Small cars are very popular in India because of our congested roads, and these cars bring with them practicality, frugal engines, spacious cabins, peppy performance, and an impressive features list. The entry-level hatchback segment in India contributes to a massive chunk of sales every month. There are a number of choices available, with various manufacturers offering different products. We shortlist five of the best budget-bargain hatchbacks you can buy under the 5 lakh rupee mark.
1) Renault Kwid
Price: ₹ 2.92 – ₹ 5.01 lakh
Renault’s Kwid is available in five variants: Standard, RxE, RxL, RxT, and Climber. It also comes with two engine choices. The styling of the facelifted Kwid is inspired by the KZ-E electric car. The split headlamp design is a trend now, with LED DRLs place next to the chrome-finished front grille. The main headlight is positioned in the lower half of the bumper. It gets horizontal slats in the grille. The rear bumper too is new and the taillights get an LED cluster. The Climbers come equipped with faux skid plates, grey wheel covers, roof rails, and orange accents. The car is sold in six colour options: Ice Cool White, Zanskar Blue, Outback Bronze, Moonlight Silver, Electric Blue, and Fiery Red. The cabin gets an updated dashboard that features an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and new steering. The gear-shift knob on the AMT model is now on the centre console.
Even the seat fabric is refreshingly new. Features include a new touchscreen that gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear centre armrest, LED DRLs, and 14-inch alloy wheels. Safety features include ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors, driver’s and passenger airbags, and rear power windows. Power comes from either a 53bhp, 0.8-litre, three-cylinder engine or a 67bhp, 1.0-litre engine. Paired to both engines is a 5-speed manual, while the 1.0-liter engine gets the option of a 5-speed AMT gearbox.
2) Maruti Suzuki S-Presso
Price: ₹ 3.7 – ₹ 4.95 lakh
The S-Presso hatchback is based on the Heartect platform, which makes the car light at 767kgs. The design of the S-Presso is inspired by the Future S concept that was unveiled at the 2018 Auto Expo. It has a high bonnet and rather a boxy silhouette. The halogen headlamps sit flush with the slender grille. The grille gets chrome inserts and there are LED DRLs below the headlamps. To give it an SUV-like look, it gets black front and rear bumpers with body cladding alongside the car. The cabin sports an all-black theme with orange accents on the top-end model. The dashboard features a centrally-mounted digital speedometer and tachometer with the touchscreen infotainment system below. It also gets AC vents on either side. It has a boot capacity of 240 litres. Features include rear parking sensors, ABS, seat-belt reminders, digital speedometer, speed alert. a driver’s side airbag and a passenger-side airbag, body-coloured ORVMs and door handle, Maruti’s 7.0-inch SmartPlay Studio touchscreen infotainment system with voice recognition, steering mounted controls and a rear parcel tray.
Power comes from a BS6-compliant 1.0-liter, K10B petrol engine that produces 67bhp and 90Nm of torque, paired to either a 5-speed manual or an AMT gearbox. The car manages a mileage of 21.7kpl (ARAI-certified).
3) Datsun Redi-Go
Price: ₹ 2.83 – ₹ 4.77 lakh
The Datsun Redi-Go facelift is sold in six variants: 0.8D, 0.8A, 0.8T, 0.8T(O),1.0T(O) and 1.0T(O) AMT. The front of the car is completely different from what you’ve seen on the older model. It sports slender headlights, L-shaped DRLs, a re-designed front bumper, a massive chrome-outlined grille, and LED fog lamps. It also gets stylish two-tone wheel covers and adjustable wing mirrors. The Redi-Go is sold in two new colours: brown and blue, with another four colours to choose from. Features include an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a rear parking camera. The seats get the new fabric as well. The 53bhp, 0.8-litre engine produces 72Nm of torque, while the 67bhp, 1.0-litre engine produces 91Nm of torque. Both engines are BS6-compliant and are paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox, while an AMT gearbox is offered on the 1.0-litre engine. ARAI mileage figures for the RediGo 0.8-litre is 20.71kpl, while the RediGo 1.0-litre manual delivers 21.7kpl. And for those who opt for the AMT 1.0-litre, the car delivers 22kpl.
4) Maruti Suzuki Alto
Price: ₹ 2.95 – ₹ 4.33 lakh
The Alto 800 is sold in three variants: Std, LXi and VXi. It gets a lot of features like ABS with EBD, driver’s airbag, rear parking sensors, speed alert system, and driver and co-driver seatbelt reminder alert system. Dual airbags are standard on the top-of-the-line VXi variant. Externally, the car’s grille gets a black finish, a shapely front bumper, and a redesigned dashboard. The LXi variant comes with power steering, air-conditioning, and front power windows, while the VXi variant comes with keyless entry, central locking, and a music system with Bluetooth connectivity. The 796cc, the three-cylinder petrol engine is BS6-compliant and makes 47bhp and 69Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. The car can return a fuel economy figure of 22.05kpl. The Alto has been around for 15 years, and this the second update the new generation Alto 800 has received.
5) Maruti Suzuki Eeco
Price: ₹ 3.81 – ₹ 4.72 lakh
The Maruti Suzuki Eeco has been around for ages, initially known as the Versa. While it may be a van with its slab-like design noticeable from all angles, it still comes across as a very practical, spacious means of mobility. This van is even used for commercial purposes, as an ambulance, cargo vehicle and mini school van for children. The BS6-compliant Eeco is sold as both, a 5-seater and a 7-seater. It is also sold in a CNG variant. The longitudinally-mounted, four-cylinder 1.2-liter petrol, G-Series engine produces 72bhp and 98Nm of torque, with power being channeled to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. The Eeco delivers fuel efficiency of 15.37kpl. Inside the cabin, the Eeco gets steering similar to the one on the Alto. Features include ABS with EBD, driver’s airbag, driver and co-driver seatbelt reminders, speed alert system, and reverse parking sensors. The Eeco mostly remains the same otherwise, and Maruti has sold over 6.5 lakh units of the van since its launch in 2010. The Eeco continues to sell in good numbers.
