Compact SUVs have become far more commonplace since the segment was popularised by the Ford EcoSport, which arrived in 2013, and now many of them feature in the top 10 sales lists every month. Their cheap price and the Indian car buyers’ preference for the SUV body style help in that regard. Without further digression, here are the most affordable SUVs currently on sale in India. Do note that for every model on this list, we’ve only included the cheapest variants priced at or under Rs 10 lakh.
10. Tata Nexon
Starting at Rs 8 lakh
There are 9 Tata Nexon variants that fall under the Rs 10 lakh mark, including those with petrol-MT, petrol-AMT, diesel-MT, and CNG-MT powertrain options. The 120hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine is available with 5-speed and 6-speed manual gearbox options, along with an AMT. At this price point, the Nexon with the 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine and 100hp, 1.2-litre CNG-powered unit come with a manual option only. The Nexon petrol is available with a 7-speed dual-clutch auto option, while the diesel also gets an AMT. However, neither fits in the budget.
| Tata Nexon variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variant | 1.2 Turbo P-5MT | 1.2 Turbo P-6MT | 1.2 Turbo P-6AMT | 1.2 Turbo CNG-6MT | 1.5 D-6MT | |||||
| Smart | 8.00 | – | – | 9.00 | – | |||||
| Smart + | 8.90 | – | 9.60 | 10.00 | 10.00 | |||||
| Smart + S | 9.20 | – | – | – | – | |||||
| Pure + | – | 9.70 | – | – | – | |||||
| Pure + S | – | 10.00 | – | – | – | |||||
9. Kia Sonet
Starting at Rs 7.99 lakh
The Kia Sonet has a similar starting price as its rival, the Nexon, but the Korean brand offers 7 variants that are priced under the Rs 10 lakh budget. These 7 lower-spec variants are available with either an 83hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine with a 5-speed manual; a 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol with a 6-speed iMT gearbox; and a 116hp, 1.5-litre diesel with a 6-speed manual. The turbo-petrol and diesel variants are also available in automatic form – a 7-speed dual-clutch and 6-speed torque converter unit, respectively – though they are not priced under Rs 10 lakh.
| Kia Sonet variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 P-5-MT | 1.0 Turbo P-6iMT | 1.5 D-6MT | ||||||
| HTE | 7.99 | – | – | |||||
| HTE(O) | 8.44 | – | 9.99 | |||||
| HTK | 9.24 | 9.66 | – | |||||
| HTK(O) | 9.60 | 9.99 | – | |||||
| HTK+ | 9.99 | – | – | |||||
8. Mahindra XUV 3XO
Starting at Rs 7.99 lakh
With the recent addition of the RevX trims, there are now 6 Mahindra XUV 3XO variants available below the Rs 10 lakh mark, though none come with an automatic gearbox option. On these lower trims, the XUV 3XO comes with a 111hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine or a 117hp, 1.5-litre diesel. The petrol does get a 6-speed torque converter auto on higher variants, while the XUV 3XO diesel has a 6-speed AMT option. While the XUV 3XO also gets a 131hp, 1.2-litre direct injection turbo-petrol engine – with 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter gearbox options – on higher variants, these variants are not priced under Rs 10 lakh.
| Mahindra XUV 3XO variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variants | 1.2 Turbo P-6MT | 1.5 D-6MT | |||||
| MX1 | 7.99 | – | |||||
| RevX M | 8.94 | – | |||||
| RevX M(O) | 9.44 | – | |||||
| MX2 | – | 9.99 | |||||
| MX2 Pro | 9.54 | – | |||||
| MX3 | 9.74 | – | |||||
7. Hyundai Venue
Starting at Rs 7.94 lakh
Hyundai’s answer to the Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, and Mahindra XUV 3XO has 7 variants priced under Rs 10 lakh. While the Hyundai Venue is available with the same three engine options as the Sonet, these lower variants only get 83hp, 1.2-litre petrol and 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol units; the 116hp diesel engine options falls outside our budget The next-gen Venue has been spied on test in India, and prices will be announced on October 24.
| Hyundai Venue variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 P-5MT | 1.0 Turbo P-6MT | ||||||
| E | 7.94 | – | |||||
| E+ | 8.32 | – | |||||
| S | 9.28 | – | |||||
| S+ | 9.53 | – | |||||
| S (O) + | 9.99 | – | |||||
| S(O) | 9.99 | – | |||||
| Executive | – | 9.99 | |||||
6. Toyota Taisor
Starting at Rs 7.89 lakh
Toyota has 6 Taisor variants priced under Rs 10 lakh, with five getting a 90hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine with manual and AMT options, and a 76hp CNG version of the same 1.2-litre unit in manual form only. Higher Toyota Taisor variants are available with a 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that comes with 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic gearbox options.
| Toyota Taisor variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 P-5MT | 1.2 P-5AMT | 1.2 CNG-5MT | |||||
| E | 7.89 | – | 8.87 | ||||
| S | 8.75 | 9.33 | – | ||||
| S+ | 9.11 | 9.69 | – | ||||
5. Maruti Fronx
Starting at Rs 7.59 lakh
The Maruti Fronx, essentially a rebadged Toyota Taisor, has a lower starting price and has 8 variants priced under Rs 10 lakh, including two CNG-powered ones and one turbo-petrol variant. The engine and gearbox options on offer with the Fronx are identical to those of the Taisor.
| Maruti Fronx variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variants | 1.2 P-5MT | 1.2 P-5AMT | 1.2 CNG-5MT | 1.0 Turbo P-5MT | ||
| Sigma | 7.59 | – | 8.54 | – | ||
| Delta | 8.45 | 8.95 | 9.40 | – | ||
| Delta+ | 8.85 | 9.35 | – | 9.80 | ||
4. Tata Punch
Starting at Rs 6.20 lakh
All 10 manual gearbox-equipped variants of Tata’s smallest SUV are available under Rs 10 lakh, along with every CNG variant and 8 out of 9 AMT-equipped ones. The Tata Punch comes with an 88hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine and the option of a 74hp, CNG-powered 1.2-litre unit.
| Tata Punch variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variants | 1.2 P-5MT | 1.2 P-5AMT | 1.2 CNG-5MT | ||
| Pure | 6.20 | – | 7.30 | ||
| Pure(O) | 6.82 | – | – | ||
| Adventure | 7.17 | 7.77 | 8.12 | ||
| Adventure + | 7.52 | 8.12 | 8.47 | ||
| Adventure S | 7.72 | 8.32 | 8.67 | ||
| Adventure + S | 8.22 | 8.82 | 9.17 | ||
| Accomplished + | 8.42 | 9.02 | 9.52 | ||
| Accomplished + S | 8.90 | 9.50 | 10.00 | ||
| Creative + | 9.12 | 9.72 | – | ||
| Creative + S | 9.57 | – | – | ||
3. Renault Kiger
Starting at Rs 6.30 lakh
The Renault Kiger recently got a facelift, but still remains among the cheapest SUVs one can buy in India. All five powertrain options offered on the Kiger facelift are available within the Rs 10 lakh budget. Renault’s compact SUV has a 72hp, 1.0-litre petrol engine with manual and AMT options, and a 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol with manual and CVT options. A dealer-level CNG kit is also offewred on the Kiger, and costs Rs 79,500 more than the naturally aspirated petrol version they are based on.
| Renault Kiger variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 P-5MT | 1.0 P-5AMT | 1.0 Turbo P-5MT | 1.0 Turbo P-CVT | 1.0 CNG-5MT | ||
| Authentic | 6.30 | – | – | – | 7.10 | |
| Evolution | 7.10 | 7.60 | – | – | 7.90 | |
| Techno | 8.20* | 8.70* | – | 10.00 | 9.00 | |
| Emotion | 9.15* | – | 10.00 | – | 10.00 | |
*Rs 23,000 extra for dual-tone colour options
2. Nissan Magnite
Starting at Rs 6.14 lakh
Essentially, Nissan’s version of the Kiger, the Magnite, is mechanically identical to the Renault and is available in a total of 28 variants, including the recently launched all-black Kuro trims. Of the 28 variants, 21 are available in the Rs 10 lakh budget. Like the Kiger, Nissan offers a dealer-level CNG kit with the Magnite for a Rs 75,000 premium and other than the top-spec Tekna+, all these variants also duck under the Rs 10 lakh mark.
| Nissan Magnite variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variants | 1.0 P-5MT | 1.0 P-5AMT | 1.0 Turbo P-5MT | 1.0 Turbo P-CVT | 1.0 CNG-5MT | |
| Visia | 6.14 | 6.75 | 6.89 | |||
| Visia+ | 6.64 | – | 7.39 | |||
| Acenta | 7.29 | 7.84 | 9.99 | 8.04 | ||
| N-Connecta | 7.97* | 8.52* | 9.38* | – | 8.72 | |
| Tekna | 8.92 | 9.47 | – | – | 9.67 | |
| Tekna+ | 9.27 | 9.82 | – | – | – | |
*Kuro variants based on N-Connecta cost Rs 34,000 more
1. Hyundai Exter
Starting at Rs 6 lakh
The cheapest SUV currently on sale in India is the Hyundai Exter, with prices starting at just Rs 6 lakh. Hyundai’s smallest SUV is available in a whopping 40 variants – including dual-tone options – of which only four do not retail under Rs 10 lakh. The Exter shares its 83hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine with the lower-spec Venue but has manual and AMT gearbox options, along with a factory-fit CNG version that produces up to 69hp.
| Hyundai Exter variants under Rs 10 lakh (in Rs, lakh) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Variant | 1.2 P-5MT | 1.2 P-5AMT | 1.2 CNG-5MT |
| EX | 6.00 | – | 7.51 |
| EX(O) | 6.56 | – | |
| S Smart | 7.68 | 8.39 | 8.63 |
| S | 7.73 | 8.44 | 8.65 |
| S+ | 7.98 | 8.69 | 8.91 |
| SX Smart | 8.21 | 8.88 | 9.23 |
| SX* | 8.39 | 9.03 | 9.25 |
| SX Knight* | 8.51 | 9.18 | 9.53 |
| SX Tech | 8.56 | 9.23 | 9.58 |
| SX(O) | 9.03 | 9.86 | – |
| SX(O) Connect* | 9.67 | – | – |
| SX(O) Connect Knight* | 9.82 | – | – |
*Dual-tone colours cost Rs 19,000 more
All prices as on September 3, 2025 (ex-showroom, India)
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