Best Cars for First-Time Buyers in India (2026 Edition)

For first-time car buyers in India, the ideal car should offer reliability, safety, low maintenance costs, good fuel efficiency, and strong resale value. The Indian market offers excellent options across every budget range, from practical city hatchbacks to premium SUVs and EVs.

Buying your first car is an exciting milestone. However, choosing the right vehicle can be overwhelming with so many options available. The best first car should be easy to drive, economical to maintain, fuel-efficient, safe, and backed by a strong service network.

Here are the best cars for first-time buyers in India across different budget segments.

1. Best Cars Under ₹6 Lakhs

1. Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Why Consider It?

• Excellent fuel efficiency
• Spacious cabin despite compact size
• Low maintenance costs
• Strong resale value
• Ideal for city driving

2. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

Why Consider It?

• One of the most affordable cars in India
• Easy to maneuver in traffic
• Highly fuel efficient
• Reliable ownership experience

3. Renault Kwid

Why Consider It?

• SUV-inspired styling
• Good ground clearance
• Feature-rich for the price
• Suitable for urban and semi-urban roads

4. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

Why Consider It?

• Tall seating position
• Excellent visibility
• Fuel-efficient engine
• Affordable running costs

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2. Best Cars Between ₹6–12 Lakhs

1. Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Why Consider It?

• Premium hatchback feel
• Spacious interior
• Efficient petrol engine
• Extensive service network

2. Hyundai Venue

Why Consider It?

• Compact SUV styling
• Modern features and technology
• Comfortable ride quality
• Good safety package

3. Tata Nexon

Why Consider It?

• Strong safety credentials
• Robust build quality
• Available in petrol, diesel and EV variants
• Suitable for both city and highway use

4. Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Why Consider It?

• Reliable ownership experience
• Excellent resale value
• Practical family SUV
• Strong after-sales support

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3. Best Cars Between ₹12–20 Lakhs

1. Hyundai Creta

Why Consider It?

• Segment benchmark SUV
• Premium cabin and features
• Comfortable for long journeys
• Multiple engine options

2. Kia Seltos

Why Consider It?

• Stylish design
• Feature-loaded interior
• Strong performance options
• Excellent highway manners

3. Honda Elevate

Why Consider It?

• Refined petrol engine
• Spacious cabin
• Excellent visibility
• Honda reliability and durability

4. Mahindra XUV700

Why Consider It?

• Premium features
• Advanced safety technologies
• Powerful engines
• Outstanding value for money

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4. Best Cars Above ₹20 Lakhs

1. Toyota Fortuner

Why Consider It?

• Legendary reliability
• Excellent resale value
• Strong road presence
• Proven long-term ownership experience

2. Toyota Innova Hycross

Why Consider It?

• Exceptional family vehicle
• Hybrid efficiency
• Comfortable and spacious cabin
• Low maintenance for its size

3. BMW X1

Why Consider It?

• Premium brand ownership
• Easy-to-drive luxury SUV
• Excellent build quality
• Ideal entry-level luxury vehicle

4. Hyundai Ioniq 5

Why Consider It?

• Advanced electric vehicle technology
• Long driving range
• Premium design and features
• Future-ready ownership experience

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Final Recommendation

If budget is the primary concern, the WagonR remains one of the smartest first-car purchases in India.

For buyers seeking the best overall balance of features, safety, and value, the Tata Nexon and Hyundai Creta are standout choices.

Those entering the premium segment should consider the Toyota Innova Hycross for family use and the BMW X1 for luxury ownership.

The ideal first car is not necessarily the most expensive one—it is the car that best matches your daily needs, budget, and long-term ownership expectations.

Quick Winners by Category

Budget	Best Overall Choice
Up to ₹6 Lakhs	Maruti Suzuki WagonR
₹6–12 Lakhs	Tata Nexon
₹12–20 Lakhs	Hyundai Creta
₹20 Lakhs+	Toyota Innova Hycross
Best EV for First-Time Buyer	Hyundai Ioniq 5
Best Resale Value	Toyota Fortuner
Lowest Ownership Cost	Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Tip: For most first-time buyers in India, the ₹8–15 lakh segment currently offers the best combination of safety, technology, comfort, and long-term value. The Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Brezza, Creta, and Honda Elevate are among the most well-rounded choices available today.

The above view is solely my view and the reader should consider it for general information purposes only. It should not be relied upon as professional advice, and readers should consult a qualified expert before making any decisions.

Toyota's MUV Innova Crysta limited edition launched

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. has finally declared the preamble of the all new Toyota Innova Crysta Limited Edition, counting to the sumptuousness and top place of the vehicle. The new Innova Crysta has been derived from the word “Crystal” which reflects the premium picture of the car. Planned to offer inimitability with selective luxury characteristics, the Innova Crysta comes in Super White body paint with matchless relieve and style. The Innova Crysta focus on the current VX Grade 2.5 L Diesel variant and is presented in Euor III and Euro IV as reported. The Toyota Innova review can set a base for the consumers to distinguish the difference between Toyota Innova Crysta and its other competitors. Lets find out what advanced features are equipped in this new car.


The new Toyota Innova Crysta will come studded with smoked alloy wheels which is classy Smoked Alloy Wheels gives a sporty look, attractive body gaphics with crystal, the leather seat covers present a spotless uniform look. Despite from this the new Toyota Innova also carries the double tone feature that adds more luxurious feel, back upper cover spoiler which dons stylish design and gives flawless look to the back, dark wood panel that comes equipped with excellent finish adds a touch of uniqueness to the inte part of the car, muffler cutter gives a unique appearance at the back and floor mats to make the interior more attractive.

Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director Marketing, TKM, asserted that the Innova has been their trustworthy brand in India and has been a market leader since launch. Sandeep added that they launched the Innova in the year 2005. An MUV that entered with a sedan like experience, the Innova modified the sector by creating a center of attention for its MUV segment and also the passenger car segment. The Innova has made new landmarks in terms of space, covering, engine and highway driving. Since then the Innova sales haven’t dimmed down and the Innova maintained to be a most wanted family vehicle of variety in its segment.
The Toyota Innova price is set at Rs 13,12,570 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will be available at all Toyota dealerships. The is hoped to be appealing for the buyers. We hope that Innova review will be a good source for the consumers to decide whether which car they have to buy.

Toyota hopes to fill Tazz void with new Aygo

Toyota has returned to the booming small-car market.

The departure of the popular Tazz has long left the country’s best-selling vehicle brand without a contender in the small-car market, and this just as South African showrooms witnessed a serious shift in buying behaviour, with smaller cars gaining ground rapidly.

In fact, new car sales in the A-segment grew by 81% in 2010 compared with 2009, with the sub-B segment up 94% over the same period, this while the overall passenger car market grew by a ‘mere’ 30,6% in comparison. (The A- and sub-B segments refer to smaller, more affordable cars.)

Importers and other local manufacturers have been benefitting from Toyota’s absence in this market space, but the local arm of the Japanese brand has finally produced an answer to the growing popularity of cars such as the i10 and the Spark, with the launch of the Aygo.

Pricing for the five-door urban run-around starts at R109 900, which includes power steering, air-conditioning, ABS brakes, driver and passenger airbags, and an immobiliser and alarm. For R10 000 more, buyers get front electric windows, side airbags, a radio/CD player, remote central locking and alloy wheels.

A bottom-of-the-range, three-door Aygo, also to be imported from the same Czech plant, is to follow in the third quarter of the year.

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) Aygo product planner Reché van Niekerk says accessories include a bluetooth kit, coloured centre cluster covers, an iPad integration kit, as well as front fog lamps, all aimed at accommodating the youth market, which is the Aygo's target market. (A secondary market is women looking for a zippy shop, drop and collect vehicle.)

The Aygo is priced lower than the Yaris Zen, but don’t expect the Zen to be around forever.

TSAM sales and marketing senior VP Calvyn Hamman says this lower-priced version of the Yaris was only an interim strategy until the launch of the new-look Yaris, as Toyota “had nothing in the smaller car market”.

TSAM now also plans to bring the larger-than-Yaris, but low-priced, made-in-India Toyota Etios to South Africa later this year as it works to strengthen its hand in the affordable car segment.

“We are doing everything to have the right line-up for the South African market,” says Hamman.

NEW, BUT FAMILIAR

Aygo – a play on the words ‘I go’ – may look familiar to some, as the Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1 are all based on the same platform.

The Aygo has been around on the global markets for around five years-plus already. Why only bring it to South Africa now?

“When we considered launching it, it was hard. We had other priorities. We were focussed on keeping our local plant running,” explains Hamman.

TSAM produces the Corolla, Hilux and Fortuner models locally.

The profitability of small cars is also not nearly the same as those vehicles higher up the specification level, adds Hamman.

However, now that there has been a serious upswing in the market for small cars, Toyota has decided to bring the Aygo to South Africa, with the promise that the current model still has around three years life in it before it will be rejuvenated.

“People are also now more willing to sacrifice space for a lower price and better fuel economy, so we suddenly have volume potential in this [small car] market,” notes TSA marketing and planning VP Glenn Crompton.

He hopes to sell 300 Aygos a month.

If the petrol price continues to soar as it is currently doing, Crompton may just see this happen, as the 67 kg, one-litre VVT-i engine, which has clinched several engine of the year awards, sips only 4,6 l of petrol every 100 km, while offering a respectable 50 kW of power, and 93 Nm of torque at 3 600 rpm, powering a car which weighs in at a low 830 kg.

Top speed is 157 km/h, and reaching 100 km/h from a stationary position will take 14,2 seconds.

The Aygo’s turning circle is a tight 4,7 m.

The small car is exempt from carbon tax, as it comes in well below government’s tax limit, at 105 g/km carbon dioxide emissions.

The Aygo comes standard with a four-year, 60 000 km service plan.

Van Niekerk expects the A-segment, in which the Aygo competes, to make up 8% of the passenger car market in 2011.

Toyota defers Liva launch till June to clear Etios backlog

The world's largest carmaker Toyota have postponed by two months introducing the hatchback version of its sedan Etios in India to June as it tries to clear order backlog of the recently launched car.

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, will be doubling its output at the Bangalore facility to a minimum of 5,000 units every month from April for the Etios sedan.

"We have received very good response for the Etios. We are doubling the production of the car by starting the second shift from April," Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh told PTI.

Etios' waiting period is 4-6 months and TKM has decided to fulfill its commitment to existing customers first.

"Hence, to clear the order backlog, we have decided to postpone the launch of Liva by about two months," Singh said.

The company had launched the Etios in December last year and had announced its plans to introduce the small car Liva with a 1.2 litre petrol engine in April 2011.

As part of the new plan, the company will now enhance Etios output to a minimum of 5,000 units from the existing about 2,500 units per month, Singh said.

TKM has so far received about 26,500 booking orders for the Etios since its launch and the company has delivered only about 5,000 units, he added.

The company has invested Rs 3,200 crore to set up its second manufacturing facility in the country with an installed capacity of 70,000 units per annum to roll out the Etios. It has launched the car with a 1.5 litre petrol engine.

The Japanese auto major had launched Etios with a price tag of Rs 4.96 lakh-Rs 6.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It has been pitched against other entry-level sedans such as Maruti DZiRE, Mahindra Logan and Fiat Linea.

At the time of the launch, Singh had said the company was targeting to sell 70,000 units of Etios, including the hatchback, in 2011.

When asked about its sports utility vehicle Fortuner, Singh said: "We had started the booking again in January and so far received about 4,000 orders. The waiting period for the vehicle is 3-4 months now."

The company's first facility at the same location has a production capacity of about 80,000 units per annum.

On the impact of rising commodity prices, he said: "We are under pressure. We will review the prices of our products by March-end."

TKM currently manufactures models like multi utility vehicle Innova, premium sedan Corolla Altis and SUV Fortuner in India. It also sells sedan Camry, SUVs Prado and Land Cruiser and hybrid car Prius in the country as fully imported vehicles.

LONG WAITING LIST- In queue for Etios? Toyota may offer you Liva

Faced with a deluge of bookings for its new sedan Etios, Toyota is considering a unique offering for those in queue by giving them the option to shift to the company’s compact car, Liva, which debuts in March. Alternatively, the company is also considering to marginally increase the production of Etios to accommodate the rush.

According to sources, Toyota is worried that the seven to eight months’ waiting period for Etios may prompt customers to shift to rival brands. So, it is working on a plan to offer those with Etios bookings the option to go for the compact Liva, though details are still being worked out. It is not yet clear whether these people will get a priority in the delivery of the 1200cc petrol-engine Liva, which is likely to be priced around Rs 4 lakh.

The company hopes this move will ensure that the customers will stay within the Toyota fold, while getting an option to cut down on their waiting periods. The Etios, deliveries for which started earlier this month, has been a runaway success for the company and it has so far received bookings over 18,500 units.

When contacted, Toyota Kirloskar deputy MD (sales & marketing) Sandeep Singh said, “We are looking at various options, and a concrete plan is yet to be firmed up.” Singh, however, agreed that the company was looking at increasing the production of Etios from the plant near Bangalore, which has come up with an investment of Rs 3200 crore. Toyota plans to manufacture about 70,000 units from this plant between the Etios sedan and its compact version Liva in the first year. “Our manufacturing team is looking at this and a decision on enhancing production will be taken towards the end of February. However, if it happens, the increment in production may not be a major one. Whatever happens will be through improved efficiency and tweaking things here and there,” Singh said.

The company is gradually ramping up numbers at its plant and will start secondshift operations there. At full steam, the plant can churn out 200,000 units annually, though reaching this capacity will take time.

The Etios and the Liva are the two most ambitious products from Toyota’s stable to boost its share in the fastgrowing Indian car market. The company currently has a low single-digit share and has said it wants a 10% share to “occupy a mindshare of the average car buyer”. It has set a target to sell about 300,000-350,000 units by 2015.

The Etios Sedan is launched in Hyderabad

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) will increase the localisation of Etios, the B segment sedan which it launched in Hyderabad on Wednesday, once its engine plant in Bangalore gets ready in 2012. As of now, the vehicle is 70 per cent localised and this will go up to 90 per cent in two years.

Also, it will increase its dealer network from seven to ten in Andhra Pradesh in view of the new launch.

Speaking to the media on the launch, TKM executive managing coordinator (sales) Koji Nagata said the sedan would be available in four variants priced between Rs 4.95 lakh and Rs 6.88 lakh ex-showroom Hyderabad.

The company would soon launch a diesel variant of the sedan, he said, adding that there have been 8,000 bookings of the new vehicle which was launched nationally last week. It would take about four or five months to deliver them.

The company also unveiled its hatchback, Etios Liva, which would be launched in April 2011. "This is the small car for us. There are no immediate plans for smaller car than Liva,'' he said.

TKM general manager (sales) Sailesh Shetty said the company was now working out the price hike on its models as the input costs, particularly of steel, have gone up. Inflation and strengthening of the rupee too are factors, he said.

Etios will be made at the second TKM plant in Bangalore, which has an annual production capacity of 70,000 vehicles.

Music maestro AR Rahman has been roped as the brand ambassador for Etios.

Toyota to launch hatchback 'Etios Liva'

Japanese auto major Toyota will launch compact car 'Etios Liva' by April 2011 to strengthen position in India, where it is a fringe player in the car segment as against its leadership position globally. The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, said the pricing of the hatchback based on the same platform as its new Etios sedan will be decided after the Union Budget.

It has priced the entry level sedan Etios between Rs 4.96 lakh and Rs 6.86 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). "The launch of Etios sedan will be followed by the hatchback model called Etios Liva. By the end of March next year or April beginning we will launch the car and deliveries will start from April," TKM Deputy Managing Director Marketing Sandeep Singh told reporters here. On the pricing of Etios Liva, he said, "We will take a call after the Budget."

While the Etios sedan is powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine, the Liva will have 1.2 litre petrol engine. Singh said both the sedan and hatchback put together, TKM plans to sell 70,000 cars in India in 2011. Recently, he said the company aims to sell 1.45 lakh units of all its models next year, from about 73,000 units expected in 2010. TKM sells models such as sedans Toyota Corolla Altis and Camry along with multi utility vehicle Innova.

TKM aims to capture 10 per cent of the Indian car market by 2015, mainly on the back of the Etios family. Overall, 15 lakh cars were sold in the country in 2009-10. Globally, Toyota was the world's largest carmaker in 2010 despite its consolidated sales declining by 4.4 per cent to 7.24 million units from the previous year.

Singh said the TKM could increase the output of Etios depending on customer demand from the current levels of 80,000 units a year. He said that for Etios sedan, TKM has received 3,077 orders within two days of the launch on Wednesday. The deliveries will start from January.

TKM Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said about 70 per cent of the components of Etios are locally sourced. Only critical components like engines and transmissions are imported. "By 2012, we will shift the engine production to India followed by the transmission in 2013," he said, adding after that the localisation level would be 90 per cent.

Renault to Launch 5 Cars in India

French car maker Renault's Indian unit will launch five cars between mid-2011 and mid-2013, including small cars in 2012, its India head said on Thursday, to cater to brisk demand in one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world.

Its small cars will be built on its alliance partner Nissan's platform, Country General Manager Marc Nassif said on the sidelines of an automobiles conference.

The cars produced at its manufacturing unit in Chennai, built jointly with its alliance partner Nissan, will be Renault-branded, Nassif said, adding that they would be competitively priced.

In 2011, the firm intends to introduce its premium vehicle Fluence and the cross-over Koleos.

Separately, Renault-Nissan is working with Indian two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto

Renault, which this year sold off its stake in a joint venture with utility vehicles and tractor maker Mahindra & Mahindra which made the Logan sedan, is all set to storm the compact car market in India on its own.

Nissan, which is 44 percent owned by Renault, has started selling its compact Micra cars since June.

The compact car segment in India, with cars measuring between 3.4 to 4 metres in length, is a rapidly expanding segment constituting more than 70 percent of the total car market.

Though top carmaker Maruti Suzuki still holds sway, global majors such as Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford are eyeing this lucrative sector.

General Motors' Chevrolet Beat and Ford's Figo compact cars have already seen runaway sales so far this year.

Renault's global sourcing from India is expected to rise 40 percent to 50 percent in the current financial year, Nassif said.
to make a low-cost car, which would be designed by Bajaj and launched by end-2012.

Special edition of Innova launched by Toyota

Car-maker Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Wednesday launched a special edition of its multi-purpose vehicle Innova, priced at Rs 8.87 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The special edition, of which only 700 units will be sold, has been launched to commemorate the five years since the launch of the MPV in the Indian market, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said in a statement.

"The Innova has been highly appreciated by our customers and has been the market leader in the MPV segment ever since its launch in 2005. We are focused on constantly upgrading our products based on customer feedback and are now delighted to introduce the all-new edition of the Innova," TKM Deputy Managing Director Sandeep Singh said.

He said the company has sold over 2.26 lakh units of the Innova since its launch in 2005. It is currently available in four variants in a price range of Rs 8.15 lakh to Rs 11.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

The new special edition will be sold at TKM's dealerships between now and September. Fitted with a newly designed bumper, front grill and rear door varnish, the car will be available in one colour, premium super white.

Get Toyota Fortuner Brakes Upgrade From Toyota

Toyota has been feeling the heat of car-recalls and problems discovered with its vehicles in past. Although the cars by Toyota are really nice, but there are scopes of improvement with almost all cars. Toyota Fortuner is a mighty SUV from Toyota and had similar disk brakes as Toyota Innova. Based on the feedback from the customers that the brakes felt not-so-good, Toyota has improved the brakes of Fortuner and now it get the bigger disks and better calipers, same as that fitted in the Toyota Prado.

The new brakes, being larger and more effective than the previous ones, perform with more ease. These upgraded brakes are now standard with Fortuner SUVs made after February 2010.

If you have bought your Fortuner recently and are not happy with the brakes, you can contact Toyota and you may get an upgrade for free. This is done by Toyota on case-by-case basis if a problem is reported by a customer.

It is a welcomed step as by these kind of measures, the customers really feel that the car seller cares for their convenience and safety.

Toyota hopes to drive Prius in India with 'green car' subsidy

Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM), the Indian subsidiary of the Japanese car major that is currently facing some roadblocks with its hybrid car Prius in the global markets, is hopeful of working out a subsidy for the car as it enters the Indian market as a completely built unit (CBU) in March this year.
Currently, CBUs attract a duty of over 100 per cent in India, and the Prius is expected to cost between Rs 26.55 lakh and Rs 27.86 lakh here thanks to the high customs duty. The company has been in talks with the Centre since the last six months, and is eagerly waiting for this year’s Union Budget to have some good news for them.

Hiroshi Nakagawa, managing director, TKM said, “We are expecting the government to offer some incentives for buying an environment-friendly vehicle,” adding that the quantum of incentive is not specified. Toyota India feels that this is not just any other imported luxury vehicle and that the government could allow an incentive in the form of a subsidy to encourage the sales of ‘green’ cars.

TKM plans to sell around 200 units of the car this year. Prius is the world’s first mass-produced and largest-selling hybrid vehicle, having sold nearly 1.5 million units so far. Toyota has already received orders for 54 units in India.

The global trouble with Prius follows close on the heels of Toyota’s recall of 8 million cars (including Corolla and Camry) around the world because of sticky accelerator pedals. The Prius was recalled for brake software flaws. When asked if this could impact the launch of the car here, Nakagawa said that TKM would go ahead with its India launch plans as usual.

TKM had initially approached Toyota Motor Corporation for subsidies, but was advised to talk to the government of India.

As a part of the launch campaign, TKM is organising road shows across the country, and also showcasing the vehicle at auto shows to enable the potential consumer to have a touch and feel of the Prius.

Meanwhile, the company is all set to go ahead with the production of its new car Etios that will be available in a hatchback and a sedan version. Production is scheduled to start from December this year at its Bidadi plant and the car will hit the roads during the first quarter of 2011 calendar year. The company had sold 55,497 units in the country in 2009 and targets to sell 70,000 units this year. In 2011, however, TKM plans to sell 70,000 units of the Etios, taking its net sales number to above 1.4 lakh.

Hyundai Sonata hybrid to be unveiled at New York Auto Show

As people become more comfortable with the hybrid technology, global manufacturers are rushing to get it right and launch their hybrid cars. Recently Toyota launched its hybrid car, Prius, in India.

While the rest of the auto manufacturers were sweating it out with their hybrid car competition, Hyundai maintained a low profile. But now seems to be the right time for the Korean car manufacturer to join the race. Hyundai is all set to unveil its new Sonata hybrid during the upcoming New York Auto Show which is scheduled in April. Soon after this Hyundai hopes to launch its own plug-in hybrid some time in 2013.

The hybrid Sonata is equipped with a 2.4-liter engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission coupled with a 30kW electric motor and a 1.4kWh battery pack. The battery pack will use lithium-polymer batteries rather than the NiMH batteries used by the other hybrids in its class. The polymer batteries are said to be more durable and cheaper to manufacture.

The Sonata hybrid will run on a parallel hybrid system. An electric motor and gas-burning engine will work in concert to increase fuel economy. It will be the first mass-produced vehicle to feature a lithium-ion battery under its hood.

Indian customers have still not warmed up to the concept of hybrid cars. One among the many reasons is that they are really expensive and so far the government has not done anything to bring relaxation on import duties.

Honda cars have a fan following in India but still when Honda launched its hybrid Civic in India in June 2008; it could not manage to get a warm response, mainly because of the price factor. But still, after the launch of Toyota Prius in India which is priced at around Rs 26.5 lakh and onward will give a tough competition to Hyundai’s hybrid Sonata when it is launched in India.

No words have been spilled on the pricing of the hybrid Sonata, but considering the technology, we can assume that it will cost much more than the petrol engine variant Sonata which are priced at Rs.13,84,841 and onwards in India.

Toyota launches Q world for its customers

Toyota has launched a unique auto show called Q world which will give cutomers the opportunity to see the Toyota Etios concept. The event will be spread across a span of four months from January to April, with the first leg to be conducted in Mumbai.

The event will be held in 10 cities across the country giving the cutomers an opportunity to have a touch and feel experience of Toyota vehicles. The event will also showcase the entire portfolio of Toyota cars along with the future line up of Toyota products like the LC 200. The ten cities to host the event will be Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Cochin, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. The Q World will also have events for fun and entertainment of customers. Here is what the original press release says:
"Toyota ‘Q’ World to come to Mumbai

• •Toyota ‘Q’ World – an exclusive auto show by Toyota – comes to Mumbai on 6th - 7thth Feb 2010
• •The event will span across 4 months from Jan – April in 10 cities
• •Customers across India to get an opportunity to see the Toyota Etios concept
• •An exciting array of vehicles to be showcased exhibiting Toyota quality and technology
• • Customers to get a touch and feel experience of Toyota range of cars with advanced and environment friendly technology

Kirloskar Motor announced today that it will hold the Toyota ‘Q’ World in Mumbai on 6th and 7th Feb 2010 at MMRDA Grounds,Bandra Kurla Complex. The event will be held from 12.00 noon to 6.00 p.m on Saturday(6th Feb) and 11.00 a.m to 7.00 p.m on Sunday(7th Feb).

The Toyota ‘Q’ World, a two day event, will travel across India spanning over a period of 4 months. The Delhi Auto Expo had customers coming to see the world premiere of the Etios concept and its latest technology; however the Toyota ‘Q’ World will take this experience ‘to the customer’.

The customers eagerly awaiting the launch of Etios concept will now get an opportunity, to see the vehicle, in their own city. The exhibit will include an exciting array of 11 vehicles which will give the customers a, never before, ‘touch and feel experience’ of Toyota vehicles. The exhibit includes the newly launched Etios concept and many more interesting and exciting vehicles in the current and future line up of Toyota products like the New Hybrid Prius, New Prado Diesel, Fortuner and LC 200.
The Toyota ‘Q’ World will span across 10 cities namely Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Cochin, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. It will also include various customer engagement events for fun and entertainment of the visitors."

Tata to Launch U.S. Nano

Tata Motors, the people's car of India, could, in just a matter of years, drive into the U.S. auto scene.

At the opening day of India's 10th Auto Expo in New Delhi on Tuesday, Tata Motors'chairman announced that the company will bring the small, affordable car to the U.S. in three years, albeit with modifications to make it more appealing to the U.S. market -- mainly the inclusion of larger engines, which would require additional crash tests.

"We recognize that there is a market for the Nano in developing countries," Ratan Tata said. "We also recognize there is a market for a low-priced car in the developed world." The Nano is currently priced at about $2,500, making it one of the cheapest cars in the world.

The introduction of the Nano to the U.S. could follow sales in Europe by the end of 2011, according to Reuters.

Alongside auto majors like Toyota, Honda and Suzuki, who showcased compact and "green" cars during the auto expo, Tata Motors unveiled four low-, mid- and high-end vehicles, according to the The Economic Times of India. Among them were a seven-seater multipurpose vehicle named Tata Aria, an 8-seater Tata Venture, the Magic IRIS and the Jaguar XJ sedan.

Nissan Murano Might Be Launched In India Before Mid-2010

Nissan India is likely to launch the new Murano in India before mid 2010.

Nissan Murano is a premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) that will be catered as a CBU unit from Japan.

Nissan Murano might get launched in three variants the S (Base), SL (Mid) & LE (Top-End) that will sport a powerful 3.5-Litre petrol V6 engine and all-wheel drive (AWD) handy.

Nissan Murano will directly step into a war against Toyota Prado, BMW X3, Mitsubishi Montero and Mercedes Benz M-Class models between the price ranges from Rs 35 lakhs to Rs 40 lakhs.

The Nissan Murano might get the following features:

    * Aluminum interior accents
    * Leather seats
    * Rain sensing wipers
    * Memory seats
    * Mood lighting
    * 11-speaker Bose unit
    * 9.3GB hard disk storage device

Nissan has various plans for India that will include the Micra small car hatchback that might launch before Q1 2010 and followed by a sedan in 2011 and a compact Multi-Purpose vehicle (MPV).

Nissan Micra is been produced at the Renault-Nissan plant in Chennai and it is also manufactured in five different countries including India, China and Thailand.

The name ‘Murano’ comes from a region of Venice, Italy which is known for the hand blown glass produced there.

Toyota Fortuner

The Toyota Fortuner SUV has eye-catching exteriors, comfortable, spacious and classy interiors and an extremely powerful diesel engine. Powered by a 3.0 Litre TDCI D-4D diesel engine, the car has 5-speed manual transmission and comes with an All-Time Four Wheel Drive.

The SUV has very luxurious leather upholstery and the spacious interiors that seats seven adults comfortably with enough air conditioning for all the three rows. The stylish hood scoop on the bonnet and the powerful headlamps that are curved around the grille add on to the stance of the SUV.

The Fortuner is built on the IMV (Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicle) platform similar to that of Toyota Innova. MID, touchscreen interface, GPS, Climatronic AC system and 17 inch alloy wheel are among the distinct features of the car. Fortuner is also bundled with safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), SRS front airbags, dynamic safety engineering, front and rear side impact door beams sonar back feature for easy parking.



Variant: Toyota Fortuner 3.0L Diesel

Ex-Showroom Price (Rs.) (New Delhi): Rs. 18,45,000

Engine: 3.0L DOHC I-4

Transmission:5 Speed Manual

It's a long wait for key car models this festive season

A number of cars such as Maruti’s Dzire and Ritz, Honda’s City, Hyundai’s i20 and Toyota’s Fortuner SUV have been wiped off shelves in past 10 days and are not available for immediate delivery as demand frenzy during the ongoing festival season has led to stock out situation for car dealers.

Carmakers are now being forced to ramp up production to meet demand. For instance, Maruti has re-jigged its operations to produce more of its newer cars such as Ritz, Estilo, Swift and DZire, while Honda has hiked production of its flagship sedan City and General Motors is operating its factory on all seven days to meet the market demand for small car Spark, utility vehicle Tavera and Aveo sedan even though Sunday is weekly off for the company. The festive season has also put other cars such as Hyundai’s I10 and Toyota’s Innova besides Mahindra and Mahindra’s Xylo out of dealer stock.

Auto industry executives say that the dual-combination of the prevailing festival mood and the slew of new car launches in recent past has contributed to the high sales in the past two weeks. “The interest rates, which are at the lowest level since the past two years is also pushing up volumes,” said Shashank Srivastava chief general manager (marketing) at Maruti. Maruti is slated to end up with despatches of over 5,500 Ritz cars in September as against the monthly average of 4500-5000, it was delivering to dealers every month.

Besides sudden jump in demand there is also a supply lag for these cars. Companies usually ramp up production of new cars over a period depending on demand. Since there has been a sudden jump in demand during the festive period companies were not prepared to churn out the required number of these models.

Unlike older more established products such as Maruti’s Alto or Wagon R, where discounts and freebies up to 15% of the value of the car are given the newer models have much lower discounts. The demand rush during the auspicious Navratara and Dusshera festivals have resulted in the huge waiting period of up to three months on such cars — some of which are leaders in their respective segment.

“There has been much more sales than we had expected. Most of our cars like Tavera, Spark LPG, Aveo sedan have wiped off from the showrooms and are enjoy a waiting of four to six-weeks,” said General Motors vice-president (marketing & sales) Ankush Arora said.

Domestic car market is expected to scale new sales graph for the fiscal in September on the back of this huge demand. This would help the industry surpass the mark of 1.2 lakh cars that were sold in August in India.

Besides general demand, return of easy financing could also have helped spur demand. “We are anticipating a double digit growth in sales over the last year in September with market leaders like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai their highest sales in the domestic market,” HDFC Bank auto loan head Ashok Khanna said. Earlier, most private sector financiers had tightened their auto loan portfolio which had also led to slow growth in demand.

Toyota Introduces All New Corolla Altis Sport (Limited Edition)

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. today announced the introduction of the all new Corolla Altis Sport (Limited Edition) to target young car enthusiasts. The new Corolla Altis Sport has been designed to give customers the stylish image of a car which is youthful and sporty, and has exciting new features.

Adding to the stylish look of the car is an aerodynamic front and rear bumper spoiler, a classy headlamp garnish, sleek side skirts and exclusive rear LED spoilers. A contemporary dual tone seat fabric and wood finish rear cup holders heighten the feeling of luxury and elegance.


Commenting on the launch of the new limited edition, Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said, “The Corolla Altis launched last year has been highly appreciated by our customers because of its advanced luxury and comfort features. We are now delighted to introduce the all new Corolla Altis Sport, which will offer sporty styling in combination with these features.”

Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director (Marketing), TKM, added “Only 300 units of the new Limited Edition Corolla Altis Sport will be available for sales. Additionally, individual personalized logos for each of our customers will enhance the exclusivity of ownership of the Corolla Altis Sport. We look forward to bringing to our customers a limited edition of the widely appreciated Corolla Altis, which will offer exclusive ownership and sporty style. The new Corolla Altis Sport will be attractively priced at Rs 11.35 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will be available at all Toyota dealerships from today.”

Mr. Singh added, “The new Corolla Altis Sport will be promoted extensively by an integrated marketing campaign, which leverages its association with active sports such as Tennis, Polo and Formula One, and is focused on young, urban customers. This will include web, print and magazine campaigns, direct marketing, SMS and e-DMs exclusively targeted at young professionals.”

The Corolla Altis has attracted customers from the corporate/executive segment and has been a true symbol of Toyota passenger cars in India. It has brought to the Indian market innovative luxury and exclusive comfort, designed to more than satisfy the auto consumer’s desire for perfection.


About ToyotaBharat

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited (TKM) is a joint venture between Kirloskar Group and Toyota Motor Corporation. Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited (TKM) aims to play a major role in the development of the automotive industry and the creation of employment opportunities. TKM's growth since inception can be attributed to one simple, yet important aspect of its business philosophy - "Putting Customer First". TKM firmly believes that the success of this venture depends on providing high quality products and services to all valued customers through the efforts of its team members.

SUV is the new market propeller for auto sales in India

India is always a country which has its own pecularities. While the rest of the world is going slow on gas guzzlers and the big cars including SUVs, the market for them back home is getting attrcative with every passing day.

Inorder to cash on the building demand for SUVs in India, many global and domestic auto giants have been busy rolling out newer models or variants of their existing SUVs to pamper the senses of drivers who want to have a 4x4 driving experience.

In the brginning we had SUVs from companies like Mahindra who rolled out Scorpio, Toyota had Qualis which was phased out and Tata Motors which had Safari and Sumo. But now, there are at least 15-20 models (including imported ones) sold by a huge chunk of multinational companies in the country. Furthermore, people are snapping up these vehicles pushing the companies to either stop the bookings or launch new models.

The new innings this year was kicked off by General Motors India which launched the AT version of its Captiva SUV, followed by BMW with its X6, while others have also followed suit. While companies like Toyota are not taking additional orders for its recently-launched Fortuner SUV, Ford motor Company is offering an attractive price tag for its refreshed 2009 Endeavour SUV.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. (TKM) has recently announced that it had received a record 5,000 bookings of the ‘Fortuner’ in just over a month. TKM is trying to ramp up monthly production figures from 500 to 600 units to meet high customer demand and is also planning to sell 2500 units of the ‘Fortuner’ during 2009 versus the earlier announced target of 2000 units.As of now, TKM dealers have been advised to take customer orders without advance payments, while committing to a tentative date of delivery. The vehicle is powered by a 3 litre Advanced Common-Rail Diesel engine and also features fulltime four-wheel drive.

Within a fortnight of Toyota driving in its Fortuner diesel SUV in India, segment leader Ford rolled out a new version of its Endeavour, pricing the automatic variant of the model competitively at Rs. 17.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). It is believed that by keeping the pricing of the automatic version of the Endeavour well below the Rs. 18.45 lakh pricing of the manual version offered by the Japanese auto titan , Ford is aiming to lure away all the Toyota customers (who are not able to buy Fortuner SUV immediately) into its own showrooms.

According to an auto industry analyst, sales have gone niche and buyers are putting their weight behind the premium SUV category which range from Rs. 13 lakh and above. SUV manufacturers have thrown in newer models; each better than the last one, got the right buyers interested, and managed to return with envious sales figures. Industry observers sees the overall market size of this category at a little over 10,000 units annually, which though small holds the potential of growing fast in the long-term with the road network getting better and more and more people driving across cities.

The resurgence of SUVs is yet another reason for the automobile companies in India to cheer about..and joining the bandwagon is now Nissan India with its X-Trail. There is promise of more action in coming days.

In the Process of Defining a Small Car...

There is a good chance that your will become a small car very soon. To make matters more clear removing the cloud of confusion in the first sentence, here is a further explanation to it. The Japanese car makers Toyota and Honda Motors are the two that are looking for a change in the way India will define a small car.

The companies are asking the Indian government to “Change the criteria of classifying a small car”. And there is a good reason for this which will not only benefit the two companies but all the car makers in the country; and the better reason is that in India small cars have lower tax rates.

But will the two be able to change the mind of the Indian government into thinking different about small cars and classify a different set of cars as small cars taking into consideration the new criteria such as the emission norms, fuel efficiency, and passenger safety and not the engine capacity, which has been for a long time, the defining factor.

This request raised by the Toyota and Honda has invited different opinions. Many are of the same opinion that the government should stop defining a car as small just by considering the fuel and engine capacity.

The demand of the small cars in the country is really do the magic and that could be the reason why these companies want the Indian government to think new. It is expected that if the governments nods at changing the defining criterion then there will be a huge shuffle in the Indian car industry