It is, technically, a four-seater, but for marketing purposes, it is a five-seater. Moreover, several five-seater vehicles offer the option of folding the mid-rear seat, which becomes a four-seater vehicle. In luxury cars, if a rear passenger needs to access features and wants an armrest, the passenger can fold the mid-rear seat. But in this blog, you’ll go through a few budget-friendly four-seater cars in India.
The budget-friendly four-seater cars in India are as follows:
Maruti Alto:
The entry-level car from Maruti Suzuki is one of the most budget-friendly cars in India. When it debuted in the Indian market, it even overshadowed the sales of the Maruti 800. Moreover, till 2019, the hatchback was sold as the Maruti Alto 800, but later the company dropped the “800” nomenclature. However, the Maruti Alto’s interior won’t exude an outdated feel. It packs some modern entertainment and safety features. For entertainment, the Alto gets a SmartPlay 2-Din audio system with Bluetooth, while the safety features include rear parking sensors, ABS with EBD, and a speed-and-seatbelt reminder alert system. Additional features include keyless entry, front power windows, and HVAC, to name a few.
As for the powertrain, the Maruti Suzuki Alto gets a 796cc F8D petrol engine that produces 48bhp and 69Nm of torque, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The Alto also gets a CNG kit, exclusively available in the LXi variant. For its rivals, check out the best four-seater cars in India.
However, customers can choose any of these variants: STD, STD (O), LXi, LXi (O), and VXi. The starting price of the petrol-spec Maruti Suzuki Alto is Rs 3.25 lakh for the base model, STD, and goes up to Rs 4.34 lakh for the top model, VXi Plus (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). The CNG-spec’s price starts at Rs 4.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Mahindra Thar:
The Thar is well known as a rugged off-roader on the market. The entry of the second generation Mahindra Thar attracted the non-existing Mahindra customers even more with its Jeep wrangler-like looks at an affordable price. Mahindra has improved the car in terms of safety and features. Not long ago, the ongoing Mahindra Thar was awarded a four-safety rating by the Global NCAP. The Mahindra Thar is one of the best four-seater cars.
As far as the features are concerned, the top-spec LX trim gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, HVAC, cruise control, and roof-mounted speakers, to name a few. Inside, the design of the HVAC control panel continues to be the same as other Mahindra cars.
The Mahindra Thar gets a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel engine. The former churns out 150bhp and 320Nm, while the latter produces 130bhp and 300Nm of torque. Both units are available with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
The price of the Mahindra Thar starts at Rs 13.53 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Force Gurkha:
Force Motors is well known for its people carrier vehicles, especially the Force Traveller. The Traveller is popular among fleet operators and travel agencies.
Many people might not know this, but Force Motors develops engines for BMW India and Mercedes-Benz India. However, keeping facts aside, Force Motors introduced a competitor to the Thar, the Force Gurkha.
The Gurkha has the same new-age basic features as the Mahindra Thar, such as a 7-inch touchscreen system paired with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, manual HVAC, a four-speaker sound system, and front power windows. As for safety features, the Gurkha gets dual front airbags, rear parking sensors, and ABS with EBD, to name a few.
The engine specifications of the Force Gurkha include a 2.6-litre diesel engine that produces 88bhp and 250Nm of torque with an all-wheel drivetrain. It is solely available with a five-speed manual transmission. The Gurkha also gets a low-range transfer case and manual (front and rear) locking differentials.
The ARAI-claimed mileage of the Force Gurkha is 12.4kmpl.
The boot space of the Gurkha is also pretty ample, at 500 litres.
However, the Force Gurkha has only one variant and is priced at Rs 13.59 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). At a similar price, customers can consider the Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Kia Seltos, and the Hyundai Creta, to name a few.
Maruti S-Presso:
The Maruti S-Presso is a hatchback, but it has a mini-SUV-like shape. In fact, Maruti Suzuki markets the S-Presso as a mini-SUV. However, customers can experience the SUV-like seating position at an affordable price. The interior of the S-Presso has ample space to accommodate four tall passengers. The black-themed cabin won’t make you feel claustrophobic because of its roomy interior.
Under its hood, the S-Presso gets a 1-litre petrol engine (68PS/90Nm), with a standard five-speed manual and an optional five-speed AMT gearbox. The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso is also available with a CNG kit (output drops to 57bhp/78Nm), mated to a 5-speed MT gearbox.
Depending upon engine and transmission, the ARAI-claimed mileage of the S-Presso ranges between 21.4kmpl and 31.2km/kg. In terms of mileage, the S-Presso is the best four-seater car in India.
As for features, the S-Presso gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen unit with a Smartplay Studio system, a digital driver’s display, front power windows, and keyless entry. On the safety front, the Maruti S-Presso gets ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and dual airbags, to name a few.
Customers can choose any of the four trim options available: STD (O), LXi (O), VXi (O), and VXi+. The CNG kit is available in LXi (O) and VXi (O). The price of the S-Presso starts at Rs 3.86 lakh for the base model, STD, and goes up to Rs 5.56 lakh for the top model, VXi (O) CNG (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).
The direct rival of the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso is the Renault Kwid. However, in terms of pricing, the S-Presso rivals Maruti’s own WagonR and the Alto.
These were some of the top-selling four-seaters in India. There are several four-seater vehicles available on the market that are budget-friendly. However, four-seaters are also available in the luxury segment. To find a curated list of four-seater cars, check out autoX. You can also compare cars, check out on-road prices and read the latest reviews on the website.
