Top 3 most-powerful SUVs below Rs. 25 lakh

Do you have a budget of Rs. 25 lakh or do you just love powerful SUVs in general? Well then here’s a compilation that you will enjoy. We’ve picked the top three most powerful SUVs in India under Rs.25 lakh. Take a look.

Our list comprises of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the Toyota Fortuner, all three of which make more than 167 Bhp of power.

Hyundai Santa Fe

Power: 194.3 Bhp Torque: 420.8 Nm

Starting Price: Rs. 22.34 lakh

The Santa Fe is powered by a 2.2 litre CRDi diesel engine that makes 194.3 Bhp of power and 420.8 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto transmission depending on the variant you opt for. The Santa Fe has a ‘Torque on Demand’ 4WD system and an electronic clutch distributes the torque between the front and rear wheels based on the road surface and driving conditions. Also read: Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe seven-seater unveiled!

The claimed mileage of the Santa Fe manual variant is 14.66 Kmpl and that of the Santa Fe automatic variant is 11.72 Kmpl. The high mileage (14.66 Kmpl) for a large SUV like the Santa Fe is because the engine comes with piezo-injectors in order to achieve best fuel efficiency. Further, the variable geometry turbocharger helps in performance without compromising on mileage.

The Santa Fe is loaded with features such as push start button, smart key with one-touch operation 8-way adjustable power driver seats & lumbar support, 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat, 6-speaker system with amplifier, woofer, tweeters and 2^nd & 3^rd row AC vents with independent 3^rd row controls.

With regard to safety, the Santa Fe is loaded with six airbags – dual front airbags, front side airbags and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, parking sensors, ESP, rollover sensor, engine immobilizer and keyless entry. If you are looking for a luxury SUV with highest power specification, spacious cabin for seven passengers, lots of safety and comfort features, go for the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Power: 175.5 Bhp Torque: 400 Nm

Starting Price: Rs. 24.23 lakh

The Pajero brand has been synonymous with off-roading and the Pajero Sport is probably one the best Pajero models yet. The Pajero Sport is powered by a 2.5-litre, intercooled turbo charged, common-rail diesel motor that puts out 178 Bhp of power and 400 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and Super Select 4WD system to handle off-road activities. The Pajero Sport returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 12.8 Kmpl.

The Pajero can handle off-road duties better than the Santa Fe because it comes with a low-ratio four-wheel drive gearbox. The engine’s 16-valve layout and intercooler helps in improving fuel efficiency, and pick up is also good because of its Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT). Also read: Pajero Sports variants and prices across 5 major cities

The Pajero Sport gets dual airbags and ABS, power adjustable driver seat, rear parking sensors, multi-information display, and CD/MP3 music player with USB port in the glove box. The music system is connected to six speakers including two tweeters.

If you are looking for a luxury SUV with great off-road credentials and don’t mind the poor reach of the Mitsubishi sales and service network, go for the Pajero Sport.

Toyota Fortuner

Power: 168.6 Bhp Torque: 343 Nm

Starting Price: Rs. 21.2 lakh

The Fortuner is powered by a tried and tested 3-litre D-4D diesel engine that makes 168.6 Bhp of power and 343 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission depending on the variant.

The Fortuner engine picks up easily from low rpms and though its gear throw is fairly long, it is easy to drive in city traffic. The full time All-Wheel-Drive with 4HL (four-wheel drive high ratio) and 4LL (four-wheel drive low ratio) helps tackling off-road terrain without much strain.

The Fortuner comes with a rear camera, 2 DIN Display Audio with LCD touch screen, DVD and Bluetooth and Vehicle Stability Control apart from common features such as dual airbags, ABS with EBD, offer auto AC with individual AC vents for second and third rows, power seats for driver, steering mounted audio controls and multi-information display.

If you are looking for a brawny butch-looking, reliable SUV, go ahead and choose the Toyota Fortuner. Also, the low maintenance costs and good service backup of Toyota should ensure hassle-free ownership for a long term.

Summary

The Santa Fe, Pajero Sport and Fortuner top the charts when it comes to powerful SUVs. To know the power specifications of other SUVs under 25 lakh, check out the table below.