India, Feb. 27 -- Diesel engines continue to make a strong case for themselves on Indian highways. At steady triple-digit speeds, their strong mid-range torque and low fuel consumption can make a noticeable difference to long-distance running costs. If I had to choose five diesel SUVs purely on the basis of highway mileage, while still keeping updated prices and usable performance in mind, these would be my picks.

On paper, the Tata Nexon diesel still leads the efficiency charts. Its 1.5-litre turbo diesel develops 115 PS and 260 Nm, available with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed AMT. According to the latest ARAI figures, the manual returns 23.23 km/l while the AMT manages a class-leading 24.08 km/l, among the highest in its segment. Ex-s...