Four compact crossovers for small families | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Four compact crossovers for small families

In a market flooded with compact crossovers, we found four that stood out
Four compact crossovers for small families

Wheels

Rahbar Al Haq
15 January, 2022, 09:30 am
Last modified: 15 January, 2022, 03:42 pm

Related News

  • Executive Motors Limited announces historic arrival of the first-ever brand-new BMW i7 in Bangladesh
  • MG 4 EV: Electric experience at an affordable price
  • Rancon Arcade Auto Fiesta: A new height for Chattogram's automotive scene
  • Toyota Corolla Cross: Contender for the next most popular crossover in Bangladesh
  • Morris Garages launches MG 5 in Bangladesh

Four compact crossovers for small families

In a market flooded with compact crossovers, we found four that stood out

Rahbar Al Haq
15 January, 2022, 09:30 am
Last modified: 15 January, 2022, 03:42 pm

Crossovers are all the rage in Bangladesh. More and more modern families are ditching the hatchback in favour of a compact SUV, as they provide a better balance between space and practicality needed for family use.

With growing demand, came supply. The local market is flooded with various models of compact crossovers, with each automaker offering at least one such vehicle. Team Wheels dorve quite a few of them in the past few months, and here are ones that stood out.

Photo: Sikat Roy/TBS
Photo: Sikat Roy/TBS

The wicked: Suzuki Vitara Brezza

2021 Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Dealer: Uttara Motors Ltd

Price: Tk 25,50,000

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

If you are a young family looking for a quirky, affordable, and youthful car, Suzuki's Vitara Brezza is designed with you in mind.

Outwardly, the Brezza looks like an enlarged Swift with an SUV themed body kit. In addition to the rugged look, the exterior comes kitted with LED lighting, smart headlamps, rain sensing wipers and a respectable 198 mm ground clearance. 

Inside, the cabin is finished in durable textured plastic and features dual airbags, automated climate controls, multiple 12-volt sockets and a 7-inch infotainment system that  supports both Apple CarPay and Android Auto. 

In terms of driving, the 1.5 litre "smart hybrid" engine is a little reluctant on the initial push, but things get rapid over 3,000 RPM. Steering is light and the brakes takes a bit getting used to. Being a family-focused car, Brezza's suspension emphasised ride comfort for city traffic, though things can be a bit wallowy on corners at high speed.

Photo: Ayan Rahman Khan/TBS
Photo: Ayan Rahman Khan/TBS

The diesel: Mahindra XUV 300 W6

2021 Mahindra XUV 300 W6

Dealer: Rancon Auto Ltd

Price: Tk 25,50,000

looking for a cheap to run, comfortable crossover with just enough torque to scratch the performance itch? Well there's the Mahindra XUV 300 W6. 

The SsangYong Tivoli based XUV 300 is one of the first Mahindra in Bangladesh that does not look like a dressed-up work truck. With its 180mm ground clearance, thin front grille and blacked-out plastic claddings, the car looks something akin to a rugged lifted hatchback, in all the good ways. 

Inside, Mahindra stuck to their "durability first" philosophy, using hardwearing plastic in most places and finishing the seat with diuturnal cloth upholstery.  The feature list includes 10 cup holders, steering mounted audio controls and a 4 speaker audio system. The 17.78cm infotainment system has Bluetooth, USB and aux capability, and an excellent standalone navigation system that rivals Google Maps in terms of accuracy.

The 300 Nm of torque generated by the 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine makes this sub-1.5-ton car bolt like a bat out of hell, not something traditionally associated with a diesel engine. The car has a smart steering system that comes in three modes. In Normal and Comfort, the steering behaves like any other car in its segment, with half an inch of dead zone on either side. Switch it to Sport, and steering becomes much more direct, with the car responding to every little input. Combined that with the car's brisk acceleration, and relatively stiff suspension gives you the feeling of driving a —somewhat elevated— sports car.

Photo: Saikat Roy/TBS
Photo: Saikat Roy/TBS

The electric: MG ZS EV

2020 MG ZS EV: The Gen Z hot hatch

Dealer: Rancon British Motors Ltd

Price: Tk 38,40,000

MG ZS EV is a decent choice for those who are looking for an environment-friendly transport that is not flashy or bank-breaking. 

The exterior is almost identical to its combustion engine brethren, except for a few stubble changes. The most obvious one - besides the badging - are the 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels exclusive to the EV. Also hidden under the front grille is the car's  CCS and Type 2 charging ports, capable of charging the 44.5kWh battery pack to 80 percent in 45 minutes.

The cabin of the ZS EV is well equipped and plush, featuring a panoramic sunroof, synthetic leather upholstery, powered front seats, USB ports and so on.  The eight-inch infotainment screen supports Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay, and hooked to a two tweeters and four speaker audio system. 

The behind-the-wheel experience of the ZS is really exciting, if a bit scary. Press down the pedal, and the car will silently bolt for triple digit in 8.2 seconds. The torque from the electric motor is instant and breathtaking, but the lack of driver's assist means there is nothing stopping the car from torque steering to the left. 

Being an EV, the car does come with a three level regenerative braking, with the strongest mode slowing down the car three times faster. Despite the massive 353 Nm torque, the car retains the crossover suspension, meaning it is quite floaty when taking a corner.

Photo: Saikat Roy/TBS
Photo: Saikat Roy/TBS

The performer: BMW X1 sDrive18i

2021 BMW X1 sDrive18i xLine

Dealer: Executive Motors Ltd

Price: Starts from Tk 82,00,000

Not many crossovers in this segment will give you the sheer driving pleasure as the X1 does. While other crossovers try to scratch the performance itch with brisk acceleration, the BMW puts focus into where it counts, handling.

Starting from the outside, the design of the X1 is unmistakably premium and attention-grabbing. From a distance, the car looks much bigger than it actually is, which only adds to its road presence. The enlarged kidney grilles that were so controversial on the sedans blend in perfectly with the bigger proportions of the X1.

The interior of the X1 is top-end and very drive focused. The centre stack is slightly tilted toward the powered drivers seat with memory controls, and contains a 10.25-inch touch screen, dual zone climate controls, a cd player with six-speaker audio system. The car can also be configured with a plethora of options, such as a panoramic sunroof, automatic tailgate, multiple appearance package and many more. 

Despite its crossover size, the X1 does not drive like one. BMW dispensed with the typical sponge suspension typical of this segment, opting for an adaptive layout optimised for enthusiastic driving. Resulting experience is very direct, letting you feel most of the road from the driver's seat. There are no body rolls to speak of, and the 1.5 Litre TwinPower turbocharged three-cylinder hit triple digit in around 10 seconds. 

If you are a petrolhead with the necessary bank balance, this is for you.

 

 

Features

MG / MG ZS / Mahindra / Mahindra XUV 300 W6 / Mahindra and Mahindra Limited / Morris Garages / BMW / BMW X1 / Crossover / Chinese Crossover / Subcompact Crossover / Suzuki / Suzuki Vitara / Maruti Suzuki

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • BNP Vice Chairman Shahjahan Omar. Photo: Daily Sun
    Shahjahan Omar faces backlash from pro-BNP lawyers at Supreme Court
  • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sketch: TBS
    PM Hasina 9th on Forbes list of most powerful women in politics
  • File photo: Collected
    BNP now Jamaat's 'B-team': Quader

MOST VIEWED

  • Caption: Illustration: TBS
    Source tax on land registration cut again
  • This file photo from December 2019 shows a rider driving his motorcycle through cold wind and fog. A scene not yet visible this year. Photo: Mumit M
    Woe for seasonal crops, vegetables as winter comes late 
  • File Photo: Reuters
    $1.08 billion could be added to Bangladesh's dwindling forex reserves
  • Photo: Courtesy
    Woman entrepreneur Sangeeta Khan dies at age 62
  • 59 DSE stocks face downgrade to junk category
    59 DSE stocks face downgrade to junk category
  • Dollar pressure rises as short-term foreign debt drops $300m in October
    Dollar pressure rises as short-term foreign debt drops $300m in October

Related News

  • Executive Motors Limited announces historic arrival of the first-ever brand-new BMW i7 in Bangladesh
  • MG 4 EV: Electric experience at an affordable price
  • Rancon Arcade Auto Fiesta: A new height for Chattogram's automotive scene
  • Toyota Corolla Cross: Contender for the next most popular crossover in Bangladesh
  • Morris Garages launches MG 5 in Bangladesh

Features

Photo: Rexy Jason Gomez

A big love for the small wheels

48m | Features
Dhaka’s FDC,  Japan Garden City and Shia Masjid were all part of Gudaraghat once. PHOTOS:  Syed Zakir Hossain

What the remaining Gudaraghats remind us of Dhaka's long-lost water bodies

8h | Panorama
A trove of research underscores the perilous consequences of relying on plastic utensils, a narrative mirrored by the western world's pivot towards sustainable alternatives - ceramic, brass, or clay dinnerware. PHOTO: TBS

While we lose our sustainable traditions, the West pivots in the opposite direction

7h | Panorama
Ghulam Ali

Ghulam Ali: Voice that makes ghazals bloom

1d | Features

More Videos from TBS

Most Ukrainians are losing interest in going to war

Most Ukrainians are losing interest in going to war

1h | TBS World
Putin to visit UAE and Saudi Arabia

Putin to visit UAE and Saudi Arabia

3h | TBS World
Will the United States - Israel attack Yemen?

Will the United States - Israel attack Yemen?

18h | TBS World
Ukraine faces challenges in securing financing and sustaining energy infrastructure

Ukraine faces challenges in securing financing and sustaining energy infrastructure

6h | TBS World
The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2023 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab