The list includes two sub-compact SUVs and five compact SUVs from six different carmakers.
With increasing congestion on our roads, there’s no denying the ease of operation and comfort that automatic cars and SUVs allow, especially in urban spaces. If you are in the market for a compact automatic SUV for city use, there’s no dearth of options either. What’s nice is that carmakers are now offering the option of an automatic gearbox across most of the lineup of a particular vehicle, so there’s something to fit every budget. Here, we have listed the most affordable automatic SUVs under Rs 10 lakh currently available in the market.
Tata Nexon
Starting price: Rs 9.60 lakh
Trims: Smart+
The Tata Nexon just about makes this list with a 6-speed AMT that’s offered with its 120hp, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. However, for a budget of under Rs 10 lakh, you’ll only get the second-from-base Smart+ trim which still comes decently equipped, covering the basics like a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, all four power windows, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, full-LED headlamps and tail lamps and six airbags. The Nexon also gets a 7-speed DCT gearbox, but that comes much higher in the variant lineup. The Nexon petrol-AMT has an ARAI-rated mileage of 17.18kpl.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor
Price: Rs 9.18-9.58 lakh
Trims: S and S+
Next on the list is the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor that gets a 5-speed AMT with its 90hp, 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. Under Rs 10 lakh, the Taisor has two trims with the AMT gearbox – S and S+ – the latter of which gets features like a 7.0-inch touchscreen, wireless phone connectivity, automatic climate control and alloy wheels. It, however, misses out on LED headlamps and DRLs, keyless go, rear AC vents and six airbags, among others. But what’s most impressive about the Taisor petrol-AMT is that it has an ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency of 22.8kpl. Higher variants also get a 6-speed torque converter with a more powerful turbo-petrol engine.
Maruti Fronx
Price: Rs 8.90-9.46 lakh
Trims: Delta, Delta+ and Delta+(O)
The Maruti Fronx is mechanically identical to the Toyota Taisor, so it uses the same 1.2-litre petrol engine and 5-speed AMT gearbox; even their fuel efficiency is similar. However, where the Fronx has an edge over the Taisor is with a lower starting price and more trim options to choose from. The Fronx has three AMT variants – Delta, Delta+ and Delta+(O) – priced under Rs 10 lakh. The Delta+(O) also gets six airbags over an equivalent Taisor which only gets dual airbags. Like the Taisor, the Fronx also has a 6-speed torque converter gearbox with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine on highter trims.
Hyundai Exter
Price: Rs 8.39-9.62 lakh
Trims: E Smart, S, S+, SX Smart, SX, SX Knight, SX Tech, SX(O)
The Hyundai Exter uses an 83hp, 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that’s coupled with a 5-speed AMT. The Exter is one of the smaller SUVs in this list, but on the positive side, almost the entire AMT lineup fits under Rs 10 lakh. In fact, only the top-spec SX Connect trim doesn’t come under the said price range. In its SX(O) trim, the Exter AMT is very well equipped with features like an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, LED headlamps with DRLs, 15-inch alloys, six airbags and even a sunroof. The Exter AMT even gets paddle shifters for manual control, making for a great value pick. Hyundai claims an ARAI-rated fuel efficiency of 19.2kpl for the Exter AMT. Buyers also get the option of the Exter Knight Edition which brings a blacked-out exterior and interior look.
Tata Punch
Price: Rs 7.77-9.72 lakh
Trims: Adventure, Adevnture+, Adventure S, Adventure+ S, Accomplished+, Accomplished+ S, Creative+
The Tata Punch AMT has a far lesser starting price than the similarly-sized Exter, and it uses an 86hp, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine with a 5-speed AMT. Like with the Exter, barring the top-spec Creative+ S trim, the entire Punch AMT lineup comes under Rs 10 lakh. Some of the equipment highlights on the Punch include a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and larger 16-inch alloy wheels, along with wireless phone connectivity and charging, sunroof and automatic headlamps. However, the Punch misses out on six airbags; it only gets two. The Punch AMT has an ARAI-rated fuel efficiency of 18.82kpl, and is also available in a special Camo Edition.
Renault Kiger
Price: Rs 7.40-9.99 lakh
Trims: RXL, RXT (O), RXZ CVT
The Renault Kiger gets two automatic gearbox options under Rs 10 lakh – there’s a 5-speed AMT with the 72hp, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine and a smoother and more sophisticated CVT with the 100hp, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. The AMT gearbox is available on the mid-spec RXL and RXT (O) trims, while the CVT is available from the RXT(O) onwards, sliding just under Rs 10 lakh. The Kiger has an ARAI-rated fuel efficiency of 19.03kpl for the AMT and 18.24kpl for the CVT. It’s also larger and more spacious than the likes of the Exter and Punch, and comes decently equipped with features like an 8.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, keyless entry and go, LED headlamps, wireless charger, leatherette upholstery, rear AC vents, traction control and four airbags.
Nissan Magnite
Price: Rs 6.75-9.99 lakh
Trims: Visia, Accenta, N Connecta, Tekna, Tekna Plus
The Nissan Magnite is a sister model to the Renault Kiger, so here again, the powertrain options are identical, and fuel efficiency figures are similar too. However, the Magnite has a much lower starting price for the AMT variants, and it is slighty better equipped, too. For instance, the Magnite AMT additionally gets a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen, 16-inch alloys, leatherette inserts on the dashboard, six airbags and even cruise control. The CVT gearbox, which comes in the second-from-base Accenta trim at just under Rs 10 lakh, is also decently equipped. The Magnite is newer because it received a facelift late last year, while the Kiger hasn’t got a mid-lifecycle update since launch. The Magnite tops our list of most affordable automatic SUVs on sale in India currently.
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