It's the era of SUVs right now, not just in India, but across the world. According to data released by Jato Dynamics India, the SUV segment accounted for just 14 per cent back in 2015, and now, it has more than doubled to 38 per cent in 2021. And this popularity is mirrored by the pre-owned car segment as well. There is a growing demand for SUVs in the used car space, and if you are currently in the market for a true-blue seven-seater SUV, then here are Top 5 options that you should consider.
The Mahindra Scorpio has been one of the quintessential SUVs in India. Its robust build and go-anywhere character have made it a crowd favourite, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 markets. While the SUV is up for a generation upgrade, it continues to be in sale in India and accounts for over 3000 units a month. While older versions used to come with side-facing third-row seats, the newer version gets front-facing third-row seats as well. Depending on the model year and variant, you can get a decent model from anywhere between Rs. 3.5 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh and beyond.
The Mahindra XUV500 was a game-changer for the home-grown automaker. The SUV was first launched in 2011 and became the most common choice for anyone looking for a sporty, premium SUV under Rs. 20 lakh. Now, with the entry of the new XUV700, Mahindra has stopped the production of the XUV500 in India however, it was on sale until last month so you will get good options in the used car market. Depending on the model year and variant, you can get a decent model from anywhere between Rs. 4.5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh and beyond.
If you are looking for something a segment higher, then we would suggest you go for the Ford Endeavour. It's one of the more under-rated models in India, but a truly capable 7-seater SUV, especially, the newer-gen model. Ford has effectively stopped making cars in India, so if you want an Endeavour, right now you can only get it from the used car market, and we would highly recommend it. Even the old-gen Ford Endeavour is still on sale in the used car market, which you can get for as low as Rs. 2 lakh, going up to Rs. 6 lakh. However, we would suggest you rather go for the new-gen model which you can buy from anywhere between Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 35 lakh.
In case you don't want to go for an SUV that's no longer on sale in India, then the Toyota Fortuner is your best bet. It's a big, well-built premium SUV that offers great space and good performance. Also, Toyota vehicles are built to last for a long time to even a 10-year-old Fortuner will still offer good value. You and get a newer-gen Fortuner in the used car market for Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 35 lakh, but a slightly older previous-gen model will be even cheaper, around Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh, depending on its model year and condition.
The Mahindra Alturas G4 is another good alternative if you are looking for something in a full-size 7-seater SUV space. Like the Endeavour, this one too is a bit underrated, while in fact, it's quite a capable SUV. However, compared to its rival the Alturas G4 is a fairly new SUV, the number of options available in the used car space are fewer. But if you get one for a good price you should surely consider it. You can get one between Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh.
