Kia Seltos diesel, which has a smaller 1.5-litre engine, will not feel like an upgrade in terms of performance. It will feel adequate, but not significantly stronger than what you are used to.The XUV 7XO, on the other hand, also uses a larger 2.0-litre diesel engine, and despite being a bigger car, it will feel like a proper step up. You will notice stronger pulling power, more effortless highway cruising and better overall performance. It also feels more stable and composed at speed, which suits your kind of long-distance driving. Refinement levels are also good, making it a comfortable car for extended journeys.The Seltos diesel is easier to drive in the city and feels more compact and user-friendly, but on highways and rough rural roads, it does not feel as robust or as planted as the 7XO.One important point is the budget. The 7XO diesel variants may go slightly above your Rs 18 lakh on-road range, depending on the variant and location, so you will need to check exact pricing.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Jeep Compass

Kia Seltos

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With a budget of Rs 20 lakh, your options in the used car market are endless - get the newest possible car you can find, preferably still in warranty. Being an EcoSport owner, it is natural to gravitate towards the Jeep Compass for its toughness and brilliant ride-handling balance.You can look for a less-driven Mahindra XUV700 automatic for its well-roundedness. Out of the new options, the Tata Sierra seems promising and is worth waiting for before you finalize.

Tata Sierra

Jeep Compass

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If by rough driving you mean regularly encountering bad roads, you can consider the Citroen Aircross X - it has a brilliant suspension setup. However, choose it only if a Citroen service centre is available in your city. The Mahindra XUV3XO and Tata Nexon are also rugged compact SUVs with turbo petrol engines - the Mahindra offers a stronger engine, while the Nexon comes with a relatively bigger boot. Among used options, the Jeep Compass is worth considering.

Citroen Aircross

Tata Nexon

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Jeep Compass

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Go for the Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen Tayron, which are sister models from different brands. They are among the best driver’s SUVs in the segment, with strong performance, excellent handling and a genuinely premium feel. The ride is well judged, the cabin is spacious enough for four adults plus a child seat, and the boot is large enough to comfortably accommodate a stroller and a couple of suitcases. If you stretch your budget, you can get the 7-seat versions with greater space flexibility and more features, but the five-seat versions are closer to your budget with the same performance and handling. Bear in mind, however, that they are still on the expensive side and fuel economy will not be great.A bit easier on the pocket will be the Jeep Compass, which is more affordable and comes with a diesel engine. It's also quite a lot of fun to drive, but doesn't score as well on the reliability stakes. Finally, another option is the outgoing Audi Q3, remaining stocks of which should be available with some good discounts given the launch of the new model is right around the corner. It's a bit smaller than the VW and Skoda, but even more fun to drive, with the same 2.0 TFSI engine. And though it's the outgoing generation, it remains a premium and luxurious SUV that feels worth the money.For your needs, though, the Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tayron are the best bet. Choosing between them is down to preference, but the Tayron has a sportier design for the exterior and interior, while the Kodiaq has more of a luxurious vibe.

Volkswagen Tayron

Skoda Kodiaq

Jeep Compass