Skoda Kodiaq
What you'll like:
An all-rounded luxury SUV! Classy styling, solid build & superb quality
Cabin offers space, practicality and lots of intelligent features
3rd-row of seats is a crucial advantage over its many 5-seater competitors
Impressive equipment list (
panoramic sunroof, handsfree boot opener, auto parking...)
2.0L diesel is mated to a smooth 7-speed DSG automatic
Car-like handling & road manners. Also, the AWD will get you out of tricky situations
5-star safety rating & equipment (
9 airbags + a host of electronic aids)
What you won't:
Power is 'adequate', but nothing 'special'. Should have gotten the 188 BHP & 400 Nm tune
Overpriced by Rs. 5 lakhs. Priced at a serious premium over the Tiguan & Fortuner
Cramped 3rd row of seats is strictly for children. A 5+2 SUV, not a 7-seater
Styling is very understated. Doesn't have much street cred or presence
Just one variant; no cheaper FWD or MT options either
Should've gotten the Superb's ventilated seats & 12-speaker ICE
Skodas ill-famed dealers & long-term reliability issues remain matters of concern
Link to Official Review Toyota Fortuner
What you'll like:
Contemporary styling & imposing street presence
Tough build. Toyota body-on-frame UVs are known to have very long lives
Powerful diesel and smooth petrol, with user-selectable driving modes too
Interiors are much improved. Cabin is practical & user-friendly
Loaded with features like Bi-beam LED headlamps, powered tailgate, paddle shifters & more
Impressive offroad capability (
by big SUV standards)
Top-notch safety kit. 7 airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, hill assist, ISOFIX & 3-point seatbelts for all
Toyota's excellent after-sales quality, fuss-free ownership experiences, low service costs & up to 7 years of extended warranty coverage
What you won't:
Pricey! More expensive than the better-equipped & equally-competitive Ford Endeavour
Missing sunroof, auto-dimming IRVM, lumbar adjustment, front parking sensors, auto-wipers etc.
Ride quality
although improved is still far from plush. Youll feel the bumps
Cost-cutting in a couple of areas; some interior plastics, ICE audio quality, camera display
Diesels short service interval of merely 5,000 km! Inconvenient for those with high usage
Petrol variant is a guzzler. We saw merely 6 7 kmpl on the AT
No longer a full-time 4x4. Also, 4x4 carries a Rs. 2.5 lakh premium on the MT (
3 lakhs on the road)
No cheaper / smaller diesel variant like the Endeavour 2.2 & ol Fortuner 2.5 for the mass market
Link to Official Review Ford Endeavour
What you'll like:
A big all-rounded SUV with no real deal breaker. Fantastic pricing as well
Macho styling packs appeal. Solid build quality matches the butch presence
Cabin is a nice place to be in. Likeable design, comfy seats & lots of storage
Competent range of diesel engines. The 3.2L, especially, is very impressive
Great balance between ride & handling for a body-on-frame SUV. Sweet steering too
Offroad ready - Terrain Management System, rear diff lock, 225 mm GC & 800 mm of water wading
5 star safety: all wheel disc brakes, ESP & TC, 7 airbags, roll stability control, hill launch assist etc.
Loaded to the gill with features! Panoramic sunroof, 8" touchscreen ICE + 10 speakers, parallel park assist, powered tailgate, xenon headlamps, triple-zone climate control & more
What you won't:
Fortuner's cabin is roomier, offering more headroom & space at the back
Missing essentials such as steering reach adjustment, satellite navigation, passive keyless entry & go, tumbling middle row seat & third row seat recline
2.2L engine feels lethargic over 120 kph. Not a fast highway express
Mediocre fuel economy due to the fat 2,200+ kilo weight, AT & big diesel (3.2L)
Ingress is difficult for the elderly / short folk. 3rd row access is terrible!
No manual gearbox with the 3.2L. Fortuner 3.0L is available with an MT
Link to Official Review Volkswagen Tiguan
What you'll like:
A well-built European SUV with classy styling
Spacious, high-quality cabin. Big 615-liter boot too
Smooth 7-speed DSG automatic. Lightning quick upshifts
Impressive highway stability & handling for a Crossover
AWD is standard. Good for touring & tackling rough terrain
Loaded with features & technology (
including a beautiful panoramic sunroof)
5-star NCAP rating & top-notch safety kit
What you won't:
Overpriced by a couple of lakhs! Heavy premium over the Hyundai Tucson
Many will find the design too bland & understated. Lacks street cred
Engine feels
adequate, but isn't exciting. You'd expect more power at this price
Stiff ride quality, especially on the back seat (
our test car had the 18" rims)
Despite this being a new wet clutch DSG, we have our finger's crossed on its reliability
No cheaper MT or FWD variants
VW's sub-par dealership & service experiences
Link to Official Review Hyundai Tucson
What you'll like:
Contemporary styling that is universally appealing
Punchy 2.0L diesel engine mated to a smooth automatic transmission
Comfortable ride quality & car-like dynamics
Cool features such as the hands-free tailgate, LED headlamps, electric parking brake, ECO / Sport driving modes & more
Top-notch safety kit: 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, all-wheel disc brakes, hill-start assist etc.
Hyundai's reliability, competent after-sales, 3 year unlimited km warranty & 3 years of free servicing!
What you won't:
No w-o-w factor on the inside. Interior simply doesn't feel special enough for a Rs. 30 lakh car
Expensive, especially the top trim. Full-size 7-seater SUVs are priced in the same ballpark
Some features are conspicuous by their absence (
sunroof, auto-wipers, ventilated seats)
Manual transmission gets step-motherly treatment; poverty-spec base variant only
2.0L petrol motor is strictly average. Doesn't impress like the diesel.
Link to Official Review