There aren’t all that many diesel cars in your budget. Of the ones on sale, it’s the Mahindra XUV 7XO AWD AT that comes across as the most complete. It’s got a very nice diesel engine, a smooth automatic gearbox, and also gets the added ability of all-wheel drive. The updated interior also packs in loads of tech, though the over-reliance on the touchscreen takes getting used to.
Among the other diesel options, there’s the Jeep Meridian. While a more premium product than the XUV 7XO in many ways, its gentler engine tune and slow-shifting gearbox take some fun away from the driving experience. The Meridian does score with a tough feel, but you’ll need to go out of budget for all-wheel driver versions.
If you are open to electric, the Mahindra XEV 9e and XEV 9S are worth a look. Built on Mahindra’s new-age EV architecture, they score high for power, refinement, and range. The 9e is the better of the two to drive thanks to a better suspension setup, while the 9S is more practical with a third row of seats.