SUVs have gained huge popularity in India over the past few years as these machines not only provide phenomenal road presence but are also the safest vehicle that can be pushed through almost all terrains meanwhile providing the practicality of being spacious. Let’s have a look at those models which made this happen in a market which predominantly favors the hatchbacks.
Mahindra Scorpio: Scorpio is the car that made Mahindra taste success in India. The butch SUV is available with powerful diesel engines. Till date the Scorpio has gone from strength to strength with substantial updates, which now include three new engine options and an improved chassis and suspension setup. It comes with elegant interiors and impressive features that make it a true value for money product. The addition of a 4×4 variant makes Mahindra Scorpio a true all rounder.
Mahindra XUV500: The XUV500 is currently the most capable SUV from the stable of Mahindra in India. What makes this car a value for money SUV is its versatility and feature packed interiors. Also, it is offered in multiple transmission options including automatic gearbox and the all-wheel-drive system setup which fits the bill of almost all type of customers. The class leading safety features make this already great SUV the best buck for your money.
Mahindra Thar: If serious off- roading is your thing; Thar’s the way to go! Yes the tough, butch 4×4 from the house of Mahindra is here to cater to your off-roading needs. It is a rock solid combination of engine; chassis and gearbox with oodles of power and torque available right from the word go. The Thar was given a major facelift in 2015 which made it an easier to live with off roader. It now has more comfortable seats, nicer dashboard with a new steering and better fit & finish levels than the outgoing model. Also added were a differential lock which makes off-roading hassle free and new bumpers to clear CMV regulations that makes it compulsory for vehicle to have no gap between the bumper and body. For its price point, Mahindra Thar is the best functional 4×4 you can buy in Indian market.
Ssangyong Rexton: Rexton is Mahindra’s answer to the Fortuners and the Endeavours of the world. Based on the first generation Mercedes M class of SUVs, the Rexton offers a good list of features such as touch screen infotainment, satellite navigation, sunroof, a powered driver’s seat with memory, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamp etc. that makes it a luxury to be in the cabin of one. It comes with comfortable soft leathers seats and soft-touch plastics on the interiors which give it a premium feel. The suspension setup is a bit on the softer side and favors relaxed driving rather than spirited one. It irons out almost all the obstacles in its path nonetheless. On safety front, it comes equipped with front and side airbags, ABS, ESP, anti-roll protection and hill-descent control. It is now offered in two variants; the top of the line RX7 with full time AWD system and the RX6 variant that offers the best of both worlds with Intelligent 4×4 Torque-On-Demand system (TOD).
Mahindra Bolero: It has been more than 11 years since the Bolero was first launched. The seven-seater people carrier has been clocking the sales chart ever since. This is one rugged SUV that has been popular among rural masses for its toughness, reliability and easy to fix anywhere character. The ride quality is decent with the machine soaking up most of what is offered by poor road conditions and does not loose composure. With minor updates over the years, this UV is still very much relevant for the market it was made for. It’s now also being offered in the Power+ variant with increased power coming from a 1.5 liter unit rather than the 2.5 liter unit on the standard Bolero. The surprise though is that it is cheaper than the standard Bolero courtesy its sub four meter length!
