There is no denying that hatchbacks and Sports Utility Vehicles are hot choices among both urban and rural Indian buyers. With rugged looks, more space and commanding road presence, SUVs appeal rural buyers too. Compact, premium and easy to drive hatchbacks also make a good choice for city and rural drivers. In a past decade or so, hatchbacks and SUVs rode high on sales chart in India, especially in smaller towns and villages. This is the reason why automakers are aggressively working on their product line-up and improving their sales and service networks in Tier II and III cities. Since buyers have so many options to choose from, the confusion of picking the best ones is also there.
So, here’s a list of the 10 best cars that are suitable for rural Indian terrains.
Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 - The Alto 800 is one of the most popular and affordable hatchback cars in India. The car has always been favored for its compact design, decent interior and drivability. It derives its power from a 796cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine. Being a Maruti, it’s also one of the easiest cars to maintain.
Maruti Suzuki Swift - The Swift is the best value for money car. The car’s sporty design, frugal engines, superb drivability and competitive pricing make it a practical choice for both urban and rural buyers. The new Swift is powered by a 83.1bhp, 1.2-litre K-Series petrol and a 1.3-litre, Multijet diesel engines.
Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire - The Swift Dzire is a sub-4 meter version of the old Dzire sedan. The looks and interior are more refined than its bigger sibling. Handling and ride are also improved. Powering the Swift Dzire is a 86bhp, 1.2-litre K-Series petrol unit and a 74bhp 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine.
Hyundai i10 - The i10 is one of the best-selling small cars in India. It looks stylish, and offers best-in-class interior. Drive, too, is comfortable. It is powered by a 68.1bhp, 1.1-litre iRDE2 and 79bhp, 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engines. Hyundai’s vast service network and low maintenance cost make it an ideal choice among buyers.
Mahindra Verito - Though it looks plain in design, its robust build quality, impressive driving dynamics and comfortable ride make it a perfect car for both rural and urban roads.The Verito is powered with a 65bhp, 1.5-litre, CRDi diesel engine.
Tata Indigo - The Indigo is a good value for money and easy to maintain car, and that is the reason why it has ruled rural India for years. The hatchback is available in three engine options - a 64.11bhp, 1.2-litrea petrol motor and 69.04bhp, 1.4-litre, CR4 diesel engine and a 55.23bhp, 1.2-litre Bi-fuel unit.
Mahindra Bolero - The Bolero is one of the most popular Mahindra cars in India. It has always been recognized for its outstanding off-roading capabilities and powerful engines. The SUV is powered by a 63bhp, 2.5-litre Di turbo and the second generation 65bhp, 2.6-litre, M2DiCR diesel engines.
Mahindra Scorpio - Packed with powerful engines, feature-rich interior and robust body-built, the Scorpio certainly is a quite practical car for any terrain conditions. The SUV is available three engine options – a 74bhp, 2.5-litre m2DiCR in-line unit, a 115bhp, 2.6-litre turbocharged engine and a 120bhp, 2.2-litre mHawk, CRDe in-line motor.
Mahindra XUV500 - The XUV500, one of the top-selling Mahindra cars in India, is popular for its styling, advanced features and off-road performance. Powering the SUV is a 140bhp, 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine, which is available in both 2WD and 4WD options.
Tata Safari Strome - Tata Safari Strome is one of the most popular and practical SUVs in India. The robust body built, refined engine and improved handling make it a perfect pick for rough rural terrains. Powering this vehicle is a 138bhp, 2.2-litre, turbocharged VariCOR diesel powertrain.
