The Indian automotive market has boomed a lot in the last 15 years or so. Compared to the market in the 1990s when it was opened for foreign investment, the choices provided to the consumers have increased manifold. Now the new car buyer has a variety of choices, and he can plonk his money in any kind of vehicle that suits his requirements. The 5 lakh rupee market is very volatile, with a plethora of options. With the introduction of subcompact sedans in the year 2007(Swift Dzire), the market has gladly accepted this segment and after hatchbacks, this category of vehicle is the most sold in India. With tons of options available, it is natural that a common buyer with limited knowledge is bound to get confused. So to help in the purchasing decision, here are the cars below 5 lakh that are available in the Indian market-
Datsun GO Plus
This product from manufacturer Datsun has disrupted the hatchback segment. It is a stretched version of the hatchback Datsun Go and provides the comfort of a sedan. Starting from 4.25 lakh, ex-showroom, it comes in many models that suit the requirements of the buyer. Right now, it has a petrol-only option with a 1.2-liter engine that gives a decent 19 kmpl of fuel average. The car has a big boot of 370 liters capacity, which can carry a huge amount of luggage for outstation trips. It also has essential safety features such as ABS and airbags. The buyer can also choose from the AMT transmission option for ease of driving.
Tata Tigor
Tata Tigor is a sub-compact sedan from Tata that starts from a price of 5 lakh rupee. The sedan is well-built and has a strong feel. Safety-wise too, it scored a good star rating in a simulated crash test. The car comes with an 84 bhp, 1.2-liter petrol engine that gives a decent 20.3 kmpl of fuel average. All essential safety features such as ABS and airbags are available in this car as standard. The XMA variant with automated transmission is a good value for money option that is well loaded with features. This car is regarded as one of the best-looking sub-4-meter compact cars and is the most affordable of the lot.
Hyundai Aura
The new subcompact sedan from the giant Hyundai starts from the 5 lakh rupee mark and is well loaded, with the above-average build quality. The car has two engine options with 1 liter and 1.2 liters and has a fuel average of 21-25 kmpl. The safety features are standard across the variant. The 1.2-liter engine option also comes with a factory-fitted CNG option that can reduce the running cost to low levels. The interior of the car is pleasant and can seat the passengers in great comfort. Other features like an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, and auto ac are available in mid-level models, which are great value for money. The 1.0-liter turbo petrol is a great attraction right now in the market.
Maruti Dzire
The original genesis of the whole subcompact sedan game in India. Although the prices start at Rs 5 lakh, you have to stretch your budget a bit to buy a decent package. It comes with a 1.2-liter engine that has a choice between petrol and CNG. The automated AMT version is also available in this car. The main thing going in for this car is that it has a great service network and the maintenance cost is among the cheapest in the competition. The interior of the car is well-made with decent material. But many complain about the flimsy build quality of the car. If you can stretch your budget, then you should go with the mid-level trim of the car which is decently loaded.
Maruti Eeco
Although not a sedan, this car can fulfill all the requirements of a sedan for a family. Starting at just 4.5 lakh rupee, this is a good alternative to a sedan, especially when options under 5 lakh for sedans are very limited. This vehicle comes with a 1.2-liter engine option that runs on both petrol and CNG. Sadly there is no AMT transmission option. It can seat 5 people in comfort and can give a fuel average of about 15kmpl. Though the interior is not premium, it does the job well. With the Maruti badge, you can be sure about the low running cost of the vehicle.
Conclusion
The cars below 5 lakh for subcompact sedans are not filled with plenty of options and sadly if your budget is limited to the 5 lakh rupee mark, then you have to make do with the low trim levels of the model. The good thing is that the safety features such as ABS and airbags have been made standard by the government. If you are flexible with the hatchback, then you can buy a decent and well-loaded one at the same price bracket.
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