SUVs are gaining popularity over sedans across segments, but there is still a significant demand for them in segments under INR 10 lakh*. In this post, we have picked out the best sedan under 10 lakhs and listed down five of them based on the most sought-after aspects like comfort, fuel economy (mileage) and in-cabin technologies, etc.
Space and comfort – Maruti Ciaz
If there is one sedan which has redefined the term ‘value for money’ among sedans in India, it has to be the Maruti Ciaz. The Maruti Ciaz is undoubtedly the longest car under the INR 10 lakh mark. It not only gives the feeling of owning a much bigger, upper-class sedan, but also a long wheelbase that translates to a much more spacious cabin compared to what rivals offer.
The Maruti Ciaz offers the most spacious cabin in its class, thanks to its longest wheelbase.
With the segment-best legroom and knee room, and with an adequate amount of shoulder room and headroom on offer, the Maruti Ciaz is clearly the most spacious car in its category. So, if you have a tight budget, and are mostly being chauffeured, the Maruti Ciaz is the best sedan under 10 lakhs which you can opt for.
Maruti Suzuki has recently updated the Ciaz with a BS-VI compliant 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is available with a 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic gearboxes, and delivers a maximum power output of 105 PS and a peak torque output of 138 Nm. The automatic configurations cost over INR 10 lakh*.
Maruti Ciaz manual prices*
Sigma - INR 8,31,974
Delta - INR 8,93,974
Zeta - INR 9,70,974
Alpha - INR 9,97,689
Fuel efficiency and reliability – Maruti Dzire
Maruti Suzuki definitely knows how to make cars which don't burn a hole in the pocket, and what better example can be there than the Maruti Dzire, India's best-selling sedan. Since its inception almost 13 years ago, the Maruti Dzire has been the topmost preferred choice regarding the best sedan under 10 lakhs for those who prioritize money-saving methods like maximum fuel efficiency and least maintenance costs.
The 1.2-litre K12N petrol engine makes the Maruti Dzire the most fuel-efficient petrol sedan in the country.The Maruti Dzire was recently given a makeover, which apart from receiving a fresh new face, also got a new heart in the form of a new 1.2-litre four cylinder petrol engine. The new engine has made the Maruti DZire the most efficient petrol sedan in the country. It has a fuel economy rating of 23.26 km/l with the 5-speed manual transmission and 24.12 km/l with the 5-speed automated manual transmission. The new engine produces 90 PS of maximum power and 113 Nm of peak torque output.
Maruti Dzire manual prices*
LXI - INR 5,89,000
VXI - INR 6,79,000
ZXI - INR 7,48,000
ZXI+ - INR 8,28,000
Maruti Dzire automatic prices*
VXI AMT- INR 7,31,500
ZXI AMT- INR 8,00,500
ZXI+ AMT - INR 8,80,500
Technology and features – Hyundai Aura 1.0 Turbo GDI petrol
Turbocharging is the call of the hour, and while all the manufacturers are gradually coming up with one or two new products with turbocharged petrol engines, Hyundai has set up the pace by introducing a range of cars with a turbocharged petrol engine like the Venue, Creta, Grand i10 Nios, Aura, and Verna.
The Hyundai Aura 1.0 Turbo GDI is the best sedan under 10 lakhs to offer a turbocharged petrol engine.ArrayThe Hyundai Aura is the only sedan under the INR 10 lakh mark to be available with a turbocharged petrol engine. Priced at INR 8.55 lakh*, the sub-4 metre sedan has a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 100 PS of maximum power and 172 Nm of peak torque output. The engine is coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard.
Moreover, it’s not only the turbocharged petrol engine which gives the Hyundai Aura the title of the best sedan under 10 lakhs but also the longest list of comfort and convenience features on offer, which make it the most feature-rich sedan in its category. In the sole SX+ trim in which it is available, the Hyundai Aura 1.0 Turbo GDI is equipped with the largest-in-segment 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with iBlue audio remote application, reverse camera, Apple Carplay, and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charger, cooled glove box, push-button start with keyless entry, projector headlamps and daytime running LEDs and machined alloy wheels.
Performance and driving dynamics – Ford Aspire 1.5 TDCI diesel
The Ford Aspire does not get standout sporty design elements like the Hyundai Aura turbo-petrol, but it surely manages to shoot down the latter as well as all the other sedans in its space when it comes to outright performance and driving manners. The Ford Aspire is available with 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines. It is the latter which can bring a big smile to your face if you are behind the steering wheel of the Aspire.
The 1.5-litre diesel engine of the Ford Aspire offers the most amount of torque in its segment.
Coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard, the 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine makes 100 PS of maximum power and 215 Nm of peak torque. It is the torquiest engine in the segment. Also, the traditional virtues of all the Ford products of having nicely weighted steering and finely tuned suspension have been bestowed on the Ford Aspire diesel as well, making it the most fun-to-drive sedan in its category.
Ford Aspire diesel prices*
Trend - INR 7,49,000
Titanium - INR 7,99,00
Titanium+ - INR 8,34,000
Safety – Toyota Yaris
The next best sedan under 10 lakhs is the Toyota Yaris, one of the most underrated cars in the Indian automobile market. The vehicle hasn’t clicked much with the Indian audience, and that might be due to steep pricing by Toyota at the time of its launch. However, the high price was justified by the fact that it was equipped with a total of seven airbags as standard. Now, cheaper configurations with three airbags are available. Just to give you a testimony of the Toyota Yaris' prowess in safety, it has secured a 4-star rating at Latin NCAP and a 5-star rating at ASEAN NCAP.
The base variant of the Toyota Yaris comes with three airbags.
The Toyota Yaris packs a number of attractive features right from the base grade, like three airbags (front, side, curtain and knee airbags), rear parking sensors, projector headlamps, Bluetooth enabled 2-DIN music system with four speakers, cooled glove box, electrically adjustable outside rear windows and height adjustment for driver’s seat. LED DRLs, alloy wheels, LED rear combination lamps, 7-inch LED touchscreen infotainment system, six speakers, 4.2-inch colour TFT MID, cruise control, paddle shifters, seven airbags, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), front parking sensors and many more/better features. are available in higher grades.
The Toyota Yaris is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which churns out 107 PS of maximum power and 140 Nm of peak torque output. All the variants of the Toyota Yaris, including the base J variant, are offered with both 5-speed manual and CVT gearboxes.
