Cheapest Cars in India

When we hear ‘cheapest cars’, we imagine poor quality cars with significant compromises. However, in this context, we are exploring the most affordable cars you can buy in India. Thankfully, the Indian automobile industry has reached the stage where even the most affordable cars are more than capable of meeting most of your day-to-day needs. Most of these cars are from the market leader, Maruti Suzuki – a carmaker with the largest dealer network across the nation and the lowest car maintenance prices. Here are the cheapest cars in India you should buy.

List of Cheapest Cars in India

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

Starting the list of the cheapest cars in India is our beloved Maruti Alto K10. With the cheapest price tag, the Alto K10 offers an invaluable reputation and trust, thanks to the 25-year-long epic legacy of the Maruti Alto brand. Like its ancestors, the Alto K10 is known for its impeccable city-friendly nature. While its compact size and easy-to-drive character make life easy while dealing with city traffic, its mileage makes it one of the most fuel-efficient cars in India. Moreover, for a car of its price, the Alto K10 feels impressively premium on the inside and packs enough modern-day features. Meanwhile, Maruti has masterfully optimised its compact dimensions to offer maximum room around the seats. For example, while the rear seat is not wide enough for three passengers, it offers impressive legroom and headroom even for tall adults.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1-litre Dualjet petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed MT & 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 24.39 – 24.90 km/l (petrol) & 33.40 – 33.85 km/kg (CNG)
• Airbags: Six airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Keyless entry
• Steering-mounted controls

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

Launched in 2019, the Maruti S-Presso was Maruti’s attempt to cash in on the growing craze for small SUVs in India. With its SUV-inspired looks, the S-Presso stands out as something different and unique. While its SUV-like exterior may not suit everyone’s taste, on the inside, the S-Presso looks quite youthful with the MINI-like layout of the dashboard. Due to its impressive 180 mm ground clearance, the S-Presso offers taller seating that helps simulate the SUV experience. For the rear passengers, there is ample headroom and legroom, although the seat width is best for two adults. Sharing its 1-litre engine with the Maruti Alto K10, the S-Presso embodies the same urban-friendly character and delivers fantastic mileage.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1-litre Dualjet petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed MT & 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 24.12 – 25.30 km/l (petrol) & 32.73 km/kg (CNG)
• Airbags: Dual front airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Front power windows
• Semi-digital instrument cluster

Renault Kwid

The Renault Kwid has played a major role in expanding Renault’s network in India since its launch in 2015. While its popularity has waned over the years, the Kwid is still a capable hatchback for most use cases. For starters, with its SUV-like design, the Kwid looks vastly different and more handsome than its contemporaries. Such a design also gives it a commendable 184 mm ground clearance that helps it cross most bumps and potholes with ease. Another thing that keeps the discomfort from bumps and potholes away is its segment-best suspension system, something that French cars have always been popular for. Feature-wise, the Kwid is impressively loaded for its price tag and delivers a convenient experience that meets modern-day standards. To make the Renault Kwid more competitive against Maruti, the French carmaker has added CNG-powered variants to the Kwid’s lineup.

Renault Kwid Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed MT & 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 22 km/l (petrol) & 26.49 km/kg (CNG)
• Airbags: Dual front airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback
• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• All four power windows
• Keyless entry

Tata Tiago

Style. Comfort. Safety. The Tata Tiago has it all to keep the Indian carmaker strong in the hatchback competition. With its launch in 2016, the Tata Tiago began a new chapter for Tata Motors and led its resurgence. Not only does the Tata Tiago look striking, but it also feels significantly upmarket on the inside, thanks to a well-crafted interior and a host of features that help it deliver a premium experience. The strongest advantage of the Tata Tiago is its strong body, which has earned a 4-star Global NCAP safety rating, making it the safest car in the segment. Like its Maruti rivals, the Tata Tiago is available in petrol-powered and CNG-powered models. However, a key point to note is that the Tiago offers CNG counterparts of almost all its variants, while its rivals offer fewer CNG variants.

Tata Tiago Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1.2-litre petrol | 1.2-litre petrol engine with CNG kit
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox & 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 20 km/l for petrol & 26 km/kg for CNG
• Airbags: Dual front airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback
• Seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Projector headlights
• 8-speaker Harman Sound System

Maruti Suzuki Eeco

The Maruti Eeco 7-seater MUV is one of the most vital cars for the Indian market. Mainly used in cab services, cargo delivery, and ambulance services, the Eeco has been purposefully designed to do all these jobs, although it is also on sale as a private MUV. With a boxy design, the Eeco gets a steeply raked bonnet and windshield, which gives it a very practical-looking appeal. The Maruti Eeco features two captain seats in the middle row and a bench seat in the third row. Recently, Maruti has made the Eeco safer by equipping it with six airbags as standard, while it also packs in other essential safety features such as ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, ESP, and more. While the Eeco is usually bought for commercial needs, as a 7-seater MUV among the cheapest cars in India, it certainly is a compelling offering for large families.

Maruti Suzuki Eeco Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1.2-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed MT
• Mileage: 24.12 – 25.30 km/l (petrol) & 32.73 km/kg (CNG)
• Airbags: Six airbags as standard
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: Seven
• Body Type: MUV
• Manual AC with heater
• Digital display in the instrument cluster
• 12 V accessory socket

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

The ability to deliver a mileage of 26.68 km/l (petrol) and 34.43 km/kg (CNG) is the biggest draw of the Maruti Celerio. When you have such a car among the cheapest cars in India, it is easy to narrow down options if you are looking for an affordable car that you would frequently need to do long-distance driving. With high fuel efficiency, the Maruti Celerio presents itself as an economical car, and what makes it even more economical is Maruti’s cheap maintenance cost. Other than an economic character, the Celerio offers a cheerful road presence with compact dimensions and easy manoeuvrability to competently deal with city traffic.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox and 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 26.68 km/l (petrol) & 34.43 km/kg (CNG)
• Airbags: Six airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit
• Steering-Mounted Audio Controls
• Engine Push Start/Stop with Smart Key

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is the name of an epic automotive success story and is loved enormously in India. Launched in 1999, the Maruti Wagon R is the longest-running car in Maruti’s lineup and has sold over 3.2 million units across its run. Despite being one of the cheapest cars in India, this has its name, i.e., ‘Wagon R’, as its most attractive trait. It is because, for most buyers, ‘Wagon R’ means an affordable family car that delivers fantastic mileage, and loads of space, is easy to maintain, and has a solid resale value. Recently, Maruti has made the Wagon R safer by offering six airbags as standard across its variants. The Wagon R is one of the top-selling cars in India, and an overwhelming favourite of hatchback buyers and cab service providers.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1-litre petrol engine | 1.2-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox and 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 24.35 – 25.19 km/l (petrol) & 33.48 km/kg (CNG)
• Airbags: Six airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Manual AC with heater
• Steering-mounted controls
• Day/Night IRVM

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Maruti brought in the Maruti Ignis to capitalise on the burgeoning popularity of SUVs. While the Ignis did not flame out, it certainly did not hit the success it was aimed at. Today, the Maruti Ignis stands as a decent seller and one of the cheapest cars in India. But that is not to say it is not capable. As a matter of fact, powered by Marut’s popular 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, the Ignis is quite a fun-to-drive car. Moreover, while its SUV-inspired design does not suit everyone’s taste, it gives it ample space for passengers and the hatchback is loaded with many features to deliver a comfortable and convenient drive.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1.2-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox and 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 20.89 km/l
• Airbags: Dual airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Automatic climate control
• Steering-mounted controls
• Day/Night IRVM

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios inherits an illustrious legacy that started when the first Hyundai i10 was launched in 2007. Much like its predecessors, the Grand i10 Nios offers unmatchable dependability, a great wealth of upmarket features, a refined drive and a refined experience at affordable prices. Moreover, since the Korean hatchback is a high-value, tried and trusted car, it commands a high resale value in the used car market, and this is something which adds to its appeal. The 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine that powers the Grand i10 Nios is one of the longest-running and most successful engines in the Indian market. The Korean carmaker has chosen the same engine to power their smallest SUV, the Hyundai Exter, which went on sale in 2023.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1.2-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox and 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 18 km/l (Petrol) & 27 km/kg (CNG)
• Airbags: Six airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback
• 8-inch touchscreen display audio with smartphone navigation
• Automatic climate control
• Wireless phone charger

Hyundai Exter

It might be surprising to see a compact SUV among the cheapest cars in India, but it is expected of Hyundai, a champion when it comes to pricing its cars. While the Hyundai Exter is the most affordable compact SUV, it is undoubtedly one of the most capable cars in its price bracket. With an upright stance, the Exter offers good volumes of space, especially headroom, so that even tall adults can be accommodated comfortably. Based on the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the Exter carries forward some interiors and the same powertrains. All the same, to compete with challengers like the Maruti Fronx and Tata Punch, the Exter packs a host of premium features, which include a sunroof and dual-camera dashcam.

Hyundai Exter Specifications & Key Features

• Engine: 1.2-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox and 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 19 km/l (Petrol) & 27.1 km/kg (CNG)
• Airbags: Six airbags
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Compact SUV
• 8-inch touchscreen display audio with smartphone navigation
• Dual-camera dashcam
• Wireless phone charger

Summary

Today, some incredibly capable cars are among the cheapest cars in India. From the Maruti Alto K10 to the Hyundai Exter, we have explained every car option you have at the bottom of the price ladder. Most of these cars are from the largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, and then you have a couple of offerings from Hyundai, one from Tata, and one from Renault. Moreover, we have explained what each of these cars has to offer.

Cheapest Cars in India: FAQs