Top Compact Crossovers Under Rs 8 Lakh in India: Which Variants You Actually Get (2026)

Six compact crossovers give you a real choice of variants under Rs 8 lakh ex-showroom: the Tata Punch (Rs 5,74,990 to Rs 7,76,990 within the budget), Hyundai Exter (Rs 5,80,600 to Rs 7,49,600), Maruti Fronx (Rs 6,89,900 to Rs 7,93,900), Nissan Magnite (from Rs 5,69,400), Renault Kiger (from Rs 5,81,000) and Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor (Rs 7,43,000, one variant). The Punch gets you furthest up its range for the money, the Fronx has the best certified mileage at 21.79 km/l on petrol and 28.51 km/kg on CNG, and the Exter HX3 AMT at Rs 6,98,600 is the cheapest automatic we could put a price on.

A starting price tells you very little at this budget. What matters is which variant the ceiling stops at, because that decides whether you get a touchscreen, a rear camera, an automatic or a CNG kit. So this list is built variant by variant, from each manufacturer's own price page as it stood on 13 October 2026.

Key takeaways

• The Punch fits eight variants under Rs 8 lakh, including a sunroof (Pure+ S, Rs 7,51,990), an AMT (Pure+ AMT, Rs 7,74,990) and a 360-degree camera (Adventure, Rs 7,76,990).
• The Fronx fits three: Sigma (Rs 6,89,900), Delta (Rs 7,74,900) and Sigma CNG (Rs 7,93,900). Its AMT starts at Rs 8,24,900, just outside.
• The Exter fits six, and its top trims do not make it. The HX6, which brings automatic climate control and push-button start, starts at Rs 8,02,600.
• Three crossovers have factory CNG under the ceiling: the Punch (two variants), the Exter (two) and the Fronx (one).
• Only the Punch has a Bharat NCAP rating that covers the variants you can buy at this price.
• Six larger compact SUVs also dip under Rs 8 lakh, but only with their base variant. They are listed separately.

What Rs 8 lakh buys, crossover by crossover

Crossover	Variants under Rs 8 lakh	Highest variant that fits	Automatic under Rs 8 lakh	Factory CNG under Rs 8 lakh	Certified petrol mileage
Tata Punch	8, from Rs 5,74,990	Adventure, Rs 7,76,990	Pure+ AMT, Rs 7,74,990	Smart CNG Rs 6,84,990, Pure CNG Rs 7,67,990	Not published by Tata
Hyundai Exter	6, from Rs 5,80,600	HX3 CNG, Rs 7,49,600	HX3 AMT, Rs 6,98,600	HX2 CNG Rs 6,99,900, HX3 CNG Rs 7,49,600	Not published by Hyundai
Maruti Fronx	3, from Rs 6,89,900	Sigma CNG, Rs 7,93,900	None	Sigma CNG, Rs 7,93,900	21.79 km/l
Nissan Magnite	4 grades, from Rs 5,69,400	N-Connecta, from Rs 7,50,000	Offered, price not verified	None (third-party kit)	19.4 km/l
Renault Kiger	4 grades, from Rs 5,81,000	Techno, from Rs 7,60,000	Offered, price not verified	None (retrofit kit)	Not published by Renault
Toyota Taisor	1	E, Rs 7,43,000	None	None (E CNG is Rs 8,45,000)	21.71 km/l

Prices are ex-showroom. Punch prices are from Tata's price tool for Delhi, Exter prices from Hyundai's price tool for New Delhi, Fronx prices from the NEXA price page, and the Taisor price from Toyota's Delhi dealer price list (effective 20 January 2026). Nissan and Renault show one starting price per grade on their model pages, so the Magnite and Kiger rows count grades, and we could not confirm what their AMT or turbo versions cost.

The six crossovers, ranked by how much car fits under the ceiling

1. Tata Punch

The Punch stretches Rs 8 lakh further than anything else here. The range runs Smart (Rs 5,74,990), Pure (Rs 6,64,990), Smart CNG (Rs 6,84,990), Pure+ (Rs 7,16,990), Pure+ S (Rs 7,51,990), Pure CNG (Rs 7,67,990), Pure+ AMT (Rs 7,74,990) and Adventure (Rs 7,76,990).

Engine: 1.2-litre petrol, 87.8 PS and 115 Nm. On CNG it makes 73.4 PS and 103 Nm.

What the money gets you: The Smart has six airbags, ESP, hill hold, tyre pressure monitoring and LED headlamps. Pure adds rear AC vents, all four power windows, steering-mounted controls and four speakers. Pure+ adds the 20.32 cm touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a reverse camera. Pure+ S adds the electric sunroof, and Adventure brings a 360-degree camera, automatic climate control and push-button start.

Safety: 5 stars at Bharat NCAP, with 30.58 out of 32 for adults and 45 out of 49 for children, assessed in December 2025. The applicability table lists petrol and CNG variants from Smart upward, so the rating applies to the cars in this price band.

The catch: Tata's brochure prints no certified mileage, so there is no manufacturer figure to compare. The CNG boot is 210 litres against 366 for the petrol. The 120 PS turbo starts at Rs 8,46,990, outside the budget.

2. Hyundai Exter

The Exter has the cheapest automatic we could verify, and the second-largest boot. Under Rs 8 lakh it runs HX2 (Rs 5,80,600), HX3 (Rs 6,33,600), HX3 AMT (Rs 6,98,600), HX2 CNG (Rs 6,99,900), HX4 (Rs 7,31,600) and HX3 CNG (Rs 7,49,600).

Engine: 1.2-litre petrol, 83 PS and 113.8 Nm. The bi-fuel CNG makes 69 PS and 95.2 Nm.

What the money gets you: Every variant has six airbags, electronic stability control, hill start assist and rear parking sensors. HX3 adds the 20.32 cm touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a rear camera and steering-mounted controls. HX4 adds tyre pressure monitoring, rear AC vents, rear power windows and electrically adjustable mirrors.

The catch: The HX2 is bare. It has no audio system, front power windows only and no rear camera. The sunroof arrives on the HX4+ at Rs 8,13,600 and automatic climate control on the HX6 at Rs 8,02,600, both over the limit. Bharat NCAP lists no result for the Exter, and Hyundai publishes no certified mileage for it. Boot space is 391 litres on petrol and 225 litres on CNG.

3. Maruti Fronx

The Fronx is the efficiency pick. Its 21.79 km/l is the highest certified petrol figure of the six, and the Sigma CNG's 28.51 km/kg is the highest certified CNG figure of any crossover at this price. The 1.2-litre engine is also the strongest naturally aspirated unit here at 89.73 PS and 113 Nm (77.5 PS and 98.5 Nm on CNG).

Variants under Rs 8 lakh: Sigma (Rs 6,89,900), Delta (Rs 7,74,900) and Sigma CNG (Rs 7,93,900).

What the money gets you: The Sigma has six airbags, ESP, hill hold assist, ISOFIX mounts, reverse parking sensors, automatic climate control, keyless entry and power windows all round. The Delta adds the 17.78 cm SmartPlay Pro touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, four speakers, steering-mounted controls and electrically adjustable, folding mirrors.

The catch: The Sigma has no audio system of any kind, and the only CNG car under Rs 8 lakh is that same Sigma. The brochure shows a rear-view camera from Zeta upward only, and Zeta starts at Rs 9,75,900. There is no automatic in budget, since the Delta AGS is Rs 8,24,900. The boot is 308 litres, the smallest here, and Bharat NCAP lists no result for the Fronx.

4. Nissan Magnite

The Magnite is the cheapest way in, and it is generous with equipment low down the range. Grade starting prices are Visia Rs 5,69,400, Visia+ Rs 6,26,000, Acenta Rs 6,87,000 and N-Connecta Rs 7,50,000. Tekna starts at Rs 8,43,000.

Engine: 1.0-litre petrol, 72 PS and 96 Nm, with a certified 19.4 km/l for the manual and 19.7 km/l for the AMT. A 100 PS turbo is also sold; we could not confirm whether any turbo variant is under Rs 8 lakh.

What the money gets you: Visia has six airbags, stability and traction control, hill start assist, tyre pressure monitoring and four power windows. Visia+ adds a 22.86 cm touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a rear camera. Acenta adds automatic air conditioning and electrically folding mirrors, and N-Connecta adds alloy wheels, a 17.78 cm digital cluster, rear AC vent and push-button start.

The catch: 72 PS is the lowest output on this list, shared with the Kiger. There is no factory CNG variant; Nissan's brochure describes a kit developed and warranted by a third party. The Magnite has no Bharat NCAP result, though Global NCAP's 2025 test gave it 32.31 out of 34 for adult protection and 33.64 out of 49 for child protection.

5. Renault Kiger

The Kiger has the biggest boot here, 405 litres, and shares the Magnite's engines. Grade starting prices are Authentic Rs 5,81,000, Evolution Rs 6,59,000, Evolution+ Rs 7,03,000 and Techno Rs 7,60,000. Emotion starts at Rs 8,50,000.

Engine: 1.0-litre petrol, 72 PS and 96 Nm, with a manual or AMT. A 100 PS turbo is also sold.

What the money gets you: Authentic has six airbags, stability control, hill start assist, tyre pressure monitoring, remote keyless entry and four power windows. Evolution adds the 20.32 cm touchscreen, rear camera and rear AC vents. Evolution+ adds automatic climate control, push-button start and wireless phone mirroring. Techno adds LED headlamps and a rear wiper.

The catch: Renault's brochure prints no certified mileage, and Bharat NCAP lists no result. CNG is a retrofit kit fitted through the dealer network in select states, not available on turbo variants.

6. Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Mechanically this is the Fronx with a Toyota badge, and only the base E manual fits at Rs 7,43,000. The engine makes the same 89.73 PS and 113 Nm, and Toyota certifies it at 21.71 km/l. Six airbags are standard.

The catch: One variant, no automatic and no CNG within budget, and it costs Rs 53,100 more than the Fronx Sigma. Toyota does not publish a national ex-showroom list, so this price is one Delhi dealer's as served by Toyota's own price tool.

Larger compact SUVs that only just qualify

These are a size class up, and each fits under Rs 8 lakh with its entry variant alone. Expect the least equipment in the range.

Compact SUV	Entry variant under Rs 8 lakh	Engine in that variant
Tata Nexon	Smart, Rs 7,39,990	1.2 petrol, 5-speed manual
Kia Sonet	From Rs 7,44,900	Not checked
Maruti Brezza	LXi Turbo, Rs 7,49,900	1.0 turbo petrol, 110.12 PS and 170 Nm
Skoda Kylaq	From Rs 7,59,000	1.0 TSI, 115 PS and 178 Nm
Mahindra XUV 3XO	From Rs 7.79 lakh	Not checked
Hyundai Venue	HX2, Rs 7,99,900	1.2 petrol

The Brezza is the interesting one. Its cheapest variant is now the turbo, certified at 20.47 km/l, and the car carries a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating (30.41 out of 32 for adults). The Venue squeezes in by Rs 100.

How this list was built

We started from each manufacturer's own price page or price tool on 13 October 2026 and listed every variant priced below Rs 8,00,000 ex-showroom. Features come from the variant grids in the current brochures, and mileage from the brochure specification tables. Crash scores are from Bharat NCAP's own pages, including the applicability table that says which variants a rating covers.

The ranking is by how far up the range Rs 8 lakh takes you, then by what is verified about safety and efficiency. It is not a drive review.

What was not verified: AMT, turbo and dual-tone prices for the Magnite and Kiger, the entry price of the XUV 3XO beyond Mahindra's rounded Rs 7.79 lakh, and any mileage for the Punch, Exter and Kiger, whose makers do not publish one. The Citroen C3 is left out because it is a hatchback. For a broader first-car shortlist that includes sedans and hatchbacks, see our guide to the best first car under Rs 8 lakh.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best compact crossover under Rs 8 lakh?

For equipment and a verified crash rating, the Tata Punch: eight variants fit, up to the Adventure at Rs 7,76,990, and its 5-star Bharat NCAP result covers them. For fuel economy it is the Maruti Fronx at a certified 21.79 km/l, and for boot space the Renault Kiger at 405 litres.

Which Maruti Fronx variants are under Rs 8 lakh?

Three: the Sigma at Rs 6,89,900, the Delta at Rs 7,74,900 and the Sigma CNG at Rs 7,93,900. The Delta is the one with a touchscreen. The Delta AGS automatic is Rs 8,24,900 and the Delta CNG is Rs 8,73,900.

Which compact crossovers have an automatic under Rs 8 lakh?

The Hyundai Exter HX3 AMT at Rs 6,98,600 and the Tata Punch Pure+ AMT at Rs 7,74,990 are the two we could price. Nissan and Renault sell AMT versions of the Magnite and Kiger, but their model pages show only manual starting prices per grade. The Fronx and Taisor have no automatic under Rs 8 lakh.

Which crossovers have factory CNG under Rs 8 lakh?

The Tata Punch (Smart CNG, Rs 6,84,990, and Pure CNG, Rs 7,67,990), the Hyundai Exter (HX2 CNG, Rs 6,99,900, and HX3 CNG, Rs 7,49,600) and the Maruti Fronx (Sigma CNG, Rs 7,93,900). Only the Fronx has a published figure, 28.51 km/kg.

Which crossover under Rs 8 lakh is the safest?

The Punch is the only one of the six with a Bharat NCAP rating: 5 stars, 30.58 out of 32 for adults and 45 out of 49 for children. The Magnite has a Global NCAP result of 32.31 out of 34 for adults. All six have six airbags as standard. The Fronx, Taisor, Exter and Kiger have no Bharat NCAP result listed.

Does the Fronx Sigma have a touchscreen?

No. Maruti's feature list shows no touchscreen, speakers or steering-mounted controls on the Sigma. Those arrive on the Delta, along with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

---

Prices, features and mileage were taken from each manufacturer's price page, price tool and brochure, and crash scores from Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP, on 13 October 2026. Prices are ex-showroom and vary by city, colour and date. Confirm the price and equipment of the exact variant with your dealer before booking.