For most first-time buyers, the Grand i10 Nios and Exter are the easiest and most affordable Hyundai cars to start with, both offering six airbags, an AMT automatic option and a factory CNG version. The i20 and Venue suit first-time buyers who want more space and features. Set a budget that includes running costs, take test drives, and choose a car that is easy to drive and park.

Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, and many families mark festive occasions with a big purchase. For a young brother or sister starting a job, or a family upgrading from a two-wheeler, a first car is a milestone. This guide helps first-time buyers choose the best first car from Hyundai.

Your budget should cover:
• On-road price: ex-showroom price plus road tax, registration, insurance and charges.
• Down payment and EMI, if you are taking a loan.
• Running costs: fuel, insurance renewal, servicing and parking.
A common guideline is to keep your total EMIs at a comfortable share of your monthly income, leaving room for fuel and maintenance.

• Hatchback (Grand i10 Nios, i20): Affordable, light and easy to park in busy city streets. Great for learning.
• Compact SUV (Exter, Venue): Higher seating position, which many new drivers find reassuring, and more ground clearance for speed breakers and monsoon waterlogging.

• Manual: Cheaper, efficient, and a good skill to have.
• Automatic: Much easier in traffic, with no clutch to manage. The AMT on the Grand i10 Nios and Exter is an affordable automatic, and the i20 offers a smooth IVT.
If you are nervous about driving in traffic or on slopes, an automatic can make the first months much easier.

If you will drive a lot, a factory-fitted CNG version of the Grand i10 Nios or Exter can cut running costs sharply. Check how close the nearest CNG station is to your home and workplace. If you drive less, petrol is simpler.

Grand i10 Nios: Compact, easy to drive and affordable, with petrol, AMT and CNG options. The classic first car.
Exter: A micro SUV with six airbags as standard, a higher seating position, AMT and CNG options, and modern features such as a dashcam and sunroof on top variants.
Aura: A compact sedan with a separate boot, offered with petrol and CNG options. For first-time buyers who prefer a sedan.
i20: A premium hatchback with more space, a smooth IVT automatic and premium features. For first-time buyers who want something a step up.
Venue: A compact SUV with more space and engine choices, comfortable on both city roads and highways.
A step up: Bayon. If your budget stretches further, the Bayon, launched on 26 October 2026, sits between the Venue and the Creta with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, a CVT automatic option and Level 2 ADAS. It suits first-time buyers who want more space and the latest technology.

Look for:
• Six airbags
• ABS with EBD and electronic stability control
• Rear parking camera and sensors, which help a lot when learning to park
• Hill-start assist
Feature availability varies by variant, so check with the showroom.

1. Practise in quiet areas before driving in heavy traffic.
2. Learn your car’s size by parking slowly with the camera and sensors.
3. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, especially on highways.
4. Avoid night driving on unfamiliar roads until you are confident.
5. Always wear a seatbelt and make sure passengers do too.
6. Do not use your phone while driving.

• ID and address proof, with an address in the state where the car will be registered
• PAN card and photos
• For a loan: salary slips and bank statements, or ITR; a parent or sibling can be a co-applicant if needed
• A valid driving licence for test drives and driving the car home

If you are gifting a car to a sibling, decide in advance whose name it will be registered in, plan the insurance, and involve them in choosing the model and colour. Confirm the delivery date early so the car is ready on the day.

New owners are sometimes surprised by the cost of running a car. Plan for:
• Fuel: The biggest regular cost. CNG versions cut this sharply.
• Insurance renewal: Every year. The premium falls as the car ages.
• Servicing: Free services in the first year, then periodic services as per the schedule.
• Tyres: Replacement every few years, depending on driving.
• Parking and tolls.
Hyundai cars are known for reasonable maintenance costs and a wide service network, and Lakshmi Hyundai has 29 service centres across six cities.

A certified used car can be a sensible first car, offering more car for your budget and lower insurance costs. A new car gives you the full warranty, latest safety features and your choice of colour. If you choose used, buy a certified car with a full service history.

• Bangalore: Hebbal, HBR Layout, Whitefield, Devanahalli, Hennur. Call +91 99000 22956.
• Hyderabad: Himayatnagar, Malakpet, Madinaguda, Sangareddy, Kukatpally, LB Nagar, Attapur, Sheriguda, KPHB, Erragadda. Call +91 77999 37753.
• Chennai: Nandanam. Call +91 93848 64003.
• Vizag: CBM Compound, Gajuwaka, Birla, Anakapalli. Call +91 88866 53349.
• Rajahmundry: Rajahmundry, Mandapeta, Amalapuram, Malikipuram. Call +91 80966 66037.
• Vizianagaram: Vizianagaram. Call +91 80966 66516.
Full addresses and directions for every outlet are on lakshmihyundai.co.in.

The Grand i10 Nios and Exter, for their size, ease of driving and affordable running costs.

It makes traffic and slopes easier. The AMT is an affordable option.

Yes, if you drive a lot and have a CNG station nearby.

Lenders may allow a family member as a co-applicant. Ask the finance team.

At any Lakshmi Hyundai showroom in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Vizag, Rajahmundry or Vizianagaram.

Make this Bhai Dooj memorable with a first car that is easy to drive, safe and affordable to run. Explore the Grand i10 Nios, Exter, Aura, i20, Venue and the new Bayon at your nearest Hyundai showroom from the list above. Take test drives, compare variants and get an itemised on-road quote.