Maruti, Tata, Hyundai or Renault? 7 affordable cars with a mileage surprise this Diwali

Diwali bargain

Dreaming of bringing home a brand-new car this Diwali without stretching your budget? Six popular hatchbacks from Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata and Renault feature in this affordable-car list, with prices starting at just Rs 3.50 lakh. But the real surprise lies in how differently these budget cars perform when it comes to mileage, engines and fuel options.

Hyundai surprise

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios enters the budget-car contest with a listed starting price of Rs 5.60 lakh, making it the costliest model in this selection. Its 1.2-litre petrol engine offers mileage of around 18 km/l, while the CNG variant delivers approximately 27 km/kg. But does paying more necessarily mean getting the best deal?

Tata challenger

The Tata Tiago brings another option for first-time car buyers, with a listed starting price of Rs 4.77 lakh. Powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine, it offers mileage figures of around 20 km/l for petrol and 28.06 km/kg for CNG. For buyers watching both their purchase price and monthly fuel bills, the numbers make an interesting comparison.

Mileage surprise

The Maruti Wagon R may look familiar, but its fuel-efficiency numbers deserve attention. Starting at a listed Rs 4.99 lakh, it offers 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre engine options. The figures shared put petrol mileage at 24 km/l and CNG mileage at 34 km/kg. Could this practical hatchback make a stronger case for buyers worried about running costs?

Budget wildcard

The Renault Kwid enters the affordability race at Rs 4.53 lakh. It comes with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, while the Climber variant adds a different styling package. The supplied figures suggest around 20 km/l for petrol, but there is a catch: unlike several rivals, the Kwid does not offer a factory-fitted CNG option. Will that matter to cost-conscious buyers?

Mileage monster

The Maruti Celerio could tempt buyers who hate frequent fuel stops. Starting at Rs 4.70 lakh, its 1.0-litre engine delivers a claimed 26 km/l for petrol and 34.43 km/kg for CNG, according to the supplied figures. With fuel efficiency becoming a major factor in car-buying decisions, its running-cost appeal could be difficult to ignore.

Cheapest contender

A brand-new car for just Rs 3.70 lakh? The Maruti Alto K10 is among the most affordable options in the list. Its 1.0-litre engine delivers claimed mileage of 24.39 km/l for petrol and 33.85 km/kg for CNG. The low entry price makes it attractive, but buyers should check what the base variant actually includes.

Price shock

The Maruti S-Presso takes the lowest-price spot in the supplied list at Rs 3.50 lakh. Its 1.0-litre petrol engine offers a claimed 24.12 km/l, while the CNG version delivers 32.73 km/kg. But there is an important catch: the headline price is for the entry-level model, and buyers choosing CNG or higher trims will need to spend more.