Best budget cars under Rs. 6 lakhs in India

The pandemic brought everything to a standstill - economy, businesses, travel, and many more.  However, with the inoculation drive and timely lockdown measures imposed by the government, the economy is opening up, and even travel is now coming back to normal. However, even while the cases have receded, a personal vehicle still seems safer to maintain social distancing while travelling. Hence, there is a surge in demand for cars in India.

However, buying a car in India becomes a critical decision when you have a limited budget. You need to look for a vehicle that is affordable and has all the features you need. 

To help you find a budget-friendly car with features that align with your requirements, we have brought you a list of the best cars under Rs. 6 lakhs in India.

1. Maruti Alto

Price: Rs. 2.99 lakhs - Rs. 4.60 lakhs

Performance

Powered by a 0.8-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, Maruti Alto is a car you can trust for effortless driveability and fuel efficiency in city traffic.

Exterior

The hatchback has power windows in the front and allows keyless entry in its latest top-spec variant.

Interior

The company has recently made some cosmetic improvements to Alto. It also has a 7-inch SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment system and aligns with BS6 emission norms.

Safety

The safety features include Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), headlight levelling, airbags on the driver and passenger seats.

2. Renault KWID

Price: Rs. 3.32 lakhs - Rs. 5.39 lakhs

Performance

You can pick from two engine options: 0.8-litre petrol (manual) and 1-litre petrol (manual or Automated Manual Transmission). Both engine options deliver superior performance.

Exterior

Renault Kwid’s visual appeal and design are the first traits you would notice. The new model in 2023 has updated features and upgraded rear and front designs with 279 litres of boot space.

Interior

This car can enhance your ride experience with a digital console, a camera for reverse parking, and an extensive 8-inch touch screen system for infotainment.

Safety

The Kwid impresses with its advanced safety features like emergency locking retractor, emergency wheel, rear parking sensor, speed alert, ABS, EBD, central locking, and airbags for driver and passenger. 

3. Maruti S-Presso

Price: Rs. 3.78 lakhs - Rs. 4.95 lakhs

Performance

The 1-litre petrol engine in Maruti S-Presso is the same as the Alto K10 engine with manual and AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) gearbox options.

Exterior

Toothy grille, a large bumper, and headlamps in the front make it look like a mini-SUV. The lightweight design enhances its acceleration and performance. 

Interior

The cabin space is wide, with doors almost letting you walk inside. The dashboard is compact and quirky. 

Safety

The car gets a standard driver airbag along with ABS, EBD and rear parking sensors.

4. Datsun Redi-Go

Price: Rs. 3.83 lakhs - Rs. 4.95 lakhs

Performance

Like other options in this segment, Datsun Redi-Go gets its power from a 0.8-litre petrol or 1-litre petrol engine. While the 0.8-litre petrol engine is available with a manual transmission, you can pick the AMT gearbox option with its 1-litre petrol engine.

Exterior

With new door trim, 14-inch wheels, and LED fog and tail lamps, it is probably the most stylish hatchback out there and highly affordable as well.

Interior

The new-gen Redi-Go has a completely upgraded interior with Electronic Multi-Tripmeter, digital clock, and a dual-tone dashboard. 

Safety

You get one airbag each for the driver and passenger seats, ABS, EBD, central locking, seat belt sensor, power lock, and crash sensor. 

5. Datsun Go

Price: Rs. 4.02 lakhs - Rs. 6.51 lakhs

Performance

This BS6-compliant hatchback conceals a 1.2-litre petrol engine for power with a 5-speed manual or a CVT gearbox as transmission choices.

Exterior

On the outside, Datsun Go flaunts 14-inch dual-tone diamond-cut alloy wheels along with adjustable headlights and a chrome grille.

Interior

On the inside, it has an all-new black theme with a sporty urban style visible on the seat upholstery and instrument panel. 

Safety

From the safety point of view, you get a seat-belt reminder system, speed alert system, rear parking sensor, and ABS with EBD.

6. Maruti Eeco

Price: Rs. 4.09 lakhs - Rs. 6.17 lakhs

Performance

Eeco from Maruti Suzuki has a simple Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) design suitable for travelling and basic-level transportation. However, only a five-speed manual transmission option is available with its 1.2-litre petrol engine.

Exterior

The exterior offers a simple Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) appeal.

Interior

You can choose between 5 and 7-seater versions with additional features like the sliding driver’s seat and reclining seats in the front.

Safety

The latest model comes with several safety features such as a driver-side airbag, ABS with EBD, a child lock system for doors, and reverse parking sensors as well.

7. Datsun Go+

Price: Rs. 4.25 lakhs - Rs. 6.99 lakhs

Performance

A 1.2-litre petrol engine works as the power source for this compact MPV and comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Exterior

Exterior features include electric mirror adjustment, hawk-eye headlamps, alloy wheels, and an electrically adjustable rearview mirror.

Interior

Just like Datsun Go, the 7-seater Go+ has also received multiple new features on the inside. You can find a 7-inch touchscreen Blaupunkt infotainment system in the centre console. The revised dashboard has a glove compartment and an instrument cluster.

Safety

For safety, you get ABS, EBD, central locking, power doors, and passenger airbag. 

8. Maruti Celerio

Price: Rs. 4.65 lakhs - Rs. 5.90 lakhs

Performance

Celerio’s 1-litre petrol engine performs exceptionally well in the presence of its responsive manual transmission or AMT gearbox.

Exterior

The wide stance of Celerio makes it perfect for a stable and enjoyable driving experience. The suspension design is capable of absorbing road bumps at high speeds. 

Interior

The interior comes with basic features such as fabric upholstery, a digital clock, a digital odometer, a urethane-made steering wheel, and climate control.

Safety

The car has ABS, EBD, driver airbag, crash sensor, engine check, and speed alert for safety measures. 

Also, read: Best vehicles for senior citizens in India

9. Hyundai Santro

Price: Rs. 4.73 lakhs - Rs. 6.41 lakhs

Performance

This affordable hatchback runs on a 1.1-litre petrol engine with AMT or manual gearbox options. The gearbox is smooth to handle, making city traffic easy to manage while driving.

Exterior

The new-generation Santro is broader and longer with 14-inch wheels and a distinctive front design than other Hyundai models. 

Interior

The car offers unique features for its class, such as AC vents on the passenger side and voice recognition functionality in the multi-media system. 

Safety

You get a rear parking camera, ABS, EBD, central locking, driver and passenger airbags, speed alert and more. 

10. Maruti Wagon R

Price: Rs. 4.81 lakhs - Rs. 6.33 lakhs

Performance

A compact hatchback perfect for city use. It has soft and finely tuned car suspension settings designed for comfort. The engine options include 1-litre petrol and 1.2-litre petrol with AMT or manual gearbox.

Exterior

The third-generation Maruti Wagon R is significantly longer and broader, having a tallboy hatchback design and prominent waistline. The wheels have noticeable creases on the arches. 

Interior

With its spacious design, Wagon R offers better seating, legroom and headroom space for passengers, along with quite enough room for luggage in the boot.

Safety

The safety features include ABS, EBD, driver-side airbag, rear parking sensors, load limiters and front seatbelts. 

11. Maruti Ignis

Price: Rs. 4.95 lakhs - Rs. 7.36 lakhs

Performance

Ignis is another popular budget option from Maruti Suzuki. The hatchback draws power from a 1.2-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual or an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) gearbox.

Exterior

This compact size crossover hatchback is not only stylish but very easy to drive through the crowded streets of your city. The upright stance and rugged appearance make it highly noticeable on the road. 

Interior

The car brings you impressive features like a 7-inch infotainment system, responsive steering, and intelligent climate control. 

Safety

Ignis offers you ABS, EBD, and dual airbags. Top variants also come with a rear parking camera and security alarms.

12. Tata Tiago

Price: Rs. 4.99 lakhs - Rs. 6.95 lakhs

Performance

Tata Tiago is one of the best-handling budget cars you can buy in India. A 1.2-litre petrol engine powers this stylish vehicle, which you can have with either a manual or AMT gearbox.

Exterior

Tiago’s exterior has a stylish bumper, chrome stripped front grille, black roof (optional), and sporty alloy wheels. 

Interior

The interior has a dual-tone theme with interior lamps that allow theatre dimming. The reclined seats and adjustable rear seat headrests make long journeys more comfortable.

Safety

Awarded by Global NCAP with a 4-star safety rating, Tiago’s safety features include corner stability control, dual front airbags, parking sensors, and ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution).

13. Renault Triber

Price: Rs. 5.50 lakhs - Rs. 6.49 lakhs

Performance

Renault Triber obtains its power from a 1-litre petrol engine designed to deliver top-notch performance. The engine comes mated to an AMT gearbox or manual transmission, both having 5-speed capacity.

Exterior

With a 4-metre length and 1.7-metre width, Triber doesn’t look small at all. The smooth design, quirky SUV traits, and sleek headlamps give it an aesthetic appeal. 

Interior

The large size cabin makes it easy to go in and out of the car. The interior finish has a dual-tone beige-black theme, including several silver elements. The seats contain soft cushioning and height adjustment for the driver’s seat. 

Safety

Some of the most advanced features of the Triber include reverse parking sensors, side airbags, dual front airbags, ABS enabled with EBD, cruise control, and more. 

*Note: All prices mentioned in this article are ex-showroom (Delhi).

Frequently asked questions

Let’s answer a couple of common questions to help you buy a budget car in India.

FAQs

Which car is safest under Rs. 5 lakhs?

Though all car manufacturers have to comply with standard safety parameters, some are safer than others. Hence, if safety is your primary concern while looking for a budget car, you can shortlist cars like Tata Tiago, Maruti Wagon R, Hyundai Santro, and Maruti Ignis.

Look for safety features like ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, driver-side and passenger-side airbags, side airbags, and more. Prioritise the safety features you need to make a best-suited choice.

Can I buy an automatic car under Rs. 5 lakhs?

With the high demand for automatic cars, several brands now offer AMT variants at affordable prices. Cars like Maruti Alto, Renault Kwid, Maruti S-Presso, Datsun Redi-Go, Go, and Go+ offer their automatic variants at reasonable prices.

What is covered under the ex-showroom price of a car?

A car’s ex-showroom price includes dealer’s margins, cost of transportation, and other applicable charges such as state taxes, excise, and octroi. It is the basic price you pay when buying a car.

What is covered under the on-road price of a car?

To bring your car from showroom to road, you pay an additional amount for registration, road tax, insurance and more. Moreover, if you ask your dealer to add more features to the car, it further increases the on-road price. So, the on-road price of a car is the sum of its ex-showroom price and all the necessary/optional costs associated with vehicle registration and fitment of additional accessories.

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