Top 5 cars to buy in India under 20 lakhs.
It can be confusing if you’re in the market for a nice modern five-seater family car. There has been a lot of new releases, with an overall trend towards Small SUVs, and with a handful of new sedan releases creating a sort of sedan renaissance. All the options make things confusing. Here is a list of top five cars which you should immediately test drive before pulling out your cheque book.
| Car | Price | Engine | Mileage KMPL From | Transmission | Boot Capacity | Power HP/Torque |
| Volkswagen Virtus/ Slavia | 11.48 – 18.57 Lakh | 1.0L TSI TurboPetrol 3-Cyl/ 1.5L TSITurboPetrol 4Cyl | 18.1 /19.4 | 6-Speed manual or 6 Speed AT / 6Speed Manual / 7 Speed DSG | 521L | 113.98BHP/178NM 148 BHP/250NM |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara/ Vitara Hybrid | 10.70 – 19.95 Lakh | 1.5L DualJet N/A 4-Cyl / 1.5 L with an Electric Motor Petrol | 21.11/ 27.9 | 5 speed manual/6 Speed AT and eCVT | 373L/265L | 101.64BHP/136.8NM and 91.18BHP/122NM |
| Honda City / City Hybrid | 11.49-20.39 Lakh | 1.5L IVTEC N/A 4-Cyl / 1.5 L with an Electric Motor | 17.8/ 27.9 | 6-Speed Manual/CVT | 506L/ 306L | 119.35bhp/ 145Nm 124BHP/253Nm |
| Tata Nexon | 7.80 – 14.50 | 1.2L TurboPetrol 3-cyl/ 1.5L 4-cyl Diesel | 17.33 / 24.07 | 6 Speed Manual,6 Speed AMT | 350L | 120HP/170 NM or 115BHP/260NM |
| Suzuki Fronx | 7.46 – 13.13 | 1.2L 4-cyl Petrol/ 1.0L Turbocharged 3-cyl Petrol | 21.79/ 21.5 | 5 Speed manual/5 speed AMT/ 6 Speed AT | 308L | 88.5 BHP/113NM And 98.69BHP/ 147.6NM |
- Suzuki Grand Vitara/ Grand Vitara Hybrid – The newly launched Suzuki Grand Vitara is Suzuki’s response to the popular Hyundai Creta crossover. Suzuki has partnered with Toyota for this joint project, with Toyota taking care of the hybrid side of things. While Suzuki has focused on production and engineering. Toyota’s exceptional part-electric, strong-hybrid system offers a massive jump in fuel efficiency to an official 27.97kpl under test conditions. Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki’s relatively affordable Global C platform provides the Grand Vitara with an optional four-wheel-drive system. Production takes place at Toyota’s plant outside Bengaluru, ensuring high assembly standards. Most of the suppliers are from Maruti, which helps keep costs down.
Both engines run smoothly and quietly, with no jerks even at low speeds. This creates a relaxing driving experience as the car steadily progresses forward. However, when attempting to increase the pace, the engine’s response is sluggish and feels underpowered. Even when pressing down harder on the accelerator, there is no sense of urgency or intense acceleration. While the 1.5L Dual-jet engine provides more power after 3,500rpm, there is still no real burst of performance or turbo-like surge. Unfortunately, there are no available drive modes, and the option of a sportier tune would have been beneficial. Although the six-speed automatic transmission in the Grand Vitara shifts smoothly and responds well when using the paddles, it feels lethargic and slow on its own. It’s not here to set your pants on fire, but it provides a smooth and comfortable ride over the harsh Indian roads.
Therefore, the Smart Hybrid variant of the Grand Vitara is better suited for the manual transmission, and Maruti’s 5-speed manual transmission is consistently known for its ease of use, accuracy, and enjoyable driving experience, with a well-judged clutch that adds to its overall appeal. The fully hybrid variant, called the Intelligent Hybrid, is only offered with a CVT, which is one of the better CVT units out there. The Grand Vitara boasts an impressive array of features, with powered seats being the only notable addition offered by its competitors. Higher-end models of this SUV come equipped with a 360-degree camera, wireless charging, heads-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected car technology that enables remote aircon start. Other features include rear vents, a USB A and C socket, and rear seats that split 60:40 – particularly useful for the Smart Hybrid model, which has a small boot.
In terms of safety features, the Grand Vitara is well-equipped with rear disc brakes, electronic stability control, hill hold assist, 3-point seat belts for all seats, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. Dual airbags are standard across all models, while higher-spec variants add side and curtain airbags to enhance the vehicle’s overall safety.
2. Volkswagen Virtus/Skoda Slavia-. Volkswagen Virtus and the Skoda Slavia are nearly the identical cars both share the same engine and basic components with only slight differences to the styling and the interior. Volkswagen Group has hit a home run with the Virtus and the Slavia, it is specially designed for the Indian market on MQBIN platform IN standing for India. With Indian roads and trends in mind it has an edge over the other cars as the engineering team has done a pretty good job with the MQBIN platform, it rides stiffer and this platform rides with confidence compared to the competition. They have preserved the distinct German riding quality, which is Stable on high speeds with minimal body roll and a suspension tuning with Indian roads in mind which offers great comfort in bad roads. It is also helped by the fact that it has SUV like ground clearance of 179mm.
This is married to one of the best 1.0L Turbocharged 3-Cyl Unit in the market makes the competition look foolish, It is refined with ample power and torque, having a small engine helps in fuel economy but sacrifices in power, however with the turbo it helps it to be efficient but minimizing power gap so much so that it produces almost the similar power and mileage figures as competitor’s 1.5L Naturally aspirated engines, Coupled with the 1.0L there is an option of 6-Speed manual or a 6 Speed Torque Convertor Automatic, Automatic being the star of the show as it is incredibly smooth and works well in the city as well on the highway . Yet if your heart desires more they have the more expensive GT variant which it offered with a 1.5L 4cyl-turbo. It produces 150HP and comes with the 7 Speed DSG undoubtedly it is a choice meant for enthusiasts. It has a much quicker shift gearbox with the a much more powerful engine. Yet its chassis and suspension can easily cope up with the extra power and torque. It refined, dynamically sorted, Comfortable and well built. The engine options and gearbox options are so good that you shouldn’t look anywhere else if you prefer automatics over the manuals. Finally, the 1.5L comes with Cylinder deactivation tech also in aid of getting a better mileage it helps a lot when you’re cruising or idling and it is engineered really well you don’t even notice it working. Both 1.0L and 1.5L are solid power plants boasting good mileage of 19.4KMPL and 18KMPL respectively.
Inside the cabin you get an understated look but it is very well put together the top variant gets a sunroof, a pretty decent speaker system and all the usual features you can expect from a sedan under this price range. The back seat is a good enough size and wide so 3 adults can seat easily which you expect from a car of such dimensions. This is our personal pick as it is fun and practical. We would also pick the Virtus over the Slavia as it has better colour options and it comes with a 10 inch screen oppose to the 8 inch affair in the Slavia.
3. Honda City/ Honda City Hybrid– Honda has been the people’s sedan for the longest time in India, The latest version of the Honda City is the 6th generation and it features the same lovely 1.5L iVtec 4-cyl engine that we love from Honda – it is smooth and creamy. This time around, they have paid more attention to the interior than to the exterior. The City is now longer and wider than ever before, but the styling is a tad bit boring. Don’t get me wrong, it looks understated, but it doesn’t look as good as the Virtus or the Slavia. However, it makes up for the exterior loss with interior gain.
The City has the best-in-class seats both front and rear, making it extremely comfortable for longer journeys. It is coupled with a calm and comfortable suspension setup, it makes for a pleasant experience. All the latest features are available on the City except for ventilated seats and TPMS. It has the best-in-class audio setup and the best knobs and buttons for operating the climate control. This is a huge plus, as some cars have now integrated the climate control settings into the screen, making it a pain to use while driving. The interior is a very nice place to be in and it is our pick if you like to be driven in.
The Honda City is offered in a 1.5L IVTEC unit or a 1.5L 4 cyl unit with Atkinson cycle coupled with 2 electric motors. The hybrid technology is extremely complicated and a story for another time, but it works seamlessly and is very efficient. If fuel efficiency is your concern, then the EHEV is the model you should pick. Otherwise, the normal 1.5L is pretty efficient and runs smoothly too, with an ARAI claimed mileage of 17.8 KMPL. The 1.5L iVTEC is coupled with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT. The CVT gearbox is improved, but it is still not as good as the Virtus’s implementation of an automatic. We would pick the manual option.
4. Tata Nexon – Tata has been on a roll in recent years with their new models, such as the Tiago, Altroz and the Punch. However, the Nexon is their hottest selling car despite being more expensive than the Tiago. This micro-SUV is well-priced, starting from 8 Lakhs and going up to 14 Lakhs for the fully loaded special edition automatics, and is equipped with a variety of engines including a BS6 compliant diesel which is hard to find these days due to the focus on smaller turbocharged units or hybrids. Tata has been constantly updating the Nexon since its launch with paint schemes, special editions such as the Dark and Kazi Ranga editions, updated engines and infotainment systems.
The Nexon is offered in both petrol and diesel variants. The diesel is a 1.5L turbo 4-cylinder engine which produces 115Hp/260Nm. It is efficient with a mileage of 24.07 kmpl, and although it may not be the most refined diesel out there, it gets the job done well. The petrol, on the other hand, produces a bit more power with 120Hp and 170Nm, and is quite calm and smooth to drive. It is available with an AMT or a 6-speed manual transmission. The AMT may feel sluggish and not as smooth as other cars in its class, but the 6-speed manual has nice and short throws and feels sturdy to use with an extremely light clutch, making it a breeze to use in the city.
The Nexon is a great car for hauling five people under 15 lakhs. The car is wide enough to support three people in the back bench without any fuss, and taller individuals will appreciate the ample headroom and legroom. The seats are comfortable and Tata has done a fantastic job with both the front and back seats.
Dynamically, the Nexon may not be the best car around, with a steering that feels a bit lifeless and some body roll compared to sedans and hatchbacks. However, it was not meant to set your pants on fire; it is meant to do city commutes and highway cruising, which it does really well while sipping on fuel. It gets a very respectable mileage of 17 kmpl for the petrol and 24 kmpl for the diesel. Thanks to the design and the materials used, the Tata Nexon has scored a 5-star rating in the Global NCAP, making it the first Indian car to obtain such an impressive score.
5. Maruti Suzuki Fronx– The latest release from the automobile giant, has been a massive success. According to Maruti, “Fronx” means the next frontier of SUVs. Based on the outgoing Baleno, it shares many components with it. Maruti has reintroduced the 1.0L Turbo 3-cyl Boosterjet engine, formerly seen on the Baleno RS from yesteryear, along with the dependable 1.2L 4-cyl K series engine, which we all love from the Swift and other Suzuki models.
With two engine options, the Fronx offers three gearbox options as well: a 5-speed manual, a 5-speed AMT, and a 6-speed Torque converter automatic, which is only available for the 1.0L Boosterjet. If you plan to drive mainly in the city, the 1.0L Boosterjet with the 6-speed AT is the model you won’t regret spending extra on.
The Fronx has borrowed many exterior elements from the much larger Grand Vitara, such as the shape of the grill, the design of the headlamps, and other cues. It comes with all the latest creature comforts we have already seen in the Baleno, such as a 9-inch infotainment system, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and a convenient heads-up display. We love the simplicity of the analog instrument dials with the TFT Display in the middle for extra information. Ride is also quite similar to the Baleno but a little bit better in terms on absorbing the bumps and a little bit worse in terms of steering feel and dynamics.
The second-row seating is quite comfortable, considering it is a raised hatchback. There is a decent amount of headroom and kneeroom, and it does not have a center armrest, which makes it comfortable if you plan to seat five people.
As a Maruti product, we all know it will excel in the mileage department, and it does not disappoint in that aspect. Both variants have similar figures, with 21.79 KMPL for the 1.2L 5-speed manual and 21.5 KMPL for the 1.0L 5-speed manual. Maruti has also focused on strengthening the platform, resulting in an impressive 5-star overall rating in the Global NCAP crash tests. It will be our budget pick as is it an hatchback with SUV like Styling.
