Top 10 Cars Under Rs 10 Lakh Launched In 2018

The year 2018 is coming to an end and we can't help but look back at some of the best cars that were launched in the past year. Although cars like the Tata Harrier and the Nissan Kicks were expected to grace our roads by the end of the year, Tata and Nissan has pushed their launch dates to January 2019. However, the automotive industry as a whole didn't let us down with over a 100 cars and variants launched over the course of the last 365 days. We list out the top 10 cars with a starting price under Rs 10 lakh that were launched in 2018.

1. Hyundai Santro

• Launch Date: 23 October, 2018
• Price: Rs 3.89 Lakh - Rs 5.64 Lakh

The legendary nameplate made a comeback this year, a little over two decades after Hyundai set shop in India with original Santro. With the all-new Santro, Hyundai has managed to retain all the aspects which made the original hatchback a runaway: practicality and ride quality. Also keeping up with the era, the South Korean carmaker has equipped it with modern amenities like a very responsive touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a reverse camera, rear AC vents, steering-mounted audio controls, ABS and dual airbags.

While the hatchback has been completely redesigned, it has retained its original heart. The 1.1-litre, 4-cylinder Epsilon engine has been resurrected and buyers can choose from either petrol or CNG versions. While the petrol version makes 69PS of power and a peak torque of 99Nm, the CNG-powered motor produces 59PS/84Nm. Fuel efficiency is rated at 20.3kmpl for the petrol and 30.48km/kg for the CNG version. Furthermore, there is a 5-speed AMT on offer as well, which should ease your daily commute. But, the 

2. 2018 Maruti Suzuki Swift

• Launch Date: 8 February, 2018
• Price: Rs 4.99 Lakh - Rs 8.76 Lakh

The Swift’s popularity in the country is undebatable. Its punchy engine, high efficiency, sporty dynamics and the backing of Maruti's vast service network have been some of its key strengths. But with the 2018 Swift, Maruti-Suzuki has upped the game by adding more space, features, better design and quality into the mix, making it an ideal mid-sized hatchback. This has also helped it retain its status as one of the top four best-selling cars in India.

Launched at the 2018 Auto Expo at Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the Swift carries the same 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engines that powered its predecessor. However, the new model comes with the option of an automatic transmission with both motors for the first time ever! However, the cherry on top of the cake  is its ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figure of 22kmpl for the petrol engine and 28.4kmpl for the diesel motor.

Inside the cabin, occupants get dual airbags, Isofix child seat mounts, automatic climate control, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a reverse camera. It also gets LED projector headlamps.

3. Ford Freestyle

• Launch Date: 26 April, 2018
• Price: Rs 5.23 Lakh - Rs 7.93 Lakh

The Ford Freestyle was the first car from the Figo family to sport the new and updated design. The Freestyle is the more off-road ready version of the Ford Figo. As a result, you get a lot of body cladding, muscular wheels, a ground clearance of 190mm (16mm higher than the Figo), a 30mm wider track width and roof rails that can support up to 50kg of weight. :ike all other ford offerings, you get a proper safety kit too, including Active Rollover Prevention, ABS with EBD, six airbags and Emergency Assist. But, the key highlight of the Freestyle is the brand new 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, Ti-VCT petrol motor which produces 96PS of power and 120Nm of torque. The diesel is the same 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine as before. It produces 100PS of power and 215Nm of torque. The Figo facelift is yet to be launched in India. But expect it to pack a similar dashboard, infotainment system and engines.

4. Hyundai Elite i20 Facelift

• Launch Date: 7 February, 2018
• Price: Rs 5.42 Lakh - Rs 9.23 Lakh

With the Elite i20 getting a bit long in tooth, Hyundai decided to update the popular hatchback with refreshed looks and new features. Launched at the 2018 Auto Expo, the Elite i20 facelift retains the overall shape of its predecessor but gets Hyundai's new cascading grille and LED tail lamps. Inside too, the cabin hasn't changed much as it only gets a new seat upholstery and minor tweaks to the switches and aircon vents. The 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system has been carried forward and continues to offers Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink support. The engines too are the same, with a 1.2-litre petrol (83PS/114Nm with a 5-speed manual gearbox) and a 1.4-litre diesel (90PS/220Nm with a 6-speed manual gearbox) being your only options. The 1.4-litre petrol (100PS/132Nm) has now been dropped because the Elite i20 finally gets a more sensible petrol-AT setup.

5. 2018 Honda Amaze

• Launch Date: 16 May, 2018
• Price: Rs 5.23 Lakh - Rs 7.93 Lakh

Although the last-gen Honda Amaze was a good car, it never really managed to overcome the shadow of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. Hence, to finally put up a proper fight, Honda showcased the all-new 2018 Amaze at the Auto Expo. Although the square-jawed sedan is a bit polarising when it comes to design, it packs a hefty feature list to take on the Dzire.  Honda has equipped it with 15-inch alloy wheels, split tail lamps, a 7.0-inch ‘DigiPad 2.0’ touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors and camera, cruise control, automatic climate control, push start-stop ignition, dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and Isofix child seat anchors.

However, these additions too haven't made a dent in the Dzire's sales as the Maruti still clocks close to 20,000 sales per month! Nevertheless, the Amaze still remains the sole choice for driving enthusiast thanks to its punchy 1.5-litre i-DTEC 4-cylinder diesel motor that develops 100PS/200Nm when paired with a 5-speed manual transmission (27.4kmpl). It is also offered with a segment first CVT transmission, but in a de-tuned state of tune (80PS/160Nm). The petrol motor is still the old 1.2-litre motor that’s been carried over from the older generation.

6. 2018 Maruti Ertiga

• Launch Date: 21 November, 2018
• Price: Rs 7.44 Lakh - Rs 10.9 Lakh

Eagerly awaited by those looking to ferry a large family, the Maruti Ertiga took its own sweet time to arrive in the country. However, it did not disappoint. The new Ertiga is bigger than the outgoing one in all respects, including the wheelbase, giving it more room on the inside. This time around, occupants get a whole host of new features, including climate control, steering-mounted audio controls and Maruit's SmartPlay touchscreen system. Also, it now gets ABS, dual front airbags, rear parking sensors and Isofix child seat mounts as standard.

What Maruti doesn’t offer are captain seats and telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel. The talking point, however, is the new 1.5-litre petrol motor which replaces the older 1.4-litre unit. The new engine is coupled with Suzuki’s SHVS mild-hybrid technology and is offered with the option of a 4-speed AT that’s been borrowed from the Ciaz.

7. Maruti Ciaz Facelift

• Launch Date: 20 August, 2018
• Price: Rs 8.19 Lakh - Rs 10.97 Lakh

Though the Maruti Ciaz was the last one in its segment to receive an update, it has a strong reason to be late to the party. You see, even with the updates, cars like the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna could not match the sales and popularity of the Ciaz. With the facelift, Maruti has just brushed the edges with a few cosmetic tweaks to make it look modern, and has added a few extra features to keep up with the times as well. The Ciaz now comes with a lot of LEDs - DRLs, fog lamps and even the projector headlamps. It also gets LED tail lamps and 16-inch alloy wheels to look the part of a premium sedan from all angles. Inside, you have a new faux-wood trim, a new coloured MID and cruise control. Other features that have been carried forward include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, rear AC vents, and steering-mounted audio, telephony and cruise controls.

The major update though is the much needed, new 1.5-litre petrol engine that develops 105PS of power and 138Nm of torque. It can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed torque converter. The SHVS system helps the new Ciaz return a claimed mileage of 21.56kmpl (MT) and 20.28kmpl (AT). The diesel engine is still the 1.3-litre DDiS200 engine with 90PS of power and 200Nm of torque under its belly.

8. Toyota Yaris

• Launch Date: 20 August, 2018
• Price: Rs 9.29 Lakh - Rs 14.07 Lakh

What is effectively Toyota's second entry in the C-segment, the Yaris sedan was the premium offering that people were expecting from a carmaker like Toyota. It exudes quality, gets a long list of standard features and boasts of the everlasting reliability that Toyota is famous for. All these attributes should have made it a hit in the market. However, unlike other sedans, it did not quite have the size and presence of a car like the City or the Ciaz. Also, it came with a rather hefty price premium and just a petrol engine. That's what made us say 'The Toyota Yaris Isn't For Everyone' as the latter two took priority in buyer's minds and the Yaris never got to a position it deserved.

It packs decent kit like seven airbags (driver+passenger+driver knee+side+curtain), ABS with EBD and Brake Assist (BA), keyless entry, disc brakes on all four wheels, central locking, power windows, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, audio system with CD, MP3, Aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity, four speakers, and 60:40 rear split seats. Powering the sedan is a 1.5-litre petrol engine which makes 107PS of power and 140Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 7-speed CVT.

9. Hyundai Creta Facelift

• Launch Date: 21 May, 2018
• Price: Rs 9.50 Lakh - Rs 15.10 Lakh

The former best-selling SUV got a makeover this year with updated looks, more features and the single most important update of them all - a sunroof! While the changes are purely cosmetic, the Hyundai Creta does look better now, with Hyundai’s signature cascading grille, reworked bumpers, headlamp clusters with bi-functional projector headlamps, new LED DRLs, new 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and new taillights. Inside, you get the same interiors as before. But gracing the dashboard is a new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink. It also gets an electric sunroof, six-way power-adjustable driver seat, cruise control, a new Smart Key Band which has an inbuilt fitness tracker, a wireless phone charger, and a new Tangerine Orange Interior Colour pack with the dual-tone exterior colour option.

Powering the Creta facelift are the same engines as before. The 1.6-litre petrol engine  produces 123PS of  power and 151Nm of torque. The 1.4-litre diesel motor makes 90PS of power and 220nm of torque, while the 1.6-litre diesel unit churns out 128PS of power and 260Nm of torque.

10. Mahindra Marazzo

• Launch Date: 25 April, 2018
• Price: Rs 9.99 Lakh - Rs 13.9 Lakh

Mahindra's 'Shark Inspired' Toyota Innova rival has turned out to be a worthy competitor. Mahindra has given the Marazzo a fair amount of kit and has nailed the value for money quotient as well. Even in terms of looks, It doesn't look like a typical Mahindra brat, and that is a big compliment. It is also the most expensive car on our list, with a price tag that hovers very close to the Rs 10 lakh mark.

Inside the Marazzo, you get comfy leather seats, an innovative roof-mounted central air conditioning tunnel and a responsive touchscreen infotainment system, which makes for an upmarket cabin. The Marazzo is also offered in two seating configurations - 7-seater and 8-seater - all with front-facing seats. The 7-seater variant gets captain seats in the second row. Powering the Marazzo is an all-new ‘D15’ 1.5-litre diesel engine which makes 121PS/300Nm, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

This is our list of the top 10 cars launched in 2018 that priced under Rs 10 lakh. Which one according to you should hold the top spot, or should be replaced by another car? We await your answers in the comments below.

*All prices, ex-showroom Delhi