Sub 5 lakh Showdown

                     The name indicates that this post is about cars which rule the segment below 5 lakhs... These seem to be the best hatchbacks available in the Indian Market currently under 5 lakhs....

The main competitors in this sub 5 lakh segment are the Chevy Beat and the Honda Brio. I won't be mentioning the i20 here because, the variants worth considering are all above 5.5 lakhs...

First, the American choice... The Beat !

The Chevrolet Beat is a peppy petrol hatchback with an evident young streak in its design. The elongated lights, compact yet aggressive looking side profile and eye catching rear lights make this a great attention magnet. The Chevy bow tie in the middle of the divided front grille looks pretty good. On the interiors, the Beat tries to look modern but falls flat on its face in a few design aspects.

The External side profile of the Beat

One of the modern touches of the Beat's cabin...

The Beat starts at an Ex showroom price of 3.80 lakhs in Delhi and is worth considering.

Then, the Jap ! The Honda Brio !

 The Brio is an impressive product from the Japanese Honda car stable. It is a well built, refined car and the deal is further sweetened by the i - VTEC engine revving under its hood... The Cabin is good looking except for the off centre music player and the strangely placed air con vents...

The Final Verdict:

Both the cars are worth considering and if you're budget is strictly below 5 lakhs, then I recommend the Chevy Beat... But, if your budget can be stretch by about half a lakh, then the Brio is surely the way to go. However, if your budget is further stretchable by a lakh more, then i'd recommend going for the Korean Hyundai i20.....

- Naayl Humza,

  14 year old car enthusiast...