We Indians are obsessed with small cars for any of several reasons: good fuel economy, our crowded roads, parking problems and most of all the fact that it is the small cars that are the lowest priced. We have a number of excellent options in the under 4 lakh segment: compact, smart cars packed with features and cute to boot! Here are some top choices:
This is an old favourite and one of the most trusted small cars in India. Priced at 3.3 to a little over 4 lakhs, according to Auto NDTV, this remains the top small car for India. The Alto K10 has received a bunch of tweaks to make it look better inside and out. The biggest recent change is that you can get this car with auto shift gear now; a blessing in stop and go traffic.
Starting from 2.7 lakhs for the base version, the top variant of the Renault Kwid is still below 4 lakhs. Renault claims that this car offers a class leading 25 kmpl overall. The top end comes with airbags, and other safety features and according to the Car Blog India, this one is the top choice for the under 4 lakh category of cars in India.
This one is recommended as one of the top hatchbacks in the country available for up to Rs 4 lakhs. It is recommended for its good exterior looks, well designed dash, stylish dual toned interiors and good fuel economy of above 20 kmpl.
This compact city car is a common sight on Indian roads, and according to the Auto Portal, among the top cars in the under 4 lakh segment. The 1.2 litre engine is powerful enough highway trips, the car is solidly built and offers a comfortable ride quality. The spacious boot is a bonus.
This is Tata’s new value for money offering, which is also listed as one of the best cars under Rs 4 lakhs. It is smart looking inside and out. Features such as roomy interiors, 8 speaker sound system by Harman, a chilled glove box, good fuel efficiency and comfortable city driving recommend this car.
As someone who just purchased the car that is billed as the “cheapest car in the world” I have to say that yes it sounds like an auto rickshaw and the best thing you can say about the looks is “cute” but there are plenty of reasons to recommend it as well. The Tata Nano has amazingly roomy interiors, is very easy to get in and out of, has great fuel efficiency and comes in bright, attractive colours. This is the only car you can get for an on road price of just about three lakhs (including a Rs 20,000 exchange bonus) with automatic transmission (huge plus point in stop and go traffic), power windows in the front, decent stereo system with USB port and Bluetooth, power windows, keyless entry and the most amazingly small turning radius imaginable (here as well the Nano is like an auto, but here one doesn’t mind at all).
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