Best Underrated Cars in India – The Ones Most People Skip
Look, walk into any dealership and the conversation almost always lands on the same cars. Creta, Brezza, Swift, Wagon R. You see them everywhere, so they feel safe. But straight up, selling the most units doesn’t automatically make a car the best use of your money.
A few solid cars just sit there with almost no hype. The brands don’t advertise them much, and the dealer network is smaller, so most people never look at them. What you usually get instead is a better price, no waiting list, and more actual car for the money. Honestly, these five still get ignored more than they should.
1. Mid-size SUV: Citroën Air cross
In the 8–12 lakh range, most people go straight for Grand Vitara or Creta. Give the Air cross a proper drive, and it starts making more sense.
The 1.2 turbo with the AISIN 6-speed torque-converter automatic has strong mid-range pull. You can stay in third and go from crawling speed right up to 120 km/h without fuss. The suspension handles bad roads better than most cars at this price, and it’s still one of the only ones here that gives you a proper seven-seater option.
Citroën’s network is still very small — under 200 outlets versus Maruti’s four thousand-plus. That alone keeps a lot of buyers from even knowing it exists. Less visibility on the road also means fewer people take the time to test it, which is a shame because the ride comfort and flexible seating are genuine strengths in this segment.
2. Sub-4m compact SUV: Mahindra XUV 3XO
Nexon and Brezza take most of the sales. Once you sit in the XUV 3XO, it feels like the more grown-up option.
Cabin space is the best in the segment, the safety kit is strong, and both the turbo-petrol and diesel are the most powerful engines you can get here. At higher speeds, it stays composed better than many rivals. Driving dynamics feel more sorted than you’d expect from a car in this price band.
To be fair, the front design is polarising, the boot is a bit smaller than some competitors, and the strong engines mean real-world mileage sits a step behind more economy-focused cars like Brezza or Venue. Still, if space, power and high-speed stability matter more to you than pure fuel figures, this one deserves a proper look.
3. Small crossover: Renault Kiger
Punch and Fronx get most of the attention in this budget. The Kiger doesn’t shout as loud but delivers a lot for the money.
The chassis feels rigid, the driving modes actually change the car’s behaviour, and the turbo-petrol with CVT is smooth. Ride and highway manners are better than the price suggests. It feels more planted and refined than many of the louder competitors in the same range.
Renault hasn’t changed the design much for a few years, and the big marketing budgets of Hyundai and Tata pull most buyers their way. That leaves the Kiger sitting quietly even though the mechanical package is stronger than its sales numbers suggest.
4. Compact sedan: Honda Amaze
Sedans aren’t trendy anymore, but if you care more about daily comfort than ground clearance, the Amaze still makes a strong case.
Build quality is high, overall safety is good, the air-con works very well in Indian heat, and the CVT is much smoother than the AMT gearboxes common in this segment. For city commuting and highway runs, it remains one of the most sorted options if you prefer a sedan layout.
Dzire still wins on price and fleet demand. A lot of buyers in this budget just stretch a bit more and move to a compact SUV. Those who actually need the lower height, better refinement, and smoother automatic often end up happier with the Amaze once they drive it.
5. Budget hatchback: Maruti Celerio
When someone asks for a cheap city car, Wagon R and Alto are the first names that come up. Drive the Celerio, and it often feels like the more practical everyday choice.
Fuel efficiency in mixed conditions is excellent — regularly better than most non-hybrid petrol cars. Because it sits lower than the tall Wagon R, it feels more planted on the highway and rolls less at speed. The overall balance and composure are simply better for mixed city-highway use.
Wagon R has decades of brand recognition and a huge presence in the taxi market, so many people simply buy it out of habit. The Celerio rarely gets the same consideration even though it offers better real-world efficiency and more stable highway behaviour.
Should you consider an underrated car?
If the mechanicals are sound, it’s rarely a risk. Properly speaking, the practical benefits are usually clear:
- Dealers are more flexible on price and freebies because these cars aren’t flying off the floor.
- Waiting periods are often zero — you can complete the paperwork and drive home the same day in many cases.
- You tend to get better gearboxes (proper CVTs or torque converters instead of AMTs) and stronger engines for the same or less money.
Buying a less popular model doesn’t mean compromising on engineering. In several of these cases, the opposite is true — you get more thoughtful mechanical packages precisely because the car isn’t chasing pure volume numbers.
Planning a purchase before the festive season? Keep an eye on our guide on upcoming cars in India in August September 2026. And if you’re wondering how the shift to E20 fuel is affecting engines, check out our piece on E20 petrol and diesel in India.
FAQs
Are these cars unreliable?
No. Air cross, Amaze and Celerio use well-proven powertrains. Low sales numbers come from limited marketing reach and smaller networks, not from quality problems. The engines and gearboxes in these models have solid track records.
Do they offer better discounts?
Usually yes. Lower footfall means dealers are more willing to negotiate cash discounts and extras than they are on high-demand models like Creta or Brezza. You can often walk away with meaningful savings or free accessories that wouldn’t be possible on the popular cars.
What about spare parts?
Maruti, Honda and Mahindra parts are widely available across the country. Citroën and Renault parts are stocked at authorised workshops, though the network is thinner outside major cities. For most owners in urban and semi-urban areas, this isn’t a practical issue.
Why does the Air cross struggle for sales?
Not enough dealerships and service points compared with the big players. That limits everyday visibility and convenience for many buyers. Once the network grows, the car’s strengths in ride and packaging should become more obvious to a wider audience.
Is the Celerio better than the Wagon R on the highway?
Yes. The lower centre of gravity and cleaner aerodynamics translate into less body roll and a more settled feel at higher speeds. It simply feels more composed when the road opens up.
