Top 10 Cars With The Lowest Maintenance Cost In India

The excitement of buying a new or a used car may narrow your focus towards the initial purchase costs. While this is necessary for consideration, your favourite car model may end up costing you more in the long run, especially if you’re in the market for an affordable car. A low maintenance car will have low service costs and possibly, higher fuel efficiency thus these running costs factor into your expenses in the coming years of ownership.

Cars in the same segment can have varied fuel efficiency figures, cost of service and spares may differ, and different manufacturers may require frequent or infrequent change of components due to wear and tear. To help you in deciding on the most cost-effective car model while making your purchase decision, Cars24 has listed out the top 10 selection of cars in popular segments with the lowest maintenance costs.

Best Low Maintenance Cars in India in 2024

1. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 | Rs 3,000/year

A successor to the Maruti 800, the Alto has seen three generations of production and has received numerous updates over the years. Currently available with the K10C engine, the Alto can be bought with a choice of manual transmission or an automated-manual transmission (AMT) dubbed as AGS by Maruti Suzuki.

Maruti Suzuki specifies service intervals of 10,000km or a year, whichever is earlier. Labour costs for the first service is free thus only consumables like engine oil and filters are charged for. Approximate service cost thereafter works out to roughly Rs 3,000 per year to maintain and service the Alto K10 over five years, making it one of the best cars with low maintenance costs in India.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 Key Specifications

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 Key Features

2. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso | Rs 3,000/year

Consider the S-Presso as the micro-SUV sibling of the Alto K10. Both cars are based on Maruti Suzuki’s Heartect platform and the K10C engine thus overall performance and features for both cars remains the same. Where the S-Presso differentiates itself from the Alto K10 is the slight advantage in space due to its shape. Thus the S-Presso gets more legroom and headroom at the back as well as more boot space at 240 litres. Being affordable doesn’t require you to compromise on features either as the S-Presso is equipped with a touchscreen infotainment as mobile connectivity among the features available in the top variants.

Recommended service intervals remain the same thus the S-Presso too works out to an average of Rs 3,000 per year for service and maintenance over a five year ownership. This makes the S-Presso a favourable option while considering the best low maintenance car in India.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Key Specifications

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Key Features

3. Renault Kwid | Rs 2,500/year

If you want to stand out of the crowd with an affordable hatchback/micro-SUV then the unique, modernised look of the Renault Kwid definitely grabs attention. The Kwid is feature-loaded too with digital instrumentation, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with modern connectivity options and safety features such as reverse parking camera, Electronic Stability Program, tyre pressure monitoring system, and more available in the higher trims. A couple of standout features include 184mm of ground clearance, which is impressive for a small hatchback, as well as 279 litres of boot space.

The Kwid also impresses with its low maintenance costs as Renault offers three labour cost free services. This should cover nearly three years of use or 30,000km as the recommended service intervals are spaced in 10,000km or a year, whichever comes first. Thus, for a period of five years of ownership, per year maintenance cost averages roughly Rs 2,500, making the Renault Kwid, if not the lowest maintenance car in India, definitely a solid option as the one of the best low maintenance cars in India.

Renault Kwid Key Specifications

Renault Kwid Key Features

4. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R | Rs 3,600/year

The Wagon R has served brilliantly as a reliable, fuel efficient and low maintenance hatchback over the years as it falls into a very affordable budget category. In its latest generation, the Wagon R looks more attractive than before hence its increased preference among private buyers too as an all-round family hatchback. Opting a higher variant offers the option of the four-cylinder K12N, 1.2-litre engine for more power and performance. Features aside, the Wagon R’s trump card is the overall space on offer with 341 litres of boot space.

The Wagon R, like all Maruti Suzuki cars, benefits from the first service being free of labour charges while subsequent services may cost up to Rs 4,000 per service. Over a five year period, service costs average roughly Rs 3,600 per year.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Key Specifications

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Key Features

5. Hyundai Grand i10 Nios | Rs 3,200/year

A very popular choice among young executives, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios serves as a superb choice for those looking for a stylish yet cost effective hatchback. The Grand i10 Nios brings in modern elements like LED DRLs, projector headlamps, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment, contemporary interior design along with space and comfort on offer.

On the maintenance front, the Grand i10 Nios is fairly affordable and comparable to the smaller hatchbacks on this list. Hyundai recommends a 10,000km or one year as service interval, whichever comes earlier while the first two services are free from labour costs. Further services may cost an average of Rs 4,000 per service. Thus the yearly average for service and maintenance works out to Rs 3,200 per year, making this hatchback very affordable over a period of five years of ownership.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Key Specifications

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Key Features

6. Nissan Magnite | Rs 3,200/year

Nissan has boasted of some solid products over the years albeit not being very popular in India. The Magnite is one such example with the SUV being slotted in a hotly contested segment. Not only does the Magnite offer a great value proposition, it even offers features like wireless charging and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity that are available in cars of a higher price segment.

The engine options include a naturally aspirated 3-cylinder and a turbo-petrol option with a selection of a manual gearbox, CVT automatic and an AMT thrown into the mix. Being a Japanese manufacturer, Nissan also exemplifies reliability and low cost on maintenance. The Magnite averages Rs 3,200 and 3,400 per year for covering service costs between the naturally aspirated 1.0-litre and turbocharged engines respectively.

Nissan Magnite Key Specifications

Nissan Magnite Key Features

7. Tata Punch | Rs 4,800/year

The Tata Punch instantly gained popularity with the Indian audience at launch. The immensely attractive styling aside, the little SUV packed a host of features at a very attractive price point to round off a package that’s hard to beat in its segment. Features like auto headlamp, rain sensing wipers, voice activated sunroof and automatic climate control are just some noteworthy mentions that help set the Punch apart.

Tata offers three services free of labour costs but within a span of a year or 15,000km whichever is earlier. The subsequent service intervals are at 15,000km too. In comparison to other brands, one stands to benefit from the extra 5,000km in a year if the yearly mileage is higher. Annual service costs averages at Rs 4,800 per year for five years of ownership albeit for 75,000km in all versus 50,000km for other brands.

Tata Punch Key Specifications

Tata Punch Key Features

8. Maruti Suzuki Baleno | Rs 5,600/year

Short of the European manufacturers and high-end hatchbacks, the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno are considered as premium hatchbacks. The Baleno boasts of all the modern features and tech including LED lighting and modern connectivity options with a peppy naturally aspirated engine.

The Baleno, as any Maruti Suzuki, is recommended to be serviced at an interval of 10,000km and the annual service cost averages Rs 5,600 per year.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno Key Specifications

Maruti Suzuki Baleno Key Features

9. Honda Amaze | Rs 5,600/year

The only sedan that features on this list, the Honda Amaze stands out as a sedan from the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Hyundai Aura as an option that’s rarely used by fleet operators. It is stylish, looks much bigger and of regular shape compared to sub-4 metre alternatives, and packs a proven 1.2-litre petrol engine that makes up the value proposition that the Amaze is.

Globally, Honda is known for its reliability and the Amaze isn’t an exception. With service intervals split in 10,000km intervals and a free of labour charge first service thrown in, the Amaze’s annual service cost averages Rs 5,600 per year.

Honda Amaze Key Specifications

Honda Amaze Key Features

10. Hyundai Venue | Rs 3,200/year

The final option on this list is a very attractive SUV that ticks a lot of boxes for many users. Be it space, comfort, features, reliability and service network, the Venue has everything to offer at various price brackets. It is also the only car in this list to offer choices of both petrol and diesel engines as well as a turbo-petrol option.

Hyundai models are known to be low maintenance and the Venue is no exception with both petrol engines averaging approximately Rs 3,200 per year for service costs while the diesel engine averages Rs 4,000 per year.

Hyundai Venue Key Specifications

Hyundai Venue Key Features

Conclusion

The above list of low maintenance cars mainly takes into consideration factors like service costs that influence their annual running costs. Some of the other factors to determine low maintenance costs are variable, like build quality of a car that can greatly influence the reliability and longevity of components. Do keep in mind that the quoted service costs do not include cost of tyres or replacement of components that are not scheduled in service. Most low maintenance cars will also be affordable and smaller in size, albeit with exceptions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What are the best low-maintenance hatchbacks to buy in India in 2024?

Low-maintenance hatchbacks in India include multiple options from Maruti Suzuki like the Alto K10 and Wagon R which cost around Rs 3,000 per year to maintain.

Q. Which sedan models offer low maintenance costs?

Among sedans, the Honda Amaze has the lowest cost of maintenance at Rs 3,200 per year. 

Q. Are there any SUVs with low maintenance costs?

SUVs are often associated with higher maintenance costs although the young breed of micro and mini-SUVs have changed that. The Renault Kwid or the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso have an annual maintenance cost of around Rs 2,500 and $3,000 respectively which are the lowest among SUVs. 

Q. Which hatchback provides the best mileage and low maintenance expenses?

The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 impresses with a starting price of under Rs 4 lakh (ex-showroom) while boasting 24.9kmpl with the AMT gearbox. The Alto K10 has an average annual maintenance cost of Rs 3,000. 

Q. What is the approximate price range for the Tata Punch?

The Tata Punch has an attractive starting price of Rs 6.12 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base “Pure” variant. The top-of-the-line “Creative Flagship” variant with all the bells and whistles comes up to Rs 10.19 lakh (ex-showroom).