Most value-for-money small hatchbacks in India

(Updated 7/12/2012)
With plethora of small cars available, it becomes increasingly difficult for today’s car buyer to find the best value-for-money small car.

In the entry-level small car segment, buyers look for mileage and comfort features. Since there exists a cut-throat competition in this segment, car makers’ offer a lot more features in the sub Rs. 5 lakh car market today.

Here, CarToq picks the best value-for-money petrol hatchbacks below Rs. 5 lakh that offer the maximum bang for your buck.

Maruti Alto 800 LXI (Airbag) (Rs. 3.20 lakh)

The new Maruti Alto 800 LXI is one of the most value-for-money entry level hatchbacks you can get if you are on a tight budget. The new Alto 800 includes an airbag option in the top-end variant, along with two power windows, AC, power steering and optional music system. The car is slightly more spacious than the model it replaces, with more interior headroom and legroom.

The car is powered by a 796 cc, 47.5 bhp petrol engine that is slightly more powerful than its previous avatar. It comes with a five-speed manual transmission that is easier to shift and better fuel economy of 22.74 kmpl. Also read: New Maruti Alto 800 road test and review

 

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R VXI ABS (Rs. 4.34 lakh) and Maruti Suzuki Estilo (Rs. 4.27 lakh)

The Wagon R is one among the top five cars sold in India. Its practical design makes city maneuvering a hassle-free task. The boxy design also causes less fatigue when parking in tight spaces. The Estilo too, is a practical hatchback for city commuting – and is an option for those who don’t like the Wagon-R’s design.

The Wagon R is powered by the 1-litre K-Series engine that puts out 67 Bhp of maximum power and returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 18.9 Kmpl. The Estilo is also powered by the same engine and gives the same mileage.

The Wagon R and Estilo come with a host of features in the top-end VXI ABS variant such as keyless entry, electric mirrors, optional airbags, optional ABS, fog lamps, security system and integrated music system.

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Chevrolet Beat LT Option Pack (Rs. 4.92 lakh)

The Beat is a funky small car with a youthful appeal. It has smart design cues such as the bike-inspired instrument console and rear door handles integrated into the C pillar making it look like a two-door car.

The Beat is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol motor that puts out 79.5 Bhp and has ARAI-certified mileage of 18.61 Kmpl. The Beat LT comes with music system, silver instrument cluster and front fog lamps. Option pack features include dual front airbags, ABS and alloy wheels. The following table shows all the features offered in the Beat LT Option Pack variant.

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Hyundai Eon Sportz (Rs. 3.80 lakh)

The Eon is most stylish small car in its segment. It has segment-leading interiors with good quality plastics and commendable fit and finish. The Eon is powered by an 814 cc engine that makes 55.23 bhp (56 PS) of power and returns a claimed mileage of 21.1 Kmpl.

The Eon is the only small car in the sub-1000 cc segment that comes with driver airbag. Besides, this feature, the Eon Sportz also gets keyless entry, front fog lamps, integrated music system, keyless entry, central locking and front power windows. The following table shows the complete list of features offered in the Eon Sportz.

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Conclusion

Though there are many small cars, not all of them can make into the top three list. For instance, the Santro is a decent VFM car but it lacks features such as ABS and Airbags even in the top-end variant. The new Alt0 800, just about makes it to the list as it offers a driver’s airbag option in the top-end variant. The Alto K10 also lacks these safety features. The Brio and i10 comes with safety features, but the top-end variants V MT and Asta are priced well above Rs. 5 lakh. We have also not included any of the premium hatchbacks starting from Ford Figo to Hyundai i20.