Best Cars In India: Top Picks Under 5 Lakh, 10 Lakh, And 15 Lakh
Whether it’s our first car or the 10th one, we always want the best car in the segment we are looking for. This goes for everyone irrespective of the fact whether they are automotive enthusiasts or not. However, if we are looking for the best cars in India, it is a difficult task as there are many good automakers competing against each other.
Also, whether it be a cheaper one or a premium segment, most brands try to provide the best package to their customers that make the competition even tougher.
To make this tiresome task easier for you, we have been keeping an eye on all the best cars in India for quite a while now. We have also prepared lists for each of these segments as well. Here they are:
Best Cars In India In 2021
Best Cars Under 5 Lakhs
Editor’s Choice: Tata Tiago
| Tata Tiago | Specifications |
| Price (ex-showroom) | Rs 4.6-6.6 lakhs |
| Engine option | 1.2-liter 3-cyl Revotron BS6 Petrol (AMT and Manual transmission) |
| Engine Specs | 84.48 BHP and 113 Nm of Torque |
| Fuel Economy | 20 km/l |
Tata Tiago is the safest car you can buy if you have a budget of around Rs 5 lakhs. The hatchback holds a safety rating of four stars in the global NCAP crash test.
It also surpasses other cars in this segment in terms of ride quality, handling, and stability. It’s one of the best performing and affordable hatchbacks available on the market.
In addition, Tata Motors provides reliable build quality, a digital instrument cluster, Harman speakers, and a comfortable. Together, all these aspects make it one of our best picks and a car worthy of buying this season.
However, the reputation of Tata Motors for its service quality can raise doubts among customers. Therefore, it’s recommended to inspect the dealer and its service center at least once before buying the car.
Apart from this, here’s our complete list of the best cars under 5 lakhs in India. In case you want to explore more options in this segment, here’s your way.
Best Cars Under 10 Lakhs
Editor’s Choice: Tata Nexon
| Tata Nexon | Specifications |
| Price (ex-showroom) | Rs 6.95-12.70 lakhs |
| Engine Options | 1.2-liter turbocharged Revotron 3-Cyl BS6 Petrol (AMT and Manual Transmission) 1.5-liter turbocharged Revotorq 4-Cyl BS6 Diesel (AMT and Manual Transmission) |
| Engine Specs | 1.2-liter – 120 BHP and 170 Nm Torque 1.5-litre – 108 BHP and 260 Nm Torque |
| Fuel Economy | 17 km/l for Petrol Variant 22 km/l for Diesel Variant |
Once again, we have a car from the family of Tata Motors. Tata Nexon is one of the best cars you can buy under Rs 10 lakhs. This compact crossover SUV has the perfect blend of performance, safety, and a premium interior.
Tata Nexon has got a five-star safety rating in the Global NCAP crash tests. Apart from being one of the safest cars, it also got one of the most powerful engines in the segment. In addition, there are three different driving modes, including Sports, City, and Eco.
Different driving modes greatly affect the driving experience and these types of features are generally found in high-end premium cars.
The best part about Nexon is that Tata Motors has provided safety features like Electronic Traction Control, Roll-Over Mitigation, Hill-Hold Control, Emergency Brake Assist, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and much more as standard across all its variants.
Even in most premium cars, automakers don’t provide these safety features in the base variant.
The only issue that some owners reported is due to the thickness of the A-Pillar in Tata Nexon. The A-Pillar along the driver’s side can create a slight blindspot while making sharp turns, however, the thickness of A-Pillars matters in providing strength to the structure.
Furthermore, there are many impressive cars in this segment. Check out this list of some of the coolest cars you can get under this budget.
Best Cars Under 15 Lakhs
Editor’s Choice: Kia Seltos
| Kia Seltos | Specifications |
| Starting Price (ex-showroom) | Rs 9.89-16.39 lakhs |
| Engine Option | Smartstream G 1.5-liter MPi Petrol BS6 (Manual Transmission and IVT) Smartstream G 1.4-liter T-GDi BS6 (MT and DCT) |
| Engine Specs | 1.5-liter MPi – 113 BHP and 144 Nm of Torque 1.4-liter Turbo- 138 BHP and 242 Nm of Torque |
| Fuel Economy | 1.5-liter MPi – 16.8 km/l 1.4-liter Turbo – 16.1 km/l |
Kia Seltos is one of the most stylish and premium-looking cars available on the market. It’s loaded with modern features, a comfortable interior, and multiple engine options.
Back in August 2019, the South Korean automaker Kia Motors made its debut in India with Seltos. Within a short period of time, Kia Seltos secured its place among the best-selling subcompact SUVs in India.
Kia Seltos comes equipped with features like an electric sunroof, smart air purifier, Bose premium 8 speaker system, ventilated and power seats, a 10.25″ HD touchscreen with an 8″ head-up display, to name a few.
Not only this but Seltos is also praised for its topmost ride quality and handling. In short, whether it be the performance, safety features, appearance, or features, Kia Seltos is a complete package.
Though Kia Motors is one of the largest automakers globally, it’s still a new brand in India. Hence, the company’s service network is limited and will require some years to reach the level of its competitors.
Although Kia Seltos is our first choice, there are still cars that are not any less. As we don’t want you to regret it, therefore, it’s recommended to check out these cars as well.
Which Price Segment You Should Go For And Why?
It mostly depends on your lifestyle, the city or area you live in, and your requirements. If your daily driving mostly includes city areas and you have to go through lots of crowded places every day then it’s better to go for a hatchback that can easily maneuver in congested areas.
However, if you travel interstates frequently and cover mostly highways, then we suggest you choose a car for under 10 lakh or 15 lakh segment with a high safety standard. In this case, everything else including the mileage should be your secondary priority.
Furthermore, if your daily driving involves a mix of all kinds of driving situations and you have a good budget then we suggest a compact SUV would be a suitable option.
Anyway, if you guys have something else in your mind, tell us in the comments section below.
Currently, there are no sedans that you can get for under Rs 5 lakhs. However, if you slightly increase your budget then you can get Tata Tigor, Maruti Swift Dzire, Hyundai Aura, and Honda Amaze.
Maruti Suzuki Alto and WagonR are the best-selling cars in this range. After these two comes the Maruti Celerio and Tata Tiago. All of these cars have their own perks but Tiago is the safest car here and provides the best ride quality.
