The SUVs craze in India shows no signs of slowing down, but not every buyer wants to cross the ₹10 lakh mark. Thankfully, several manufacturers now offer compact and subcompact best SUVs that combine style, practicality, and features within an affordable price range. From Tata to Mahindra and Hyundai, buyers have plenty of options to choose from in 2025. Here are five best SUVs that you can buy under ₹10 lakh.
Tata Punch
Starting ex-showroom price: ₹5.50 lakh ex-showroom
The Punch leads the pack when it comes to affordable best SUVs charm. With its compact footprint, high ground clearance, and rugged looks, it’s built for city life with a bit of attitude. Base variants are modest, but even mid-variants include useful features like touchscreen infotainment, connected tech, and decent safety equipment. It’s not the fastest, and space in the back row is tight for tall adults, but if you want a trustworthy, stylish daily driver under ₹10 lakh, Punch hits most marks, and that is why it is one of the best-selling SUVs in the Indian market.
Very compact & city‑friendly, yet SUV‑like styling. Has multiple variants including CNG, which is helpful for running cost. Good ground clearance, decent safety, decent boot for its size. Excellent entry‑level value.
It’s a smaller SUV: rear seat space limited if carrying 3 adults. Performance in highway overtakes is less than turbo rivals. Some feature gaps in lower trims (e.g. luxury features, automatic options). Also, at full load (4‑5 people) highway comfort is less.
Renault Kiger
Starting ex-showroom price: ₹5.76 lakh ex-showroom
Next up is the Kiger — one of the more feature-rich subcompact best SUVs. Buyers can pick from naturally aspirated or turbo-petrol engines, which makes it more versatile. Upper trims add comfort and tech touches — think touchscreen infotainment system, dual-tone interiors, better audio. Lower trims miss out on a few frills. Driving over broken roads can get bouncy, but overall, Kiger offers excellent value for the money in this price band, and it does look quite nice as well.
turbo petrol (100 hp), CVT/MT gearboxes, also naturally aspirated petrol + AMT. Stylish looks, well‑loaded interiors for price. Offers higher trims with many features without going over budget.
Some turbo & CVT options come only in mid or higher trims; this may sacrifice ground clearance or add cost. Also, real world performance & ride comfort sometimes less premium than in more expensive rivals. Resale may depend on how well turbo versions age.
Nissan Magnite
If you want more style and a bolder presence, the Magnite is worth a look. It combines aggressive design cues, surprisingly roomy interiors, and a good feature list (infotainment display, rear cameras, etc.). Turbo-petrol in the higher specs gives you better punch. Downsides: finish and materials feel more basic in lower trims; optional features can add up quickly.
Very competitive on pricing + feature list. Turbo‑petrol gives strong punch for performance. Good styling, decent ride. Fuel economy is decent in the smaller / turbo MT trims.
CVT / automatic trims may cost more. Interiors and some fit‑and‑finish are not top tier. The ride can be a bit firm in rough roads depending on variant. Some features might only be in higher trims.
Mahindra xuv 3xo
Starting ex-showroom price: ₹7.28 lakh ex-showroom
The XUV 3XO pulls up the budget best SUVs table with a strong safety kit, modern features, and solid engines. This one gives you more of a “grown-up” SUV feel while still staying under ₹10 lakh in its lower trims. Higher trims will push past that mark, especially with added tech or transmission upgrades. Cabin comfort and road presence are key strengths; ride firmness can be a trade-off for some.
Modern design, good torque (in higher trims), strong safety & styling, good for someone wanting more SUV feel + soul in that budget. Offers good features in base/mid trims.
Again, many attractive features come in higher trims; automatic / higher torque versions push price up. Fuel efficiency might drop with heavier use or load. After‑sales / resale value less proven compared to Maruti/Tata in some regions.
Hyundai Venue
Starting ex-showroom price: ₹7.26 lakh ex-showroom
Rounding out the list is the Venue, a name known for reliability, good service, support, and balanced comfort. Its base petrol editions come with enough features to satisfy daily commuting and occasional highway drives. Trim levels above base add more luxuries — but also push you beyond ₹10 lakh. The Venue may not wow with over-the-top styling, but it holds its own with build quality and peace of mind as it has been a tried and tested product.
If you’re shopping under ₹10 lakh, the Tata Punch delivers the best all-round value, while the Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite appeal to those wanting a bit more style and performance. For buyers focused on safety and long-term durability, the Mahindra XUV 3XO and Hyundai Venue are smart choices.
What to Prioritize & What Affects Cost
Here are some things that make a big difference in how “good” the deal is under ₹10 lakh. Even among cars in this range, the experience can vary a lot.
Variant/Trim: A “base” might exclude many comfort / safety features; going up even one trim often adds features but also bumps the price.
Fuel / Engine Type: Turbo petrol gives more punch, especially on highways, but sometimes lower fuel efficiency and possibly higher maintenance. Naturally aspirated petrol or CNG are cheaper to run in many city use cases. Diesel used to be popular but in many cities, diesel price + emission norms + maintenance make petrol or hybrid/CNG more attractive.
Transmission: Manual tends to cost less; automatics / CVTs / AMTs cost more, both initially and often in maintenance. If you expect heavy traffic or city drives, an automatic variant (if available under ₹10 lakh)
might be more comfortable but maybe compromises on features or power.
After‑sales service & resale value: Brands like Maruti, Tata have wide service networks; this matters for maintenance cost, spares, etc. Also resale depends a lot on brand plus how “popular” a model is.
Real world running cost: Fuel economy, tyres, maintenance. Something that looks good on paper may consume more in real traffic. Also insurance, road tax, etc., add up. Sometimes a ₹10 lakh car might cost ₹11–12 lakh on‑road depending on state, variant.