Buying the first car is one of the best moments in anyone’s life. It is the beginning of happiness of unlimited miles. Generally, the first car of most of the Indians comes from the entry level affordable segment with an approximate budget ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. What can be confusing is choosing an ideal car for you as there are many options available in this price range. So to ease your work, we have shortlisted a total of top 5 cars under Rs 8 lakh which you can buy without any regrets. The only downside of this budget is that there is hardly any car to offer top-end variants under Rs 8 lakh, meaning you will have to compromise on some features. However, these cars do offer value-for-money propositions and affordability. So check out our list before you buy one.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
The first car to make it to the list of top 5 cars under Rs 8 lakh is the best selling car in India, the Maruti Suzuki Swift. Launched back in 2005, Maruti Swift became India’s one of the favourite hatchbacks in real quick time. People loved the car and some even went ahead modifying it. In fact the youth also started calling it India’s Mini Cooper. Maruti kept on updating the hatch and today it is in the 3rd Gen avatar.
Maruti thoroughly updated the Swift and it has a lot to offer. The talking point of the Swift is the way it looks. It has a unique styling making it look sporty and the overall design is appreciated across the age group. What also makes the Swift a good choice is the list of features it offers. Although there are no ground breaking features in the Swift, still it has a lot to offer. The list includes – cruise control, LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs, power mirrors, keyless entry, auto AC, split rear seatbacks, rear washer wiper, rear defogger, machined alloy wheels, steering-mounted controls and touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple Carplay.
However you may have to compromise on some of these features as it is the VXi (second base) variant to come at around Rs 8 lakh. The features offered in VXi variants are – remote central locking, steering mounted controls, 4 speakers, all power windows, wheel covers, power mirrors, day/night inside mirror, and body-coloured ORVMs and door handles.
Although this variant lacks in terms of features, what keeps it exciting is the peppy engine it has to offer. It comes with a 1.2-litre dual jet petrol engine which is capable of producing 89bhp and 113Nm of peak torque. It is a super smooth and refined engine offered from Maruti Suzuki and comes with a claimed fuel efficiency of 22.38 kmpl.
Overall, Maruti Suzuki Swift can be a great choice to buy under the budget of Rs 8 lakh. It looks stylish, it is spacious, and comes with decent features and a peppy engine. The Swift VXi variant is priced at Rs 8.12 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). However, if you are lucky enough, it can even cost you under Rs 8 lakh as the dealers usually provide discounts of Rs 10k to 20k. Another point to note is that, the Swift is due for a new-generation model, so if you can wait then hold for the new-generation model.
Top 5 Cars Under Rs 8 lakh – Tata Tiago
If you are looking for a safer hatchback, the Tata Tiago could be your choice. It is the hatchback that helped Tata Motors to gradually increase their market share. Tata Tiago is the only hatchback in the segment to score 4-star rating at Global NCAP crash test. Design wise, the Tiago although does not look as striking as the Swift, it does look handsome and suitable for the youth as well.
It comes with a dual tone interior and the overall layout looks well put together. There are hard plastics everywhere inside the cabin but the quality doesn’t seem to be cheap at all. Also, the Tiago is loaded with some unique features like follow me headlamps, 4 speakers, 4 tweeters, height adjustable driver seat, 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto & Apple Carplay, cooled glovebox, power folding ORVMs, and projector headlamps.
Talking about the XT variant that sits under Rs 8 lakh also comes decently loaded with features. The list includes stylish steel wheels, display for rear parking sensors, height adjustable driver seat, music system by Harman, and 4-speakers. However, the XT Rhythm pack adds on to more features like 4 tweeters, 7-inch touchscreen system, Android Auto & Apple Carplay, rear parking camera, and voice commands.
Powering the Tiago is a 1.2-litre petrol engine that produces 85bhp and 113Nm of torque. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and a claimed fuel efficiency of 19.1kmpl. The Tiago XT Rhythm variant is priced at Rs 8 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
As a product, Tiago stands very strong in this list. It looks modern, gets well finished interiors, it is safe, and it is comfortable to drive as well. Also, it offers excellent ride quality and one of the most comfortable seats in both the rows. What adds on in the favour of Tata Tiago is that it offers the option of CNG in the lower variants that are priced under Rs 8 lakh.
Maruti Suzuki Alto AMT
Maruti Alto is another offering from Maruti which offers a great value for money proposition. Also, the Alto was first introduced in 2000, making it the oldest car of the segment. Since first launched, Maruti kept on trying to bring improvements in the Alto as it has been one of the best selling cars for a long time. It is a well packaged car and has been people’s favourite first-buy car.
The highlight of the Alto is the amount of space it has to offer. It is a small car but surprisingly packs impressive space inside the cabin. What also makes Alto a great buy is that it is the only car in our list to offer an option for AMT under Rs 8 lakh. What makes the Alto a great buy is the fact that it is a no nonsense car and has affordable running cost comparatively. Some of the key features of the Alto K10 are keyless entry, steering mounted audio controls, SmartPlay studio infotainment system, rear parking sensors, ABS with EBD, power windows, power mirrors, rear camera, 7-inch touchscreen, and Android Auto & Apple CarPlay.
Powering the Alto is the 1.0-litre petrol engine. It is the K10C engine that generates a decent 66bhp of power and 89Nm of torque. It comes mated with a 5-speed manual and AMT transmission. What’s impressive are the mileage figures. The claimed fuel efficiency for the manual variant is 24.39 kmpl whereas for the AMT variant it is 24.9 kmpl. Maruti Alto also comes with an option for CNG and is offered on VXi S variant only. It offers an impressive mileage of 34 kmpl.
The Alto K10 scores full marks with everything it has to offer considering the price segment. It is decently loaded with features, has decent space considering the dimensions, gets a peppy and reliable engine, and most importantly it has one of the lowest running costs to offer. The Alto K10 comes at a starting price of Rs 4.72 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) and goes all the way up to Rs 6.93 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
Top 5 Cars Under Rs 8 lakh – Nissan Magnite
For those who are looking for something bigger and spacious than the hatchbacks, Nissan Magnite could be the choice for you. Now although you only get the base variant which is priced under Rs 8 lakh, it is the only compact SUV you can buy in this price range.
Nissan Magnite as an overall package (considering the top-end variant) is a great option to consider. It offers space, a powerful turbo petrol engine, and a long list of features. The cabin layout is very smart which has enabled Nissan to offer sufficient storage spaces. Also, it has scored a 4-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test.
Talking about the variant which sits under Rs 8 lakh is the base XE variant. Overall you will not expect this variant to offer an impressive feature list. Some basic features the Magnite XE offers are- rear defogger, rear washer wiper, 16-inch steel wheels, all power windows, tilt adjustment steering wheel, all adjustable headrests, body coloured bumpers and door handles, internally adjustable ORVMs, and air purifier.
The Nissan Magnite (XE) is powered by a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that generates 71bhp and 96Nm of torque. It comes with a claimed efficiency of 18.75 kmpl and the XE variant comes with an option of a 5-speed manual transmission only.
Overall it is a great buy if you do not care about features and need a spacious car. On the outside too it has an imposing stance and a great road presence, especially at the front. Also, it offers you the ground clearance of 205 mm which takes care of most of the speed breakers and broken roads. The Nissan Magnite XE variant is priced at Rs 7.38 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).
Top 5 Cars Under Rs 8 lakh – Renault Triber
Now, if you are looking for a car family of 7 but with a tight budget, then the Renault Triber is the only option available. It is the only 7-seater to make it on the list, thanks to the base model that sits just under Rs 8 lakh. Also, it is the only 7-seater offering from the brand in India and it genuinely offers sufficient space for 7 passengers.
The variant we are talking about is the base RXE variant. Being a base variant, you cannot expect much as it’s not loaded with enough features. Body-coloured bumpers, halogen projector headlamps, manual AC, front power windows, 14-inch steel wheels, and a digital instrument cluster are the only unique features the Triber RXE variant has to offer.
However, it is surprisingly spacious. Even though it’s a sub-4 metre MPV, shorter adults can sit in its third row. Also, it has the flexibility in case you want to load the car with luggages. Firstly, you can fold down the second row and third row completely, and secondly, you can even remove the third row completely to increase the boot space. In fact when you remove the third row, you have more boot space than the Ertiga with folded third row seats.
Powering the Triber is the sole 1.0-litre Naturally Aspirated petrol engine. The engine is capable of producing 71bhp and 96Nm of peak torque. It may feel a bit lacking especially while overtaking on single lane highways. An option for a turbo petrol engine could have made it pretty drivable on highways as well. Overall, the engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and comes with a claimed mileage of 19kmpl.
Overall the Triber is a decent offering as a 7-seater which can occupy 7 passengers comfortably. It is indeed a no nonsense, city friendly, and a stylish 7-seater which comes at an affordable price. The base RXE variant is priced at Rs 7.43 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). But if you are able to stretch the budget, you can buy the second base RXL variant. The RXL variant is priced at 8.26 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) and it covers all the must-have features which are missing on the RXE variant.
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Top 5 Cars Under Rs 8 lakh – Tiago, Magnite & more… read on MotorOctane.