Best Budget-friendly Choices: Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq

What a Budget-conscious buyer looks for in a car

When purchasing a car, budget-conscious buyers prioritize value for money, focusing on the initial price, fuel efficiency for lower running costs, essential safety features, and cost-effective maintenance. While looking for the best budget cars in India, they often seek practicality over luxury, appreciating advanced features but unwilling to stretch their budget for non-essentials. They also consider the car’s resale value, as it directly impacts the total cost of ownership. As affordable car options, we take a look at the base variants of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq.

Why Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq are popular among Budget-conscious buyers

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq have both made their mark in the market by offering excellent value for money. The Grand Vitara, from Maruti Suzuki, is known for its fuel efficiency, reliability, and low-cost maintenance – key factors for budget-conscious buyers. Moreover, Maruti’s vast service network ensures easy accessibility for servicing and parts.

Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500

Skoda Kushaq, on the other hand, offers a blend of practicality, performance, and comfort at a competitive price point. With a decent fuel efficiency, Kushaq manages to keep running costs low. Skoda’s reputation for creating high-quality and durable vehicles makes Kushaq a wise investment, providing budget-conscious buyers the peace of mind they seek while purchasing a car. You can also read our comparison of the Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq with Hyundai Creta in terms of affordability.

Base variants for Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq

Here are the two variants under consideration:

Product	Variant	Price
Skoda Kushaq	1.0 TSI Active	₹11,59,000
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara	Sigma	₹10,70,000

The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active, although slightly higher-priced, offers an LCD touchscreen, six speakers, and a slightly bigger wheel size. Its fuel efficiency is slightly lower than the Grand Vitara but still quite decent.

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma is cheaper than Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active but offers better fuel efficiency, although it lacks an audio system with speakers and a touchscreen. Its attributes align well with the budget-conscious buyer’s preference for practical functionality and lower running costs. We also have our guide to the best Grand Vitara variants for budget-conscious buyers.

Best base variant among Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq for Budget-conscious buyers

Considering the price, fuel efficiency, and safety, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma is the better choice that fits the wallet of a budget-conscious buyer. Although it lacks a touchscreen and audio system, these features might not be essential for a budget-conscious buyer who primarily values affordability, fuel efficiency, and safety.

The base variants ranked

1. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma
2. Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active

These two variants balance cost, fuel efficiency, and safety. Here’s a comparison of their essential attributes:

Attribute	Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma	Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active
ABS	Yes	Yes
Airbags	2	2
City Mileage (kmpl)	21.11	19.2
Engine – Fuel type	Petrol	Petrol
Power Steering	Yes	Yes
Power Windows – Back & Front	Yes	Yes
Engine – Transmission	Manual	Manual

In summary, while the Skoda Kushaq offers a more modern appeal with features like an LCD touchscreen and a six-speaker audio system, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma provides better value with higher fuel efficiency and a lower price point. If you’re a tech-savvy gadget lover, you can read our comparison of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara with Skoda Kushaq.

Both cars come with manual transmission, power steering, and power windows. Ultimately, the choice will depend on the buyer’s preferences and the trade-off between additional features and fuel efficiency.

Also read: Upcoming 2022 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza rendered