Cars and SUVs have become expensive to own. Buying something cool while still on a budget has become tougher than ever. This article will take you through a few handpicked cars and SUVs which come cheap but are cool enough to flaunt. The list has hatchbacks, SUVs and wannabe- SUVs- all under 12-15 lakh.
Citroen AirCross
Well, it’s got a very unique design that turns heads, and since so few of the Citroen AirCross have been sold in India, it comes across as very fresh. Citroen did recently update the AirCross with a bunch of equipment, making it more desirable than before.
The 1.2 liter turbo petrol engine (110 Bhp-205 Nm) paired with the smooth shifting 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox is the best pick with this compact SUV, which also happens to be much cheaper than rivals such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Cheap, and cool. This one does it both. And it’s built quite sturdily too!
Skoda Kylaq
The latest offering from Skoda- the Kylaq- comes with competitive pricing. The starting price is Rs 7.89 lakh, ex-showroom while the top-spec will set you back by Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-sh). The SUV would come in four variants- Classic, Signature, Signature+, and Prestige. The Classic, Signature and Signature+ trims will come to you for under 12 lakh, ex-sh. For this price, the Kylaq is a cool car to own. It comes with a good-looking design, that debuts Skoda’s new ‘Modern Solid’ design philosophy in India. If you are looking for automatics, it is just the ‘Classic’ that would fit the budget cap.
The Kylaq looks and feels like a mini Kushaq, and borrows its smaller engine. The vehicle draws its power from a 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine that produces 115 bhp of power and 178 Nm. The manual transmission is a 6-speed unit while the automatic is a torque converter.
MG Windsor
MG has given the Windsor attractive pricing in the Indian market. It starts at 9.99 lakh, ex-showroom, under the BaaS (Battery as a Service) model. The customer would then have to pay Rs 3.5 per km as battery rent. The Windsor EV comes in three variants- Excite, Exclusive, and Essence.
The coolest thing here is the cabin room and comfort offered. The EV is roomy and even the base variant comes with features like a printed antenna, rear AC vents, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker audio, automatic climate control, 7-inch digital instrument cluster, cruise control, electronic parking brake, electrically adjustable ORVMs, auto headlamps, steering mounted controls, and rain-sensing wipers.
Unlike the higher variants that come with diamond-patterned leather upholstery, the base trim gets fabric seats. These can, however, be reclined up to 135 degrees. MG calls this the ‘Aero Lounge’ experience.
On the exterior, the base-spec Windsor EV gets LED projector headlamps with DRls, LED tail lamps, an illuminated front logo, 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers (no alloys!) and flush-type door handles. In terms of safety features, it gets TPMS, six airbags, ESP, gill-Start Assist Control, and Hill Descent Control.
The powertrain here consists of a 38 kWh battery pack and a single electric motor that churns out 136 PS and 200 Nm. The vehicle comes with ARAI-certified range figures of 331 km per charge.
Maruti Jimny
You can now buy the base-spec Jimny for under 12 lakh, ex-showroom, thanks to the heavy discounts that were announced recently. This quirky ladder-frame SUV is quite fun to own. It is powered by a 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine (K15B) that produces 105 hp and 135 Nm. This 4-cylinder engine comes mated to both manual and 4AT transmissions. The manual would be the one to go for, if you are on a budget. It returns a mileage of 16.94 km/l, and comes with 4WD as well.
Tata Punch.EV
Well, the Punch.EV punches well above its weight, and can hit 100 Kph from standstill in just 9.5 seconds. Use that blistering pace to surprise a few petrol and diesel SUVs at traffic lights, and it’s for this very reason that the Punch.EV finds itself firmly in this list.
It’s built like a Rhino, and that’s another big positive. And the 421 kilometer claimed range translates to about 300 kilometers in the real world. This one tough yet quick city car that you cannot go wrong with. Prices start from Rs. 13 lakh for the long range trim.
Special Mentions
Before we conclude, here are two special mentions- two cars that are cheap and cool ( but probably not cool enough for all). First up is the MG Comet. With its tiny proportions and quirky design, the Comet makes for the perfect city commuter. It impresses you with the design, cabin experience, and tech onboard, if you are not looking for a four-seater. It comes with a two-door design and an electric powertrain that returns a claimed range of 230 km (thanks to the 17.3 kWh battery). Even the fully loaded Comet costs under 10 lakh (ex-showroom)
The final car in our list is the Hyundai i20 N Line. Powered by a 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine, it is quite sporty and fun to drive. The hatchback also comes with an all-Black cabin that feels sporty and has ample features. The engine produces 120 PS and 172 Nm. With the N-Line suspension, it feels more engaging to drive and handles better than the regular i20.
