New Delhi: Let’s face it, when you are going to college in a car, it isn’t just commuting but also a sort of style statement. No matter what, though, you want
them to be cheap on your wallet, look cool in the parking lot, have a banging stereo and features, and ample space to bundle your friends in for weekend getaways.
For parents, of course, even the safety quotient is a major factor when considering the cars. Here are my top 5 picks of funky cars that are perfect for student life in India in 2026.
MG Comet EV
When the MG Comet EV came out in 2023, the tiny car with its futuristic looks was ideal for making the college runs and a little more. Three years down the line, it is still the car that makes everyone turn their head in college. With those quirky proportions, it is ideal for city-friendly hopping, tight parkings and an electric powertrain means it ideal for urban students as well. It is obvious that charging costs almost nothing for petrol.
It gets a 17.3 kWh lithium-ion battery that makes 41 bhp and 110 Nm of torque, and returns a claimed range of around 180-200 km.
Tata Punch EV
Tata Punch EV
Yes, the Tata Punch is a good car, and put it on electric wheels, the mini-SUV is a fast, eco-friendly and pocket-friendly car to live with. During a recent interaction with this car, I was amazed by the ease with which it could overtake almost anything on the highway and then cruise through the city. It has the safety features and those tall-boy dimensions that won’t let it get dominated in traffic.
It comes with two battery options: a 30 kWh battery pack and a 40 kWh battery pack. The bigger battery makes 118 bhp, and 190 Nm of torque with an ARAI range of 468 km. It can charge from 20-80 per cent in 26 minutes, and in the real world, you can easily get a range of 300+ km.
Hyundai i20 N Line
In any world, the Hyundai i20 N Line fits in as the perfect sporty, yet not too overpriced, hot hatchback. It looks really cool with those sporty bumpers, red accents, dual exhaust and punchy turbo-petrol engine. It is fast, and from a little personal experience, it makes you fall in love with driving. Most importantly, if you are out to impress anybody, it has the premium cabin to do the job.
Coming with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, 3-cylinder engine, this hatchback returns figures of 118 bhp and 172 Nm of torque and is mated with a six-speed iMT or 7-speed DCT. It does 0-100 kph in 10 seconds with a top speed of 190 kph.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
The Maruti Suzuki range offers too many good hatchbacks, and with the Baleno dominating the market, the old favourite Swift kind of falls behind. It isn’t the quickest of the lot and certainly not claimed to do anything a premium hatchback does. However, despite getting on with age, the Swift is a funky car with cool driving dynamics. As someone who lived with a Swift during college, I can say it never hurts your wallet as much.
It comes with a 1.2-litre Z12E petrol, doing 80 bhp and 111 Nm of torque. It comes with the option of a 5-speed Manual and 5-speed AMT.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Maruti Suzuki Jimny
You may argue that the Suzuki Jimny is for an outdoors club president, but hey, you don’t always live your life in the bricks of the college. The Jimny looks like nothing we have seen before on the Indian roads. With its retro-looks and quite cheap aftermarket fits for off-roading, this might be the best car to start your off-roading journey in. On a recent long trip in one, I discovered it was quite comfortable to be in as well.
It comes with a 1.5-litre K15B naturally aspirated petrol engine with a proper 4X4 configuration. The engine unit makes 104 bhp and 134 Nm of torque. It gets an option of 5-speed MT and 4-speed AT, with a 4WD with a low-range transfer case.
