Cars for every budget

|THE DEN|

No matter what your budget is, we’ve got a car for you.

Cars under 1 cr Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 barely needs an introduction. This behemoth SUV is the largest offering from Audi and the most capable SUV that they currently make. This car is usually seen transporting Bollywood celebrities and stars, so you’ll definitely feel like one once you buy it.

The prices of this car start at Rs.82.49 Lakh and go all the way upto 89.90 Lakhs ex-showroom. The facelifted Q7 appears to be taking a page from the facelifted Q5, as it attempts to ditch the corporate exterior in favour of a sportier and more aggressive appearance.

The tempting 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine has been discontinued. The 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 with 340hp and 500Nm from Audi, on the other hand, is a fantastic successor. The engine is powerful and quiet, running quietly in normal city settings but always ready to provide more for a rapid overtaking.

Audi promises a 0-100kph time of 5.9 seconds, which is impressive for a vehicle of its size. Perhaps more importantly for most consumers, the Q7 is a laid-back cruiser that eats up long miles with apparently no effort. The 8-speed transmission shifts through the gears quietly.

The Q7's cabin is a special space, with its simple, contemporary design paired with plenty of technology and superb comfort and build quality. The Q7's interior features beautiful materials and design, as well as a sophisticated control arrangement and comfy seats with plenty of support and adjustment.

Matrix LED headlights, an air fragrance package, a crisp 19- speaker B&O sound system, brilliant 3D parking cameras that show an augmented reality image of your vehicle in its surroundings, and an auto park feature that not only steers the vehicle into place but also controls accelerator and brake inputs are all features exclusive to the Q7 Technology.

Cars under 50 lakhs Mercedes-Benz GLA

With prices ranging from 44 lakhs to 48.90 lakhs, the Mercedes-Benz GLA might be the most value for money option under 50 lakhs. The brand value and head turning design of this car make it a great proposition if you’re looking for a car of this segment.

The 2021 GLA is taller, bigger, and has more ground clearance than the previous generation model in terms of aesthetics. This provides it the much-needed SUV appeal that the previous model lacked. A single slat horizontal grille sits at the front, accompanied by redesigned LED headlights.

Space within the cabin is also greatly improved because to the longer wheelbase, wider track, and taller roof. This is especially true in the back, where there is now an unexpected amount of room. You’ll enjoy both the rear seat ride and driving this mini SUV.

The interiors of the GLA make the biggest impression; Mercedes-Benz has managed to replicate much of the plushness of its larger cars in this smaller form. The pair of 10.25-inch MBUX panels, with their crisp visuals, the voice assistant, and relatively simple functions, make for a familiar interface. The large centre stack, with the touchpad and toggle switches, is also reminiscent of a modern Mercedes, as are the elegant ambient lighting highlights.

The new GLA uses the identical engine-gearbox combinations as the A-Class Limousine, which is to be expected. The petrol engine is a 1.3-litre turbo co-developed with Renault-Nissan that produces 165 horsepower and 250 Nm and is mated to a seven-speed DCT. The diesel engine is the famous OM654 unit, but unlike the A-Class, it comes with a higher output of 190 horsepower and 400 Nm.

In addition to being comfortable, the GLA is also laid-back and relaxing to drive in city traffic. When you step on the gas, the car accelerates quickly, the transmission lags and hesitates only sporadically, and the steering is light and easy to spin.

Cars under 40 lakhs Toyota Hilux

The Hilux moniker is more well-known around the world than the Fortuner, and it is famed for its durability, dependability, and ability to withstand the harshest of conditions. Priced between 33-36 lakhs ex-showroom, this car might be a little more expensive than its only competition but it still seems like a value for money deal.

Pick-up trucks are frequently utilised as work vehicles, and the Hilux has successfully completed polar expeditions and other missions. However, Toyota recognised that the truck market has grown, and many people now buy trucks for the lifestyle.

The new generation Hilux is built on the same framework as the Fortuner, but it appears to be larger and more powerful. It is much larger and more intimidating than a Fortuner. With its massive hexagonal grille, cladding, and skid plate, the Hilux also sports a superb front-end. LED lights and large 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres are also included on the vehicle.

A 2.8-litre diesel engine powers the Hilux. The manual version of the motor produces 201bhp and 420Nm of torque, while the automatic version delivers the same power and 500Nm of torque. There are two transmission options: a six-speed manual and a torque converter automatic gearbox with six speeds. A four-wheel-drive system is standard on all models.

The Toyota Hilux inside appears modern at first appearance, due in part to a standard 8.0in touchscreen entertainment system. When you start poking around, though, you'll notice that the materials utilised are entirely harsh and scratchy, with the exception of some coarse leather on the wheel.

If you want a car with enough luggage space to pack more than the family’s suitcases. It seats people comfortably and has good feel of driving. You can also take it off-road and it won’t struggle at all. Priced under 40 lakhs this might be the best car for you if you’re willing to adjust with the average interior quality.

Cars under 30 lakhs Jeep Compass

The 2022 Jeep Compass is a tiny crossover with the brand's robust reputation and the ability to perform well off-road. With prices ranging from 18 to 31 lakhs ex-showroom, this tiny crossover may not be the best value for money, but it does offer a lot for the money.

For that money, you receive a slew of features, including an all- new infotainment system and fully digital instrument cluster, as well as modern conveniences like wireless charging and a panoramic sunroof. But it's only after you've spent some time in the cabin and poked about the interior that you realise where the money went.

The Compass is extremely well-equipped in terms of safety, with over 60 active and passive safety features like six airbags, rain brake assistance, hill hold and descent control, electronic roll mitigation, and brake lock differential, to name a few. Vehicle data, location-based services, stolen vehicle assist, geofencing, and driver analytics are all included in the Compass's connected car technology.

The engines remain the same, with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine under the hood. The former produces 160 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, while the latter produces 168 horsepower and 350 Nm of peak torque. Both engines share a six-speed manual transmission. The petrol engine has a seven-speed DCT transmission, while the diesel has a nine-speed automatic transmission with 4x4 drive.

The 2022 Compass appears to be an improvement on the previous model year's bland appearance and unimpressive interior materials, with an appealing dashboard and better amenities. Furthermore, its inside is spacious, cosy, and useful, with ample room for four adult passengers. The back seat of this diversified class of crossovers is neither the largest nor the smallest.

Despite its boxy design and what appears to be competitive cargo volume, the Compass is not the most spacious of its competitors. Long journeys may be a struggle, but it has ample luggage room for an airport run. However, the inside is of excellent quality, and the vehicle is equipped with numerous modern features.

Cars under 20 lakhs Mahindra Thar

There's no need to introduce the Mahindra Thar. The SUV is noted for its rough exterior, which can withstand any amount of abuse and still perform admirably. Mahindra needed to modernise it, and it did it by releasing a Thar that has had people talking nonstop ever since they saw it for the first time.

The Thar received a commendable four stars in Global NCAP crash tests for adult and child protection, thanks to its solid structure and a slew of safety features including ABS with EBD, ESP, and ISOFIX child seat fixings in the rear seats, to name a few. The car also gets tons of modern touches and creature comforts that were missing till now.

A 2nd 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine with 130hp and 300Nm of torque powers the revamped Thar. A brand-new 2.0-litre turbo- charged direct-injection petrol engine, the first from the mStallion family, makes its premiere in the new Thar. This engine certainly makes a good argument for itself, with power and torque outputs of 150hp and 320Nm.

An Aisin-sourced 6-speeder handles transmission operations in the automatic. Shifts are generally smooth and seamless, and the clever torque converter works in concert with the diesel engine. In fact, the massive torque on offer masks the transmission's relatively sluggish reactions, especially when downshifting. This one races from 0-100kph in 13.52 seconds, which is almost as fast as the 6 speed diesel-manual.

Quality and fit-finish are unquestionably superior to the previous-generation Thar, which shares parts with several other Mahindras. The interiors, on the other hand, have a utilitarian feel to them, with a simple design and layout. Designers at Mahindra have cleverly utilised exposed screws as a style component that gives ruggedness to the environment and adds character to the interior design, just as they have on the outside.

The dashboard chassis plate is a wonderful detail that proudly displays this Mahindra's Indian roots. When you're behind the wheel, towering over crossovers on the road gives you an invincible, ego-boosting sense. You're sitting much higher, virtually on the same level as smaller buses and trucks. The balcony-style seating provides a dominating frontal perspective, the pillars are slim, and the wide outside mirrors provide ample coverage on all sides.

Cars under 10 lakhs Tata Punch

Tata's all-new'sub-compact SUV,' dubbed Punch, is aimed squarely at those looking for an SUV on a hatchback budget. The business is going to great efforts to prove that the Punch's SUV classification is accurate. Despite the fact that it is only front-wheel-drive, it has been engineered to handle the worst of Indian highways as well as modest off-road tracks.

Tata also delivers on its aggressive price promise with a mouth-watering Rs 5.49 lakh for the base variant, which sits between the Tiago NRG cross-hatchback and the Nexon compact SUV in terms of size. The Tata Punch comes with a single non-turbo-petrol engine option, paired with manual and automated manual transmission (AMT) options.

The Tata Punch is powered by the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that powers the Tiago, Tigor, and Altroz. This motor has a revised air intake system and a new air filter as part of the BS6 transition to improve efficiency and driving dynamics; its software & calibration have also been modified for linear performance.

The engine produces a mild 86hp and 113Nm of torque, but when you consider the Punch's 1,035kg kerb weight, the power is more than adequate. What's more, the engine does its daily tasks with relative ease, and its sophisticated gearing makes it very user-friendly, especially in the city.

As you enter the cabin, you'll notice the overall minimalist theme, which immediately makes you feel at ease. A broad light grey strip runs across the dashboard, which contrasts with the dark grey interior. The color-coordinated AC vents give a playful touch. The tri arrow design features, on the other hand, are carried forward in the seat fabric. One thing to note is that Tata has significantly enhanced the cabin quality.

The front seats are comfortable, but the padding is a little hard, and tall drivers will have limited thigh support. Despite its small size, the Kia Sonet's rear seat capacity is comparable in terms of knee and shoulder room. Two six-footers can sit one behind the other with plenty of room to spare, and the space beneath the front seats to tuck your feet into adds to the comfort.

Cars under 5 lakhs Maruti Suzuki Alto

Maruti Suzuki's Alto is one of the company's longest-running models. Last year, the automobile reached a sales milestone of 20 years. The hatchback also surpassed the critical 40-lakh sales mark in the same year. These fantastic accomplishments demonstrate how popular and well-liked this model has become in the Indian market over the last two decades.

The Maruti Alto, as a budget car, has never received much praise for its design or appearance. However, Maruti Suzuki has discovered ways to evolve and improve the aesthetic of this tiny hatchback over time in order to keep it relevant and appealing to present customers.

The Maruti Alto's current interior design is a significant improvement over the previous model. The Alto's dashboard is a carryover from the previous Alto K10. The new black-white dual-tone interior looks bright but still modern and dynamic, a significant improvement over the previous monochromatic greyish interior colour scheme. The Alto now comes with two airbags as standard equipment.

The Maruti Alto's current interior design is a significant improvement over the previous model. The Alto's dashboard is a carryover from the previous Alto K10. The new black-white dual-tone interior looks bright but still modern and dynamic, a significant improvement over the previous monochromatic greyish interior colour scheme. The Alto now comes with two airbags as standard equipment.