A common misconception has been that low budget cars cannot be good looking. Finding a stylish car that is affordable is really not so difficult anymore, with the entry of new generation vehicles in recent years. If there is none that fits your style, then maybe you should rework your budget a bit. Remember, a car that looks good can also fetch a good resale value in future.

Features/equipment help make your journey comfortable and convenient and should be a pivotal consideration in case you are driving on a daily basis. Features such as an OEM-fitted audio system, power windows, Bluetooth connectivity are some that should be considered during purchase. However, you should not get sold on every feature on offer if it’s of no use to you. Also, do remember you can get features installed separately through aftermarket dealers.

After few years from now you may decide to sell off your car. Whether you get a good resale value will not only depend on the condition of your car, its service history but also on its Brand or Model. Hence choosing the right Brand also is imperative and should be given consideration in your decision.

Some brands may qualify in terms of your budget and most of the other major factors, however may score low on the Cost of owning. Before you commit to a car, you should estimate its long-term ownership costs. These include depreciation, insurance, maintenance and fuel costs. This is one aspect, which, if not given much thought to, can really spiral up the cost of owning your dream car. Ideally, you would want this cost to be as low as possible and for that you will need to calculate costs involved in a car’s service, maintenance as well as spare parts. Also, chat within your close friend circle or a trusted mechanic. Some vehicles’ parts simply cost more than others, resulting in a heftier maintenance cost.

This being a recurring expense, is probably one of the most important deciding parameter by many of the buyers. If your daily travel is high it becomes even more relevant. Give high ratings to more fuel economical cars in your shortlisted cars.

In addition to the above cited parameters you may have several other criteria like loading capacity, cargo space, right combination of seat / cargo, vehicle dimensions etc, which you may consider necessary.

You are doing amazing till now and have successfully established your budget, needs and wants you may move onto the next step of further narrowing down your choice.