Top 10 Cars for Students in India

With an array of options available in the market and a rise in disposable income, purchasing the right car that suits your needs is more difficult than it sounds. In addition to affordability, fuel-efficiency, comfort, and safety, there are a number of important factors that play a key role during a car sale. Whether you are a student looking to buy a car or a parent planning to gift one to your son/daughter, see the below mentioned list for cars that are best suited for students to find the one that matches your needs.

1. Renault Kwid STD When your focus is affordability and ease of maintenance, this car is one of the best options available in the market for student drivers. Priced at Rs.2.78 lakh approximately, the Renault Kwid STD sports a 799cc, 0.8 litre, 4-cylinder DOHC petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 53 bhp at 5678 rpm and a maximum torque of 72 Nm at 4386 rpm. This 5-seater compact car not only offers an average mileage of 25.17 kmpl, but also has a 5-speed manual transmission and 28-litre fuel tank. Available in 5 colour options, this car features dual digital trip meters and 300 litres of boot space.
2. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi This car is worth Rs.3.78 lakh approximately and is equipped with a 998cc petrol engine with 3 inline cylinders and a 5-speed manual transmission. The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi has a fuel tank with 35-litre capacity and offers a mileage of 24.07 kmpl on an average. Available in 5 unique colours, the K10B, 4-cylinder DOHC, petrol engine of the car is capable of producing 67 bhp at 6000 rpm of power and a maximum torque of 90 Nm at 3500 rpm. Offering 177 litres of boot space, the car features a gas-filled MacPherson Strut suspension in the front while the rear end has a 3-link rigid axle suspension for a smooth ride.
3. Honda Brio E MT With a 35-litre fuel tank and 5-speed manual transmission, the Honda Brio E MT grants a mileage of 18.5 kmpl. The 1198cc, 4-inline cylinder SOHC, petrol engine of the car is capable of generating a power of 87 bhp at 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 109 Nm at 4500 rpm. This car sports a boot space of 175 litres, power-assisted electric steering, and power windows in the front. With 5 different colours to choose from, this car is available in the Indian market at Rs.4.81 lakh approximately. If you are looking for a car that is easy to handle and maintain then this is the one that you should go for.
4. Maruti Suzuki Swift LXi When you are looking for a car that provides comfort and convenience along with affordability, the Maruti Suzuki Swift LXi is the right choice for you. Equipped with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist (BA), this car features 268 litres of boot space, a 37-litre fuel tank, electric power-assisted steering, and a multifunction display. With a MacPherson Strut front suspension and a torsion beam suspension in the back for a comfortable ride, the Maruti Suzuki Swift LXi offers an average mileage of 22 kmpl. The car’s 1197cc, 1.2 L VVT, 4-cylinder DOHC, petrol engine coupled with a 5-speed transmission can generate and power of 82 bhp at 6000 rpm and 113 Nm at 4200 rpm of torque. The Maruti Suzuki Swift LXi is available in 6 different colours, and is priced at Rs.4.99 lakh approximately.
5. Volkswagen Polo Trendline 1.2L (P) Generating a maximum power of 74 bhp at 5400 rpm and 110 Nm at 3750 rpm of maximum torque, the Volkswagen Polo Trendline 1.2L (P) offers a mileage of 16.47 kmpl. This car is equipped with a 1198cc, 4-cylinder, 1.2 litre MPI petrol engine, 5-speed gearbox, manual transmission, 45-litre fuel tank, and 295 litres of boot space. With a power assisted steering, multifunction display system, engine immobiliser, and ABS, this car is one of the best options for a student driver. The market price of the Volkswagen Polo Trendline 1.2L (P) is Rs.5.48 approximately, and the car is available in 6 exclusive colours to choose from.
6. Maruti Suzuki Baleno Sigma 1.2 Powered by a 1197cc, 4-inline cylinder DOHC, VVT petrol engine, this car generates 83 bhp at 6000 rpm of power and 115 Nm at 4000 rpm of torque. The 37-litre fuel tank coupled with the 5-speed manual transmission of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno Sigma 1.2 offers a mileage of 21.4 kmpl on an average. This car is worth Rs.5.46 lakh approximately, and features 7 colour options. Outfitted with dual electronic trip meters and a power-assisted electric steering, this car supports Anti-Lock Braking System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, and engine immobiliser as well as a sizeable boot space of 339 litres to offer maximum convenience to the driver and passengers.
7. Hyundai Elite i20 Era 1.2 The Hyundai Elite i20 Era 1.2 features a 45-litre fuel tank, 5-speed gearbox, manual transmission, and 1197cc, 1.2 Kappa petrol with dual VTVT, 16 Valves, 4 Cylinder, DOHC engine. This car can produce a maximum torque of 115 Nm at 4000 rpm and a maximum power of 82 bhp at 6000 rpm. Along with offering 285 litres of boot space, this car is equipped with ABS, engine immobiliser, MacPherson strut with coil spring suspension in the front, electronic twin trip meters, and a power-assisted steering. The Hyundai Elite i20 Era 1.2 is available in the Indian market at around Rs.5.35 lakh with 6 colour options to select from.
8. Tata Tiago Revotron XE With a 35-litre fuel tank and 5-speed manual transmission, the Tata Tiago Revotron XE grants an average mileage of 23.84 kmpl. With a price tag of Rs.3.98 lakh approximately, this car has a 1199cc, DOHC, Revotron, MPFi with multi-drive petrol engine coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission. The maximum torque that can be generated by this car is 114 Nm at 3500 rpm along with 84 bhp at 6000 rpm of maximum power. The Tata Tiago Revotron XE is outfitted with engine immobiliser, electronic dual trip meters, a 242-litre boot space, and an independent lower wishbone in addition to MacPherson Strut with coil spring suspension.
9. Hyundai Grand i10 Magna 1.2 Kappa VTVT Priced at Rs.5.33 lakh approximately, the Hyundai Grand i10 Magna 1.2 Kappa VTVT features a 1197cc, 1.2 Kappa Dual VTVT, 4-cylinder DOHC, petrol engine along with a 5-speed manual transmission, 256-litre boot space, and 43-litre fuel tank. This car can produce 81 bhp at 6000 rpm of maximum power and a torque of 114 Nm at 4000 rpm while offering an average mileage of 19.77 kmpl.
10. Tata Nano GenX XT Renowned to be one of the most economical cars available in India, the cost of the Tata Nano GenX XT is Rs.2.9 lakh approximately. This compact, 5-seater car has a 624cc, 2-inline cylinder SOHC, MPFI petrol engine that grants a maximum power of 37 bhp at 5500 rpm and a maximum torque of 51 Nm at 4000 rpm. With a 4-speed manual transmission coupled with a 24-litre fuel tank, this car offers an average mileage of 23.6 kmpl. As Tata Nano GenX XT offers the joy of driving without pinching the pocket, this car is preferred by many student drivers who can also choose from the 6 colour options available in the market.

It can be difficult to gather the funds in order to buy a car while paying for the educational fees of a student. Whether you want to buy a new car or an old one, you can opt for a low-interest car loan to receive the money you require while purchasing a car. With the process of loan application and approval becoming easier by the minute, you can quickly receive the funds to purchase your dream car.

FAQs

1. Are car loans available for students in India?

Car loans can be availed even if you are a student in India if you meet the basic eligibility criteria set by the bank or Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC). While this may differ from lender to lender, the basic criteria for age is to be above 18 or 21 years. So if you are above the age of 18, you can apply for a car loan if you also have salary slips to show as income proof from a full-time or part-time job. You can also apply with a guarantor in order to increase your chances of approval.

2. I want to buy one of the top 10 cars for students in India but need a car loan. How can I increase my chances of approval for the loan as a student?

You can improve your chances of getting approved for a car loan as a student if you apply with a guarantor, who can be your parent or sibling who has a steady job and source of income to show as proof. If they have a good credit score also, your chances of getting approved will be higher.

3. If I am applying for a car loan as a student, do I need to give a down-payment?

Most banks or NBFCs give up to 100% of the car value as a loan for new cars and up to 80% of the car value of pre-owned cars as a loan. So if you can afford a down-payment, the quantum of loan that you require will decrease which will also make it far easier to get the loan approved. You also get to save on the interest which leads to more savings over time.

4. Is it better to buy a brand-new car or a pre-owned one?

This would depend on your budget and requirements. If you have a limited budget as a student, a pre-owned car could be more affordable in the long run as prices of cars do come down quickly over time, so you could easily get one of the cars in the top 10 list as a pre-owned car if you wait for a couple of months.

5. Are there any cars with automatic transmission that I can afford as a student?

This would depend on your budget. Cars with automatic transmission start at around Rs.5 lakh in India. The cars with automatic transmission that are available around this price range include the Maruti Swift, Tata Tiago, and Hyundai Elite i20.