What a Budget-conscious buyer looks for in an MPV
A budget-conscious MPV buyer seeks the best budget cars in India, and primarily looks for value for money, fuel efficiency, and cost-effective maintenance. High city and overall mileage are pivotal to keep fuel expenses in check. Basic safety features like ABS and airbags, and key conveniences like power steering and power windows, are non-negotiable. Manual transmission is often preferred for its affordability and reliability. As affordable MPV options in India, both Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Kia Carens provide options that cater to these requirements.
Why Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Kia Carens MPVs are popular among Budget-conscious buyers
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Kia Carens have carved out a niche among budget-conscious buyers due to their affordable price range, excellent fuel efficiency, and essential features. They both offer commendable city and overall mileage that considerably reduce the recurring fuel cost.
Also read: Maruti Suzuki XL6: New TVC released
Basic safety features such as ABS and airbags are standard across all variants, ensuring the safety of passengers without escalating the cost. The availability of power steering, power windows, and manual transmission further enhance their value proposition.
Ertiga, with Maruti Suzuki’s reputation for reliability, low maintenance cost, and extensive service network, gives buyers the confidence of a sound investment. Carens, on the other hand, brings Kia’s trademark modern design and feature richness into play, offering an affordable yet premium feel.
Both have manual transmission variants, which are cheaper and often more reliable, making them attractive to budget-conscious buyers. Therefore, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Kia Carens successfully cater to the budget-conscious segment by offering affordable, fuel-efficient, and feature-rich vehicles. We also have our comparison of the Ertiga with Kia Carens for family-focused buyers.
Our variants shortlist for Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Kia Carens
| Model | Variant | Price (INR) |
| Kia Carens | Premium | 1,045,000 |
| Kia Carens | Prestige | 1,165,000 |
| Kia Carens | Premium iMT | 1,200,000 |
| Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | VXI | 978,000 |
| Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | ZXI | 1,088,000 |
| Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | VXI AT | 1,128,000 |
Kia Carens Premium: At INR 1,045,000, this variant provides a petrol engine, and while it doesn’t specify the mileage, it offers necessary safety and convenience features such as ABS, 6 airbags, power steering, power windows, and manual transmission.
Kia Carens Prestige: Priced at INR 1,165,000, this variant comes with added features like an LCD touchscreen and additional USB ports, enhancing convenience.
Kia Carens Premium iMT: At INR 1,200,000, this variant offers similar features as the Carens Prestige but with iMT transmission which offers a balance between convenience and fuel efficiency. If you’re also style-conscious, you can check out how the Kia Carens stacks up against Maruti Suzuki XL6 in terms of design and looks.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga VXI: At INR 978,000, this variant is the cheapest in our selection. It offers the highest city mileage of 20.51 kmpl and essential safety and convenience features, making it an appealing choice for budget-conscious buyers. You can also read our guide to the best budget-friendly Ertiga variants.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXI: Priced at INR 1,088,000, it offers an LCD touchscreen and alloy wheels, adding a premium touch without escalating the price significantly.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga VXI AT: This automatic variant is priced at INR 1,128,000, providing convenience for urban drivers without compromising on the fuel efficiency.
Best variant among Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Kia Carens for Budget-conscious buyer
The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga VXI stands out as the best variant for budget-conscious buyers. Priced under a million rupees, it delivers an impressive city mileage of 20.51 kmpl, essential for keeping daily running costs low. The petrol engine ensures lower maintenance costs, and the presence of critical safety features like ABS and 2 airbags offer a safety net to passengers.
With power steering and power windows, driving comfort is not compromised. Its manual transmission is both economical and reliable, especially in the Indian context. Thus, the Ertiga VXI offers an optimal blend of price, fuel efficiency, safety, and convenience, meeting the key requirements of budget-conscious buyers.
The Top 3 choices
The top 3 choices for a budget-conscious buyer would be the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga VXI, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXI, and the Kia Carens Premium.
| Model | Variant | ABS | Airbags | City Mileage (kmpl) | Fuel Type | Power Steering | Power Windows – Front | Power Windows – Back | Transmission |
| Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | VXI | Yes | 2 | 20.51 | Petrol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Manual |
| Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | ZXI | Yes | 2 | 20.51 | Petrol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Manual |
| Kia Carens | Premium | Yes | 6 | – | Petrol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Manual |
While all three variants offer excellent value, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga VXI stands out with its competitive pricing and high city mileage. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXI, although slightly higher in price, provides additional features like an LCD touchscreen and alloy wheels, justifying its price. Kia Carens Premium, though not explicitly stating its mileage, brings Kia’s design aesthetics and a rich set of features at a reasonable price, making it an attractive option.
Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500
