Most Affordable Diesel Cars You Can Currently Buy In India – September 2023

Published: Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 14:04 [IST]

In general, diesel cars are a lot more fuel efficient than their petrol counterparts. This makes diesel cars an ideal choice for people who spend a lot of time travelling. As such, here's the list top 5 most affordable diesel cars that you can currently buy in India.

Tata Altroz

Tata Altroz is currently the most affordable diesel car in India with a starting price of just Rs 8.80 lakh (ex-showroom) for the diesel variant. It is also the only affordable hatchback in India to sport a diesel powertrain.

The 1.5-litre, turbocharged diesel engine in the Altroz produces 88.78bhp and 200Nm of torque. This engine also comes exclusively mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Also, the Tata Altroz is the safest hatchback in India with a 5-star safety rating for adult occupant protection from Global-NCAP.

Mahindra Bolero Neo

The Mahindra Bolero Neo is a rugged sub-4m SUV with body-on-frame chassis, making it an ideal choice for those who regularly use rural roads. At present, prices for the Bolero Neo start from Rs 9.63 lakh (ex-showroom) and go all the way up to Rs 12.14 lakh (ex-showroom).

Powering the Mahindra Bolero Neo is a 1.5-litre, turbocharged diesel engine. This engine puts out 98.6bhp and 260Nm of peak torque. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Mahindra Bolero

The Mahindra Bolero continues to churn consistent YoY and MoM sales figures despite being an outdated model. That being said, the rugged build quality and reliable powertrain makes the Bolero ideal for rural parts of India.

Powering the Mahindra Bolero is a 1.5-litre, turbocharged diesel engine with 75bhp and 210Nm of torque. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and prices for the model range between Rs 9.79 lakh and Rs 10.80 lakh, ex-showroom.

Kia Sonet

The most affordable diesel-powered variant of the Kia Sonet SUV is priced at Rs 9.95 lakh (ex-showroom). It is also worth mentioning that the Kia Sonet is among the most feature-rich cars on this list.

Powering the Kia Sonet diesel variants is a 1.5-litre, turbocharged diesel engine with 114bhp of peak power and 250Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 6-speed automatic gearbox and a 6-speed iMT unit.

Mahindra XUV300

The Mahindra XUV300 is a decent-selling model in the market. Prices for the diesel variant of the Mahindra XUV300 starts from Rs 10.21 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base 'W4' trim level.

Powering the Mahindra XUV300 SUV is a 1.5-litre, turbocharged diesel engine with 115bhp and 300Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed AMT unit.

Thoughts About India's Most Affordable Diesel Cars

Though diesel cars are priced at a premium compared to their respective petrol-powered counterparts, diesel cars offer much better fuel efficiency, especially on the highways. This makes diesel cars a favourite among people who travel more.