What’s the Best SUV Under AED 100k in Dubai?
Car buyers in Dubai are facing a unique dilemma in 2025 — should you go with a legacy Japanese brand or explore the rising dominance of tech-loaded Chinese SUVs? With secondhand options becoming risky due to flood-damaged inventory and prices climbing across the board, the race for value under AED 100k has never been more competitive.
In this guide — based on our latest video on Desi Traveller DXB — I break down the entire process of buying a new SUV in Dubai, the brands we explored, and why we ended up choosing a Chinese SUV over mainstream options like Kia, Toyota, and Nissan.
If you’re an Indian expat in the UAE or a new buyer confused about secondhand vs new, Kavak vs Dubizzle, or Geely vs Jetour, this guide will help you cut through the noise.
👉 Watch the full video breakdown here:
🔍 Used vs New: The Flood Changed Everything
In 2024, Dubai witnessed one of its worst floods in recent history. That event had a direct impact on the secondhand car market in 2025.
- Used Car Risks: Platforms like Cars24, Kavak, and Dubizzle had plenty of options in the AED 40k–50k range. But many cars may have unseen water damage, which even internal inspections can miss.
- Hidden Charges: These platforms list competitive base prices, but tack on AED 4k–5k as platform or inspection fees.
- Finance Struggles: Financing a secondhand car is harder, especially for newer expats.
✅ Verdict: We decided to avoid used cars entirely and stretch our budget to AED 75k–100k for a new SUV.
🚙 Top Brands We Explored: Best SUV Under AED 100k in Dubai
1. Kia Seltos
- Price: ~AED 100k (Top model)
- Pros: Excellent interiors, panoramic sunroof, cooled seats, good customer experience.
- Cons: Highest priced in our shortlist. No standout tech for the price.
2. Geely Coolray
- Price: AED 90k
- Pros: Robot-like features — automatic parking, high power output (~160 bhp), solid brand pedigree (Geely owns Volvo).
- Cons: All-black interiors, felt a bit “boyish,” slightly impersonal showroom vibe.
3. GAC GS4
- Price: AED 90k (with some discounts)
- Pros: Great suspension (independent per wheel), Chinese engineering meets practicality.
- Cons: Empty showroom, weaker customer service, less brand recognition than Geely or Kia.
4. Jetour X50 (Our Final Choice!)
- Price: AED 75k
- Pros:
- 157 bhp engine (more than Seltos)
- Plush interiors
- Outstanding HD cameras
- Best customer experience, showroom, and sales team
- Only 1% finance rate
- Cons: Lacks a few premium features like cooled seats or self-parking.
💰 How Jetour Gave the Best Value for Money
Jetour hit the sweet spot for first-time buyers:
| Feature | Jetour X50 | Geely Coolray | Kia Seltos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | AED 75k | AED 90k | AED 100k |
| Engine Power (bhp) | 157 | 160 | 154 |
| Parking Tech | Manual | Auto-parking | Manual |
| Camera Quality | Excellent | Excellent | Average |
| Finance Offer | 1% interest rate | 2% interest | 2.6% interest |
| Brand Perception (UAE) | Rising | Established | Trusted |
Jetour for us was the Best SUV Under AED 100k in Dubai.
🧾 Finance, Insurance & Final Costs
- Down Payment: 20% of total value.
- Interest: Just 1%, thanks to a showroom offer.
- Insurance: Higher than average due to less than 1-year-old license.
- Registration & Extras: Expect around AED 4k–6k in extras.
💡 Pro Tip: Always ask for 100% insurance coverage, especially if you’re a new driver or expat. And if possible, go showroom-direct instead of relying on intermediaries.
🇨🇳 Why Chinese Cars Are Booming in Dubai (And Worth Considering)
The idea of buying a Chinese SUV in Dubai might sound risky — but not anymore.
- Tech-first focus: From HD cameras to self-parking to lane assist, many Chinese brands are outpacing Japanese and Korean rivals in features.
- Design evolution: Interiors are becoming more premium every year. Jetour’s cabin felt plush and modern.
- Price-to-performance: With models 20–30% cheaper than their rivals, Chinese brands offer crazy value.
👉 For more perspective, read: Chinese cars’ bad reputation for poor quality is “undeserved”
✅ Conclusion: The Best SUV Under AED 100k in Dubai (2025)
After testing Kia, Geely, GAC, and Jetour, we can confidently say that Jetour X50 offered the best SUV under AED 100k in Dubai for our needs.
It may not have all the bells and whistles, but it struck the right balance of:
- Price
- Power
- Comfort
- Customer experience
If you’re in the same boat — especially as an Indian expat navigating your first car purchase — I’d strongly recommend shortlisting Jetour alongside your usual suspects.
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