The basic version of a premium car or the best version of a budget car? What to choose?
It is not difficult to buy a premium car now. Manufacturers now offer premium features in the affordable price range. It will be difficult here. As premium cars become cheaper, they match the best versions of budget cars in the price and feature lists.
So which is the best choice? The basic version of a premium car or the best version of a budget car?
In this article we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of choosing the basic version of the premium car and the best version of the budget car.
Price tag
Having enough money to buy a premium car is not a good reason to choose it. Luxury brands are now building cars to compete with low-cost cars. Therefore, if a premium car and a budget car are available in the same price range, it will be difficult to choose.
| Budget models | Ex-salon price | Premium models | Ex-salon price |
| Renault Kiger | 5.84 – 10.40 Lacquer | Kia Carens | 9.60 – 17.70 Lacquer |
| Tata Nexon | 7.55 – 13.90 Lacquer | Mahindra Scorpio | 13.54 – 18.62 Lacquer |
| Mahindra XUV300 | 8.41 – 14.07 Lacquer | Mahindra XUV700 | 13.18 – 24.58 Lacquer |
| MG Astor | 9.98 – 17.73 Lacquer | Toyota Innova Crysta | 17.86 – 25.68 Lacquer |
There are clear advantages to be gained from a premium-class car, such as brand name and convenience. When you can get the same set of features in the top version of a budget car, can this be the only decisive factor in choosing it? Absolutely not.
So let’s look at the more important factors before making a choice.
Total cost of ownership
We saw in the previous paragraph that the purchase price does not fully help decide between options. However, the same cannot be said about the cost of owning a car.
Warranty for new cars covers different periods for different brands and models. Some premium models may come with extended warranties not provided in the base model.
TCO is the total cost of owning a car for five years. It includes the amount spent on fuel, depreciation, insurance, maintenance, repair and maintenance of the car for 5 years.
The table below provides an estimate of the total cost of ownership for some budget models and premium models. For budget models, we have TCO for the high-end version, and for the premium models, the basic versions are taken into account.
We have also maintained daily travel of at least 500 km per month (or 6,000 km per year). Therefore, you can consider it the main TCO for these models.
| Budget models | Total cost of ownership (for about 5 years) | Premium models | Total cost of ownership (for about 5 years) |
| Renault Kiger | 10 Lacquer | Kia Carens | 8 Lacquer |
| Tata Nexon | 12.5 lakhs | Mahindra Scorpio | 12 lakh |
| Mahindra XUV300 | 13 lakh | Toyota Innova Crysta | 18 lakh |
You can see that the cost of owning a premium car is comparable to budget cars and in some cases lower. This becomes a significant savings in terms of overall costs for the buyer.
See also
Top 7 Cars for First Time Buyers in India | See more of ूडू पहले ये वीडिरूडू – YouTube
Brand image
Whether to buy a car from an ordinary brand with all the bells and whistles or agree to a premium brand model without the latest technology is debatable.
Driving a car with a premium brand is a sign of success. If brand image is something you like, go for it. After all, it is everyone’s choice.
Customers are offered maintenance and repair costs even with the income model. This can keep your vehicle at a low TCO level.
Features
The top version of the budget car includes all the advanced features available in its segment. You can find the same in the basic version of the premium car. Some important features may only be offered in intermediate and higher versions.
If the latter features are an important factor in your decision, you should choose the best version of the budget car, because you will get more out of it for the price.
However, features such as all-wheel drive are not offered even in budget cars with the best options. But some premium models offer them even in the lowest version.
This also applies to advanced security features. Check out the security features you want and the template that offers the best deal.
Performance
No matter what the brochure tells you, always go for a test on the shortlisted templates. This makes a big difference. You can check the quality, handling and comfort of the car yourself.
It is clear that premium cars put comfort and convenience first. This does not mean that budget cars will not meet your needs. Therefore, test the drive before making a final decision.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we understand that there is no price difference between the highest version of the budget car and the basic version of the premium model.
Premium cars stand on the same level under luxury cars and above ordinary road cars. These days, ordinary budget cars are trying to stand on their own two feet, offering models with high capabilities and comfort. This created a mismatch between the premium and budget models, leaving very little difference in the differences.
For this reason, there are many consumers who are inclined to buy a higher version of the budget model. It serves their purpose with all the possibilities they want. There are those who want the promised quality of the brand image and premium model.
Overall quality and driving experience are key factors between these options. Be clear about your needs and priorities. You can then compare the finishes and compare prices, offering the features you want as standard or optional. Choose the one that suits you best.
If this article was helpful, please let us know in the comments section.
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