Why would a car that earns five stars in a crash test sell fewer than 500 units in a month?
Because the list of best-selling cars follows familiarity, dealer reach and advertising, not test results. In September 2026 the Maruti Baleno led India with 25,392 units and a 4-star Bharat NCAP rating. The Renault Duster scored 5 stars and sold 465. That gap is where underrated cars in India live.
We shortlisted seven value for money cars that sell a fraction of their segment leader. Each comes with its catch, because underrated does not mean perfect.
How we picked the underrated cars in India
Nobody can define "underrated". We looked for sales far below the segment leader, strong scores on things you can measure, and a price below that of the leader's. Prices are ex-showroom, as of October 2026.
| Car | Starts at | Sales, September 2026 | Crash rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Duster | Rs 12.17 lakh | 465 units | 5 stars, Bharat NCAP |
| Honda Amaze | Rs 7.65 lakh | 3,286 units | 5 stars adult, 4 child, Bharat NCAP |
| Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq | Rs 19.45 lakh | 1,517 units | 5 stars, Bharat NCAP |
| Skoda Kushaq | Rs 10.69 lakh | 1,152 units | 5 stars, Global NCAP, 2021 |
| Citroen Basalt X | Rs 8.55 lakh | 28 units | 4 stars, Bharat NCAP |
| Toyota Glanza | Rs 6.99 lakh | 4,273 units | None published |
| Toyota Rumion | Rs 9.79 lakh | 2,481 units | None published |
**Note:
Bharat NCAP scores adults out of 32 and children out of 49. Global NCAP uses a different protocol, so the two do not compare.
Sales are dispatch estimates, and the Glanza figure is for the car before its October 14, 2026 facelift.
Three underrated cars in India with crash scores to match
Renault Duster: the five-star SUV with few takers
Renault relaunched the Duster on March 17, 2026, and Bharat NCAP gave it 5 stars in April 2026, with 30.49 of 32 adult points and 45.00 of 49 child points. The standard price is Rs 12.17 lakh, not the introductory Rs 10.49 lakh that ended on March 31, 2026.
The warranty runs up to 7 years or 1,50,000 km, and the hybrid launched on October 17, 2026 claims 29 km/l. Pick it for safety and warranty. Accept a rear seat that is not class-leading and no spare wheel in the standard petrol car.
Honda Amaze: the sedan that rarely makes a wish list
Bharat NCAP gave the Amaze 5 stars for adults (28.33 of 32) and 4 for children (40.81 of 49) in November 2025. The boot holds 416 litres, reported as the largest in its segment. The ZX trim adds Level 2 ADAS, short for advanced driver assistance systems, with adaptive cruise control and auto emergency braking.
It starts at Rs 7.65 lakh in Delhi. Pick it for space. Accept no sunroof and a soft ride on big speed breakers.
Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq: the electric one with the top adult score
31.97 out of 32. That is the BE 6's adult score from January 2025, the highest Bharat NCAP result of the seven. Child protection scored 45 of 49. The Sporteq launched on August 15, 2026 at Rs 19.45 lakh, or Rs 11.45 lakh plus Rs 3.75 per km with a rented battery.
Certified range reaches 683 km, while a road test of the 79 kWh car measured 449 km. Pick it for the crash score and range. Accept tight rear space for three adults.
Two more with strong numbers
Skoda Kushaq: the driver's pick, with a dated rating
The Kushaq passed 1 lakh sales in June 2026. Every variant has 6 airbags and stability control. Its 5-star Global NCAP rating dates from 2021 and uses an older protocol. It has no Bharat NCAP rating.
The 1.5-litre turbo petrol makes 150 hp, and the warranty is 4 years or 1,00,000 km. Pick it for the engines. Skip it if you want ADAS, which it lacks.
Citroen Basalt X: the feature-loaded coupe SUV most buyers skip
Citroen sold 28 Basalts in September 2026. That is not a typo. Prices run from Rs 8.55 lakh to Rs 14.11 lakh, with 6 airbags, stability control and a 470-litre boot.
Bharat NCAP gave it 4 stars in October 2024 for selected variants only, with 26.19 of 32 adult points, the lowest of the seven. A Latin NCAP test of a four-airbag Basalt in October 2025 scored 39 per cent for adults. That used a different protocol, so do not compare the two.
Two Toyotas that offer mileage and space
Toyota Glanza: the cheapest way into this group
The Glanza facelift launched on October 14, 2026 from Rs 6.99 lakh. The AMT carries an ARAI-certified 24.77 km/l, and CNG versions claim 33.61 to 34.47 km/kg. Every variant gets 6 airbags and stability control, and the top V (O) trim adds Level 2 ADAS.
Pick it for economy and equipment. Skip it if a crash rating matters, because it has none. The boot is 318 litres, and smaller on CNG.
Toyota Rumion: the family hauler nobody queues for
It is a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga with a Toyota badge and a better warranty package, at Rs 9.79 lakh to Rs 14.21 lakh. The 1.5-litre petrol is certified at 20.11 to 20.51 km/l. Real-world mileage in a full-load test was about 11 km/l in the city.
Toyota gave all variants 6 airbags from September 22, 2025. There is no Bharat NCAP or Global NCAP result, though the Ertiga holds a 3-star Global NCAP rating from 2019. The boot is 209 litres.
What the sales chart and the brochure leave out
Lab mileage is not real-world mileage. A road test measured the Amaze CVT at 13.28 km/l in the city against 19.46 km/l certified, and the Kushaq 1.0 manual at 14.0 km/l against 19.66 km/l. Budget for the lower number.
Network matters. Citroen had 126 outlets in December 2025. Renault has more than 350 sales outlets.
Near misses among value for money cars: the Skoda Slavia at just under Rs 10 lakh, the Nissan Magnite at Rs 5.69 lakh and the MG Hector at Rs 12.14 lakh.
A Final Word
Fame and quality are different things, and the list of best-selling cars proves it. Take the Duster for a safe family SUV, the Amaze for five-star adult protection under Rs 8 lakh ex-showroom, the BE 6 for top crash points, the Glanza for mileage and the Rumion for seven seats, after you confirm the trim. Among underrated cars in India, the best deals go to the buyer who checks the paperwork first.
FAQs
Which are the most underrated cars in India in 2026?
The Renault Duster, Honda Amaze, Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq, Skoda Kushaq, Citroen Basalt X, Toyota Glanza and Toyota Rumion, as of October 2026. All are value for money cars that sold far less than their segment leaders in September 2026.
Which of these has the best crash score?
The Mahindra BE 6, with 31.97 of 32 adult points in January 2025. The Duster follows with 30.49.
Do low sales mean a car is bad?
No. The Baleno led best-selling cars in September 2026 with 25,392 units and scored 4 stars. The Duster sold 465 and scored 5. Low sales can mean a thinner service network, though.
Which underrated cars in India have no crash rating?
The Toyota Glanza and Toyota Rumion have none published as of October 2026. That is not a claim that either is unsafe.
Why is real-world mileage lower than the certified figure?
Certified figures come from a laboratory. A road test measured the Amaze CVT at 13.28 km/l in the city against 19.46 km/l certified.
