The 8 cheapest hatchbacks in India

How many times have you heard that hatchbacks are best suited for the Indian roads? Yeah... at least a million times. But have you wondered exactly why is it that Indians prefer to opt for hatchbacks?

Its smaller body structure and low price easily fit pockets (and, congested Indian roads too).

Secondly, it has low maintenance and running cost.

The hatchbacks cost less as the government levies lower excise duty on shorter length cars equipped with smaller engine.

With the hatchbacks selling like hotcakes, almost every car manufacturer is keen to launch a hatch in India.

We have already written about the best hatchbacks in India. Today let's look at the cheapest hatchbacks available in this country.

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Tata Nano

Ratan Tata's dream to manufacture the world's cheapest car came true in 2009.

After the initial 100,000 cars, which were sold for Rs 100,000, Nano now comes at starting price of Rs 140,000 (ex-showroom price in Delhi).

The Tata Nano is available in five variants, equipped with a 0.6 L 642 cc 2-cylinder Multi Point Fuel Injection (MPFI) available only in the petrol variant, deployed with a four-speed manual gearbox.

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The Nano engine keeps the capacity to wring out a maximum power of 35 PS @ 5250 rpm and a maximum torque of 48 Nm at 3000 rpm.

The small hatchback provides excellent fuel efficiency of 19 kmpl on urban roads and 26 kmpl on the highways.

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Maruti 800

Twenty six years after revolutionising personal transportation in India, Maruti Suzuki bid adieu to its once bread-and-butter model M800 from 13 cities on April 1, 2010 as new emission norm came into effect.

With the company deciding to let business rule over sentiments, M800, which was first was rolled out from Maruti's Gurgaon plant in December 14, 1983 in the presence of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is no longer available in 13 cities.

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Maruti 800 is priced between Rs 195,000 - Rs 233,000.

It houses a 4 cylinder engine and generates a maximum power output of 37 bhp.

It is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox. The Maruti 800 delivers an excellent fuel economy of 20 km/l.

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Maruti Alto

Maruti Alto, which was launched in 2004 carries a price tag between Rs 232,000 - Rs 330,000 (ex-showroom Delhi price).

The best-selling hatchback from the Maruti stable offers good value for money and like Maruti 800 has low maintenance cost.

Maruti Alto was equipped with a 796 cc 3-cylinder MPFI engine that has the capacity to produce a maximum power of 47 PS maximum power at 6200 rpm and 62 Nm of peak torque at 3000 rpm.

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Later, the company launched the upgraded version as Maruti Alto K10 that houses 998 cc 3-cylinder K10B engine capable of producing 68 PS max power at 6200 rpm and maximum torque of 90 Nm at 3500 rpm.

Maruti had also introduced Alto in a CNG version - Maruti Alto Green - with 796 cc, 3 cylinder FC engine that has the capacity of generating 39.4 PS at 6200 rpm and a peak torque of 54 Nm at 3000 rpm.

Maruti Alto Green gives an excellent mileage of 15.6 km/kg in the city and 20 km/kg on the highways.

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Hyundai Santro Xing

Korean auto manufacturer Hyundai Motors had launched Santro Xing  in 1998 in India.

Hyundai hatchbacks are the second best-selling in India.

Santro Xing is not quite extraordinary, when it comes to external appearance, but had received an enormous response from the car market since its launch.

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The Santro Xing is powered by a 1.1 liter SOHC 4-cylinder 1086 cc petrol engine mated with a five-speed manual transmission gearbox to produce a maximum power of 63 PS @ 5500 rpm that develops a peak torque of 96 Nm @ 3000 rpm.

The Santro gives a mileage of 13.7 km/l on the city roads and 17.8 km/l on the highways.

The Hyundai Santro Xing comes loaded with safety features and is available in LPG version also.

It is available in the price range of Rs 280,000 - Rs 392,000. There are rumours that Santro Xing will soon be available in diesel.

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Reva i

Reva is an electric car manufacturing company that had introduced Reva Electric car in 2001 in collaboration with Mahindra & Mahindra.

The upgraded version Reva i has been available in the market since 2008.

It now comes with a better performance with respect to top speed, which has been is improved from 50 kmph to 80 kmph.

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Reva i is a small car with three doors, basically a two-seater with each door opening on both sides of the car and a hatch.

The engine in Revai comes in the form of 48V lead acid battery.

With a price tag of Rs 350,000 - Rs 428,000, Revai is a good option for environment freaks.

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Chevrolet Spark

Chevrolet, a subsidiary of the American auto manufacturer General Motors, is one of the most popular brands in the world.

With the top-of-the-line product portfolio, Chevrolet had started manufacturing low-priced small cars, keeping the Indian and other emerging car markets in mind.

Chevrolet Spark with its smart and peppy looks boasts of spacious interiors.

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The Chevrolet Spark also boasts of excellent fuel economy of 18 kmpl.

The Spark comes with a 4-cylinder 995 cc engine mated with a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox producing a maximum power output of 63 PS @ 5401 rpm and 0.3 maximum torque of 90.3 Nm @ 4201 rpm.

GM is currently offering a 250 unit limited edition of Chevrolet Spark at a reduced price of Rs 269,000.

The actual price of the Chevrolet Spark is in the range of Rs 305,000 - Rs 431,000.

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Tata Indica eV2 Xeta

Tata Indica eV2 Xeta is the cheapest hatchback from the Tata stable with a price tag of Rs 299,000.

Tata Indica is touted to be the most fuel efficient car today, with an outstanding mileage of 25 km/l.

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The petrol variant of Indica eV2 Xeta is equipped with a 1193 cc MPFi engine to churn out a maximum power of 65.3 @5000 rpm and 99.8 Nm peak torque at 2700 rpm.

Indica eV2 Xeta LPG, also available in the market, promises a maximum power output of 61.8 PS @ 5000 rpm and a max torque of 100 Nm @ 2600 rpm.

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Maruti A Star

An upgraded version of Maruti A Star is in the pipeline.

With a price tag of Rs 359,000 - Rs 437,000, Maruti A star is also launched with an automatic gearbox option that is priced at Rs 434,000.

The car houses a petrol engine, a 998 cc 3-cylinder MPFi system and K series engine that generates the maximum power output of 67 bhp @ 6200 rpm and maximum torque of 90 Nm at 3500 rpm.

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The Maruti A Star automatic version is equipped with a 4-speed manual gearbox and ABS that is available only in the top- end variant VXi, while the other variants are mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Maruti A Star comes with ample head room and leg space and is loaded with advanced technology features to include, the automatic climate control, ABS, EBD etc.