Best vehicles under budget segments, upcoming vehicle lists, maintenance guides, and tips.
The best car buying process: set a budget including on-road costs and EMI, compare models on CarDekho and CarWale, shortlist by fuel type and segment, take a test drive, then negotiate price, check exchange value, and verify financing terms before booking.
Identify your primary use case, pick your fuel type (petrol/diesel/CNG/EV), compare variants without over-speccing, and always check the on-road price (which includes registration, insurance, and accessories) — not just the ex-showroom price. Ask dealers about current exchange offers and waiting periods.
Verify vehicle history via Vahan.nic.in, check ownership count, accident records, and existing loan status. Get a pre-purchase inspection by a certified mechanic. Confirm insurance validity and RC transfer — mandatory within 30 days. Trusted platforms: Cars24, Spinny, and OLX Autos.
Choose your category (commuter, sports, or premium), compare real-world mileage from owner reviews, check ABS availability (mandatory above 125cc in India), verify service center density in your city, and budget for 5-year third-party insurance. Consult BikeWale, BikeDekho, and owner forums.
Top picks: Hero Splendor Plus (~₹80K), Honda CD 110 Dream (~₹78K), Bajaj Platina 110 (~₹74K, best mileage), and TVS Sport (~₹73K). All deliver 65–80 km/l and have pan-India service networks.
Top picks: Honda SP 160 (~₹1.19L), Bajaj Pulsar N160 (~₹1.33L), Yamaha FZ-S V4 (~₹1.25L), TVS Apache RTR 160 4V (~₹1.22L), and Hero Xtreme 160R 4V (~₹1.26L). All offer ABS, LED lighting, and modern styling.
(1) Hero Splendor Plus ~₹80K, (2) Honda Activa 6G ~₹80K, (3) Bajaj Pulsar N160 ~₹1.33L, (4) Royal Enfield Classic 350 ~₹2.25L, (5) TVS Apache RTR 160 4V ~₹1.22L, (6) Yamaha FZ-S V4 ~₹1.25L, (7) Honda SP 125 ~₹90K, (8) Bajaj Platina 110 ~₹74K, (9) Royal Enfield Meteor 350 ~₹2.19L, (10) Hero HF Deluxe ~₹65K. Prices are approximate ex-showroom.
Calculate daily distance vs real-world range, check home/public charging accessibility, verify FAME II or state subsidy eligibility, look for 8-year battery warranty, and compare total cost of ownership — electricity costs ~₹1–1.5/km vs ~₹5–7/km for petrol.
In India, BYD Atto 3 is BYD's most affordable EV at ~₹33.9 lakh (ex-showroom). It offers 521 km ARAI-certified range and uses BYD's proprietary Blade Battery technology. Globally, the BYD Seagull (priced ~$10,000–$12,000) exists but has not yet launched in India.
Avoid early pre-2020 EVs with degraded batteries (older Tata Nexon EV Phase 1, Mahindra e2o), models with discontinued software/OTA support, units with no remaining battery warranty, and cars from high-temperature regions without thermal management. Always request a battery State of Health (SoH) report before buying.
Rohit Sharma is the founder and developer of Auto Journal. Based in Samastipur, Bihar, India, he writes detailed vehicle reviews, buying guides, and auto news.
