The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) initially aimed to mandate six airbags in all passenger vehicles. However, in 2023, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that with the introduction of the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP), only cars equipped with six airbags would receive 4- or 5-star safety ratings. Therefore, the ministry decided not to make six airbags mandatory. Despite this, several manufacturers have voluntarily upgraded their vehicles to include six airbags as a standard feature.
Below are the five most budget-friendly vehicles under Rs 10 lakh that come equipped with six airbags as standard.
Maruti Suzuki Alto K10
Price: Rs 4.23 to Rs 6.09 lakh, ex-showroom
Lord Alto as it is popularly called now offers affordability with safety as the hatchback is now equipped with six airbags. Apart from this, the Alto comes with an Electronic Stability Program (ESP), ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution and reverse parking sensors. It is also the first vehicle in its segment to offer four speakers. It is powered by a 1-litre petrol engine with an output of 66 bhp at 5500 rpm and 89 Nm at 3500 rpm. It is mated to either a 5-speed manual or an AMT.
Maruti Suzuki Eeco
Price: Rs 5.44 to Rs 6.70 lakh, ex-showroom
The most affordable three-row seater, the Eeco, is now packed with six airbags. The Eeco is available in two seating layouts — a 5 or a 6-seater. The Eeco gets a speed alert system, ABS with EBD and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and reverse parking sensors. It comes with a 1-litre petrol engine that produces 81 bhp at 5600 rpm and 105.5 Nm at 3000 rpm. It is also available in CNG and both versions are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.
Maruti Suzuki Celerio
Price: Rs 5.64 to Rs 7.37 lakh, ex-showroom
Maruti Suzuki gave the Celerio a much-needed upgrade in February, which saw a price revision of over Rs 30,000, but the company also updated its safety features. The entire range of Celerio now comes with six airbags. It is the first in the segment to offer Hill Hold Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), ABS with EBD and reverse parking sensors. It is powered by a 1-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with 66 bhp and 91.1 Nm of torque, which is mated to either a 5-speed manual or an AMT.
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R
Price: Rs 5.65 to Rs 7.36 lakh, ex-showroom
Wagon R was the highest-selling vehicle car in the financial year of 2024-25 and as the demand for the hatchback continues to grow, Maruti Suzuki has added some critical safety features. It now comes standard with six airbags, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Assist, Electronic Stability Program and 3-point seat belts. The Wagon R is available in two engine options — 1-litre and 1.2-litre. The former churns out 67 bhp with 91.1 Nm and 90 bhp with 13.7 Nm of torque.
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
Price: Rs 5.98 to Rs 8.38 lakh, ex-showroom
The Grand i10 Nios is the only non-Maruti Suzuki car to make it on the list. According to Hyundai, the hatchback is packed with over 30 safety features including six airbags, Driver rear view monitor (DVRM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill Assist Control etc. The Grand i10 Nios is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 82 bhp at 6000 rpm and 113.8 Nm at 4000 rpm. It is available with a 5-speed manual or an AMT.
