Best of 2016: Top SUVs which made it to the Indian market this year

The year 2016 did not disappoint the SUV lovers in India. The auto lovers received several budget and high-end models to choose from. Starting with Bentley Bentayga, the company's first SUV in India, the Indian market welcomed BR-V from Honda, Mercedes-Benz GLC, much-awaited Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Jeep Grand Cherokee, the new Toyota Fortuner and many more. Here we round up the list of SUVs that began their journey in the Indian market in 2016.

Bentley Bentayga

British luxury car-maker Bentley launched its first SUV, the Bentayga, in India on April 24. The Bentayga, which the company claims is the fastest, most powerful, luxurious and exclusive SUV in the world has been priced at Rs 3.85 crore (ex-showroom Delhi). The SUV is powered by an all-new twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 TSI engine that is tuned to pump in 600bhp at 5,000rpm to 6,000 and a mammoth 900Nm of torque from 1,350 to 4,500 rpm, mated to ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The SUV sprints from standstill to 100kmph in 4.1 seconds before hitting a top speed of 301kmph. The Bentayga is based on the VW Group's new MLB-Evo platform, which also underpins the new-generation Audi Q7.

Honda BR-V

The BR-V SUV was launched in India on May 5 and the journey of the SUV in India so far has been positive. The Japanese carmaker, Honda, launched its SUV, the BR-V, in India with a price tag starting at Rs. 8.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The BR-V is available in 4 grades-- E, S, V and VX. Under the hood, the SUV carries 1.5L i-VTEC petrol and 1.5L i-DTEC diesel engines. While the former delivers maximum power of 118bhp at 6,600rpm and maximum torque of 145Nm at 4,600 rpm, the latter can churn out 100bhp at 3600rpm and maximum torque of 200Nm at 1750rpm. As for fuel efficiency, the petrol version is expected to return 15.4 kmpl in manual transmission and 16 kmpl in CVT, while the diesel offering is expected to deliver 21.9kmpl.

Isuzu D-Max V-Cross

Isuzu Motors India launched its adventure utility vehicle D-Max V-Cross at Rs 12.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Chennai). The D-Max V-Cross is based on the iGRIP (Isuzu Gravity Response Intelligent Platform) technology that claims greater stability even at high speeds and sharp curves. It gets 134bhp BSIV-compliant 2.5-litre CRDi diesel engine that is mated to five-speed manual transmission and delivers 320Nm of torque at 1,800-2,800rpm. The pick-up features 4WD (shift-on-fly) drive mode and high-ride suspension, which offers higher ground clearance.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

German luxury car-maker Mercedes-Benz launched the GLC SUV on June 2, with a price tag starting at Rs. 50.7 lakh (ex-showroom Pune). Available in both petrol and diesel variants, the GLC SUV is brought to India as CBU (completely built units). Powering the SUV is 2,143cc turbocharged diesel or 1,991cc turbocharged petrol motor. While the diesel engine can churn out 170bhp and 400Nm of torque, the petrol mill has the capacity to churn out 245bhp of power and peak torque of 370Nm. The engines come mated to nine-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited/ Grand Cherokee

The American automaker made a grand entry to the Indian market with two models the Wrangler Unlimited and the Grand Cherokee this year. While the Wrangler Unlimited is priced at Rs 71, 59,104, the Grand Cherokee costs in the range of Rs 93,64,527 to Rs 1,12,07,825 (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi). The Grand Cherokee is available in three trims Limited, Summit and the high-powered Grand Cherokee SRT. Jeep, the iconic American utility vehicle manufacturer, made its India entry on August 30. While the Limited and Summit variants come powered by 3.0-litre V6 Eco diesel engine that develops 240bhp and 570Nm of torque, the performance spec variant of the Grand Cherokee SRT gets a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 petrol unit that produces 469bhp and 630Nm of torque mated to an eight-speed AT and AWD system.

Jaguar F-Pace

Jaguar Land Rover India launched the all-new Jaguar F-Pace SUV in India on October 20. The new Jaguar F-Pace SUV has been priced starting at Rs 68.40 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Offered in four variants -- Pure, Prestige, R-Sport and First Edition, the F-Pace has been brought to India as completely Built Unit (CBU) from the company's facility in United Kingdom. The all new Lightweight Aluminum Architecture (LAA) platform gets a four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel engine from the Ingenium family that develops 177bhp at 4,000rpm and 430Nm of torque in the range of 1,750rpm to 2,500rpm. The engine has the capacity to propel F-Pace's Pure and Prestige variants to 100kmph in 8.7 seconds before attaining a top speed of 208kmph.

Mitsubishi Montero

Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi re-launched the Montero SUV in India for a starting price of Rs 71.06 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). Mitsubishi previously sold fourth generation Pajero as Montero in India till 2014 before it got discontinued due to poor sales. The new version of the Montero Sports is powered by a 3.2-litre, in-line 4-cyl, Common rail DI-D diesel engine that develops 189bhp at 3,800rpm and 441Nm of torque at 2,000rpm mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with sports mode. The SUV comes equipped with Super Select 4-wheel drive II and all wheel traction control (AWC).

Toyota Fortuner

The new avatar of the Fortuner SUV was launched in India on November 7 with a price tag starting at Rs 25.92 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and going all the way up to Rs 31.12 lakh. The Japanese auto giant, Toyota, launched the new Fortuner in six variants-- 4x2 Petrol Manual, 4x2 Petrol Auto, 4x2 Diesel Manual, 4x2 Diesel Auto, 4x4 Diesel Manual and 4x4 Diesel Auto. The Fortuner comes with a 2.7-litre petrol engine or a 2.8-litre diesel motor under the hood.

While the diesel variant is tuned to generate a power of 175bhp and 420Nm of torque, the petrol mill pumps in 164bhp of power along with 245Nm of torque. The transmission in petrol is handled by a five-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic; whereas six-speed manual and automatic gearbox does the duty in diesel models. In India, the new avatar of Toyota will be up against new Ford Endeavour and Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Hyundai Tucson

South Korean carmaker Hyundai launched the new Tucson SUV in India on November 14 with a price tag starting at Rs 18.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Tucson is offered in both petrol and diesel engine option in India. Available in five variants, the Tucson comes powered by 2.0 litre petrol and a 2.0 litre diesel. While the 2.0-litre CRDi engine, which can churn out 182bhp at 4,000rpm and 400Nm at 1,750-2,750rpm, petrol mill can generate 153bhp at 6,200rpm and a peak torque of 192Nm at 4,000rpm. Tucson measures 4,475mm in length, 1,850mm in width and 1,645mm in height and comes with a wheelbase of 2,670mm.