There has been quite an explosion in the car market recently with brands releasing new cars all vying for top positions and a huge chunk of the total market pie. With car lovers happy to spend more in order to avail of all the features that money can buy, cars are getting better and competition is ensuring that they are priced very affordably as well.
You may also like: 11 Best Petrol and Diesel Cars under Rs. 6 Lakhs in India
Keeping this in mind, the best petrol and diesel cars in India under Rs 7 lakh is a segment that is hotly contested and one that has an amazing array of options. Here are the best of them.
List of Best Diesel Cars under Rs.7 lakh
-
Fiat Punto Diesel (Rs.5.27 Lakh – Rs.6.21 lakh)
Pros:
- Good ground clearance
- Good ride quality and handling
- Nice design
Cons:
- Average on road performance
- Gearbox
Launched in August last year the Fiat Punto Evo is actually a facelifted version of the Fiat Grande Punto hatch. While most other changes were somewhat cosmetic, there was one huge upgrade on the 75BHP diesel engine.
The Punto Evo offers a nice and sleek design, wonderful ride quality and good handling for a car in its price range.
-
Nissan Micra Diesel (Rs.5.46 lakh)
Pros:
- Braking is great
- Decent mileage
- Looks quite stylish
Cons:
- Interiors aren’t the best
- Boor space is quite limited
Nissan has been a recent entrant into the markets here and while it hasn’t exactly set fire to the car segment, it has slowly been making its mark. With the Micra diesel, the brand offers a good, solid car that looks nice and drives very well.
Powered by a 1.5 litre diesel engine, the Micra delivers about 64bhp in terms of power as well as 160Nm of torque. This makes it another great city driving choice and an affordable option for those looking for a simple yet efficient car.
-
Maruti Suzuki Swift Diesel (Rs. 5.60 lakh – Rs. 6.85 lakh)
Pros:
- Fuel efficiency is quite good
- Engine perform very well
- After sales service is fantastic
Cons:
- Seems a bit cramped, particularly in the rear seat
- Engine noise is a problem
Maruti has always been the frontrunner in the Indian market and the Maruti Suzuki Swift Diesel has long been one of the best sellers for the company. Even now, the Swift is among the most popular cars and with good reason too.
With a 1.3 litre diesel engine it offers great steering, a fantastic suspension and great handling which make it an overall package and a great car to own as well as to drive around.
-
Ford Figo Diesel (Rs. 4.85 lakh – Rs. 6.06 lakh)
Pros:
- Very competitively priced
- Fuel economy is great
Cons:
- Engine performance is not up to the mark
- After sales service is quite poor
Fuel efficient, affordable and loaded with features, the Ford Figo is almost a complete all round package in terms of the best hatchbacks today. With a well performing 1.4 litre diesel engine that delivers as much as 68bhp of power, this car packs quite a punch.
Both handling and suspension seem to be quite good and if Ford can work on the after sales service that they provide with the car this can be even better and do amazingly in the markets.
-
Hyundai Grand I10 Diesel (Rs. 5.18 lakh – Rs. 6.32 lak)
Pros:
- Quite comfortable
- Good fuel economy
- Looks stunning
Cons:
- Engine noise is quite loud
- Ground clearance is quite bad
Another brand that hardly needs any introduction here in India, Hyundai’s Grand i10 diesel is a treat for car lovers. It comes with a 1.1-litre U2 CRDi diesel engine that gives it as much as 70bhp in terms of power and is impressive in terms of transmission and performance.
It looks great and drives even better with good handling and performance. Overall a complete car, this is another great Hyundai offering with plenty of add on features as well.
-
Indica Vista D90 Diesel (Rs.5 – Rs.6.2 lakh)
Pros:
- The interior looks quite great
- Reliable engine performance
Cons:
- Boot space is limited
- Braking system is average
The Vista has constantly been updated in various forms but the D90 seems to be the best of them so far. With a 1.3 litre Multijet engine and a VGT, the car manages a mean 90PS in terms of power and 200 Nm in terms of torque.
The steering and handling too is quite good and this is a good car from the Tata house as it incorporates the best of what a hatchback can be. The car does not try to be too flashy and does its job of being simple, practical and effective which make it a great choice overall.
List of Best Petrol Cars under Rs.7 lakh
-
Fiat Punto Evo Petrol (Rs.4.6 – Rs.6.7 lakh)
Pros:
- Interior is quite spacious
- Pick and acceleration is quite good
Cons:
- Fuel economy isn’t the best
- Lacks features like ABS in the base models
The Fiat Punto is quite a looker and with its new design appears to be much more spacious as well. It has a very premium feel to it and at its price is a great deal as you get not only the great interior and exterior but also a decent 1.2 litre engine that gives it 67bhp of power that is adequate for city driving.
A higher end 1.4 litre petrol engine with 89bhp of power is also available for those looking for an even bigger punch. A hatchback that offers a premium feel at an affordable cost, this is a great option to go for.
-
Toyota Etios Petrol (Rs.6 – 7.4 lakh)
Pros:
- Good after sales service
- Engine performance is excellent
- Sufficient boot space
Cons:
- Design can be improved
- Fuel efficiency is well below par
Toyota has recently provided its Etios with a facelift to really make it stand out in the market and has combined both local and international elements in order to do so. The car has increased safety measures such as airbags and rear parking sensors with the finish also being quite good on the inside. The car also comes with a good infotainment system that ensures that the add ons are well worth the money.
Powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine that delivers 88bhp of power as well as 132Nm of torque, the Toyota Etios is an excellent car to drive with the only hiccup being a low fuel efficiency on the petrol variant.
-
Maruti Ertiga Petrol (Rs.6 lakh – 7.6 lakh)
Pros:
- Great after sales service
- Good braking and handling
Cons:
- Looks should be improved
- Interiors can be upgraded to make it even better
The Ertiga is easily one of the most premium cars available from the Maruti stable and it does not disappoint either in terms of performance. It is an extremely compact car and has great driveability making the driver feel comfortable and safe in the car.
With a very spacious interior and a decent 1.4 litre petrol engine, the Ertiga in many ways is a perfect family car and with the wide variety of options available, it also offers enough choices to suit a potential customer.
Being a Maruti, after sales service is never a concern as the company provides maintenance options and ensures that the car keeps running year after year.
-
Ford EcoSport Petrol (Rs.6.8 Lakh – Rs.9.7 Lakh)
Pros:
- Looks amazing
- Tons of features and great interior design as well
Cons:
- Boot space is quite limited
- Service centres are few and far between
Next Read : Top 10 Car Companies in India (2016)
The Ford EcoSport has been a huge hit ever since it was launched owing to its great design and performance. Based on a great design philosophy that has worked globally, the EcoSport looks good both inside and out. The car runs on a 1.5 litre diesel engine that delivers 89PS of power and 204Nm of torque.
The option of automatic transmission too is another great addition that makes this car stand out among others, particularly in the compact SUV segment. Among the most awaited and widely anticipated releases in recent times, the Ford EcoSport has more than loved up to expectations.
Conclusion
Buying a car in the sub Rs 7 lakh bracket is never easy as it is between what can be regarded as budget and what can be seen as higher end models. Therefore the decision depends on your requirements and what suits you best. For small families, a hatchback would appear to be the automatic choice but for a larger set of people a sedan or SUV may be more preferable.
Also while deciding not only engine performance, but after sales service, mileage as well as availability of spare parts needs to be kept in mind to ensure that you get a car that is great to drive and gives you sufficient value for you money as well.
[All images taken from Google, under Labled for reuse permissions,WikiMedia]
