Best 1000cc Cars In India

The segment of ‘Small Cars’ is the most diverse segment in India. That, mainly, is due to the affordable price tags and sky-high fuel efficiency claims from these cars. Indian buyers love value-for-money, and manufacturers understand that. There are a lot of cars that feature small 1.0-litre (1000cc) engines and tiny dimensions, and most of them are quite brilliant! Here, we have a list of the top-ten best 1000c cars in India

Best 1000cc Cars In India 

Also See: 9 Best Cars For Teenagers In India

Maruti Alto K10

The first model in our list of Best 1000cc Cars In India is by Maruti, the undoubted the king of the ‘small car segment’ in India. Cars like Swift, Brezza, and Wagon-R have dominated their respective market spaces. Currently, the smallest car in Maruti Suzuki India’s line-up is the Alto, and is one of the company’s best-selling models as well. Alto is available in two variants, an 800cc variant and a 1000cc (K10) variant. The two variants have visual differences in exterior design as well, in order to set them apart.

Also See: Suzuki Launches Alto 660cc in Pakistan

Maruti Alto K10 is powered by Suzuki’s K10B engine (hence the name). It is a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder unit, which produces a max power of 68 PS and max torque of 90 Nm. The car has a very tiny footprint as well, with a wheelbase just 2360mm long. The entire car is just 3545mm long, and weighs less than 769 kg. The compact, lightweight body of the car not only helps increase efficiency, but also makes the car extremely easy to manage in traffic.

Check out used Maruti Alto K10 listings for some great second-hand car deals.

Renault Kwid

Renault Kwid was one of the best value-for-money vehicle in India, and the recently launched facelift is even better. The handsome looks, tall SUV-ish stance, low price, and extremely fuel-efficient engines make the Kwid a very potent contender in this segment. Similar to the Alto, the Kwid is available in two engine options, an 800cc variant and a 1000cc variant, but the exterior design remains identical for both variants.

              Also See: Renault Overtakes Tata Motors On Sales Charts – Triber Effect?

The 1.0-litre Kwid has a 1000cc 3-cylinder engine, capable of producing 68 PS and 91 Nm of max power and torque respectively. It has a high ground clearance of 184 mm, although the length is well under 4-metres, at 3731 mm. Even the wheelbase is quite small, just 2422 mm. The small dimensions with high stance make the car extremely practical for tackling daily traffic, making it one of the Best 1000cc Cars In India.

Check out used Renault Kwid listings for some great second-hand car deals.

Datsun Redi-GO

One of the smallest cars in India currently, Datsun Redi-GO has had a slow but steady presence in India. It is underpinned by the same CMF platform as the Renault Kwid, and gets the same engine options as the little Renault as well.

Also See: 2020 Nissan Juke Unveiled, Bigger, Better and Quirkier!

Datsun Redi Go is even shorter than the Alto, at just 3459mm, and the wheelbase is slightly smaller as well, just 2348mm. The ground clearance, however, is as high as the Kwid (185mm). The 1.0-litre engine in the Redi GO has the same max power and torque output as its Renault cousin (68 PS and 91 Nm), which is plenty for this 680 kg car.

Check out used Datsun RediGo listings for some great second-hand car deals.

Maruti S-Presso

Maruti lastest entry into the small-car segment is the new S-Presso mini-SUV. Although the ‘SUV’ tag is a misnomer, the car does try its best to look like one. The hood is small but high, the front-end has an aggressive design, the side profile looks muscular, and the rear has high mounted tail lights and a high bumper.

Also See: Maruti Alto K10 vs Maruti S-Presso In-Depth Comparison

Based on Suzuki’s extremely versatile HEARTECT platform, the S-Presso is extremely light, just 726 kg. It’s shorter than its closest rival, the Renault Kwid, at 3565 mm, but heavier than it. The wheelbase is quite compact, 2380 mm. It is powered by the same engine as the Alto K10, a 1000cc 3-cylinder unit with 68 PS and 90 Nm on tap. The S-Presso is perhaps one of the strongest contenders among the best 1000cc cars in India.

We don't have any deals on used Maruti S-Presso as second-hand models aren't available yet.

Maruti Celerio

Maruti Suzuki Celerio is a very plain looking, no-thrills, and no-nonsense affordable hatchback. In more ways than one, the Celerio is the stereotypical affordable hatchback. It’s built to a price, and it shows. Regardless, it is an extremely practical car, especially the AMT variants, and it is quite popular as well.

Also See: New Maruti XL5 Spied In Disguise, Expect Launch Details Very Soon

In terms of dimensions, Maruti Celerio is smaller than other cars in its segment, like the Tata Tiago and Hyundai Santro. The car is just 3695 mm long, but has a 2425 mm wheelbase, longer than the competitors mentioned prior. The kerb-weight is also quite low, around 815 kg. The car features the K10B engine under the hood, the same as the Alto and S-Presso.

Check out used Maruti Celerio listings for some great second-hand car deals.

Maruti Wagon-R

The Wagon R is one of the most popular cars ever to hit the Indian streets. It has a distinctly recognisable “tall-boy” design, oodles of space inside, and now it even features a premium infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. In its latest avatar, the Wagon R has grown larger and chubbier, but still maintains the same feel as the previous generation models.

Also See: Maruti Suzuki Misplaced 2.6% Market Share To Hyundai Motor In H1 2019

The engine options on Maruti Wagon R comprise of a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder motor and a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder unit. The 1-litre engine is the same K10B unit as the one in S-Presso, with identical power and torque figures as well (68 PS and 90 Nm). The Wagon R too is based on the HEARTECT platform, the same as S-Presso, which helps keep the weight down to only 825 kg. The combination of all these factors make this car one of the best 1000cc cars in India currentl;y.

Check out used Maruti Wagon R listings for some great second-hand car deals.

Renault Triber

The only MPV is this list, the Renault Triber is an extremely versatile vehicle. Although it isn’t the most spacious vehicle ever, it has a lot of usable space. The first- and second-row seats are quite accommodating, although the third-row is a big compromise. Still, if you consider its hatchback-rivalling price, the Triber is an absolute bargain, which is why it makes the list of best 1000cc cars in India.

Also See: Renault Triber - 10 Most Outstanding Features

Although it has an extra row of seating in the back, the Triber manages to keep the length under the 4-metre mark. The wheelbase is 2636mm long, quite small by people-carrier standards. The compact dimensions are courtesy of the Renault-Nissan CMF platform, which also underpins the Kwid. The weight, however, is a little too heavy compared to the small engine. Although the 1000cc engine produces more power and torque than the Kwid (72 PS and 96 Nm), it feels underpowered to haul the 947 kg kerb weight.

We don't have any deals on used Renault Triber as second-hand models aren't available yet.

Volkswagen Polo

The Volkswagen Polo is one of the best small hatchbacks in the country, although the sales figures fail to reflect that. The car manages to stay under the 4-metre mark, with a length of 3971mm. The wheelbase is 2469mm long, and the weight is around 1015 kg. The Polo has recently received a minor facelift a few months back, but the styling has remained largely the same. The design is simple yet timeless, and even though it has been around for quite some time, it doesn’t look outdated.

Also See: Volkswagen And Skoda To Merge As One, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India

The Polo gets a turbocharged engine, as opposed to a naturally aspirated one in all the other cars listed here. The engine is a 1-litre 3-cylinder unit, which makes 76 PS of max power and 95 Nm of max torque. There are other engine options as well, a 1.2 turbo-petrol and a 1.2 TDI diesel. Not only is it one of the best 1000cc cars in India, but perhaps one of the best hatchbacks in the country.

Check out used Volkswagen Polo listings for some great second-hand car deals.

Volkswagen Ameo

The German brand’s first Made-in-India car was a sincere attempt at catering to the budget-minded Indian consumers. Sadly, it wasn’t able to enjoy the success Volkswagen had hoped, and remained an underdog in the segment.

Also See: Volkswagen T-Cross To Have India Debut At 2020 Auto Expo

The VW Ameo is powered by the same engines as the Polo. The base engine is a 1000cc turbocharged 3-cylinder unit, with 76 PS and 95 Nm of max power and torque respectively. The Ameo is slightly longer than the Polo, at 3995mm, barely managing to stay in the sub-4-metre bracket for tax-advantage.

Check out used Volkswagen Ameo listings for some great second-hand car deals.

Best 1000c cars in India - Verdict

• Maruti Alto K10
• Renault Kwid
• Datsun Redi-GO
• Maruti S-Presso
• Maruti Celerio
• Maruti Wagon-R
• Renault Triber
• Volkswagen Polo
• Volkswagen Ameo

The different cars mentioned above occupy different segments in the Indian market. While the Maruti Alto K10 and Datson RediGO are cheap, entry level products, Volkswagen Polo is an upmarket one. Cars like Maruti Wagon R and Renault Triber are extremely popular cars, while on the other hand, Volkswagen Ameo and Maruti Celerio are struggling to attract buyers and might be discontinued. Maruti S-Presso and the facelifted Renault Kwid are two latest entries here, and the most interesting ones as well.