Top 6 Cars Under Rs 5 Lakh

India is one of the new and profitable auto destinations for major manufacturers. With annual sales of around 25 lakh to 26 lakh passenger cars since 2010 it has become a prime destination for both sales and manufacturing.  However, overall numbers tell one story and individual sales figures paint a slightly different one altogether.

 The A-segment or entry-level segment in common parlance is where majority of the cars are sold. The vehicles in this segment are cost-effective to run, easy to maintain and most importantly easy on the pocket to buy, making them the ideal option for someone looking to put down their money on a set of four wheels which will get them from point A to point B.

This segment has existed for many years, in fact, at one point of time, it was the only thing vaguely resembling a car segment in India. At first there were very few options but now the market has exploded (in a good way) and the choices are (sort of) endless. We have put together some of the best offerings that this part of the market has to offer as well as why you should buy them.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10:
Price: Rs 3.14 lakh- Rs 3.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
USP: AMT gearbox 

The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 or the more powerful of the Japanese automaker’s entry-level cars has been on sale since 2009 and got a major boost in 2014 thanks to a facelift both mechanically and design wise. In the case of the latter it looks more like the design of the Alto 800 while it’s the former that gives it the USP, which is that it is the only car in this price range to offer an AMT gearbox.

Datsun Go+:
Price: Rs 3.80 lakh - Rs 4.61 lakh (ex-showrrom Delhi)
USP: cabin space

If space is all you want, then the Datsun Go+ seems to be your best bet as it has the most that any vehicle can offer without moving to a higher tax bracket. While Datsun calls it an MPV, we would like to term it as an estate car with a third row of seats best suited to luggage or small children. It beats out even the highly popular Maruti Suzuki Eeco thanks to a longer wheelbase and better feature list.

Tata Nano:
Price: Rs 1.97 lakh - Rs 2.52 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
USP: Most goodies at an affordable price

It was hailed as India’s strategic pass to the transport revolution when launched in 2008 but failed to take off due to a plethora of reasons, chief of which was that it was marketed as India’s cheapest car, a term we like to live by but not necessarily make public. Now, though, Tata is pushing it as a lifestyle product and it has even managed to beat the Hyundai Eon in terms of features as it offers just that little more than its South Korean counterpart to make it a VFM package.

Ford Figo:
Price: Rs 4.14 lakh - Rs 6.35 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
USP: space and handling

This current generation of the Ford Figo in the base petrol variants is the most spacious conventional hatchback this side of five lakh rupees. With a wheelbase of 2.48-metres and boot space of 284-litres, there is a lot to offer inside. It is also one of the best handling cars in the segment and is a hoot to drive in the corners.

Hyundai Eon:
Price: Rs 3.02 lakh - Rs 4.18 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) 
USP: Looks and engine

The South Korean automaker’s budget offering might have been beaten by the Tata Nano in terms of features, but it has the upper hand in terms of engines and looks. The Eon gets the option of a three-cylinder 814cc mill or a 1.0-litre four-cylinder engine as compared to the Nano’s quite small 624cc 38bhp two-cylinder unit. Thanks to Hyundai’s fluidic design language, it is also one of the best looking compact hatchbacks in the segment.  

Tata Indica V2
Price: Rs 4.33 lakh- Rs 4.68 lakh (ex showroom Delhi)
USP: Efficient diesel mill

It was India’s first indigenous hatchback and was a revelation of sorts when the Mumbai-based automaker launched it in 1998. Now nearly 17 years later, it is the only cost-effective diesel offering under Rs 5 lakh. It is quite popular in the fleet market where its super strength and old, but efficient diesel engine makes for easy running costs. 

Special mentions

 Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

It is the current iteration of the kei car that gave wheels to India and for that very reason we have to mention it in our list. It carries forward all the iconic lines of the original cars and in a well thought out move combines MSIL’s two best-selling brand names.

Nissan Micra Active

USP: XV safety pack

Safety is generally not a consideration that we Indians take as a priority when buying a car. However, Nissan seems to think otherwise and is offering a version of its Micra Active which has been fitted with two airbags, ABS with EBD, as well as brake assist. It has been priced marginally above the five lakh range but is worth the money when you consider the safety offerings.

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