Since inaugurating its first service workshop in 1983, Maruti Suzuki has steadily expanded its reach. It took 14 years to reach 1,000 service touchpoints by 1997, and the pace accelerated in subsequent years, with the latest 1,000 touchpoints added in just three years.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Achieves 3 Crore Cumulative Production Milestone

Maruti Suzuki has consistently introduced innovative service formats, including mobile support for doorstep service and a dedicated quick response team for on-road assistance. The company is also embracing digitalization with features like multi-language voice BOTs, digital job card opening, and digital owner’s manuals to enhance customer convenience.

With this milestone, Maruti Suzuki continues to lead in delivering exceptional service experiences across India.

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR has become an iconic brand in its long & illustrious journey of over two decades. The “Strong on looks, strong in character” WagonR has reached yet another milestone by clocking the 30 Lakh sales milestone.

Over the years, Maruti Suzuki has ensured that every new model of the WagonR is developed to be future-ready. The current 3rd generation WagonR has a wide variant range featuring two advanced K-series Dual Jet, Dual VVT with Idle Start Stop (ISS) engine options (1.0L and 1.2L) combined with manual and AGS transmission and offer wide array of colour options including dual tone to add to its sporty and energetic looks. WagonR also offers S-CNG variants (1.0L) to cater to diverse customer profiles.

Underpinning 5th generation HEARTECT platform features high tensile steel grades and is designed to absorb impact energy with its designated crumple zones, new WagonR features a range of high-tech driver aids such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Hill-Hold in AGS while meeting all crash test regulations including offset, side crash and pedestrian safety norms.

Thanking customers for supporting Maruti Suzuki S-CNG cars, Mr. Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “We are humbled by the appreciation and positive response received by our S-CNG offerings. As a Company, our aim is to offer safe, reliable, clean, technologically advanced and environment-friendly vehicles to our customers. Our S-CNG range is specifically designed, developed and manufactured at our facilities to suit the Indian driving conditions.”

Maruti Suzuki S-CNG technology has played a significant role in laying the groundwork for democratising CNG technology in the Indian automotive space. Since 2010, the Company has systematically addressed legacy concerns associated with CNG vehicles for safety and performance.

Maruti Suzuki’s efforts to popularize the adoption of S-CNG vehicles are aligned with the Government of India’s objective of reduction in oil imports by enhancing the share of natural gas in the energy basket of the country from 6.2% presently to 15% by 2030.

The new Maruti Suzuki WagonR comes with a Sporty Floating Roof design with Dynamic alloy wheels. The dual-tone exterior design option will be available in the Z+ variant in 2 new colour combinations of Gallant Red with Black roof and Magma Grey with Black roof. The refreshed dual-tone interiors of New WagonR with appealing premium beige and dark grey melange seat fabric design complements the exterior and interior design theme. While the fresh combinations of the dual-tone options give the car a sportier appeal, the melange effect accentuates cabin comfort and gives a soothing appearance to the interiors of the New WagonR. Overall, the new design changes give the legendary tallboy a sportier and more energetic look.

The new Maruti Suzuki WagonR is available in 2 engine options. The 1.2L engine makes 89 PS of max power and 113 Nm of peak torque. And the 1.0L engine produces 66 PS and 89 Nm. There's also an S-CNG model with the 1.0L engine. It has 65 PS and 89 Nm when using petrol and 55 PS and 82 Nm when running on CNG.

Safety features in the new Maruti Suzuki WagonR include dual airbags, Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), front seat belts reminder, high-speed alert system and rear parking sensors as standard across all variants. The new model also comes with the Hill-Hold Assist in AGS variants and provides superior safety.

The new Maruti Suzuki WagonR is available at a starting price of INR 5.39 lakh that goes as high as INR 7.10 lakh (ex-showroom). It can also be owned through Maruti Suzuki Subscribe at an all-inclusive monthly subscription fee starting from INR 12,300.

Going ahead, there could be yet another car that is likely to join the list of Toyota rebadged Maruti models. We are talking about the Maruti Wagon R. Over the past many months, there have been numerous sightings of a camouflaged WagonR-Like model on test, which was initially thought to be the Maruti XL5 - a more premium version of the WagonR, just like what Maruti did with the Ertiga and XL6. However, the supposed Maruti XL5 has now been spied completely uncamouflaged, revealing that this could be a rebadged Toyota version of the Maruti WagonR.

Also Read : Toyota Belta is the New Honda City Rival, Based on Maruti Ciaz

As you can see in the video above, credit to MRD cars, the spied test mule does not wear any company logo on either the front or back end, but the only give away that this could be a Toyota rebadged WagonR are the wheels that bear the Toyota logo. Interestingly, these are the same wheels that are found on the Maruti Ignis, only with a Toyota badge here. In contrast, the Maruti WagonR rides on 14-inch steel wheels with silver wheel caps. Look past the wheels, and you will see several other notable updates to the design as well. In fact, if this indeed is a Toyota rebadged Maruti WagonR, it distinguishes itself very well from its donor car.

The biggest updates are to the design of the bumpers. The rear bumper gets new reflector elements and a black plastic cladding as opposed to the completely plain bumper on the WagonR. It is also interesting to note that the chrome garnish over the license plate - which is where the WagonR gets its badging - has been sealed with tape, possibly to hide the new name of the upcoming vehicle. While there are not many changes in profile, the front end is again completely new. It gets a completely new bumper with a split headlamp setup, new grille, new fog lamp housings and more black plastic cladding. The bonnet, however, is identical to the WagonR.

Incidentally, the long rumored Maruti XL5 was also thought be an electric version of the WagonR, which too has been in the pipeline for a long time. While there's still no official word about the latter, it is understood that the upcoming Toyota badged WagonR will indeed be an EV. Technical details are sparse at the moment, but that alone if a huge differentiation factor from the WagonR. This also inevitably means that the Toyota badged WagonR will be positioned completely differently in the market. It would be interesting to see how this space develops as we await more information on this.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Toyota updates and other four-wheeler news.

As convenience takes a front seat, manufacturers have been adapting to the market demand and coming out with automatic transmissions of various types at rather reasonable prices. Along with that, the pandemic has brought about a chronic fear of travelling in public transport, and the possible infection that you might contract. So, if you are in the market looking for your next car, here are some of the models that will offer an automatic transmission without burning a hole in your pocket. Check out the list of automatic cars under 8 lakhs in India.

1) Maruti-Suzuki Dzire AMT

The all-new third-gen Maruti Suzuki Dzire was introduced with the brand's Automatic Manual Transmission (AMT) system from the offset. The AMT unit gets hydraulic actuators in order to shift gears through a convention planetary gear system, thereby offering the convenience of an automatic gearbox with the affordability of a manual. Offered both in petrol and diesel engines, the AGS gearbox also delivers the best mileage in its class.

The Dzire is offered with Maruti’s 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine that produces 90 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual and gets the choice of a 5-speed AMT as well. This engine is the first to offer idle start-stop function in the segment, making it more efficient. It has a claimed fuel efficiency of 23.26 kmpl with the MT and 24.12 kmpl with the AMT.

In terms of features, the Maruti Dzire comes with cruise control, automatic LED headlamps, auto-folding ORVMs, push-button engine start-stop and auto AC with rear AC vents. It also gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, along with cloud-based services. Its AMT variants also get electronic stability control and hill hold assist, while features like rear-view camera and rear defogger are offered in higher-spec variants. Prices for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire AMT variants start at INR 7.54 lakh*, making it one of the best automatic cars under 8 lakh.

Also Read: Top 5 Diesel Automatic Cars in India - Kia, Tata, Hyundai and More

2) Honda Amaze

The Honda Amaze offers a CVT, a more refined version of aforementioned automatic manual technology.  In terms of engine options, there's a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel unit, both come with a CVT option. The petrol unit delivers 90 PS and 110 Nm, whereas the diesel develops 100 PS and 200 Nm. The diesel CVT, however, produces slightly less power and torque, rated at 80 PS and 160 Nm of torque.

Honda’s claimed fuel efficiency states that the Petrol MT returns 18.6 kmpl, while the petrol CVT delivers 18.3 kmpl. On the other hand, the diesel MT returns 24.7 kmpl and the diesel CVT delivers 21 kmpl. In terms of features, the Amaze gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, rear parking camera and a passive keyless entry system with a push-button engine start-stop feature. Prices for the Honda Amaze CVT automatic variants start at INR 7.81 lakh*.

3) Maruti-Suzuki Wagon R

If you are looking for a no-nonsense affordable automatic car, the Maruti-Suzuki Wagon R fits the bill perfectly. The hatchback has been one of the most popular badges in Maruti-Suzuki’s lineup for almost 20 years and is still going strong thanks to plenty of positives. It is easy to get in and out of, has an airy cabin and its flexible interior space makes it practical.

The new Wagon R comes with two engine options. In the lower variants, you get the same 1.0-litre engine as the previous generation. If you choose to buy the higher variants, you get the larger 1.2-litre K12 engine from the Ignis and the Swift. The 1.0-litre engine outputs 68 hp and returns 21.79 kmpl. The 1.2-litre, on the other hand, outputs 83 hp and returns 20.52 kmpl. Both the engines get an AMT gearbox option.

Prices for the AMT variants of the 1.0-litre version starts at INR 5.43 lakh, while the 1.2-litre with an AMT start at INR 5.66 lakh*. In terms of features, the new-gen model comes with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Also Read: Top 10 Safest cars in India Under 10 Lakhs in 2021

4) Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

The Grand i10 has been a popular badge in the hatchback segment in India and with its latest update, Hyundai has made the package a lot more attractive with modern features and a laudable powertrain options. The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios comes with an AMT  and is solely available with the 1.2-litre Kappa engine that outputs 82 bhp and 114 Nm of torque.

The Grand i10 Nios offers first-in-segment features like a wireless phone charger, 7.9-inch touch screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Car Play, and an Arkamys premium sound system. Prices for the AMT variants of the car begins at INR 6.51 lakh* for the Magna variant and goes up to INR 7.76 lakh* for the Asta variant.

5) Tata Tiago

Last on our list of best automatic cars under 8 lakhs is the Tata Tiago, the small hatchback that has managed to turn fortunes for the Indian carmaker. In its most recent update, the Tata Tiago gets quite a few comprehensive updates over the outgoing version. Outside, the hatchback gets a new front bumper, headlamp and grille design. In addition to this, the car also gets dual-tone alloy wheels, a black-out roof and black ORVMs with turn indicators.

Inside, the new Tiago gets a mild update for a fresher appeal. The most major update is a fully digital instrument cluster, a new touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a Harman Kardon speaker system.

In terms of powertrain options, the Tata Tiago gets a BS-VI compliant 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 84 bhp and 113 Nm of torque. The engine can be had in both five-speed manual and five-speed AMT options. The prices of the AMT variants start at INR 6.34 lakh* and there are three auto-equipped variants to choose from.

Here are some most affordable automatic cars under 8 lakh in India. Let us know what do you think about the aforementioned models.

(*Ex-Showroom Price)

Maruti Suzuki Alto Festive Edition Kit

The Maruti Suzuki Alto Festive Edition kit includes a Pioneer touchscreen music system with 6-in Kenwood speakers for enhanced entertainment. The company has also added a security system with keyless entry and elegant dual-tone seat covers. There is a steering wheel cover too. Customers will also get number plate garnish and mud flaps. The price of this entire kit is INR 25,490.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Offering Discounts of Upto INR 68,000 on Select Models

Maruti Suzuki Celerio Festive Edition Kit

For a price of INR 25,990, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio Festive Edition kit provides a Sony Double-DIN audio system with Bluetooth connectivity that would make playing your favourite music that much easier and enjoyable. We also get stylish seat covers to refresh the cabin look and feel. Maruti Suzuki has also included designer mats. And for the exterior, the company has used attractive piano black body side mouldings, number plate garnish, and door visor.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Festive Edition Kit

The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Festive Edition Kit contains several elements that enhance the car’s visual appeal by a notch. It offers front and rear bumper protectors, front upper grille chrome garnish, and side skirts. Maruti Suzuki has also added stylish seat covers to ensure that the cabin also looks and feel fresh. There is also an interior style package. The total cost of the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Festive Edition kit has been set at INR 29,990.

Interested customers can buy the Festive Edition kits for the Alto, Celerio, and Wagon R from Maruti Suzuki’s dealerships which will also take care of the installation.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Maruti Suzuki updates and other four-wheeler news.

Nonetheless, to push the sales further, manufacturers are launching newer products with every passing day and offering laudable offers on existing ones. If you are planning to buy a new new vehicle in the coming months, here are the top 5 upcoming cars that will cost below INR 15 lakh in India.

Nissan Magnite

The Nissan Magnite is the Japanese brand's bet for a spiritual comeback in India. After realigning their business strategy and discontinuing all the products barring Kicks, Nissan has high hopes from Magnite. In terms of design, the compact SUV gets a large grille with a chrome surround, LED headlamps and L-shaped LED DRLs, faux skid plates and chunky wheel arches at the front. The alloy wheels are a dual-tone affair and the tail lamps are full-LED units. Inside the cabin, the Magnite features cruise control, a touchscreen infotainment system with an 8.0-inch display, climate control, rear AC vents, driver’s seat height adjustment and rear armrest.

Powering the car will be the HRA0 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, which delivers maximum power of 100 PS and maximum torque of 160 Nm. The HRAO turbo engine is available with  either a 5-speed manual or X-TRONIC CVT. There's also a NA 1.0-litre engine which will available with just a manual gearbox. Prices for the Nissan Magnite are expected to start at INR 6 lakh*.

Maruti-Suzuki Wagon R EV

Maruti-Suzuki has been testing the electric version of the Wagon R since 2018, where 50 prototypes of the vehicle were put to test. It is believed that the electric vehicle will be sold via Maruti Suzuki’s premium, Nexa dealership outlets. In all likelihood, the Maruti Wagon R EV will get premium features like a large SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a multifunction steering wheel and automatic gearbox with brake regeneration function. Since the electric vehicle is expected to be a premium product offering in India, the vehicle is expected to get an automatic climate control option.

The Wagon R EV is expected to be offered with a fast charging option that can charge up to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes. It is believed that the company will offer a driving range of up to 200 kms. The new model is likely to be based on the Heartect platform that underpins the current-gen ICE powered Wagon R. The Wagon R EV will be India's largest carmaker's entry in to the EV segment and is expected to be priced around INR 8 Lakh*.

Tata Gravitas

After its success with the Harrier, Tata Motors is now set to introduce the Gravitas 7-seater SUV based on the same philosophy, same engines, features and design. The Gravitas is essentially a Harrier with an extra row of seats and an extended rear overhang to accommodate those seats. On offer would be an 8.8-inch infotainment system automatic AC, dedicated AC vents for third-row passengers, a semi-digital instrument panel with a seven-inch MID (multi-information display) and more. We also expect the Gravitas to feature iRA connectivity suite which made its debut on the facelifted Tata Nexon.

In terms of powertrain options, the car will get the same engine as the Harrier. This means that there would be a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine delivering 168 bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque. This engine comes paired to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with an option of a six-speed automatic gearbox. However, some reports suggest the Gravitas could get a 400 Nm engine. Tata Gravitas will go up against MG Hector Plus and is expected to be priced upwards of INR 15 lakh*.

Mahindra Scorpio

The Scorpio comes from the house that is known around the world for its expertise in high-hauling body types. The Mahindra Scorpio is also among the oldest surviving SUVs of India and still going strong. However, new urban-focused mid SUVs are slowly stealing the thunder from this affordable SUV and for the same reason, Mahindra is all set to launch the all-new Scorpio soon. Spy pictures of the car suggest that the car will be lengthier, taller, wider and will get a larger tailgate for easy ingress and egress.

One of the biggest changes will be in terms of mechanicals. The new Scorpio will come with both petrol and diesel engines options. The petrol model will use an all-new 2.0-litre mStallion turbocharged motor, while the diesel version will get an updated, more powerful 2.2-litre mHawk unit. The petrol engine will be rated at 150 bhp and 320 Nm of torque. The power and torque figures of the updated oil burner could be higher than the existing unit that makes 130 bhp and 320 Nm. The model lineup will come with a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic torque converter gearbox options.

Tata Altroz EV

Last on our list is the Tata Altroz EV, which has all the makings of a stylish, affordable and frugal EV. Going by what Tata gave us in the form of Nexon EV, we have hardly any doubt about it. The Altroz EV is not too different from its non-EV version except for an exclusive Teal Blue paint option, electric blue accents around the car, a redesigned front air-dam and the lack of a tail-pipe are the differentiating features on the outside. On the inside, the lack of a mechanical gearbox and gear lever means more space in the front. The centre console is split in two, with a floating cubby space on the dashboard and a gear-selector dial in front of the armrest.

The powertrain is the same as the Nexon EV, a single 95 kw electric motor which powers the front wheels and draws energy from a 30.2 kWh lithium-ion battery. Tata stated that the Altroz will beat Nexon’s ARAI-certified 312 km range. In terms of charging, 0-80 per cent charge should take about an hour when plugged into a fast charger. Expect prices for the Tata Altroz EV to start from INR 9 Lakh*.

*ex-showroom prices

Maruti Suzuki Arena

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio is currently available with a cash discount of INR 25,000 along with an exchange bonus of INR 20,000 and a corporate discount of INR 6,000. The company’s popular compact SUV, Maruti Vitara Brezza is currently available with a cash discount of INR 10,000, an exchange bonus of INR 25,000 and a corporate discount of INR 6,000. Similarly, the Maruti S-Presso can be bought with a cash discount of INR 20,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000 and a corporate discount of INR 6,000.

Buyers choosing the Maruti Suzuki Dzire can avail a cash discount of INR 10,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, and a corporate discount of INR 6,000. The Maruti Alto 800 can be availed with a cash discount of INR 18,000, an exchange bonus of INR 15,000, and a corporate discount of INR 6,000.

Offers on the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Eeco include a cash discount of INR 10,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, and a corporate discount of INR 6,000 each. The Swift, similarly, is available with a cash discount of INR 10,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000 and a corporate discount of INR 6,000.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Baleno surpasses 8 lakh sales milestone in 5 years

Maruti Suzuki Nexa

The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is being offered with an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, a corporate discount of INR 20,000 and an accessories pack worth INR 37,000. The Ciaz is being offered with a cash discount of INR 20,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000 and a corporate discount of INR 11,000.

All variants of the Ignis is now available with an exchange bonus of INR 15,000, a corporate discount of INR 6,000. Apart from this, the Sigma and Alpha variants are being offered with a cash discount of INR 25,000 and INR 10,000 respectively. Meanwhile, the Delta and Zeta variants get a cash discount of INR 20,000 each.

A few dealerships are offering the XL6 with an exchange bonus of INR 20,000 and a corporate discount of up to INR 7,000. All variants of the Baleno can now be bought with a cash discount of up to INR 10,000, an exchange bonus of INR 10,000 and a corporate discount of INR 6,000. The Sigma variant, on the other hand, comes with an additional cash discount of INR 5,000.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Maruti Suzuki updates and other four-wheeler news.

While the test unit which was spotted once again in Gurugram was heavily disguised, a few notable observation deduced include a new front fascia that comes with split headlamp unit. The electric version of the hatchback will get a new grille along with distinctive bumpers and fog lamp housing. The test mule was riding on the same set of 15-inch alloy wheels that are currently seen on the Ignis.

While the mechanical details about the car are still under wraps, more revelations will be made closer to the launch of the vehicle. Its ICE sibling in its current avatar is powered by a 1.0-litre as well as a 1.2-litre petrol engine. The former puts out 67 bhp of power and 90 Nm of torque, while the latter delivers 82 bhp and 113 Nm. The engines come paired with a 5-speed MT or a 5-speed AMT.

The WagonR’s CNG variant recently hit a milestone of 3 lakh units in India. With a sale of over 24 lakh units in the country, the figure of 3 lakh WagonR with CNG kits also point to the preference towards alternate fuels which are cheaper and have significantly lesser emission levels.

In the domestic market, the car will compete against the likes of Mahindra eKUV100 and Tata Nexon EV. However, they are not the direct competitors to the electric hatchback as it is expected to be priced below INR 7 Lakh (ex-showroom).

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Subscribe now available in Delhi-NCR & Bengaluru

However, Maruti Suzuki is not expected to make the car available for private buyers at the onset due to the inadequate charging infrastructure in the country and might be offered to fleet operators and government officials only as both Tata and Mahindra are doing with the Tigor and Verito EVs.

Speaking on the joyous occasion, Mr Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said:

Constantly featured amongst India’s top 10 cars for nearly two decades, Maruti Suzuki WagonR continues to be the undisputed market leader in its segment. Since its debut in 1999, the WagonR has over 24 lakh happy customers and it’s the first car for nearly half of them. The iconic car from Maruti Suzuki continues to feature among the top 5 best-selling cars in India since 2000. The milestone of 3 lakh sales of WagonR S-CNG is yet another testament to the immense faith bestowed on us by our loyal customers. Maruti Suzuki has persistently strived to offer sustainable mobility options to its customers. We take this opportunity to thank our trusted customers for their relentless support to make WagonR S-CNG the largest selling CNG-fuelled car in India.

The Maruti WagonR is quite popular for its spacious cabin. The latest model is built on the 5th generation HEARTECT platform which increases the safety of occupants through effective absorption of impact and dispersion of crash energy and assures stability.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Subscribe now available in Delhi-NCR & Bengaluru

In terms of powertrain options, the WagonR S-CNG is available only with the 1.0L petrol engine which produces 58 bhp of maximum power and 78 Nm of peak torque. For the transmission, there is only a 5-speed manual gearbox on offer. The CNG variant is additionally equipped with the state-of-the-art electronically-controlled intelligent injection system which ensures the delivery of optimal performance and low emissions. The Maruti WagonR S-CNG offers the convenience of an auto fuel changeover switch and delivers best-in-class fuel efficiency of 33.54 km/kg.

Case in point, Maruti’s massive list of budget hatchbacks that you can buy, spread out across a broad spectrum of budgets. Maruti-Suzuki is the only carmaker in India to offer such a wide array of products and 7 of its products are priced less than INR 5 Lakh, a segment most of the middle-class Indians aspire to purchase. In fact, talking of the complete product list, none of Maruti-Suzuki’s products have a starting price of more than INR 10 Lakh, highlighting the kind of importance the Indo-Japanese lays on the budget offering, despite 12 products in its portfolio.

Hence, we have created a list of the top 5 budget Maruti Suzuki hatchbacks you can buy in India under INR 5 Lakh:

Maruti Suzuki Alto

Price – INR 2.95 Lakh

Small cars make for some of the wisest of choices for Indian roads. Not only are they affordable for buyers but a large section of the Indian population can only afford reasonably priced cars. Small cars also prove to be less of a hassle when driving in bothersome traffic through the city. If these aspects appeal to you, then the Maruti Alto stands as the rightful choice for your next purchase.

The Maruti Alto is also among the most fuel-efficient cars in the country with a 48bhp, 800cc engine that is claimed to deliver 22.05kmpl, making it one of the most affordable day-to-day runner as well. In its BS-VI avatar, the car comes with more features and subtle changes to the exterior as well. The Alto is priced starting from INR 2.95 lakh for the Standard variant.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

Price – INR 3.71 Lakh

The Maruti-Suzuki S-Presso embodies the formula of a successful car in the micro-SUV segment. The segment which is a new found love for many Indian buyers. The intention this time around was to make the SUV segment more accessible to customers. Prices for the car start at INR 3.71 lakh for the STD variant and goes up to INR 5.14 lakh (ex-showroom) for the VXi (O) CNG version.

It’s top-rung VXi plus trim gets manual air conditioning, front-only power windows, a touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cup and bottle holders upfront. It also gets steering mounted controls for audio and Bluetooth telephony. However, it misses out on a lock-unlock button, a rear wash-wipe and a dimming feature on the interior rear view mirror. The Maruti S-Presso is powered by the same K10 engine that powered the Alto K10, and essentially replaced the Alto K10 in India. The engine comes is BS-VI compliant, produces 64 bhp and 90 Nm of torque. Transmission duties are taken care of by a 5-speed manual transmission as standard. There’s also an AMT on offer.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Price – INR 4.41 Lakh

Another litre-class product from Maruti-Suzuki’s extensive stable is the Celerio hatchback. The car promises to be a more youthful version of the Wagon R with a curvy design and a funky cabin. However, unlike the Maruti Wagon R, the Celerio hasn’t managed to attract many buyers.

It is offered with only a 1.0-litre engine but has a CNG option as well for those looking for better mileage from the petrol motor. There’s also an AMT gearbox option for those looking for relief from traffic. The engine produces 67bhp and 90Nm of torque. The starting price tag for the Maruti Celerio is  INR 4.41 lakh (ex-showroom). The company has also added a Celerio X to the range, giving the hatchback a more rugged appeal to attract a wider audience. The Celerio X gets plastic body cladding and roof rails to make it look macho compared to standard Celerio.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Price – INR 4.46 Lakh

The Maruti-Suzuki Wagon R has been one of the most popular badges in country for the past 2 decades. The car has had plenty of positives that have worked in its favour over the years. It was easy to get in and out of, had an airy cabin and a versatile interior made it quite practical. In its new generation version, Maruti has tried to build on these strengths and address the old car's weaknesses.

The new-gen Wagon R comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that dominates proceedings. It’s a brand-new unit and it features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. With the new SmartPlay studio, you also get offline navigation and many more features. The new Wagon R comes with two engine options. In the lower variants, you get the same 1.0-litre engine as the previous generation. If you choose to buy the higher variants, you get the larger 1.2-litre K12 engine from the Ignis and the Swift. The 1.0-litre engine puts out 68 hp and returns 21.79 kmpl. The 1.2-litre, on the other hand, has an output of 83 hp and returns 20.52 kmpl. Prices for the car start at INR 4.46 lakh (ex-showroom).

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Price – INR 4.89 Lakh

Last on our list, is the Maruti-Suzuki Ignis premium hatchback. It retails through Maruti's upmarket NEXA range of dealerships and not its regular Maruti Suzuki Arena dealerships, unlike all the cars mentioned above. This also means that it is the most affordable NEXA car you can buy in India, with a starting price tag of INR 4.89 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Ignis was launched as a unique offering in India with a tall-boy design, wide dimension, aeroplane-style toggle switches and lots of cabin space to entice young buyers. More than a budget offering, Maruti refers to the Ignis as a lifestyle product. The car gets a 1.2-litre petrol engine in the same state of tune as the Swift and Baleno. It produces 84bhp and 113 Nm torque. However, the Ignis hasn't managed to be as successful as the rest of the Maruti's line-up, despite a competitive price tag.

*Note: All prices ex-showroom

Speaking about demand in a price-sensitive market like India, reports shows that passenger cars with low maintenance cost and better fuel efficiency are likely to get more buyers than any other segment. Hence, if you are in the market looking for your first car, one which scores well in terms of good fuel efficiency, here are your 5 best choices in the Indian market-

Honda Amaze

The Honda Amaze gets two BS-VI engine options - a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel unit. Both are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the option of a CVT. The petrol unit delivers 90 PS and 110 Nm, whereas the diesel develops 100 PS and 200 Nm. The diesel CVT, however, produces slightly less power and torque, with 80 PS and 160 Nm.

Honda’s claimed fuel efficiency ratings state that the Petrol MT returns 18.6 kmpl and the petrol CVT delivers 18.3 kmpl. Speaking of diesel powertrains, the diesel MT returns 24.7 kmpl, while diesel CVT delivers 21 kmpl.

The Honda Amaze gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, rear parking camera, and passive keyless entry with push-button engine start-stop. In terms of safety, the car gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors. Prices for the car starts at INR 6.19 lakh* in India.

Maruti-Suzuki Alto 800

Small cars make for some of the wisest choices for Indian roads. In addition to saving money over premium vehicle acquiring them, small cars also prove to be less of a hassle when driving through stop-go traffic conditions in our cities. If these aspects appeal to your needs, then the Maruti Alto 800 stands as the right choice for you.

The Maruti Alto 800 is the most fuel efficient car in the country with a 48 PS, 800 cc engine that claims to deliver 22.05 Kmpl. In its BS-VI avatar, the car comes with more features and subtle changes outside as well. There's no diesel engine option, however, you can opt for more frugal CNG variant as well. The Alto is priced from INR 3.00 lakh for the Standard variant.

Maruti-Suzuki WagonR 1.0

The Maruti WagonR has been one of the most popular model in the brand's lineup. Apart from being value-for-money, the car has plenty of positives that work in its favour. It has always been easy to get in-and-out of, features an airy cabin and the versatile interior space made it very practical. In its new-generation version, Maruti has tried to build on these strengths and address the old car's weaknesses.

The new-gen comes with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system that dominates proceedings. It’s a brand-new unit and features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Maruti has also developed a SmartPlay Studio app that connects to the system. Through this app, you get music, offline navigation and many more features.

The new Wagon R comes with two engine options. In the lower variant, you get the same 1.0-litre engine as the previous generation. If you choose to buy the higher variants, you get the option of a larger 1.2-litre K12 engine from the Ignis and the Swift. The 1.0-litre engine puts out 68 hp and returns 21.79 kmpl. The 1.2-litre, on the other hand, produces 83 hp and returns 20.52 kmpl. Like the Maruti Alto, there's no diesel engine on offer. However, if you need something more frugal, you can opt for a CNG variant to get more mileage. Prices for the car start at INR 4.51 lakh in India.

Maruti-Suzuki Baleno

The Maruti Baleno is another popular hatchback with a high mileage figure, a reason why Maruti-Suzuki is the largest carmaker in India. The Baleno offer four trims – Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha. Under the hood, the Maruti Baleno gets a 1.2-litre petrol unit that generates 84 bhp and 114 Nm of torque. The engine gets a five-speed manual as standard, while the higher variants offer a CVT option.

Inside, the Baleno gets black-themed cabin design with premium blue contrast detailing. You get a dual-tone fabric design for the seats and an upgraded SmartPlay Studio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  Standard safety features include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts and rear parking sensors are standard. The Maruti Baleno gets a starting  price of INR 5.70 lakh in India.

Maruti-Suzuki Dzire AMT

The Maruti Dzire facelift is offered with Maruti’s 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine that produces 90 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual and gets the choice of a 5-speed AMT as well. This engine is the first to offer idle start-stop function in its segment, which helps it achieve better fuel efficiency. It has a claimed fuel efficiency of 23.26 kmpl with the MT and 24.12 kmpl with the AMT. Earlier, the Dzire had a 1.3-litre diesel motor that held the title of the most fuel efficient car in India.

The facelifted Maruti Dzire comes with features like cruise control, automatic LED headlamps, auto-folding ORVMs, push-button engine start-stop, and auto AC with rear AC vents. It also gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and cloud-based services as well.

The Dzire comes with dual front airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and rear parking sensors as standard. Its AMT variants also get electronic stability control and hill hold assist while features like rear-view camera and rear defogger are offered in higher-spec variants. The AMT variants are priced from INR 7.32 lakh in India.

*All prices are ex-showroom

*All mileage figures are ARAI tested.

Speaking on the success of the Maruti Suzuki ARENA retail channel, Mr Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said:

Maruti Suzuki ARENA was launched after listening to and meeting the expectations of a modern, dynamic, and young audience. Celebrating its third anniversary today fills all of us with great pride as it marks a transformation of our network and is a testimony of our commitment to customer satisfaction - the single-largest motivation behind our expansion, innovation, and design. We are delighted to celebrate over 745 Maruti Suzuki ARENA showrooms and look forward to offering more revolutionary customer car buying experiences.

The Maruti Suzuki ARENA showrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art modern gadgets that allow customers to customise and get detailed information digitally about the specifications and attributes of the company’s products. Also, the touch-screen navigation portal remembers customer preferences and the customisation options offered by i-Create allows them to design the car.

All Maruti Suzuki ARENA showrooms are not only equipped with the best of technology, but they are also designed to make customers completely comfortable. And in the current unprecedented times, strict sanitisation SOPs have been enforced for the safety of the customers.

The portfolio of the Maruti Suzuki ARENA retail channel includes the Alto, S-PRESSO, Wagon-R, Celerio, CelerioX, Swift, Dzire, Vitara Brezza, and Ertiga.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki launches car subscription program in Pune, Hyderabad

In other news, earlier this month, the Maruti Suzuki Alto crossed the 40 lakh sales mark in the domestic market. This makes it the only car in India to achieve such a remarkable milestone.

1. Renault Kwid

Renault pulled off a surprise back in 2015 when it ventured into a territory completely dominated by the likes of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai with its entry-level Kwid. The Renault Kwid, with its SUV-inspired styling despite the small dimensions, proved to be a super successful formula for Renault in India, and since then, has been spearheading the French carmaker's operations in India.

The Renault Kwid received a mid-life facelift in 2019. The SUV-styled hatchback now has a refurbished front end design with a new grille, split headlamp layout, LED DRLs and LED inserts in the tail lamps. The interior too has been enhanced, with a new dashboard, completely new fully digital instrument console and a larger touchscreen infotainment system.

Under the hood, the new Renault Kwid comes with the engines which were available in the old model as well – a 0.8-litre three-cylinder petrol engine (54 PS/72 Nm) and a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol motor (68 PS/91 Nm). The former is available with a 5-speed manual transmission only, while the latter can be had with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automated manual transmission. The prices of the Renault Kwid range between INR 2.92-5.01 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) is one of the best cars under 5 lakh in India.

2. Maruti S-Presso

After a long time, Maruti Suzuki tried to emulate the success formula proven by the Renault Kwid of SUV inspiration in an entry-level hatchback with the S-Presso. The Maruti S-Presso had huge shoes to fill, for the hatchback is believed to be a replacement model of the Maruti Alto K10 which will soon be discontinued.

The Maruti S-Presso looks quite unique with its standout SUV stance in its petite size. The raised bonnet, high raised front bumper and high ground clearance come together to give it a towering stance. Carrying on its funkiness on the inside as well, the Maruti S-Presso comes with a very youthful looking cabin with a centrally mounted digital instrument console and a modern Smartplay Studio infotainment system.

The Maruti S-Presso relies on the tried and tested 1.0-litre three-cylinder K10B petrol engine, available with 5-speed manual and 5-speed automated manual gearbox choices. This engine puts out 68 PS of maximum power and 90 Nm of peak torque. The prices of the Maruti S-Presso range between INR 3.71-4.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Read more: Cheapest diesel cars in India under 10 lakh

3. Maruti Wagon R

The Maruti Wagon R has been a perennial success story from day one of its inception in the Indian car market and a major contributor in making Maruti Suzuki the number one automaker in the country in terms of sales numbers. The A-segment hatchback with the tall-boy design has seen multiple generation changes in two decades.

The current generation Maruti Wagon R, which was introduced in 2019, has seen the hatchback receiving an entirely new design, which retains the traditional tall boy stance and a boxy silhouette. On the outside, the wraparound headlamps and vertically laid tail lamps do make the car look fresher. The interior looks much more upmarket with a new multi-functional steering wheel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Unlike before, the Maruti Wagon R is now available with two engine options – 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol (68 PS/90 Nm) and 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol (83 PS/113 Nm). Both the engines are available with the options of a 5-speed manual transmission and a 5-speed automated manual transmission. The prices of the Maruti Wagon R start at INR 4.46 lakh and goes all the way up to INR 6.00 lakh (both prices ex-showroom Delhi) is one of the best cars under 5 lakh in India.

4. Hyundai Santro

The Hyundai Santro needs no introduction, for it's the model with which Hyundai forayed into the Indian market in the late 90s of the 20^th century. After a brief period of non-existence, the Hyundai Santro made a noteworthy comeback in India in a completely new avatar. It still features the signature tall-boy stance but in a much more modern form.

Unlike other models of Hyundai in India, the Hyundai Santro is not too feature-rich and has a completely different design. However, features like a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, fog lamps and steering mounted audio controls do make it an appealing modern A-segment car for the urban youth population of the country.

The Hyundai Santro packs the 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which used to power the erstwhile Hyundai Santro Xing. In its current guise, this engine is available with a 5-speed manual transmission as well as a 5-speed automated manual transmission. It produces 69 PS of maximum power and 99 Nm of maximum torque. The prices range between INR 4.57-5.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Read more: Best bikes under INR 1 lakh in India

5. Tata Tiago

It was the Tiago with which Tata successfully made a successful comeback in the domestic market. Introduced as a gradual replacement model for the iconic Tata Indica, the Tata Tiago lured the Indian audience with its youthful styling, tough build quality and more refined engine options. It is one of the most premium cars in its segment.

Before the commencement of BS-VI era, Tata Motors gave the Tiago a mid-life update, which saw the hatchback receiving a new and wider looking front fascia with sleeker headlamps and new front and rear bumpers. The interior, however, has remained the same. The hatchback has modern amenities like automatic climate control, touchscreen infotainment system, multi-functional steering wheel and a fully digital instrument console.

With the facelift, Tata Motors has bid adieu to the 1.1-litre diesel engine option. It offers the Tiago with only a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine which makes 86 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque. 5-speed manual and 5-speed automated manual are the transmission choices. The prices of the 2020 Tata Tiago commence at INR 4.60 lakh and go up to INR 6.60 lakh (ex-showroom India) is one of the best cars under 5 lakh in India.

*Ex-showroom India

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more such featured stories and the latest four-wheeler news.

The Maruti WagonR S-CNG features a tank capacity of 60-litres (water equivalent) and is capable of returning a full mileage of 32.52 km/kg. The capacity of the petrol tank is 32 litres. The BS-IV model was slightly more economical and returned 33.54 km/kg.

Maruti Suzuki came up with the CNG fitted/S-CNG vehicles almost a decade back and has already retailed over million green vehicles, including both CNG and mild-hybrid cars. The company says that that the next million vehicles milestone will be attained in a couple of years from now.

Commenting on the new launch, Shashank Srivastava, executive director - Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India said: “With the announcement of Mission Green Million, we have strengthened our commitment towards boosting green mobility in the country. The 3rd generation WagonR is hugely successful and continues the iconic journey of brand WagonR with more than 24 lakh customers.”

Maruti Suzuki's S-CNG vehicles feature dual interdependent ECUs (Electronic Control Units) and intelligent injection system. These vehicles have been specially tuned and calibrated to deliver optimum performance irrespective of the driving terrain.

Also Read: 2020 Maruti Vitara Brezza to return up to 19 km/l, fuel economy figures revealed

The Maruti WagonR S-CNG sources power from the K10B 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. This engine in its previous, BS-IV version developed 43.5 kW (60 PS) at 5,500 rpm and 78 Nm at 3,500 rpm in CNG mode and 50 kW (68 PS) at 5,500 rpm and 90 Nm at 3,500 rpm in petrol mode. The output figures of the BS-VI version are yet to be released.

*ex-showroom, Delhi

The Maruti WagonR-based EV which has been seen undergoing road-testing from a while now. Reports say that it will be called Maruti XL5 and that it will be sold only to fleet customers such as cab operators and EESL initially. The slowdown in the industry seems to have deferred the launch for private customers.

In comparison to the Maruti WagonR, the spied test mule features bigger, 15-inch alloy wheels which have been borrowed from the Maruti Ignis, a unique front-end with split headlamps and distinctive upper grille, lower grille, bumper and fog lamps as well. Differences at the rear seem to be high-mounted stop lamp and clear-lens, LED tail lamps.

There is a chance that the model spied may be launched in two versions, a conventional ICE version and an all-electric version. The former would use the BS-VI K12M four-cylinder engine which delivers 61 kW (82.94 PS) of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and 113 Nm of peak torque at 4,200 rpm. 5-speed manual and 5-speed automated manual would be the transmission options.

Also Read: 2020 Maruti Vitara Brezza (facelift) middle variant spied, interior revealed

Before the WagonR-based EV, Maruti Suzuki will unveil the Futuro-e concept, at Auto Expo 2020 tomorrow. The production version of the same could be launched as early as in late-2021, although it may not necessarily be a pure electric vehicle.

In comparison to the Maruti WagonR, the Maruti WagonR has bigger, 15-inch alloy wheels, and they're borrowed from the Maruti Ignis. Also worth noting is the higher ground clearance. It appears to have a unique front-end. In addition to split headlamps, the visual differences should be seen with the design of the upper grille, lower grille, front bumper and the fog lamps as well. At the rear, this model uses LED high-mounted stop lamp and LED tail lamps.

The interior is unlikely to be much different in terms of design. It may be offered with unique upholstery and trim and some exclusive equipment at best.

The Maruti XL5 will reportedly be sold via the premium NEXA dealerships, just like the Maruti XL6. It should be plonked with the BS-VI K12M four-cylinder engine which pushes out 61 kW (82.94 PS) of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and 113 Nm of peak torque at 4,200 rpm. The engine will come mated to a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 5-speed automated manual transmission.

Also Read: 2020 Maruti Vitara Brezza (facelift) spied on test again, to debut at Auto Expo 2020 [Video]

The Maruti XL5 will likely be launched in the second half of 2020. With the Maruti WagonR priced from INR 4.42 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and the Maruti Ignis priced from INR 4.74 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), it'll be interesting to see how the Maruti XL5 is positioned.