[theunstabledesi]

I drove a Volkswagen polo for almost seven years. I had to sell it due to personal reasons. A very driver friendly and enthusiast car which i had to sell with a heavy heart.

Having already owned a hatchback, I am keen on buying a reliable suv with 4x4. Use of the vehicle would be predominantly in the city (read Delhi) and occasional weekend getaways and lots of long drives. Budget is somewhere between 30-40 lakhs. Volkswagen is out of question as i have already owned the brand.

Following are the non negotiables :

- SUV with 4x4 which is Fun to Drive.
- I would be using this vehicle for atleast the next 10-15 years and hence long term reliability.
- Decent fuel efficiency.
- Preferably a 7 seater however not a mandatory requirement.
- Basic creature comforts like good entertainment system, panoramic sunroof, apple car play, ventilated seats, good aircon etc.
- Budget 0f 30-40 lakhs.


Having test driven the limited 4x4 SUVs available in the market, I am confused between the following :

Jeep Meridian Limited 4x4



Floored and totally impressed after my first test drive. Thoroughly engineered and a driver friendly vehicle with amazing handling and dynamics. Contrary to popular opinion, I found the vehicle fun to drive. Interiors are luxurious as well as ergonomic.

Few concerns : Future of Jeep Stellantis (will they pack up and leave), vehicle is beyond my budget by approximately 3-4 lakhs (can be managed), service concerns including limited service centres, long term reliability concerns. Ownership reviews on the vehicle is mixed.

In case I buy this, it would be a "heart over head" decision. Is it worth putting in so much of money on this "heart over head" decision.

Mahindra Thar Roxx 4x4



I found the vehicle to be value for money (considering the features and 4x4 capability) as well as having amazing street presence. Took the test drive in a city and found it extremely city friendly. The latest mocha interiors, availability of service centres and comparatively low maintenance cost makes it a very attractive option. Across the board, people only have good things to say about the vehicle.

Concerns : Long waiting list of almost a year, mad rush for Mahindra vehicles, the non friendly attitude of Mahindra dealership from which we took a test drive.

Toyota Hilux



Have been trying to get a test drive since last 3-4 months. I tried for a test drive in various cities but still have not been able to test drive one. Sometimes the vehicle is not available and sometimes the dealership does not respond back.

Though the vehicle looks appealing, concerns about how it would look coming to office in a pick up truck exists. This is especially with the family. But what makes me lean towards the Hilux is that it would outlast me in terms of longevity. This is a big plus.

Second Hand 4x4 vehicles

I was exploring the used car market and found good and well maintained examples of three to four year old Ford Endeavour 4x4, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 (budget might get stretched) and about 20-22 years old Toyota Land Cruiser in Delhi.

I personally want to go for Ford Endeavour 4x4 and Landcruiser. However, these are the concerns :

Ford Endeavour 4x4 : As with any second hand vehicle, concerns of maintenance issues and any previous history of major accidents.

Land Cruiser : Twenty years is really old. Though Land Cruisers vehicles have a reputation of lasting very very long, I intend to keep the vehicle I buy for atleast another 10-15 years. Will a twenty year old land cruiser last another 10-15 years? What would be the maintanence issues i would be facing and likely expenditure to be incurred? Restrictions on using diesel vehicles in Delhi is an added concern.

Vehicles Ruled out

Hyundai Tucson : Did not find it worth 40 lakhs. Interiors are not luxurious and the vehicle is not fund to drive.

MG Gloster : Beyond my budget

Force Gurkha : Vehicle is too basic and I am not a hardcore off roader. Plus I happened to visit a Force showroom for a test drive and found their response even less than "lukewarm"

Toyota Fortuner : Bumpy ride and I found the vehicle overrated and expensive.

New Tata Sierra ICE : Launch dates have not been confirmed. Plus not sure if the vehicle would have 4x4 capability.

New Ford Endeavour (if launched) : Not sure of the launch dates. Moreover at approximately 50 lakhs, the vehicle is way beyond my budget.

Considering the "fun to drive factor (akin to Polo) and long term reliability and longevity :

- which of the vehicles mentioned would you suggest?

- Is there any vehicle that i missed out and should be considering?

Thanks in advance

[heydj]

Only fun to drive car with 4*4 I can think about is Tucson Diesel AWD or Tiguan Petrol AWD.

For above choices mentioned by you please see some videos on performance of 4*4 and its application in actual offloading. Eg I somewhere saw even Jimny outperform Thar etc.

However basis reliability factor and 4*4 and fun to drive only car I can recommend is Tucson. My needs were exactly these three few years back and I bought Tucson, so advising based on my own investment based results.

If you can live without reliability then Compass is good option but in MT. AT is very lag prone.

[shankar.balan]

I will place some simple points here.
1. A big 4x4 go anywhere 7 seater or even 4 seater will never be comparable to the fun factor of a VW Polo on a like for like basis. The laws of physics precludes it.
2. Your need seems to be for an all rounder which means family, office commute, road trips etc.
3. Hilux makes no sense unless you’re transporting things. Its a matter of days before you get sick of being an ‘Urban Cowboy’.
4. Drop the 20 year old car idea and the various other impractical thoughts.
5. I appreciate what you say about Jeep Meridian - it is extremely practical, well-engineered and well -appointed. A really lovely car. But the future of Jeep in India is in question and will continue to be so, because their management seems to have its collective heads buried deep in the sand.
6. The ‘common-sense’ choice for you will simply be from amongst XUV 700, Scorpio N and Thar Roxx.

[theunstabledesi]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

I will place some simple points here.
…
6. The ‘common-sense’ choice for you will simply be from amongst XUV 700, Scorpio N and Thar Roxx.

I have almost zeroed in on Thar Roxx. But considering the long waiting periods, not sure when I would be able to drive one.

[aseem23]

Hyundai Tucson is the best bet under 40L, considering the performance, quality, reliability, and ownership cost. Driving it since the last two years, and the experience has been flawless so far.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by theunstabledesi

I have almost zeroed in on Thar Roxx. But considering the long waiting periods, not sure when I would be able to drive one.

Hilux ALL the way. This isn't even a discussion anymore

Also, make sure the truck has as much mud spill and slush marked all over it before you drive it down to the office on a Monday morning. Make sure you document everyone's faces.



This is MY idea of fun to drive...

[Hatchback_dude]

If the idea is to drive in Delhi, do note that NGT regulations don't permit vehicles older than 10-15 years to ply on the roads. It is probably a better idea to get a brand new car which suits your requirements.

[ike]

It seems that you want an SUV that handles like a hatch, you may need to recalibrate you expectations there. Out of your shortlist, the Meridian seems to be the most practical choice. The Hilux is just too big for the city, and you have no cargo carrying requirements. The NGT regulations rule out the 20 year old cars as well, even if it is road legal now, it may not be next week.

As Shankar.Balan already pointed out, the sensible move would be to choose from the That, Scorpio, XUV and other SUVs in that segment like the Safari/Harrier. But since you mentioned longevity, I'd just get an Innova or the Hycross. They are both reliable, have good service network & service support. Again, the waiting period for the Hycross might be an issue.

Originally Posted by theunstabledesi

Force Gurkha : Vehicle is too basic and I am not a hardcore off roader. Plus I happened to visit a Force showroom for a test drive and found their response even less than "lukewarm"

This is an OEM that sells commercial vehicles. They can never match the showroom/ASS experience of a car manufacturer.

[sandeepmohan]

The Jeep would be my pick. The one thing the Meridian will score over the others by a long shot is the ride quality. It will feel and drive like a car. Not an SUV. You will likely find it to be quieter too. Yet, it can take some amount of abuse. This is a well made and engineered vehicle with a dependable, robust diesel engine in it. Just don't expect much when the time comes to sell it.

I can't speak to the Thar as I have never been in a Roxx. I don't think a Thar can ever be a primary family vehicle. Works well as a secondary.

Forget about the Hilux. It is as crude and hard as a truck. As a personal family run about on our roads, its just not suitable. Yes it will outlast/outlive everything around it but thats not the only thing you need to think of.

[d2krish]

Originally Posted by theunstabledesi

I am keen on buying a reliable suv with 4x4. Use of the vehicle would be predominantly in the city (read Delhi) and occasional weekend getaways and lots of long drives. Budget is somewhere between 30-40 lakhs.

A very interesting topic. In fact I myself was in such a crossroad 2 years back. I used to own a Polo GT which I sold and wanted to switch to a 4x4 SUV. My demands were (1) there shouldn't be much of a compromise on drivability and handling compared to Polo (2) the suspension should not be too spongy causing nose dives and body-roll during a swift zigzag drive through traffic (3) there should be enough power and torque for swift overtakes (4) modest creature comforts - seats must be supportive, ventilation would be welcome, AC should be strong etc.

I test drove XUV700 (less thigh support), Scorpio N (less thigh support, nose dive), Compass and Meridian. I omited Hilux due to family disapprovals, omited Tucson for more focus on flimsy features and gimmick, omited Tiguan as it is CBU imported, parts availability might be an issue. Roxx was not launched then.

Ultimately, I zeroed down on Compass diesel 2.0 model S AT 4x4. During my last 2 years driving this machine, except a slight lag between 2nd to 3rd gear shift (happens at around 44 kmph to be exact), I enjoyed every bit of it. And if you find Meridian as fun to drive, you would get Compass more fun. Basic reasons, it is smaller car, lesser weight with slightly stiffer suspension. In case having 7 seats is not mandatory, I would suggest you Compass hands down. Also as Compass has shorter wheelbase, it has better ramp angles, so in case of a driver over a rough pothole or hump, you have better chances of not scraping the bottom. You would get better mileage as well for obvious reasons. And of course, it is slight friendly on your pocket.

My feedback on Compass:
You can drive very fast on good roads, plenty of power. You can glide on bad patches, very tuned and mature suspension setup, frequency damping is Jeep standard, get fuel efficiency of 19+ kmpl on highways if driven sedately (80-90 kmph), drops to 14-15 kmpl if driven insanely fast (full acceleration to 100+ kmph and full brake and repeat as required), 11-13 kmpl in city (I always drive sensibly in city ), I have drove this car non-stop for 12 hours (non-stop meaning literally not leaving the driver seat during the duration ), no backache and AC is strong, cools very fast. In summer, setting at 20-22 degrees C chills during day drives.

Just shared my views that drove me towards Compass. You should consider other factors from your perspective.

Regards,
Debanjan

[Aakash118]

Why not a two car garage (one 4X4 and one fun to drive car) like this-
Option A- Roxx/SN/XUV700/GV AWD + i20 N Line/Fronx/Kylaq/Syros (or try Punch EV for a different kind of fun)

Option B- Thar/Jimny + Verna/Creta N Line/Slavia/Kushaq

[Kosfactor]

Roxx is the simple answer given the fun factor associated with a Jeep without any compromises that comes with such a body style, other than perhaps a bit too tall off the ground. But I think there should be some introspection in terms of where you are heading with your decision making.

Do you need a 4x4(the BOF types with dedicated transfer case)? Do you need a diesel? Do you need a big vehicle or a compact one , an easy to drive vehicle or a truck like vehicle, etc etc.

[VeluM]

Originally Posted by theunstabledesi

Use of the vehicle would be predominantly in the city (read Delhi) and occasional weekend getaways and lots of long drives.

Following are the non negotiables :

- SUV with 4x4 which is Fun to Drive.
- I would be using this vehicle for atleast the next 10-15 years and hence long term reliability.
- Decent fuel efficiency.
- Preferably a 7 seater however not a mandatory requirement.

Some contradictory non-negotiables in your list. Delhi usage, fun to drive, 10-15 years, 4x4, fuel efficiency, features, long drives.

The only vehicle that comes close to fitting your requirements other than the “preferable” 7 seater is the Jimny.

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by theunstabledesi

Following are the non negotiables :

- SUV with 4x4 which is Fun to Drive.
- I would be using this vehicle for atleast the next 10-15 years and hence long term reliability.
- Decent fuel efficiency.
- Preferably a 7 seater however not a mandatory requirement.
- Basic creature comforts like good entertainment system, panoramic sunroof, apple car play, ventilated seats, good aircon etc.
- Budget 0f 30-40 lakhs.

You seem to be all over the place, looking at your options. But I guess that is ok, given that you have only started listing your wants and need to narrow down your needs now.

But I will tell you this - Meridian's 3rd row is a joke. It is almost useless unless the occupants are kids under 8 years old. So skip it and pick a Compass 4x4 (any variant). Same car, better proportions and same capability. It is good to drive and has all features. Discounts are aplenty.

However, personally I would pick a used Honda CR-V AWD. Yes it will have lower FE and will be petrol only, but it is a global model, quite reliable and easy to own/run.

It will be work the money (VFM factor). NCR is a good area to get good deals on used cars. It will cost very low to buy and maintain and the saved money can be used for the Petrol that you will have to buy.

[Uqaab]

How about a two-car option?
1. An MPV, like Kia Carens petrol, or Innova Hycross, if you can extend the budget.
With an MPV, you can fulfill that small desire to have a 7/6 seater and it will be
very useful when accompanying family and friends. Comfortable and
reliable car for long trips.
2. Get a Jimny. You will be going more for those FTD off-road trips once you
have this car, and exploring the rural and rugged parts of India. And also can
be a friendly city and beater car.

With these options, you will be safe from the NGT rule as well.