Best Small Cars in India

Today we delve into the top 10 small cars in India, their tentative prices, features, and specifications. So, if you are planning to purchase a compact car, this list of the best small cars in India will be resourceful. 

Note: Prices in this list indicate the ex-showroom cost of a car in New Delhi. Therefore, the actual prices of vehicles are subject to vary from one city to another.

Without further ado, let’s get straight into the top 10 small cars in India!

1. Maruti Alto 800

Maruti Alto 800 stands among the oldest-running and best small cars in India. The marque remains a favourite in the Indian automobile industry and this automobile does not disappoint either. It has stood the test of time by adapting to the prevailing market through changes in design, specs, and features. You can choose from several variants of this car, such as LXI, VXI, VXI Plus, STD, etc.

• Mileage: Up to 22.05 kmpl on petrol and 32.99km/kg on CNG
• Engine Displacement: Up to 796cc
• Fuel type: Petrol and CNG
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.2.94 lakhs

2. Renault Kwid

Popularly known as the miniature of Renault Duster, Kwid offers the performance of an SUV in the body of a hatchback. This car has a rugged-looking, SUV-esque appearance with high ground clearance and a bold stance. 

Powering this car is a 1.0l SCe 3-cylinder petrol engine, which cranks out 54PS of power output and 72Nm of torque. Kwid comes in several variants, such as RXL, Neotech, RXE, RXL AMT, among others.

• Mileage: Up to 22.0 kmpl 
• Engine Displacement: Up to 999cc
• Fuel type: Petrol 
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.2.94 lakhs

3. Maruti Celerio

Another star performer in Maruti’s line-up, Celerio, is preferred for its affordability and fuel efficiency. In terms of appearance, this car outshines others by way of an appealing front design and an elegant back-door garnish. It has dual-tone interiors equipped with pretensioner and force limiter seat belts, multi-info display, integrated audio with Bluetooth technology, and steering-mounted audio control. 

The automobile rolls by on a 1.0l three-cylinder engine producing 68PS/90Nm on petrol and 60PS/78Nm on CNG. Its available variants include LXI, VXI, and ZXI in petrol/CNG and manual/transmission options.

• Mileage: Up to 21.63 kmpl 
• Engine Displacement: Up to 998cc
• Fuel type: Petrol and CNG
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.4.41 lakhs

4. Tata Tiago

Tiago is the most affordable product in Tata’s line-up. It runs on a Revotron 1.2l, 3-cylinder engine that churns out 86PS of power output and 113Nm of torque. Moreover, the car is explicitly designed to maximise your safety behind the wheel. Therefore, it comes with an anti-lock braking system with EBD and CSC, rear camera, impact sensing auto door unlock.

This car makes every ride all the more fun through a 7-inch Connectnext infotainment by Harman and 8 speakers. Additionally, it is also equipped with automatic climate control, a cooled glovebox, an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Its variants are XE, XT, XZ, XTA, XZ+, and XZA.

• Mileage: Up to 23.84 kmpl 
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1199cc
• Fuel type: Petrol 
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.4.69 lakhs

5. Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

This automobile outperforms other small cars in India by its best-in-segment features. Hyundai Grand i10 Nios comes with a 20.25cm infotainment system, driver rear-view monitor, keyless entry, digital speedometer, voice control, and navigation system. Moreover, you can pick your preferred model from several variants, like Era, Magna, Sportz, and Asta.

• Mileage: Up to 24.0 kmpl 
• Engine Displacement: Petrol and CNG – up to 1197cc, diesel – up to 1186cc
• Fuel type: Petrol, diesel, and CNG
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.5.19 lakhs

6. Maruti Swift

One of the top-selling small cars in India, Maruti Swift, has been a roaring success over the years. In fact, the car is now in its third-generation avatar. It runs on a BSVI-spec 1.2-litre K12B 4-cylinder petrol engine, cranking up 81BHP of power output and 113Nm of torque. 

Additionally, Swift rolls seamlessly on R15 alloy wheels, which takes its aesthetics up a notch. It also has rear parking sensors with a camera, crash sensor, anti-lock braking system, and hill-control assist for maximum safety.

• Mileage: Up to 22.0 kmpl 
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1197cc
• Fuel type: Petrol 
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.5.19 lakhs

7. Maruti Baleno

This car functions on a 1.2l VVT petrol engine that produces 84BHP of power and 140Nm of torque. Impressive exteriors, luxurious interiors, and appealing features sum up the Baleno. Interestingly, its windows are engineered with a UV cut glass that protects you from harmful UV radiations and keeps the cabin cooler. 

When it comes to its appearance, Maruti Baleno marks its presence through distinctive project LED headlamps with LED DRLs, two-tone R16 alloy wheels, and higher ground clearance. Its variants include LXI, VXI, ZXI, and ZXI+.

• Mileage: Up to 23.87 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1197cc
• Fuel type: Petrol 
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.5.63 lakhs

8. Tata Altroz

Next up on our list of the top 10 small cars in India is Tata Altroz. The marque designed this car with ALFA architecture that offers a comprehensive safety system. As a result, Altroz has also received a 5-star rating from Global NCAP. The car runs on powerful BS6 petrol and diesel engines as well as a 1.2l turbo engine.

Moreover, its exteriors exemplify athletic sharpness and interiors. Step inside, and you will spot several savvy features, like a 17.78cm touchscreen interface, an infotainment system by HarmanTM. This car has several variants, namely XE, XM, XT, XZ, and XZ Plus.

• Mileage: Up to 25.11 kmpl 
• Engine Displacement: Petrol – up to 1199cc, diesel – up to 1497cc
• Fuel type: Petrol and diesel 
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.5.69 lakhs

9. Ford Figo

Ford Figo effectively combines smart design choices with a BS-VI compliant 70.79kW power engine to offer matchless manoeuvres on the road. Its exterior entails automatic headlamps, dual-tone roof, rain-sensing wipers, R15 alloy wheels, and a sporty cellular grille. Therefore, this automobile is one of the best small cars in India in terms of visual aesthetics.

Furthermore, the car comes with 6 airbags, a rear-view camera, a touchscreen with navigation as well as a push-button start. You can choose your preferred model from Petrol Ambiente MT, Petrol Titanium MT, Petrol Titanium Blu MT, Diesel Titanium MT, and Diesel Titanium Blu MT.

• Mileage: Up to 24.4 kmpl 
• Engine Displacement: Petrol – up to 1194cc, diesel – up to 1499cc
• Fuel type: Petrol and diesel
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.5.82 lakhs

10. Hyundai Elite i20

From premium interiors to fluid aesthetics and a modern appeal, the Hyundai Elite i20 has it all. It competes head-on with other small cars in India through its superior ergonomics, spaciousness, ample storage space, and matchless performance.

The car stands out visually by way of a radiator grille, rear combination lamps, wrap-around automatic headlamps. Additionally, this automobile is equipped with steering wheel remote controls, AUX and USB connectivity, a rear parking assist system (RPAS), a rear air ventilation system, and a rear camera display (RCD) system.

• Mileage: Up to 22.5kmpl 
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1396cc
• Fuel type: Petrol and diesel 
• Tentative Price: Starts from Rs.6.49 lakhs