India’s love affair with SUVs is an ongoing one. The nation’s love for SUVs has seen the Maruti Brezza become the best selling SUV in the market and despite the fact that regular cars like the Alto hatchback and Dzire compact sedan still dominate sales, the sales of SUVs are continuing to grow in numbers. In this post, we’ll take a look at 10 used SUVs that you can buy for the price of a rather popular Maruti hatchback – the Wagon R. Prices for the Wagon R start at Rs 4.5 lakh (on-road, Delhi).
Maruti Gypsy
The Maruti Gypsy is one of the most popular lifestyle SUVs sold in India. While it is what you would call a back-to-the-basics style of SUV and does not offer many amenities like air conditioning. The Gypsy was first offered with a 1.0-litre petrol engine but later received the current 1.3-litre later on its life. The Gypsy offers 4WD and is fairly competent when handling the rough stuff. You can buy an old Gypsy for as low as Rs 1.5-lakhs in the used car market today.
Here’s one option for Rs 4.5 lakhs.
Mitsubishi Pajero SFX
The Pajero SFX was one of the most aspirational SUVs of the late 90s and early 2000s. However, today the Pajero SFX has lost much of its value and is now available at a rather affordable offering in the used car market today. The Pajero SFX has a lot of street presence and is powered by a 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine that outputs 118 Bhp and 292 Nm of torque. The SUV also offers four-wheel drive and well-maintained Pajeros for as low as Rs 4.5 lakh today, though you will have to really search to get your hands on one.
Here’s a link to one currently on sale for Rs 4.5 lakhs
Old Hyundai Tucson
While the current Hyundai Tucson is currently on sale and has a starting price of around Rs 18 lakh. However, you can currently pick up a well maintained first-gen Tucson in the used car market for less than the price of a new Wagon R. The Tucson is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 122 Bhp and 245 Nm of torque.
Here’s a used Hyundai Tucson for less than Rs 4.5 lakh
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Grand Vitara was the first attempt at selling a premium SUV in India by Maruti Suzuki. However, it tanked on the sales charts. The Grand Vitara was available with a 2.0-litre and a 2.4-litre petrol engine options. It also offered optional 4WD. You can get a Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara for under Rs 4.5 lakhs.
Here’s on sale for under the price of a new Wagon R.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V was the premium small SUV sold in India. It has since sold in decent numbers and Honda recently launched the latest gen CR-V in the country. Today you can find older-gen CR-V for quite a bit lower than the price of a new Wagon R today in the used car market. Like the Grand Vitara, the CR-V was available with two petrol engine options – 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre.
Here’s a used Honda CR-V currently on sale
Chevrolet Captiva
The Chevrolet Captiva was launched by the American carmaker as a rival for the Honda CR-V. Chevrolet offered a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine to attract buyers away from the CR-V which was only offered with petrol engines. The Captiva was quite successful initially but sales eventually dwindled down and it was replaced by the Trailblazer. Chevrolet’s exit from India though has sent the resale value of this SUV on a downward spiral and a used Captiva can be found in the used car market for a lot less than a new Wagon R.
Here’s a used Chevrolet Captiva for less than Rs 4.5 lakh
Mahindra Scorpio
The Mahindra Scorpio is a very popular SUV that was first introduced in 2002. The Scorpio is if fairly rugged and has a punchy engine and is offered with 4WD as an option. You can find older examples of the Scorpio for quite a bit lower than Rs 4.5 lakhs in the used car market.
Here’s a used Mahindra Scorpio for less than Rs 4.5 lakh
Tata Safari
The Tata Safari is one of the most popular SUVs that has been sold in India over the past two decades. The Safari looks fairly handsome and offers a comfortable ride as well and its four-wheel-drive variants are easily at home off the beaten path. A used Tata Safari can easily be found today in the used car market today for under the price of Maruti Wagon R.
Here’s a used Tata Safari for less than Rs 4.5 lakh
Nissan X-Trail
Many people have even forgotten the X-Trail because of its low sales numbers but this was the first SUV to be sold in India by Japanese carmaker Nissan. The X-Trail draws power from a 2.2-litre engine with 136 Bhp and 314 Nm of torque on offer and could easily seat five people in comfort inside. Older X-Trails can today be found for less than Rs 4.5 lakhs in the used car markets today.
Here’s a used Nissan X-Trail for less than Rs 4.5 lakh
Hyundai Terracan
The Hyundai Terracan was the flagship SUV offering from Hyundai during its early days in India. The Terracan was quite comfortable and was powered by a 2.9-litre diesel engine that cranked out a punchy 148 Bhp and 343 Nm of torque and was offered with four-wheel-drive. However, the Terracan was a bit too far ahead of its time for India and failed on the sales charts. Old Terracans can be found in the Indian used car scene today for under the price of a new Wagon R.
Here’s a used Hyundai Terracan for less than Rs 4.5 lakh
What are the risks involved?
While all the SUVs listed above make for some rather interesting deals in the used car market today, there are a few things to keep in mind if you do decide to buy them.
Firstly, older vehicles are not road-legal in parts of the country like Delhi, where diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol ones that are 15 years old are not allowed to run on the roads due to issues with pollution.
Secondly, while the SUVs listed above are fairly reliable, spares for quite a few of them can get quite costly. While Gypsy or a Scorpio may be easy to maintain, you can’t say the same for the likes of the Terracan or the Captiva. While some of these SUVs still have spares lying about for others you’ll have to use non-OEM parts, whose reliability cannot be guaranteed.
