Car maintenance cost comparison Part 10: Budget hatchbacks

Carrying on with our maintenance cost comparisons –Part 1 (premium and executive SUVs), Part 2 (premium and executive Sedans),Part 3 (mid-size SUVs), Part 4 (compact SUVs), Part 5 (mid-size sedans), Part 6 (compact sedans), Part 7 (premium hatchbacks), Part 8 (entry-level hatchbacks) and Part 9 (mid-range hatchbacks), we now shift focus to the most price-sensitive segments in the Indian market – the budget hatchbacks.

• Maintenance costs calculated over 60,000km
• Budget hatchbacks maintenance costs compared
• Factors in service life as well as cost of parts and labour (ex-Delhi, inclusive of taxes)

Currently, this segment consists of just four cars, which isn’t an indicator of a lack of interest or of market potential but of just how cost-competitive the segment has become, especially with the more stringent safety norms, as well as the BS6 emission standards now in place. Mass-market specialist, Maruti Suzuki, has two offerings in this space - the Alto and the Spresso, both with a single engine on offer; while Hyundai has vacated this space with the discontinuation of the Eon. Of course, as before, there are no diesel engines to be found here.

Budget hatchbacks maintenance cost comparison

• All cars in this segment have a one year or 10,000km service interval.
• Both, the Renault Kwid and the Datsun Redigo are based on the same platform and share their engines as well as several other parts. And both are available with either a 0.8-litre or a 1.0-litre petrol engine.
• In the case of the Renault Kwid and the Datsun Redigo, whichever engine you choose, be it the 0.8-litre or the more powerful 1.0-litre, the service costs remain constant.
• Datsun charges a flat Rs 2,089 as labour costs from the 20,000km service onwards, whereas Renault’s labour charges are a flat Rs 2,006 from the 30,000km service onwards and Rs 2,065 for the 60,000km service.
• Although more or less at par, the overall maintenance costs for the Renault are a bit more economical than the Datsun.
• The Maruti Alto is a bit more expensive to run, compared to its rivals. While cost of most parts is comparatively lower, Maruti’s labour costs range between Rs 2,313 and Rs 2,478 from the 20,000km service onwards, which is a bit higher than its rivals.
• The Maruti Spresso’s maintenance costs are just a touch over the Alto’s. Its labour costs, like the Alto’s, are in the same price range, which is a bit higher than the Datsun and Renault, chargeable from the 20,000km service.

Did you find this maintenance cost comparison helpful? Tell us what you think in the comments section and stay tuned for more maintenance cost comparison surveys of other segments that are coming soon.

Budget Hatchbacks maintenance costs (in Rupees)
	Datsun Redigo	Renault Kwid	Maruti Alto	Maruti S-Presso
Engine	0.8 P | 1.0 P	0.8 P | 1.0 P	0.8 P	1.0 P
COST OF PARTS
Air Filter	190	190	174	260
Oil Filter	118	118	85	90
Fuel Filter	256	NA	292	NA
Washer Drain Plug	NA	40	6	6
Spark Plug (for entire set)	381	381	315	330
Timing Belt/ Chain	NA	215	NA	NA
Fan Belt/ Drivebelt	215	206	NA	NA
Coolant	884	1113	338	270
Engine Oil	858	845	1215	1305
Brake fluid	275	193	355	355
Pollen / HVAC filter	NA	320	NA	NA
Service Intervals	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km
1st Service Cost (parts + labour)	1156	1193	1306	1401
2nd Service Cost (parts + labour)	3245	1513	4335	4362
3rd Service Cost (parts + labour)	3626	3580	3725	3820
4th Service Cost (parts + labour)	3245	3519	5258	5094
5th Service Cost (parts + labour)	3245	3199	3619	3713
6th Service Cost (parts + labour)	3901	4152	4477	4504
Total cost	18418	17156	22720	22894
Maintenance cost per kilometer (up to 60,000km)	0.31	0.29	0.38	0.38