Let's face it, every Tom, Dick and Sally wants an SUV but elevating yourself above the rest of the rush hour traffic doesn't exactly come cheap.
Question is, would you be happy to squeeze into one that's even smaller than a Daihatsu Terios?
For those who feel size is overrated, India's biggest SUV maker, Mahindra, has confirmed that it will soon be offering its Quanto compact SUV in South Africa.
It is built on a rugged body-on-frame platform and has a ground clearance of 180mm, although there is no mention of four-wheel drive.
Power comes from a 1.5-litre diesel engine with twin-scroll turbocharging. The motor is rated at 74kW and 240Nm and it's mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
It also boasts an idle-stop system to reduce its fuel consumption which, according to Mahindra, amounts to 17.2 kilometres a litre.
Despite its sub-four-metre size, the Quanto can seat seven occupants at a push, with a 5+2 seating layout that offers two folding seats in the cargo area.
No word on pricing yet, but if Mahindra's XUV500 is anything to go by then you can expect it to be rather competitive.
