Top 5 affordable SUVs to buy in the UAE

Almost all automakers in the Middle Eastern market face tough competition, especially considering how rife the market is. However, if you rewind half a decade back, the SUV segment was less sought-after than it is right now.

The sales of SUVs and subcompact crossovers have increased in the last few years, triggering a higher rate of inquiries on the top-selling and best models in the market. In this article, you will learn about the top 5 affordable SUVs you can buy in the UAE that don’t compromise on the feature list or performance.

This list includes cars over AED 50,000 and goes out to around AED 75,000, which is quite on the affordable side.

Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is one of the latest SUVs to get a lot of craze among enthusiasts and first-time buyers. It comes at a starting price of AED 62,000 and offers a lot of features and performance values, making it a high value-for-money small SUV. To begin with, it rides on 17-inch wheels as standard and 18-inch on the higher trim. The 2.0L Atkinson engine can produce 149 PS of power at 6,200 RPM and a peak torque of around 180 Nm at 4,500 RPM. Power is sent down to the wheels via a CVT gearbox.

For the features, it has an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. There are six speakers offered in the car as well.

Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks was an instant hit since it was first launched. It starts at a price of AED 71,000 and gets a lot of driver assistance technology to make it an easy-to-drive SUV crossover. The top-of-the-line model features automatic climate control, Nissan Intelligent Key, leather upholstery, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Under the hood, it is powered by a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine that can churn out a maximum power of 118 hp at 6,300 RPM and a peak torque of 155 Nm at 4,000 RPM. An Xtronic CVT delivers the produced power to the wheels.

Toyota Rush

The Toyota Rush has been a successful model everywhere around the globe, and so has been the case in the Middle Eastern market as well. The Rush is available in two trims - EX and GX. And that said, it is one of the most affordable 7-seater SUVs, with the price being AED 69,900 for the EX and AED 74,900 for the GX.

The SUV is powered by a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine that makes 103 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and a peak torque of 135 Nm at 4,200 RPM. The 7-seater car drives on 17-inch alloy wheels as standard. And despite the low price tag, the top variant has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and eight speakers.

Mazda CX-3

The Mazda CX-3 is one of the most attractive-looking SUVs on this list. It boasts a very driver-centric cabin and features the SKYACTIV vehicle dynamics with G-Vectoring Control. Under the hood, the CX-3 runs on a 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G 4-cylinder engine producing 148 hp of power at 6,000 RPM and a peak torque of 192 Nm at 2,800 RPM. The torque comes in a lot quicker than most other SUVs at this price point, making the drive very punchy and fun on both cities as well as highways.

The Mazda CX-3 comes at a starting price of AED 73,000, which is quite an impressive ask for a car this powerful and stylish.

Renault Duster

The Renault Duster is a legendary compact SUV worldwide and has won much praise for its exceptional design and abilities. In the UAE, the Duster is offered in three variants - PE, SE, and LE. The base model gets 16-inch steel wheels, while the mid-spec rides on 16-inch alloys. The top trim gets bigger 17-inch alloys.

Besides that, the Renault Duster has the right mix of power and efficiency. There are two engines on offer - 1.6L 4x2, and 2.0L 4x4. The smaller engine produces 115 PS of power at 5,500 and the highest torque figure of 156 Nm at 4,000 RPM. On the other hand, the bigger engine produces 135 PS of power and 195 Nm torque at the same rev band. As for the transmission, the 4x2 gets a CVT, while the 4x4 gets a 4-speed AT.

It is also the most affordable car on this list, with a starting price of AED 51,900, which goes up to AED 71,900.

Conclusion

The SUV market in the Middle Eastern region is booming, and more and more manufacturers are competing for a share. There are many more affordable SUVs in the market, but the ones mentioned here offer the best value for money and features.

Also read: Mitsubishi Pajero vs Rivals: Price, engine, size, and features compared