Top new cars under Rs 8 lakh

Buying a new budget-friendly car made easy.  

Times are rough and spending budgets are being cut everywhere. Buying a new car is expensive enough but one doesn’t need to spend big money on a well equipped, decent to drive vehicle with a multitude of appeal for drivers of all ages. Bottom line is; a lot of budget-friendly cars can be bought for under Rs 8 lakh, cars which are at the top of their game, all things considered.

Here are our recommendations for the top new cars under Rs 8 lakh to help you narrow down your options. 

Maruti Suzuki Swift

For years, Maruti Suzuki has been a reliable source of highly practical and affordable small cars, and the Swift is no disappointment. The car,in fact, has been a longtime favorite amongst those with a zest of driving and there’s little guesswork as to why. Direct steering, properly sophisticated suspension and a willingness to change directions precisely are not the traits we have come to expect from a budget-friendly family hatchback. What makes the Swift so popular amongst us Indians is how it rounds off such a sporty package with generous comfort and decent quality.

Engines – 1.2-litre Petrol, 1.3-litre Diesel

Gearbox – 5-speed manual

Variants –  Petrol – LXI, VXI, ZXI/ Diesel – LDI, VDI, ZDI

Price range – Rs 4.75 lakh to Rs 7.23 lakh.

Competition – Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo, Nissan Micra, Fiat Punto

Honda Brio

Like the Maruti Suzuki Swift, the Honda Brio (though its proportions might suggest otherwise) serves up lots of comfort and practicality for a reasonable price tag. The little Honda is your next buy if you’re looking for quality interiors housed in a cute-as-a-pup package. Don’t let the cutesy looks and compact proportions fool you. The Brio feels surprisingly peppy to drive, offering loads of fun on the nerve-racking city streets.A 5-speed manual gearbox comes as standard but if stick shift isn’t your thing, Honda also offers one with a 5-speed automatic unit which is similar to the one found in the City.

Unfortunately for Honda, quality and refinement do not translate into sales success and even the Japanese carmaker acknowledges that the Brio isn’t really a big seller in India owing to the lack of a diesel option. It’s a cracking little petrol car nonetheless…

Engines – 1.2-litre Petrol

Gearbox – 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic

Variants – E MT, EX MT, S MT, V MT, S(O) MT, VX MT, S(O) AT, V AT, VX AT

Price range – Rs 4.36 Lakh to Rs 6.49 lakh.

Competition – Hyundai i10, Ford Figo

Indica Vista D90

Out of all the gazillion updates the Indica Vista has received over the years, the D90 has caught our most attention, simply because of the fact that it strays across into the performance side of things. In contrast, the earlier updates were designed predominantly to enhance the comfort levels of what was an already comfy vehicle.

With its 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine armed with a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), the Indica Vista D90 puts out a claimed 90PS of power and 200Nm of torque, making it one the most potent diesel-powered hatchbacks on sale today. The Vista D90 is fairly quick not only in a straight line, but also when the going gets twisty. The steering is surprisingly well weighted for a Tata and offers ample feedback.

While there’s no arguing that the Vista D90 is still a no-nonsense, immensely practical hatchback, it is easily the most fun you will have behind the wheel of a Tata.   

Engines – 1.3-litre Diesel

Gearbox – 5-speed manual

Variants – D90 VX, D90 ZX+

Price range – Rs 6.11 lakh to Rs 6.94 lakh

Competition – Fiat Punto 90HP, Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

Thanks to some clever packaging, the impressive new Honda Amaze is particularly roomy considering its compact footprint. The sub-4 meter sedan had been long awaited by many and given how often we have been seeing it on public roads, Honda it seems is hoping to repeat the success story of the City.

Based on the Brio, the Amaze uses the same 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine. Again, like in the Brio, the Amaze also gets an optional 5-speed automatic gearbox. On the road, performance is adequate for most occasions; however, pulling quick overtakes out on the highway needs downshifting.

Then you have the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine, Honda’s first diesel engine for India. Forget the power output, the headline figure for the Amaze diesel is its claimed fuel economy of 25.8 kmpl, pitting it amongst the most fuel efficient cars on sale today.

Engines – 1.2-litre Petrol, 1.5-litre Diesel

Gearbox – 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic 

Variants – 1.2 EMT, 1.2 EX MT, 1.2 S MT, 1.5 E MT, 1.5 EX MT, 1.2 VX MT, 1.5 S MT, 1.2 S AT, 1.5 VX MT, 1.2 VX AT

Price range – Rs 5.35 lakh to Rs 8.08 lakh

Competition – Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Mahindra Verito, Toyota Etios

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire

Maruti Suzuki’s Swift Dzire is one car that’s hard to fault and many would agree to this. It might not be the prettiest thing on four wheels but surely it looks better than the first-generation model, which we believe is what happens when a boot-job goes horribly wrong.

The Swift Dzire is an outright urban commuter with a few out-of-town trips thrown in. With the suspension tuned for comfort over handling and a light steering, the car screams maneuverability and lightness. Offered with either a 1.2-litre petrol engine or a Fiat-derived 1.3-litre diesel engine, the car offers a pleasant blend of performance and economy. The Dzire loses out on a little boot space when compared to some of its rivals but as a sensible urban runabout, it hits the nail right on the head.

Engines – 1.2-Litre Petrol, 1.3-Litre Diesel

Gearbox – 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic

Variants – LXI, VXI, VXI AT, ZXI, LDI, VDI, ZDI

Price range – Rs 5.22 lakh to Rs 7.82 lakh

Competition – Honda Amaze, Mahindra Verito, Toyota Etios

 

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Yes, the Ertiga can be had for less than Rs 8 lakh, but at that price only the entry-level petrol and diesel versions are available. With virtually no features onboard, they are best left for private taxi operators. Those with a more generous budget can opt for the better equipped higher grade versions.

Despite being longer than the Swift on which it’s based, the Ertiga looks remarkably compact. Unlike an Innova or a Xylo, the Ertiga is a front-wheel drive vehicle built around a monocoque construction, which makes it very much car like to drive. There is a fair amount of body-roll when pushed hard but since the centre of gravity is fairly lower than that of a typical MPV, the Ertiga feels predictable and safe.

Inside, the Ertiga scores high on practicality with folding individual seats on the middle and last row to give away more boot space. Overall, the cabin is quite spacious and comfortable although the last row of seats is best reserved for kids. 

Engines – 1.4-litre Petrol, 1.3-litre Diesel

Variants – LXI, LXI CNG, VXI, VXI CNG, ZXI, LDI, VDI, ZDI

Price range – Rs 6.34 lakh to Rs 9.21 lakh

Competition – Mahindra Quanto, Mahindra Xylo, Toyota Innova