My Wheels Expert

Expert buying guide, 2026 edition Updated 26 Oct 2026

Best SUVs in India (2026)

Ranked by popularity, value and expert score

The best SUVs in India right now are led by the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos. We've ranked every model on sale by popularity, with ex-showroom prices, claimed economy and listed crash results side by side. Open any model for its full specs, mileage, variants and our verdict.

Explore all SUVs
Starting price
₹5.28L
7-seater options
30
Brands listed
23

Expert-ranked catalog

Top SUVs in India, ranked

Popularity is balanced with price, segment fit and how much of the range a buyer can actually reach.

Sorted by popularity

How this ranking works

Order follows how much interest a model draws, weighed against its price, its segment, and how much of the range sits within reach. The list rebuilds on every deploy, and no placement in it is paid for.

Start with your budget

Browse SUVs by price

Jump to a practical shortlist, then refine by fuel, seats and gearbox.

View all categories →

Compare SUVs

Tata Nexon
Hyundai Creta
VS

Tata

Nexon

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai

Creta

₹10.91 Lakh

onwards

Tata Nexon
Kia Seltos
VS

Tata

Nexon

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Kia

Seltos

₹11.00 Lakh

onwards

Tata Nexon
Tata Punch
VS

Tata

Nexon

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Tata

Punch

₹5.75 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai Creta
Kia Seltos
VS

Hyundai

Creta

₹10.91 Lakh

onwards

Kia

Seltos

₹11.00 Lakh

onwards

Tata Nexon
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
VS

Tata

Nexon

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai Creta
Tata Punch
VS

Hyundai

Creta

₹10.91 Lakh

onwards

Tata

Punch

₹5.75 Lakh

onwards

Tata Nexon
Hyundai Venue
VS

Tata

Nexon

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai

Venue

₹8.00 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai Creta
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
VS

Hyundai

Creta

₹10.91 Lakh

onwards

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Kia Seltos
Tata Punch
VS

Kia

Seltos

₹11.00 Lakh

onwards

Tata

Punch

₹5.75 Lakh

onwards

Tata Nexon
Mahindra Scorpio N
VS

Tata

Nexon

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Mahindra

Scorpio N

₹13.69 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Venue
VS

Hyundai

Creta

₹10.91 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai

Venue

₹8.00 Lakh

onwards

Kia Seltos
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
VS

Kia

Seltos

₹11.00 Lakh

onwards

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Tata Nexon
Hyundai Creta N Line
VS

Tata

Nexon

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai

Creta N Line

₹17.83 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai Creta
Mahindra Scorpio N
VS

Hyundai

Creta

₹10.91 Lakh

onwards

Mahindra

Scorpio N

₹13.69 Lakh

onwards

Kia Seltos
Hyundai Venue
VS

Kia

Seltos

₹11.00 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai

Venue

₹8.00 Lakh

onwards

Tata Punch
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
VS

Tata

Punch

₹5.75 Lakh

onwards

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Tata Nexon
Mahindra Scorpio Classic
VS

Tata

Nexon

₹7.40 Lakh

onwards

Mahindra

Scorpio Classic

₹13.43 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Creta N Line
VS

Hyundai

Creta

₹10.91 Lakh

onwards

Hyundai

Creta N Line

₹17.83 Lakh

onwards

Work out the monthly cost

SUV EMI calculator

Drag to see what a loan on one of these suvs costs per month.

Full calculator →
₹50K₹50L
1 yr7 yrs
7%15%

Indicative only. Your actual EMI depends on the lender, your credit profile, processing fees and any subvention offer.

Buying SUVs in India: what to know

The list above ranks what's on sale. This explains how the segment is priced, what you get at each level, and the questions worth settling before you book a test drive.

Types of SUVs in India, and what they cost

“SUVs” covers several very different cars. These are the bands Indian buyers actually shop in.

SegmentPrice fromTypical examples
Micro SUVhatchback underneath, SUV stance and ground clearance₹5.28 LTata NexonTata PunchMaruti Suzuki Brezza
Compact SUVthe volume segment: five seats, sub-4.4 m, the bulk of sales₹8.00 LHyundai CretaKia SeltosHyundai Venue
Midsize SUVbigger engines, often a third row, more safety kit as standard₹20.65 LToyota FortunerTata Harrier EVMahindra XEV 9S
Full-size & luxury SUVbody-on-frame or premium badges, seven seats, 4WD options₹40.99 LBMW X1Mercedes-Benz GLCAudi Q5

How much do you need to spend?

On this page suvs start at ₹5.28 L with the Maruti Suzuki Eeco and run to ₹9.93 Cr for the Ferrari Purosangue. Those are ex-showroom figures, budget roughly 10–20% more on the road once road tax, registration and insurance are added, and the exact share varies by state.

A useful rule: the jump from one band to the next usually buys safety and drivetrain, not just trim. Moving up tends to add airbags and structural rating, an automatic gearbox, and sometimes all-wheel drive, items you cannot retrofit. Infotainment and cosmetic kit, by contrast, arrive at every level.

Jump to a budgetSUV under ₹10 LSUV under ₹15 LSUV under ₹20 LSUV under ₹30 L

Petrol, diesel, CNG or electric?

Of the suvs listed here, 101 offer petrol, 45 offer diesel, 18 offer cng, 17 offer hybrid and 39 offer electric. Many are sold with more than one option, so the counts overlap.

  • Petrol: cheapest to buy and simplest to maintain. The default below about 1,000 km a month.
  • Diesel: the extra cost is recovered through fuel savings only at high mileage, typically past 1,500 km a month. Stronger low-end pull for loaded highway running.
  • CNG: the lowest running cost per kilometre, at the price of boot space and a smaller refuelling network. Best where you have a CNG pump on your regular route.
  • Hybrid: city efficiency close to CNG without the boot penalty or the queue, but a higher sticker price.
  • Electric: the lowest running cost of all and the highest upfront. Worth it if you can charge at home; difficult if you cannot.

Our on-road price calculator on each model page works the fuel maths out for your city, and EV pages carry a running-cost comparison against a petrol equivalent.

Five seats or seven?

67 of the suvs here seat five and 30 seat seven or more. The honest question is how often the third row carries adults.

In most sub-4.4 m cars the third row is an occasional-use bench, fine for school runs, cramped on a long drive, and raising it usually leaves under 200 litres of boot. If the third row is for regular adult use, look at cars over 4.6 m, where the row gets its own AC vents and the boot survives.

Browse 7-seater cars →

What to check before you book

  • Crash rating for the variant you're buying. Ratings are awarded to a specific body and airbag count; a base trim does not always carry the tested specification.
  • Five-star options here include Tata Nexon, Kia Seltos and Tata Punch.
  • The on-road price, not the ex-showroom one. State road tax varies enough to change which car you can afford, check it for your own city.
  • Boot space with the seats you'll actually use. Quoted figures are usually measured with the rear row folded.
  • Service cost over five years, not the first free service. Ask the dealer for the scheduled-maintenance sheet.
  • Waiting period for your variant and colour. It often differs by months within the same model.

Answers before you decide

SUV buying FAQs

The questions buyers ask most about this list, answered from current on-sale data.

Which is the most popular SUV in India?

The Tata Nexon is currently among the best-selling SUVs in India. Other strong sellers in this list are Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.

Which is the cheapest SUV?

The Maruti Suzuki Eeco is the most affordable, starting at ₹5.28 lakh ex-showroom. On-road price is higher: registration, road tax and insurance typically add 10–15% depending on your state.

Which SUV gives the best mileage?

The Renault Duster claims the highest ARAI figure at 29 kmpl, followed by the Maruti Suzuki Victoris at 28.65 kmpl. These are certified test figures, and real-world mileage is usually lower.

Which is the safest SUV?

The Tata Nexon, Kia Seltos and Tata Punch carry the best crash-test result here: 5 stars, though under different programmes (Bharat NCAP, Global NCAP, Euro NCAP, ANCAP), and results are not directly comparable across them. Check the variant you pick, as airbag count and ESC can differ by trim.

Are there any CNG SUVs?

Yes. Tata Nexon, Tata Punch and Maruti Suzuki Brezza offer a factory CNG option, 19 models in all. Factory-fitted CNG keeps the warranty intact and costs noticeably less per kilometre than petrol, though boot space shrinks because of the cylinder.

Which SUVs are available with an automatic gearbox?

Tata Nexon, Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are offered with an automatic, and most others here too, usually an AMT at this end of the market, which is cheaper than a CVT or torque converter but shifts more slowly.

What is the on-road price of an SUV?

On-road price is the ex-showroom price plus RTO registration, road tax, insurance and any handling charge, which adds roughly 10–15% and varies by state. Tap any price in the table above to switch it to your city, or see the full break-up on the Tata Nexon page.

Which SUV has the most boot space?

The Land Rover Discovery Sport leads with 963 litres, ahead of the MG M9 at 945 litres.

Reviewed by expert

Mayank Rathi

Mayank Rathi

Automotive Content Creator and Strategist

Mayank Rathi is an automobile enthusiast and automotive content writer with 3 years of experience in the industry. A passionate car lover since childhood, he combines genuine automotive curiosity with a sharp eye for industry trends and new launches. His writing focuses on making complex car specifications, technologies, prices and comparisons simple, accurate and engaging for everyday readers. Through his work at MyWheelsExpert, Mayank aims to help car buyers make better-informed decisions with content they can trust.

View profile →

Watch on YouTube

4wd vs AWD Clear your concept #cars #automobile #4wd #awd

4WD vs AWD they both drive all 4 wheels, but they’re NOT the same. One is built to conquer tough terrain. The other is built to keep you confident on the road.

▷ Watch now

Watch

4wd vs AWD Clear your concept
Watch on YouTube