Tata Nano

Features: The basic shape of the Nano has remained unaltered for nearly a decade now. It might not look particularly pretty, but it does serve a practical purpose of opening up loads of space for occupants. There are no features to talk about, unless you think tyres, bumpers and headlamps are features. On a more serious note, it does feature fog lamps and 12-inch alloy wheels. There are a range of accessories to let you deck up your Nano too, including a manual sunroof. We aren’t kidding! The egg-like shape means the cabin is quite spacious. It might not look like a big car on the outside, but Tata’s engineering here has to be lauded. The Nano is a properly spacious car for a family of four. The only real sacrifice comes in the boot space department. That said, it’s sufficient for a couple of backpacks or a few shopping bags. In terms of creature comfort, the top-spec version gets a Bluetooth-enabled music system, power windows and manual air-conditioning.

Engine: Tata’s Nano features a teeny tiny 624cc, two-cylinder petrol engine. It makes (wait for this) 38PS of power and 51Nm of torque. 0-100kmph takes, well, forever and it tops out at 105kmph. But that’s not the point, is it. The Nano delivers in spades if you’re looking at a quick, peppy city runabout. The optional 5-speed AMT gets a thumbs up from us for the sheer convenience it offers.

Rivals: Alto 800: Its strength lies in its reliable mechanicals, extensive sales and service network, low running costs and strong resale value. Its USPs aren't visible to the naked eye and yet keep it at the top of its game. Datsun redi-GO: The redi-GO brings the tallboy design to the entry-level hatchback game. Despite its limited length, it offers usable cabin space. It makes up for the length too with good headroom. A high seating position offers a good view of the road ahead and the healthy ground clearance of 185mm allows you to overcome larger speed bumps without scraping the belly. It's only the Datsun badge that holds it back. Hyundai Eon: The Eon wears Hyundai’s Fluidic design theme that's starting to show its age. Just like the Alto, it offers solid reliability and lower cost of ownership along with a styling that's more than just functional. Renault Kwid: The Kwid has made budget hatchbacks cool, but not at the expense of practicality. It is surprisingly spacious, very well equipped and handles bad roads very well. The only critical miss is the lack of ABS, but the competition doesn't offer that either.

Variants: You get to choose between three variants: XE, XM and XT. The top two variants let you have the 5-speed AMT as well. We’d say pick the top variant: it doesn’t have much for you to skimp to begin with.