Best Diesel Automatic Cars in India in 2024 – Specifications, Price, and Features

The fact that car owners are gradually moving from petrol/diesel vehicles over to electric vehicles should not come as a surprise to anyone considering the steadily increasing fuel prices in India. However, converting all vehicles into EVs is an almost impossible job which is why most people are choosing the better of the two evils – diesel. 

Diesel not only reduces CO2 emissions but also increases the mileage put out by a vehicle. In India, there are quite a few diesel-powered automatic cars, and here are some of the best on offer.

1 Mahindra XUV700

Mahindra is a brand that is known for its efficient vehicles and the latest XUV700 is a clear example of that. Powering the XUV700 is a 2.0L Turbo-petrol engine that generates 200Ps of power and 380Nm of torque. It is the same engine found in the Thar. There is also a 2.2L diesel engine option which will produce 185Ps of power and 450Nm of torque. 

In the transmission department, the XUV700 comes with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. There is also an All-Wheel-Drive option as well. In terms of features, the SUV comes with a digital instrument cluster, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a 360-degree camera, and power doors and windows. 

Safety is also Mahindra’s priority for the XUV700 and the car comes with features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, 7 airbags, Level 1 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), electronic parking brake, and ADS with EBD.

Ex-showroom price: ₹13.45 Lakh-25.47 Lakh

Key Specifications of Mahindra XUV700:

Mahindra XUV700 Key Features:

What’s Good

• Pricing
• Design
• Features
• Performance

What’s Not Good

• Quality Issues
• ADAS only on top variant

Check out our collection of Used Mahindra Cars in India

2 Mahindra Thar

Another impressive option from Mahindra is the new Thar – a car that has quickly become one of the most talked-about vehicles in the country. Under the hood of this beast of a car sits either a 2.0L Turbocharged petrol engine that generates 150Ps of power and 300Nm of torque on manual, and 150Ps of power and 320Nm of torque on automatic, or a 2.2L diesel engine that produces 130Ps of power and 300Nm of torque. In the transmission department, the Thar comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard but it can be had with a 6-speed automatic transmission as well. 

Some of the features found on the new Thar include LED DRLs, halogen headlamps, air-conditioning, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, an instrument cluster with a digital MID, cruise control, and steering-mounted controls. For safety, the Thar has ABS with EBD, dual airbags in the front, parking sensors in the rear, and a seatbelt reminder in the front.

Ex-showroom Price – ₹13.59 Lakh-16.29 Lakh

Key Specifications of Mahindra Thar :

Mahindra Thar Key Features :

What’s Good

• Capable Off-Roader
• Powerful
• Looks

What’s Not Good

• Not practical as family car
• Expensive
• Check out our collection of Used Mahindra Thar Cars in India

Check out our collection of Used Mahindra Thar Cars in India

3 MG Gloster 

The MG Gloster stands out as a remarkable SUV, surpassing the Toyota Fortuner in several aspects while maintaining a lower price point. This 7-seater SUV boasts an impressive twin-turbo diesel engine, seamlessly coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The heart of the Gloster lies in its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, available in two power variants. 

With its formidable engine specifications and advanced drivetrain, the MG Gloster takes the lead in the SUV segment, offering an enticing combination of power, performance, and affordability.

Ex- Showroom Price: ₹32.00 Lakh-₹40.78 Lakh

Key Specifications of MG Gloster: 

MG Gloster Key Features:

What’s Good

• Bigger than Toyota Fortuner
• Level 2 ADAS
• 4x4 Option

What’s Not Good

• Not as capable or reliable as the Toyota Fortuner
• Check out our collection of Used MG Gloster Cars in India

Check out our collection of Used MG Cars in India

4 Hyundai Alcazar 

The second-gen Hyundai Creta was an instant success in India and hence, it was no surprise when the carmaker launched its 7-seater iteration in the form the Alcazar. The petrol engine option of the new Creta-based SUV, though, are shared with other Hyundai models. Earlier, there was a 2.0-litre petrol engine that came from the Tucson. It was mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Now, though, the SUV gets a 1.5-litre turbocharged motor from the latest Verna. This engine comes paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

Meanwhile, the diesel engine is shared with the Creta. This 1.5L diesel engine produces 113.5 bhp of power and 250 Nm of torque. The diesel engine can be had with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed Torque Converter setup. In the features department, the Alcazar does not lack as it houses LED headlamps, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless charging, a 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, and ventilated front seats. The Creta is also exceptionally safe thanks to its ABS with EBD, 6 airbags, and Electronic Stability Control features.

Ex-showroom Price: ₹15.89 Lakh-₹20.25 Lakh

Key Specifications of Hyundai Alcazar

Hyundai Alcazar Key Features :

What’s Good

• Available in both petrol and diesel variants
• High quality cabin with many features
• Tried-and-tested after sales service
• Good ride quality
• Powerful petrol engine

What’s Not Good

• Doesn’t look as rugged as rivals
• No 4x4 option
• Check out our collection of Used Hyundai Alcazar Cars in India

Check out our collection of Used Hyundai Alcazar Cars in India

5 KIA Carens

Ever since the Carens was announced in India by KIA, it has been a fan favourite and continues to be one of the most-sold three-row  SUVs in its class. The Seltos-based SUV is on sale with three different engine options – a 1.5L petrol, a 1.5L diesel, and a 1.4L Turbocharged petrol. The 1.5L petrol engine is capable of generating 115 bhp of power and 140 Nm of torque while the 1.4L Turbocharged petrol engine generates 140Ps of power and 242Nm of torque. The 1.5L diesel engine can produce 115Ps of power with 250Nm of torque. In the transmission department, the 1.4L Turbocharged petrol can be had with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed DCT gearbox. The 1.5L petrol is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed CVT or DCT transmission. Lastly, the 1.5L diesel is paired to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed Torque Converter system.

Ex-Showroom Price: ₹10.00 Lakh-₹18.00 Lakh

Kia Carens Key Specifications :

Kia Carens Key Features :

What’s Good

• Attractively priced
• High quality cabin with many features
• Available in multiple petrol and diesel engine options

What’s Not Good

• No automatic transmission for base petrol
• Not as bold as typical SUVs

Check out our collection of Used Kia Carens Cars in India

6 Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon is just one of the many cars from Tata that delivers an excellent driving experience and comes with all the latest specifications and features. The current Nexon is powered by a 1.2L Turbocharged petrol engine that produces 118 bhp of power and 170Nm of torque. The Nexon is also available with a 1.5L Turbocharged diesel engine that generates 108 bhp of power and 260Nm of torque. In the transmission department, the Tata Nexon comes with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic setup. 

In the features department, the Nexon comes with a new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a tyre pressure monitoring system, a digital instrument cluster, cruise control, automatic air-conditioning, and rear air-conditioning vents. Some of the safety features found on the Nexon include ABS with EBD, dual airbags in the front, Electronic Stability Control, parking sensors in the rear, and ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors.

Ex-Showroom Price: ₹7.80 Lakh - ₹14.50 Lakh

Key Specifications of Tata Nexon:

Tata Nexon Key Features:

What’s Good

• Price
• Ride and handling setup
• Powerful Turbo Petrol Engine

What’s not Good

• Feels Dated
• Body Roll
• Poor fit and finish

Check out our collection of Used Tata Nexon Cars in India

7 Mahindra Scorpio N

Another Mahindra on this list of best diesel automatic cars is the Mahindra Scorpio N. Essentially, this SUV is the latest generation model of Scorpio. It’s even among the most successful SUVs in the market at the moment. While the Scorpio N is on sale with both petrol as well as diesel engine options, it’s only the latter that is available with 4x4. An automatic transmission option, though, is on sale with both engine variants. In fact, this 4x4 system even offers terrain response modes and low ratio. Furthermore, one of the most modern Mahindra SUVs ever even comes with a long list of equipment that includes electric sunroof, dual-zone climate control, driver drowsiness alert, touchscreen infotainment, JBL audio system with subwoofer and more.  

Ex- Showroom Price: ₹11.99 Lakh-₹23.90 Lakh

Key Specifications of Mahindra Scorpio N:

Key Features of Mahindra Scorpio N :

What’s good

• Great road presence
• More premium than its predecessor
• Quite capable off the road

What’s not good

• Is a bit pricey
• Petrol is low on mileage
• Check out our collection of Used Mahindra Scorpio N Cars in India

Read More : Best Automatic SUVs in India

8 Tata Harrier

Powering the latest Tata Harrier is a 2.0L diesel engine that is capable of generating 170Ps of power and 350Nm of torque. The engine can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed Torque-Converter gearbox. The SUV also comes with a 2-Wheel-Drive drivetrain as well. Fitted into the Harrier, in terms of features, are a panoramic sunroof, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, rain-sensing windshield wipers, dual-tone alloy wheels, and automatic climate control. In terms of safety, the Harrier comes with electronic stability control, ABS with EBD, dual airbags in the front, and parking sensors in the rear.

Ex- Showroom Price: ₹15 Lakh-₹24.07 Lakh

Key Specifications of Tata Harrier:

Tata Harrier Key Features:

What’s Good

• Good ride quality
• Tried-and-tested Fiat-sourced Diesel engine

What’s Not Good

• High body roll
• Unreliable electricals
• Check out our collection of Used Tata Harrier Cars in India

Check out our collection of Used Tata Harrier Cars in India

9 Toyota Innova Crysta

The iconic Innova Crysta from Toyota is a beloved family SUV that combines power, comfort, and reliability into one spacious vehicle. Under the hood of the Innova Crysta sits a 2.4L diesel that is capable of producing 148 bhp of power and 343 Nm of torque. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission system as standard and a 6-speed automatic unit as optional. 

What goes without mention is that the Innova Crysta comes packed with features that include a large touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, automatic climate control, adjustable driver seat, parking camera in the back, Bluetooth connectivity, and cruise control. There are also three airbags in front, ABS with EBD, vehicle stability control, brake assist, and hill start assist packed into the Innova Crysta.

Ex-showroom Price: ₹19.99 Lakh-₹25.43 lakh

Key Specifications of Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova Crysta Key Features:

What’s Good

• Comfort
• Reliability 
• Low Maintenance
• Spacious
• Powerful
• Resale Value

What’s Not Good

• No Automatic Transmission Option
• No Petrol Option
• Slightly Overpriced 
• Check out our collection of Used Toyota Innova Crysta Cars in India

Check out our collection of Used Toyota Innova Crysta Cars in India

10 Mahindra TUV300

We have already seen the type of SUVs produced by Mahindra but things only get better with the XUV300. It has rugged looks and performs better than most of the SUVs in its price bracket. Powering the XUV300 is a 1.2L Turbo petrol engine that can produce 109 bhp  of power and 200Nm of torque. The other engine option is a 1.5L diesel engine that is capable of generating 116 bhp  of power and 300Nm of torque. In terms of transmission, both engine options can either be had with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic setup. 

Ex-showroom Price: ₹8.41 Lakh-₹14.60 Lakh

Key Specifications of Mahindra XUV300 Specs

Mahindra XUV300 Key Features:

What’s Good

• Dynamics
• Features
• Pricing
• Safety

What’s Not Good 

• Boot Space
• Fuel Efficiency 
• Check out our collection of Used Mahindra XUV300 Cars in India

Conclusion

With so much on offer in the diesel-powered automatic segment, these above-mentioned cars should get the job done – and with some style. Have you switched from petrol to diesel yet or have you already joined the EV revolution? Which of the diesel cars listed here is your favourite?

FAQs

Q. Which is the highest selling model among the Best diesel automatic cars in India 2024?

A: Among the highest selling best diesel automatic cars in India in 2024 are models like the Toyota Innova Crysta, Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV700.

Q. Which is the most fuel-efficient diesel automatic car in India? 

A: Currently, the Mahindra XUV300 and Tata Nexon are among the most fuel-efficient diesel automatic cars in the country. 

Q. Is there an upcoming car in India that will be the best diesel automatic car in India in 2024?

A: The upcoming 5-door Mahindra Thar can be included in the list of best diesel automatic cars in India.

Q. Which is the lowest maintenance vehicle among the best diesel automatic cars in India?

A: The Toyota Innova Crysta and Mahindra XUV300 are the lowest maintenance diesel automatic cars in India.