15 Best Ground Clearance Cars Below 15 Lakhs in India - Nissan Magnite to Mahindra Thar

Though India’s road infrastructure has improved drastically over the last 15 years or so, it is still not perfect. Once you veer away from the expressways, you’ll notice that most of the smaller highways are well below acceptable standards with potholes strewn everywhere. This is one of the biggest reasons why SUVs are some of the most popular vehicles in the Indian auto market. Today we have a list of 15 Best Ground Clearance Cars Below 15 Lakhs in India.

Mahindra Scorpio

The Mahindra Scorpio comes with a ground clearance of 180 mm. The Scorpio has been one of the best all-round SUVs you can buy for under Rs 15 lakh. With a capable suspension comprising of independent front suspension and a solid axle at the rear, it offers a cushy ride. It is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel which comes in two states of tune, one making peak figures of 120 PS/280 Nm and the other making 140 PS/320 Nm of max figures.

Mahindra Bolero

The second vehicle in our list of 15 best ground clearance cars below 15 lakhs is another car from M&M. The Mahindra Bolero may be a rarity in the metro cities nowadays, but it remains a strong seller in tier-2 and 3 cities. This is because it is an affordable, reliable and tough SUV which makes it a great choice to tackle bad roads. Its ground clearance of 180 mm also makes it a very handy vehicle to tackle potholes. The Bolero is powered by a torquey 1.5-litre turbo-diesel which makes 75 PS/210 Nm of max figures.

Hyundai Creta

Consistently one of the highest-selling SUVs in the Indian auto market, the Hyundai Creta comes with a ground clearance of 190 mm. Even though the Creta is only front-wheel-drive, the high ground clearance sees it tackle bad roads without too many issues. The second-generation Creta was launched early last year and it comes with an all-new design, latest features, and updated engines.

Kia Seltos

The next contender in our list of best ground clearance cars below 15 lakhs is the Kia Seltos, which has been a sales success for Kia since the day of its launch in August 2019 by selling over 1 lakh units in such a short period. Like its sibling the Creta, the Seltos also offers a great combination of attractive styling, a feature-packed interior, and lucrative pricings. Also, like the Creta, it gets 190 mm of ground clearance, making the Seltos a good choice to tackle Indian roads.

MG Hector

MG entered the Indian auto market with the Hector SUV, and it is a very capable vehicle that you may want to look into. It also comes with a very modern interior with features aplenty, attractively priced variants, and a sharp design. The MG Hector has a ground clearance of 192 mm which is tall enough to tackle the potholes of the infamous Indian roads.  

Ford EcoSport

The Ford EcoSport was one of the first compact SUVs to be launched in India, and even though it's not a top seller currently, it has been an overall success for the US-based automaker. Its ground clearance of 200 mm comes in very handy when tackling bad Indian roads and is one of the highest among its rivals. The EcoSport comes in both petrol and diesel-engined variants, the former making 123 PS/149 Nm of peak figures while the latter makes max figures of 100 PS/215 Nm. The EcoSport is among the oldest models in our list of 15 best ground clearance cars below 15 lakhs. 

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Even though it is starting to look a bit dated, the Maruti Vitara Brezza is one of the best all-round compact SUVs. Maruti knows its consumer base and the Indian needs very well, which is why it gave the Vitara Brezza a quite high ground clearance of 200 mm. Though Maruti has discontinued diesel engines from its lineup due to BS-VI norms, the Vitara Brezza can still be had with a good petrol engine which makes 105 PS/138 Nm of peak figures.

Mahindra XUV500

The XUV500 was the first vehicle from Mahindra to have a monocoque chassis and front-wheel-drive. It’s been a decade since it was launched, but the Mahindra XUV500 remains a decent buy if you’re looking for a 7-seater SUV. It comes with a more than adequate 200 mm of ground clearance and is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine which makes 155 PS/360 Nm of max figures. The XUV500 is due for an update as well, with an all-new model launching this summer.

Nissan Magnite

The Nissan Magnite was just launched in December of last year, and it is one of the cheapest compact SUVs in India today. But even though it is priced lower than its direct rivals, it still comes loaded with features, a spacious cabin, and fuel-efficient engines. It is also a good buy if you live where road conditions are not perfect as it comes with 205 mm of ground clearance. It is powered by a 1-litre petrol engine which makes 72 PS/96 of peak figures in N/A form and makes 100 PS/160 Nm of max figures in the turbo models. 

Renault Kiger

The Renault Kiger is the newest car in our list of 15 best ground clearance cars below 15 lakhs. Basically, it is the sibling to the Nissan Magnite, and it launched in the Indian market just a couple of days back. Currently, it is the cheapest compact SUV you can buy in the country, but just like the Magnite it still comes with roomy interiors and feature-packed trims. As both vehicles share their platforms, the Kiger also comes with 205 mm of ground clearance and is powered by the same 1-litre engine making 72 PS/96 of peak figures in N/A form, while the turbo variants make 100 PS/160 Nm of max figures.

Tata Harrier

Till the Safari is officially available to buy from February 22, the Harrier is the flagship for Tata Motors. An attractive SUV with a roomy interior and feature-loaded variants, it is a good choice if you’re looking at 5-seater SUVs to buy. The Tata Harrier gets 205 mm of ground clearance, and it is powered by an FCA-sourced 2-litre diesel which makes 170 PS/350 Nm of peak figures.

Kia Sonet

The Kia Sonet has proved to be an instant success for the South-Korean automaker with its aggressive design language, roomy and feature-loaded interior, and competitive prices. The Sonet is one of the highest-selling compact SUVs in India currently. It comes with three engine options, 2 petrol, and 1 diesel. The 1.2-litre petrol makes 83 PS/115 Nm of peak figures while the 1.0 turbo-petrol makes 120 PS/172 Nm of max figures. The 1.5-litre oil-burner comes in either 100PS/240 Nm or 115 PS/250 Nm states of tune. Ground clearance of the Sonet is among the best in its class as well, coming in at 205 mm.

Tata Nexon

The Nexon has been a good seller for Tata Motors. Though you may overlook the Nexon for other compact SUVs, it is a very well-rounded product you should take a look at. It is also the safest vehicle you can get in the segment with a full five-star crash test safety rating from Global NCAP. The Tata Nexon also comes with 209 mm of ground clearance, which is more than adequate for bad Indian roads. It comes in both diesel and petrol engine options, the former making 110 PS/260 Nm of peak figures while the latter makes 120 PS/170 Nm of max figures.

Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks is the only mid-size SUV that Nissan currently sells in the country, as the Terrano has been discontinued from its lineup. It comes with an airy cabin, attractive and a bit quirky visual design and competitive prices. It is powered by a 1.3-litre turbo petrol unit which makes 160 PS/254 Nm of peak figures. The Kicks is also great for tackling bad road conditions thanks to its 210 mm ground clearance.

Mahindra Thar

The last car in our list of 15 best ground clearance cars below 15 lakhs is also the only true 4x4 off-roader in this list. The Mahindra Thar comes with a ground clearance of 219 mm to tackle conditions when there are no roads even. The second-generation model was launched last year, and it has been a runaway success. Waiting periods stretch to months and currently, Mahindra won’t even let you book one. The Thar now comes with 2 engine options, a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, and a 2-litre turbo-petrol. The oil-burner makes 130 PS/30 Nm of peak power and torque figures while the petrol makes 150 PS/320 Nm of max power and torque.