Diwali 2015: Sub-Compact and Compact SUVs You Can Buy

So as car salesmen wait with bated breath and big discounts to woo prospective consumers this festive season, here's a look at the 4 most exciting offerings from the aforementioned segments.

a. Renault Duster

Off all the compact-SUVs out there, the Renault Duster is, unarguably, the segment benchmark. Despite having been around for over 3 years, it remains a firm favourite in the Indian automotive market. Renault Duster's list of features include quirky looks, good performance, optional all-wheel-drive, and a ground clearance of 205mm.

The Renault Duster gets both petrol and diesel engines, though the latter is offered in 2 states of tune.

Renault Duster Mileage: 13.05Km/l (1.6 P) and 19.87Km/l (1.5 D)

Renault Duster Price: Rs 8.3 lakh - Rs 13.55 lakh

b. Ford EcoSport

In a nutshell, the Ford EcoSport is one of the most well-designed and aptly engineered cars plying on Indian roads today. Its new-age facade, feature packed cabin, and tall stance make it an attractive proposition for consumers and as a result, the Ford EcoSport has continued to sell in large numbers. The most note-worthy bit of technology introduced alongside the EcoSport was Ford's 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine capable of delivering fuel efficiency figures of nearly 19Km/l.

The EcoSport sub-compact SUV is also available with the option of 1.5-litre diesel and petrol engines. Choice for transmission includes a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic (diesel).

Ford EcoSport Mileage: 15.8Km/l (1.0 P), 18.9Km/l (1.5 P), 22.7Km/l (1.5 D)

Ford EcoSport Price: Rs 6.80 lakh- Rs 10.44 lakh

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c. Hyundai Creta

Hyundai first unveiled the ix25 concept at the Shanghai Motor Show back in 2014. Right from the word go, it was clear that the Korean company had a winner in the works. The compact SUV was eventually christened Creta before being launched in India in July, 2015. The car was an instant success in India and had received over 40,000 bookings by the end of August itself.

The Hyundai Creta packs a hefty punch by offering a choice of three engine variants including one petrol and two diesels, a host of premium in-car features, and an automatic gearbox that is only available with one of the diesel variants.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the Hyundai Creta is one the prettiest compact SUVs in the market today; a direct outcome of the huge amount of resources dedicated by Hyundai towards developing its Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design platform. Highly commendable fuel economy figures which range between 15.3Km/l and 21.4Km/l (depending on engine choice) add value to its practicality and make the Hyundai Creta a great family car.

Hyundai Creta Mileage: 21.38Km/l (1.4 D), 19.6Km/l (1.6 D) and 15.29Km/l (1.6 P)

Hyundai Creta Price: Rs 8.69 lakh - Rs 13.80 lakh

d. Mahindra TUV300

Indian utility vehicle specialist Mahindra and Mahindra has popped out yet another SUV in the form of the TUV300. Having had mixed results in the past with the lacklustre performance of the Quanto and Xylo balancing out the success garnered by cars like the Scorpio and XUV500, Mahindra seems to have put in a lot more thought when creating the 'battle tank-inspired' TUV300. The cabin has an upmarket look to it and its engineering is reliable. The car also features jump seats in the rear making it a sub-compact SUV capable of seating seven.

Powering the Mahindra TUV300 is a re-engineered variant of the Quanto's 1.5-litre diesel unit that delivers a respectable mileage of 18.49Km/l with an AMT gearbox on offer as well. It may not be the best looking car on the road but it certainly will give you a bang for your buck!

Mahindra TUV300 Mileage: 18.49Km/l

Mahindra TUV300 Price: Rs 6.98 lakh - Rs 9.20 lakh