What a Budget-conscious buyer looks for in a car
A budget-conscious buyer seeks affordability, low maintenance costs, fuel efficiency, and reliability in a car. Good city mileage is crucial for fuel economy while safety features like ABS and airbags are vital. Power steering enhances drivability while power windows are desirable for convenience.
The buyer appreciates a reasonable purchase price and economical running costs. Cars such as the Maruti Alto K10 and Renault Kwid, with their blend of affordability and efficiency, are popular among budget-conscious consumers with their value for money proposition.
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Why Maruti Alto K10 and Renault Kwid are popular among Budget-conscious buyers
Maruti Alto K10 and Renault Kwid are among the best budget cars in India, and are popular among budget-conscious buyers due to their combination of affordability, fuel efficiency, and practical features. Both these models can easily fit within the buyer’s budget, and deliver impressive fuel economy which translates to lower running costs.
The Maruti Alto K10 is renowned for its excellent fuel efficiency, low maintenance costs, and solid safety features such as ABS and two airbags. The reliability and trust associated with the Maruti brand also resonate with the budget-conscious buyer. If you’re a first-time car buyer, you can check out our guide to the best Maruti Alto K10 variants for you.
The Renault Kwid, on the other hand, offers good fuel efficiency and standard safety features at an affordable price. Its unique design and spacious interiors, relative to the segment, provide additional value to the budget-conscious buyer. While it doesn’t offer the highest fuel efficiency, it counters with more space and a competitive price.
All these factors make Maruti Alto K10 and Renault Kwid some of the most affordable cars in the entry-level hatchback segment.
Our variants shortlist for Maruti Alto K10 and Renault Kwid
The following table lists the relevant variants and their prices:
| Variant | Price (INR) |
| Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 LXi | 483,000 |
| Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi | 506,000 |
| Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi Plus | 535,000 |
| Renault KWID 1.0 RXE | 470,000 |
| Renault KWID 1.0 RXL | 500,000 |
| Renault KWID 1.0 RXL Opt | 521,000 |
Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 LXi: The Alto K10 LXi variant provides ABS, two airbags, and a remarkable city mileage of 24.39 kmpl, delivering on safety and fuel efficiency. However, it doesn’t have power windows which might be a trade-off for some buyers.
Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi: The VXi variant offers power windows at the front, enhancing convenience. It retains the same fuel efficiency as the LXi variant but comes at a higher price.
Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi Plus: The VXi Plus variant features an LCD touchscreen and additional speakers. Although it costs more, buyers get additional features while retaining the high fuel efficiency of the previous variants.
Renault KWID 1.0 RXE: The cheapest pick in our selection, the RXE variant of the Renault Kwid offers a good city mileage of 18 kmpl along with ABS and two airbags. However, its fuel efficiency is lower than the Alto K10’s.
Renault KWID 1.0 RXL: The RXL variant has the same specifications as the RXE but at a higher cost.
Renault KWID 1.0 RXL Opt: The RXL Opt variant includes power windows at the front, enhancing convenience at a slightly higher price.
Best variant among Maruti Alto K10 and Renault Kwid for Budget-conscious buyer
As the most affordable car option in our list, the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 LXi is the best variant for a budget-conscious buyer. Priced at INR 483,000, it offers excellent city mileage of 24.39 kmpl, reducing running costs. Despite lacking power windows, it provides ABS, two airbags, and power steering, ensuring safety and comfort. The trustworthiness of the Maruti brand and the economic maintenance associated with it make it a practical choice. We also have our comparison of the Maruti Alto K10 with Tata Tiago for first-time car buyers.
The Top 3 choices
The top three choices are:
- Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 LXi
- Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi
- Renault KWID 1.0 RXE
| Variant | ABS | Airbags | City Mileage (kmpl) | Power Steering | Power Windows – Front |
| Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 LXi | Yes | 2 | 24.39 | Yes | No |
| Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi | Yes | 2 | 24.39 | Yes | Yes |
| Renault KWID 1.0 RXE | Yes | 2 | 18 | Yes | No |
The Alto K10 LXi stands out with its high fuel efficiency and affordability. The Alto K10 VXi offers added convenience with power windows, justifying its slightly higher price. The Renault Kwid RXE, despite lower fuel efficiency, provides the budget-conscious buyer an affordable option with safety features and power steering.
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