Small cars are the driving force behind four wheeler sales in India. Close to 40,000-50,000 small cars are sold each month so, naturally, every major car manufacturer wants to cash in on this highly lucrative segment. With so many options available in the market and with new products lined up for launch soon, the decision-making process can become quite difficult and very time-consuming. In order to make life a little bit easier for you, we have compiled a list of what we think are the best small cars in India under 4 lakhs currently on sale. While compiling this list, we have taken into account all the relevant parameters like Price, Specifications, Features, brand image and after sales, etc. Here’s our list of the Best Small Cars in India Under 4 Lakhs –
Also See – Best Car in India | Best Mileage Petrol Cars in India | Best Bike in India | Best Mileage Bikes
Best Small Cars in India 2016
Model Name | Price Range |
Renault Kwid | Rs. 2.62-3.96 lakhs |
Maruti Alto | Rs. 2.49-4.12 lakhs |
Tata Tiago | Rs. 3.20-5.61 lakhs |
Datsun Redi-GO | Rs. 2.39-3.34 lakhs |
Tata Nano GenX | Rs. 2.08-3.05 lakhs |
Tata Tiago
Tata recently launched the Tiago hatchback and it is, without a doubt, a very competent offering ensuring its entry into our list of the Best Small Cars in India Under 4 Lakhs. Available in both petrol and diesel guises, the Tiago rivals the likes of the Maruti Celerio, Hyundai i10, Wagon R, etc. but boasts of a significant price advantage over its competitors. The petrol variants are powered by a new 1.2 L unit that churns out 85 PS – 114 Nm while the 1.05 L diesel is good for 70 PS -140 Nm. Price start at INR 3.2 lacs going all the way up to INR 5.54 lacs for the top-end diesel.
Specs | Petrol | Diesel |
Engine Type/ Displacement | 1199 cc | 1047 cc |
Power | 85 PS | 70 PS |
Torque | 114 Nm | 140 Nm |
Transmission (Gearbox) | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
Mileage | 23.84 kpl | 27.28 kpl |
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs. 3.20-4.82 lakhs | Rs. 3.95-5.61 lakhs |
Also See – Tata Tiago Petrol & Diesel Test Drive Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taTqP5EybCQ
Datsun Redi-Go
Nissan‘s sister brand, Datsun launched the redi-GO hatchback in India to take on the Maruti Alto and Renault Kwid. The Redi-Go offers good space and comfort and boasts a very modern exterior. It shares its engines with the Kwid and is also built on the same platform. However, it is priced below the Kwid and Alto 800 making it very good value for money.
Engine Type/ Displacement | 799 cc |
Power | 53 bhp |
Torque | 72 Nm |
Transmission (Gearbox) | 5-speed manual |
Mileage | 25.17 kpl |
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs. 2.39-3.34 lakhs |
Also See – Datsun Redi-GO Review
Tata Nano GenX
Tata Motors launched the most comprehensive facelift of the Nano in 2015, called the Nano GenX. As part of the update, the entry level hatch gained an openable boot, revised exteriors, and an optional 5-speed AMT. This makes it the cheapest automatic on sale in India. While the Nano is a very good city car, it has been unable to shed the ‘cheap car’ image. Also, Tata hasn’t quite managed to achieve the same levels of trust and the peace of mind associated with rival brands.
Engine Type/ Displacement | 624 cc |
Power | 37 bhp |
Torque | 51 Nm |
Transmission (Gearbox) | 4-speed manual/5-speed AMT |
Mileage | 23.60 kpl/21.90 kpl |
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs. 2.06-3.05 lakhs |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOt47wP4404
Hyundai Eon
Hyundai‘s smallest offering in India, the Eon is perhaps the most striking looking small car on sale right now. Styled along the lines of Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design language, the Eon scores high on exterior and interior design. Its cabin is easily the best in terms of quality and fit and finish. The Eon is available with two engine options- an 814cc petrol and a 1.0-litrere petrol engine. Hyundai’s top notch after sales and service sweetens the deal further. However, the Eon turns out to be considerably more expensive than arch rival Maruti Alto. Also, we are not too fond of the overstyled exterior.
Engine Type/ Displacement | 814 cc |
Power | 55 bhp |
Torque | 75 Nm |
Transmission (Gearbox) | 5-speed manual |
Mileage | 21.1 kpl |
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs 3.25-4.39 lakhs |
Also See – Renault Kwid vs Alto 800 vs Eon vs Datsun Go
Maruti Alto
There is a reason why the Maruti Alto is the most popular car in India. It offers the perfect blend of affordability, space, practicality and is a Maruti. This makes it one of the most value for money packages out there. This makes it one of the best on our list of the best small cars in India under 4 lakhs. Available in two guises- Alto 800 and Alto K10, the hatchbacks tick all the right boxes. The K10 also comes equipped with a 5-speed AMT which only adds to the practical nature of the car. We prefer the design of the previous gen Alto, but that is not a major deterrent at all. This is easily one of the best hatch under 4 lakhs.
Specs | Alto 800 | Alto K10 |
Engine Type/ Displacement | 796 cc | 998cc |
Power | 48 bhp | 67 bhp |
Torque | 69 Nm | 90 Nm |
Transmission (Gearbox) | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual/AMT |
Mileage | 24.7 kpl | 24.07 kpl/24.07 kpl |
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs. 2.49-3.76 lakhs | Rs. 3.26-4.12 lakhs |
Also See – Maruti Alto K10 Review
Renault Kwid
The new Renault Kwid shares the top position with the Alto. Having made its international debut in India last year, the car has achieved a fair amount of success. The Renault Kwid offers best-in-class mileage, a long list of features and a starting price of around Rs. 2.6 lakhs! And then there is the unique, crossover like appearance, which we Indians love. Seems like the complete package then. To further add to the Kwid’s appeal, Renault has now launched a new variant with a 999cc engine. And it will also get an optional 5-speed AMT in the coming months.
Specs | Kwid 0.8 | Kwid 1.0 |
Engine Type/ Displacement | 799 cc | 999 cc |
Power | 54 PS | 68 PS |
Torque | 72 Nm | 91 Nm |
Transmission (Gearbox) | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
Mileage | 25.17 kpl | 23.01 kpl |
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs. 2.62-3.67 lakhs | Rs. 3.83-3.96 lakhs |
Also See – Kwid 1.0 Review
So what do you think of our list of the Best Small Cars in India? Leave your comments in the space provided below and stay tuned to Car Blog India for more news and features.