7 Cars Under Rs 8,00,000 For Your First Car Ownership

Launched last year in a completely new avatar, the Maruti Suzuki Swift is one of our favourites under the Rs 8 lakh price bracket. The interiors are all-new and it comes with an array of features to impress you as a first-time car buyer. It sports auto LED projector headlamps, reverse parking camera with sensors and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. Starting at Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the Swift is available in two engine options: 1.3-litre diesel and 1.2-litre petrol, mated to either a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission. It comes with improved fuel efficiency, so expect the petrol variant to return around 22kmpl and the diesel to yield around 28.4kmpl.

Next in the list is the capable hatchback from Hyundai. We are talking about the Grand i10, feature-loaded, modern, spacious and practical for daily use. It sports rear parking camera with sensors, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support and auto climate control. Aside from being available in petrol and diesel trims, the Hyundai Grand i10 is now available in a new CNG-powered variant. Starting at Rs 4.91 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the Grand i10 comes with 1.2-litre petrol and diesel engines. Its petrol engine is capable of returning 19.77kmpl while its diesel is good for 24.95kmpl.

Based on the Figo hatchback, the Ford Freestyle is another value for money hatchback you can consider. With a cabin full of smart and modern-day features like dash-top infotainment system with Ford SYNC3, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality, auto climate control and rain-sensing wipers, it is a deal you can’t ignore. It is highly attractive looking and the road presence is unquestionably good. It starts from Rs 5.64 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and is available in 1.2-petrol and 1.5-litre diesel options, both mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The automatic transmission is, sadly, not available. 

On the more premium side, there is the recently-introduced Toyota Glanza. Sharing styling as well as features with the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, the Glanza is a petrol-only hatchback. Its 1.2-litre dual Jet mild-hybrid engine is what gives it an edge over others -- expect it to return 23.8kmpl. Available in two variants, G and V, the Glanza starts from Rs 7.22 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and comes with manual as well as automatic transmission options. Feature-wise, it gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, auto LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs and reverse parking sensors. 

A competitor to the Ford Freestyle, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and now the Toyota Glanza, the Elite i20 is a stylish-looking premium hatchback. It starts from Rs 5.43 lakh and retails at Rs 9.23 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the top-end model. The two engine options available are 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre CRDi diesel with 5- and 6-speed manual and CVT transmission options. Some of its highlighting features are a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink compatibility, a reverse parking camera with sensors and auto projector headlamps with LED DRLs. On a whole, it’s a complete package of style, performance and comfort.

Moving on to the compact sedan category, there is the amazing Honda Amaze. Starting from Rs 5.88 lakh and going up to Rs 9.72 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), there are plenty of options for you to choose from. The latest Amaze is based on the new-gen platform and follows Honda’s latest design language. It not just offers more comfort and space than a hatchback, it also brings agility and practicality to the table. On the features front, it sports cruise control, a 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and rear parking camera. It is available in two engine choices: 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel. Both come with 5-speed manual gearboxes as standard while CVT is on offer as an option. The petrol Amaze with manual transmission is claimed to return a fuel economy of 19.5kmpl while the CVT claims to return 19kmpl. The Amaze diesel with manual gearbox, on the other hand, is expected to yield 27.4kmpl while the CVT version is rated to deliver 23.8kmpl.

Built on the new HEARTEC design platform, the new Maruti Suzuki Dzire is up for grabs starting from Rs 5.83 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). It is a value proposition at this price considering the features, convenience, comfort, efficiency and Maruti’s reliability it brings to the table. It is not only the best-looking Dzire till date but features the lighter and stronger platform from the Baleno. The engines on offer are 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel. On the transmission front, it gets 5-speed manual and a cost-effective 5-speed AMT. The claimed fuel efficiency for petrol and diesel engines are 21.2kmpl and 28.4kmpl respectively.