India has become one of biggest manufacturing hubs for many automobile manufacturers around the world. Where imported cars meant the pinnacle of quality back in the day, things have changed drastically in the last two decades. Where some brands like Tata, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai have been manufacturing their products in India for decades, more and more manufacturers are joining this list. Some brands synonymous with engineering and luxury, like Audi, Mercedes, and BMW, have also decided to set up manufacturing units in India to maximise their profits. Most of this can be attributed to the low cost of manufacturing resulting in bigger margins for more profits.
Here is a list of ten Made in India cars that have managed to catch the fancy of the Indian audience quite successfully. These cars have been chosen randomly to emphasise the fact there is something for every customer depending on their budget, needs, and expectations.
Nissan Magnite
Nissan struck gold with the Magnite compact SUV, changing the Japanese car maker’s fortunes in India since its debut in 2020. The Nissan Magnite delivers a lot in terms of style, features, and performance while still being one of the most affordable cars in the segment.
As a Made in India car, Nissan and Renault have ensured they can compete in the segment against the likes of the Nexon and Brezza. The 4-star GNCAP safety rating further highlights the high quality Nissan is able to achieve by manufacturing in India. As a package, the Nissan Magnite is hard to ignore in the compact SUV segment.
Nissan Magnite Highlights:
- Engine: 1-litre petrol, 1-litre turbo petrol
- Transmission: 5-speed manual, 5-speed AMT, CVT
- Mileage: 19.35 kmpl (1-litre petrol), 20 kmpl (1-litre turbo petrol)
- Airbags: 2 airbags
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Maruti Suzuki Baleno
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has been one of the bestsellers in the Indian market since its launch in 2015. Being a Maruti Suzuki vehicle, no one doubted it to be a success from the beginning, but it went way beyond being a successful products and turned into one of the most successful hatchbacks to launch in India.
A major part of the Baleno’s success is the value it is able to deliver in its segment. This is all thanks to the expansive network of suppliers Maruti has built to ensure cost effective production of Made in India cars. The current version of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno is available in nine variants. The variants use the same 1.2-litre engine that produces 89.7 PS and 113 Nm of maximum power and torque. There are two variants with CNG kits where it delivers 77.5 PS and 98.5 Nm in CNG mode.
Maruti Suzuki Baleno Highlights:
- Engine: 1-2-litre petrol
- Transmission: 5-speed manual, 5-speed AMT
- Mileage: 22.35 kmpl (manual), 22.94 (AMT), 30.61 kmpkg (CNG)
- Airbags: 2 airbags (Sigma, Delta), 6 airbags (Zeta, Alpha)
- Fuel Type: Petrol, CNG
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: Hatchback
Skoda Kushaq
This is one of the more interesting cars in this list. After having a lukewarm first run in the Indian market despite having brilliant cars, this is Škoda’s second attempt to lure the Indian market. Manufacturing the Kushaq at the same facility in Chakan as the VW Taigun has helped Škoda keep the pricing of the Kushaq quite competitive. The fact that the Kushaq has received a 5 star GNCAP safety rating says a lot about its quality.
It is spacious, big, looks striking, and has an impressive road presence. All these things packed together in one of the safest cars in India offer a complete peace of mind in every way. One of the best-selling Škoda in the Indian market, it offers enough space to house three passengers in the rear row, has advanced safety features, comfortable interiors, impressive design among other things. This is one of those cars that will help the overall quality of the made-in-India vehicles go up significantly.
Skoda Kushaq Highlights:
- Engine: 1-litre turbo petrol, 1.5-litre turbo petrol
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, 7-speed DSG
- Mileage: 19.76 kmpl (1-litre turbo petrol manual), 18.09 kmpl (1-litre turbo petrol automatic), 18.60 kmpl (1.5-litre turbo petrol manual), 18.86 kmpl (1.5-litre turbo petrol DSG)
- Airbags: 2 airbags (Active, Onyx, Ambition), 6 airbags (Style, Monte Carlo)
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
MG Hector
Another brand that has claimed a fair share of market in a very short span of time is MG. After launching Hector as their first car in June 2019, MG has expanded its portfolio in a very short duration. The Hector is a feature-rich SUV, especially on the inside, and it ticks almost all the boxes in a very competitive price segment.
The fact that MGs, especially Hectors, are so commonly seen on Indian roads is proof that it has managed to attain the result it was hoping for. Manufactured at the brand’s only manufacturing unit in Halol, Gujarat, this British marque’s flagship offering is as much made in India as a Tata, Mahindra, or Maruti.
MG Hector Highlights:
- Engine: 1.5-litre turbo petrol, 2-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, CVT
- Mileage: 14 kmpl (1.5-litre turbo petrol CVT), 14.2 kmpl (1.5-litre turbo petrol manual), 17.4 kmpl (2-litre turbo diesel manual)
- Airbags: 2 airbags (Style, Shine, Smart), 4 airbags (Smart Pro), 6 airbags (Sharp Pro, Savvy Pro)
- Fuel Type: Petrol, Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Tata Nexon
The Tata Nexon is the best-selling compact SUV for a while now. Any vehicle that can dethrone the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and the Hyundai Venue from the top spot has every right to be proud of its achievements. Being a Tata product, and built at its plant in Ranjangaon, Pune, you can be rest assured that the Nexon is as safe for its occupants as an Indian car can be.
With a GNCAP safety rating of five, it is one of the safest vehicles in India. The Nexon has the perfect combination of looks, road presence, safety features, cabin space, and technology. The fact that the same Nexon is now available as an EV also caters to a segment that doesn’t mind spending a bit extra for a greener environment.
Tata Nexon Highlights:
- Engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol, 1.5-litre turbo diesel
- Transmission: 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed AMT, 7-speed DCA
- Mileage: 17.44 kmpl (1.2-litre turbo petrol 5-speed manual), 17.44 kmpl (1.2-litre turbo petrol 6-speed manual), 17.18 kmpl (1.2-litre turbo petrol 6-speed AMT), 17.01 kmpl (1.2-litre turbo petrol 7-speed DCA), 23.23 kmpl (1.5-litre turbo diesel 6-speed manual), 24.08 kmpl (1.5-litre turbo diesel 6-speed AMT)
- Airbags: 6 airbags standard across all variants
- Fuel Type: Petrol, Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Hyundai Creta
The midsize SUV segment is ruled by the Hyundai Creta. Launched in July 2015 in the Indian market, the Hyundai Creta soon became one of the bestsellers in its segment due to its stylish design, spacious interiors, competitive pricing, and the number of variants that were offered in the Indian market. From the time of its inception in 2015, the Creta is made at Hyundai’s plant in in Sriperumbudur (near Chennai), Tamil Nadu.
This plant in Tamil Nadu has an augmented capacity of producing 8,20,000 cars annually. The current Hyundai Creta is one of the most complete vehicles one can buy in India at present. Apart from the looks, space, and interiors, the ground clearance of 190mm, features like ABS with EBD, rear AC vents as standard, and parking assist, there is little left to wish for. The fact that Hyundai also exports the Creta made in this facility to international markets says a lot about its quality.
Hyundai Creta Highlights:
- Engine: 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, IVT
- Mileage: 17 kmpl (1.5-litre petrol 6-speed manual), 14 kmpl (1.5-litre petrol IVT), 18 kmpl (1.5-litre diesel 6-speed manual), 14 kmpl (1.5-litre diesel 6-speed automatic)
- Airbags: 6 airbags standard across all variants
- Fuel Type: Petrol, Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
This is another car that doesn’t need any introduction. Apart from a few times when it was made to step down from the number one spot, Maruti Suzuki’s Brezza has been owning the compact SUV segment for a while. The current and the second generation of the Brezza are arguably the best looking compact SUVs one can find in the Indian market.
Made at Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing facility in Manesar Haryana, the Brezza has evolved with every generation and facelift in terms of features, looks, and refinement, with acceptable increase in the prices across the range. With a long list of features, the comfort people share with the brand Maruti Suzuki, exceptionally good resale value, comfortable cabin for five adults, Maruti continues to sell the Brezza in enormous number months over months.
Maruti Suzuki Brezza Highlights:
- Engine: 1.5-litre petrol
- Transmission: 5-speed manual, 6-speed automatic
- Mileage: 17.38 kmpl (1.5-litre petrol manual), 19.8 kmpl (1.5-litre petrol automatic), 30.61 kmpkg (1.5-litre petrol/CNG)
- Airbags: 2 airbags (LXi, VXi, ZXi), 6 airbags (ZXi+)
- Fuel Type: Petrol, CNG
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Kia Sonet
Another Korean manufacturer that has been riding high on the success it has enjoyed in the Indian market for a while now is Kia. Despite being the younger sibling of Hyundai, one cannot deny the fact that Kia has managed to entice the Indian audience from the time it arrived on the Indian shores. After making its debut in September 2020, the sub-four metre compact SUV Sonet has been doing fairly well in terms of capturing market share.
Kia has been going all guns blazing from its manufacturing facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh since mid-2019. The Sonet is made at the same facility, and it helps the Kia Sonet provide more features than the similarly priced variants of other compact SUVs providing a much better value for money. Talking about the dimensions, it is also one of the longer, and one of the wider compact SUVs as compared to others.
Kia Sonet Highlights:
- Engine: 1.2-litre petrol, 1-litre turbo petrol, 1.5-litre diesel
- Transmission: 5-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, 6-speed iMT, 7-speed DCT
- Mileage: 18.4 kmpl (1.2-litre petrol manual), 18.2 kmpl (1-litre turbo petrol iMT), 18.3 kmpl (1-litre turbo petrol DCT), 24.1 kmpl (1.5-litre diesel iMT), 19 kmpl (1.5-litre diesel automatic)
- Airbags: 4 airbags (HTE, HTK, HTK+, HTX, HTX+), 6 airbags (GTX+, X-Line)
- Fuel Type: Petrol, Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Volkswagen Virtus
In line with its India 2.0 programme, VW has focussed on the compact SUV and sedan segments. The decision of manufacturing the Virtus in India at its facility in Chakan, Maharashtra has helped VW to keep the pricing of the Virtus quite competitive without compromising much. Delivering German engineering at Indian pricing is something that will excite many buyers looking for a reliable, safe, exciting, feature-loaded, and affordable sedan.
Most impressively, VW has made sure that the Virtus, despite being made in India, does not compromise on the safety of its occupants. The Virtus has received a 5 star GNCAP safety rating, which says a lot about the fact that the VW Group is leaving no stone unturned in order to lure the Indian customers with its limited line-up. Launched in 2022, the Virtus is fairly new to the Indian market, but delivers a perfect blend of looks, performance, and driving pleasure.
Volkswagen Virtus Highlights:
- Engine: 1-litre turbo petrol, 1.5-litre turbo petrol
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, 7-speed DSG
- Mileage: 20.08 kmpl (1-litre turbo petrol manual), 18.45 kmpl (1-litre turbo petrol automatic), 18.88 kmpl (1.5-litre turbo petrol manual), 19.62 kmpl (1.5-litre turbo petrol DSG)
- Airbags: 2 airbags (Comfortline, Highline, GT), 6 airbags (Topline, GT Plus, GT Edge)
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: Sedan
Citroën C3
The Citroën C3 is, probably, the ‘lesser famous’ car in this list. Not many people are familiar with this lesser known French brand, but it’s been in the Indian market for almost three years. Made at Citroën’s manufacturing facility in Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, and launched in July 2022, its sales figures are nowhere compared to some of the cars we have here in this list, but it surely has started getting noticed on Indian roads.
Like VW and many other manufacturers, Citroën knows that to make it big in India, price point is, arguably, the most important factor while buying a car. If Citroën hadn’t decided to call the C3 a ‘raised hatchback’, it could have been very comfortably classified as a compact SUV by Indian market’s standards. Well, the lack of an automatic transmission can be a big factor in why it didn’t manage to penetrate the market as it could have.
Citroën C3 Highlights:
- Engine: 1.2-litre petrol, 1.2-litre turbo petrol
- Transmission: 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual
- Mileage: 19.8 kmpl (1.2-litre petrol 5-speed manual), 19.44 kmpl (1.2-litre turbo petrol 6-speed manual)
- Airbags: 2 airbags
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: Hatchback
Best Made in India Cars Summary
The days of doubting the quality of something that was made in India are long gone. With stringent rules and minimal margin for error, more and more automobile manufacturers are able to extract the same quality from Indian products that they are known for. Most of these manufacturers have also started using their Indian facilities as their export hubs due to the low costs of manufacturing. This is an exciting time for Indian auto enthusiasts and also for the Indian economy. With more and more automobile giants turning towards India for their manufacturing needs, we can expect world-class products without selling an organ. This will eventually result in the creation of more jobs, strengthening the working class, which is also the biggest consumer in any segment.
