New Delhi: When you are in college, having a car is so much more than just a mode of transport. For students, it’s their extended form of personality.
What you want is easy on your wallet, low maintenance, stylish to stand out in parking lots and friendly for aftermarket mods as well.
The Indian market is at a place where you have choices ranging from hatchbacks that have endless alloy and wraps to choose from to quirky micro SUVs and even affordable EVs. For students who are living on an allowance or a stipend, here are five cool cars you can consider.
5) Suzuki Swift
Maruti Suzuki Swift
Suzuki Swift is actually the original choice for college runners for college kids and has been so since entering the Indian market more than 20 years ago. The parts are cheap, and there’s a big ecosystem for you to tune it. Some of the best mods include coilovers, cat-back exhaust, paddle shifter extensions (AMT), and the lot. In terms of powertrain, you get the 1.2-litre petrol that makes 80 bhp and 112 Nm of torque.
For someone who spent his college life in one, it is a fun one to drive about and do carpooling in without hurting your wallet. Priced somewhere between Rs 6.44 – Rs 9.80 lakh on-road, this one makes you fall in love with driving when you are young.
4) Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
I had the original i10, and then I learnt to drive an automatic in the very Grand i10 Nios later. It isn’t quirky and screaming for attention, but it works magic with its neat proportions and the cabin that feels one step above the segment. You get the 1.2-litre kappa engine, making 81 bhp and 114 Nm of torque, which is great to live with. There’s no comparison with the refinement, easy clutch and light steering it comes with.
The engine might not exactly be for mods, but it does like things like performance air filter, freer-flow muffler, throttle controller, and lighter wheels, which do magic in the city traffic. You can also get things like lip spoiler, OEM+ alloys, piano black grille and the lot. The Korean hatchback is between Rs 6.18 – Rs 8.98 lakh.
3) Renault Kwid
When it comes to the Renault Kwid, it is one that feels less like a regular hatchback and more like a “lifestyle” car. It gets those high 184 mm of ground clearance, big wheel arches, roof rails and SUV-inspired face to give that road presence. In terms of powertrain, you get a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol making 66 bhp and 91 Nm of torque.
It is easy to run clocking 21 kmpl and gets things like satin black roof wrap, black 14-inch alloys, wider 175-section tyres, smoked tail lamps, rear spoiler, LED cabin lights and more. You can do dual-tone wrap, rear spoiler, LED DRL strips and more. It falls in the price bracket of Rs 4.82 – Rs 6.54 lakh.
2) Tata Tiago
The biggest flex the Tata Tiago has is having a muscular stance with a small hatchback body. Even in stock form, you have an amazing car, and with that strong build quality, it gives an ease of mind to the parents as well. Under the bonnet, there is either a 1.2-litre Revotron petrol making 84 bhp and 113 Nm, mated with either a 5-speed manual or AMT. There’s also an option of a CNG version that can make 71 bhp and 95 Nm.
It is in the price bracket of Rs 5.65 – Rs 10.60 lakhs. For mods, you can do black roof, smoked tail lamps, alloy upgrades, better suspension dampers, red brake callipers and much more.
1) Citroen C3
Citroen C3
Citroen C3 might be something that stands out in the college lot because chances are that this piece of French magnificence might not be in everyone’s wish list. It brings that mini crossover stance, chunky cladding, high 180mm ground clearance, and the French styling. All of that makes it one looker, too.
In terms of mods, you can do things like white wheels, body decals, contrast roof wrap, thicker tyres, spoiler lip, short shifter (turbo MT), and ECU remap (turbo only). It falls in the price bracket of Rs 5.53 – Rs 10.69 lakh.
