IN PICS: From Compact To Luxury, Here's All You Need To Know About The Best SUVs Launched In 2020

Had it not been for SUVs, the Indian car market would have come crashing down as demand for other types of cars is evaporating other than the entry-level small cars and some premium hatchbacks. 2020 has been the year of the SUV whether at the compact segment or at the luxury end and we just cannot get enough of them. So before we enter into 2021, we decided to hit the reverse gear and list out our best SUVs of 2020.

Had it not been for SUVs, the Indian car market would have come crashing down as demand for other types of cars is evaporating other than the entry-level small cars and some premium hatchbacks. 2020 has been the year of the SUV whether at the compact segment or at the luxury end and we just cannot get enough of them. So before we enter into 2021, we decided to hit the reverse gear and list out our best SUVs of 2020.

Volkswagen T-Roc: The T-Roc is not your average SUV and instead is focused on being fun to drive crossover that is also compact in size. Thus it may lack the traditional SUV size but it makes up for that with its unique personality and design. It looks unlike anything else along with having a sense of quality that you would find on other German SUVs costing much more. The build quality and the impressive driving dynamics gave the Indian SUV buyer a different kind of product and no wonder then that its limited run sold out in India. Possibly the best and also the most desirable product that Volkswagen has launched in India and shows a sign of things to come from an SUV heavy future product line-up.

Mahindra Thar: Is there any doubt as to why the new Thar is here on this list? It dominated the headlines more than most Bollywood stars and the weight of expectations was immense. The new Thar delivered with being a vastly better car in every area and yet still keeping the off-road DNA intact. There is nothing else for the price that offers what the Thar does. It is loaded with a personality that is infectious while being given a sense of polish not seen on the earlier Thar. There are more features now while the interior is modern yet you can still get it muddy without care. Mahindra has played it well and mixed the right amount of modernity into this hardcore off-roader.

Nissan Magnite: Changing the game is what Nissan has done with its pricing for the Magnite. You simply do not expect an SUV to start with a price that is lower than the base variants of some hatchbacks! But the Magnite is not some one-trick pony as it also looks good and is well equipped to justify how much of a value package it really is even with the top variants. The design is pleasing and sharp while it is also practical along with the turbo petrol being good to drive. A compact SUV that is a lot more affordable but does not just depend on its price to impress.

MG Gloster: The big Gloster changed the dynamics of its segment by offering so much more equipment plus also a lot more luxury and comfort. It is bigger than rivals and is loaded with technology yet still being capable on and off the road. The Gloster gives the full-size luxury SUV buyer a lot more choice now as it offers a bit more than what the SUV in this segment normally does. It has challenged its rivals and in terms of value or features it does come out on top- something which is not easy since its rivals have been around for a long time but on clear value terms and offering more, the Gloster impresses.

Mercedes-Benz GLE: A midsize luxury SUV that gives a bigger emphasis on the word 'luxury' as the new generation is arguably a massive leap forward from the old one. The new GLE looks big and that's because it is while the spacious cabin is the biggest highlight here with tons of space inside along with a classy new design. The interior is luxurious and looks lovely with the clean layout along with the quality. The fact that the diesel on the GLE is very quiet is another important factor that seals it a place here. The E-Class of SUVs as its name says and it carries forward what Mercedes-Benz is known for and doing what it does best- which is luxury!

Mercedes-Benz EQC: The first electric luxury SUV deserves mention here on the basis of being a proper luxury car yet also being electric. The futuristic styling along with the ample range has enough temptation for luxury SUV buyers to make the switch to go electric and till now only Mercedes offers this choice. The EQC is also the first electric car with which we have not faced any range anxiety since it actually delivers on its promise of going further without us getting nervous about it. Other than that it has the traditional luxury car traits of refinement, features and technology. If this is the kind of EV we get, embracing the future is a bit on the easier side for us.

Land Rover Evoque: It may look familiar to the iconic first-generation model but the second generation Evoque is indeed all-new and features enough changes to justify being on this list. The styling is even better being honed and fettled to near perfection while the interior design and luxury have been spruced up. Yet it still drives very well and feels agile while being a proper Land Rover when you need it to be. For the price, it is one of the best looking SUVs while delivering on a feel-good factor which a luxury car needs to do. Overall the Evoque is a luxury SUV that you drive yourself and also sometimes just enjoy looking at it!

Kia Sonet: Just like what the Creta did to the midsize SUV segment, Kia did the same with the Sonet to the compact SUV space. It is an unwritten rule that compact SUVs would be down on some features and sacrifice some of the premiumness to meet the costs. Nobody told Kia as the Sonet gets features that many bigger SUVs do not have and also offers the buyer the biggest choice in terms of engine and gearbox options. It also looks appealing with a premium touch while giving the impression that you would want to buy the Sonet as a compact and technology loaded SUV with less about 'needing' one. In short a compact SUV that does not feel like a watered-down avatar of a bigger SUV.

Hyundai Creta: The Creta is perhaps the biggest testimony of our love for SUVs considering how many of them are sold month on month. Ever since its launch, the new Creta has been a gigantic success and partly because it ticks nearly all of the boxes including giving the buyer the widest choice and also the longest feature list plus being spacious too. It just does it all and that is why the Creta won the Indian car buyer many times over in 2020. Compared to the previous Creta, the new one offers you technology while also being good to drive yet not sacrificing on ride quality or practicality. Overall it is one of the biggest hits of 2020!

Audi Q2: A luxury SUV with a twist as the Q2 is a surprisingly dynamic package with a keen talent to bully road surfaces thanks to its Quattro all-wheel-drive feature. Unlike other SUVs at this price, the Q2 is dynamically superior and is fun to drive. It is also a compact SUV yet is practical and fairly well equipped even though it alters the traditional concept of a luxury SUV that we have come across. It is an Audi with a healthy dose of personality in its unique styling and also with the way it drives. The interior is clean and follows a simple look too with going different from other SUVs in its class.