Every car with a twin from another brand under Rs 30 lakh

Toyota’s partnership with Maruti Suzuki has resulted in the highest number of badge-engineered models.

Published on Oct 28, 2025 08:00:00 AM

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The automobile industry is highly capital-intensive, and developing a car from the ground up can take considerable time. By sharing features, powertrains and more, brands can cut costs and even benefit from economies of scale. And when the partnership clicks, badge engineering works just fine. For instance, Maruti Suzuki-rebadged models accounted for 53 percent of Toyota India sales in FY2025. Listed below are the popular badge-swap models under Rs 30 lakh in India.

Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos

Rs 10.73 lakh-20.20 lakh, Rs 10.79 lakh-19.81 lakh

The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, which are among the most popular midsize SUVs in the country, are offered with three 1.5-litre engine options: 115hp naturally aspirated petrol, 160hp turbo-petrol (direct injection) and 116hp diesel. The Seltos, however, edges out the Hyundai SUV with an additional choice of 6iMT (or clutchless manual transmission) with the most powerful turbo-petrol engine.

Engine
Engine1.5L naturally aspirated petrol1.5L turbo-petrol1.5L diesel
Power115hp160hp116hp
Torque144Nm253Nm250Nm
Transmission6MT/ CVT6iMT (Seltos only)/ 7DCT6MT/ 6AT

Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet

Rs 7.26 lakh-12.21 lakh, Rs 7.3 lakh-14 lakh

Next up is the other Korean duo of the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet. Like the Seltos, the Sonet offers an additional gearbox over the current Venue – a 6AT unit with the 116hp 1.5-litre diesel mill, to be precise. Note that the new Venue diesel will add the torque converter automatic gearbox option. Also available are a 120hp 1-litre turbo-petrol and an 83hp 1.2-litre NA petrol. The turbo-petrol motor, paired with a 6MT unit in the Venue and a 6iMT in the Sonet, is also available with the option of a 7DCT.

Engine
Engine1.2L naturally aspirated petrol1L turbo petrol1.5L diesel
Power83hp120hp116hp
Torque113.8Nm172Nm250Nm
Transmission5MT6MT(Venue), 6iMT(Sonet)/ 7DCT6MT/ 6AT (Sonet only)

Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger

Rs 5.62 lakh-10.76 lakh, Rs 5.76 lakh-10.34 lakh

The most affordable models in this set, the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger, much like the Hyundai and Kia SUVs, differ in design and features, but their engine and gearbox options are identical, unlike the Koreans. Both compact SUVs are offered with a 1-litre engine in 72hp NA petrol and CNG (via retrofitment) and 100hp turbo-petrol guises.

Engine
Engine1L naturally aspirated petrol1L turbo-petrol
Power72hp100hp
Torque96Nm152-160Nm
Transmission5MT/ 5AMT5MT/ CVT

Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun

Rs 10.61 lakh-18.43 lakh, Rs 11.39 lakh-19.15 lakh

Direct rivals to the Creta and Seltos, the Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun take a different approach when it comes to powertrain choices. Instead of naturally aspirated and diesel engines, just two direct-injection petrol engines are on offer here – a 115hp 1-litre unit and a 150hp 1.5-litre turbo-petrol. But the VW Taigun widens its appeal over the Skoda sibling with a 6-speed manual option with the 1.5 TSI block.

Engine
Engine1L turbo-petrol1.5L turbo-petrol
Power115hp150hp
Torque178Nm250Nm
Transmission6MT/ 6AT6MT (only Taigun)/ 7DCT

Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Virtus

Rs 10 lakh-17.70 lakh, Rs 11.16 lakh-18.73 lakh

Standing out as the only sedan pair on this list, the Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus get the same powertrain setups as the Kushaq and Taigun SUVs, respectively. This also means there isn’t a single mass-market diesel sedan on sale right now, as even rivals like the Honda City and Hyundai Verna are offered only with petrol engines.

Engine
Engine1L turbo-petrol1.5L turbo-petrol
Power115hp150hp
Torque178Nm250Nm
Transmission6MT/ 6AT6MT (only Virtus)/ 7DCT

Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder

Rs 10.77 lakh-19.57 lakh, Rs 10.95 lakh-19.57 lakh

The second half of this list is dominated by badge-engineered Maruti and Toyota SUVs, MPVs and hatchbacks. Talking about the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder midsize SUVs, these are the powertrain options:  an 88hp CNG, a 103hp mild hybrid and a 116hp strong hybrid. It should be noted that the AWD mild hybrid versions with the 5-speed manual gearbox, introduced initially, are no longer on offer.

Engine
Engine1.5L mild hybrid petrol1.5L hybrid petrol1.5L CNG
Power103hp116hp88hp
Torque137Nm141Nm121.5Nm
Transmission5MT (2WD)/ 6AT (2WD or 4WD)eCVT5MT

Toyota Innova Hycross, Maruti Invicto

Rs 18.86 lakh-31.9 lakh*, Rs 24.97 lakh-28.61 lakh

Compared to the Maruti Invicto MPV, the Toyota Innova Hycross has a more affordable entry point as it can also be optioned with a 173hp 2-litre petrol engine without the strong hybrid system. With the hybrid system, the combined power output rises to 184hp. A manual gearbox option is not offered with either of the MPVs.

*Some variants cost more than Rs 30 lakh.

Engine
Engine2L naturally aspirated petrol (only Hycross)2L hybrid petrol
Power173hp184hp
Torque204Nm206Nm
TransmissionCVTeCVT

Maruti Baleno, Toyota Glanza

Rs 5.99 lakh-9.1 lakh, Rs 6.39 lakh-9.15 lakh

Not a lot differs between the Maruti Baleno and Toyota Glanza, with only subtle changes to the exterior and interior design. Even the powertrain list is identical, which includes the 90hp 1.2-litre petrol and 77hp CNG setups.

Engine
Engine1.2L naturally aspirated petrol1.2L CNG
Power90hp77hp
Torque113Nm98.5Nm
Transmission5MT/ 5AMT5MT

Maruti Fronx, Toyota Taisor

Rs 6.85 lakh-11.84 lakh, Rs 7.21 lakh-11.91 lakh

Like the hatchbacks above, there is very little that differentiates the Maruti Fronx and Toyota Taisor. The compact SUVs come with the familiar 90hp 1.2-litre NA petrol and 77hp CNG options, but they add a 100hp 1-litre turbo-petrol choice, too. The more sophisticated torque converter automatic gearbox is offered solely with the latter engine, while the NA petrol can be had with an AMT.

Engine
Engine1.2L naturally aspirated petrol1.2L CNG1L turbo-petrol
Power90hp77hp100hp
Torque113Nm98.5Nm148Nm
Transmission5MT/5AMT5MT5MT/ 6AT

Maruti Ertiga, Toyota Rumion

Rs 8.8 lakh-12.94 lakh, Rs 10.44 lakh-13.62 lakh

Rounding off this list at number 10 is the MPV duo of the Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Rumion. As with other Maruti and Toyota badge-swapped models, design differences are subtle and may even go unnoticed at first glance. The Rumion has a relatively higher entry price due to its more feature-equipped base variant. Powertrain choices here are the familiar 103hp 1.5-litre NA petrol and 88hp CNG setups.

Engine
Engine1.5L naturally aspirated petrol1.5L CNG
Power103hp88hp
Torque139Nm121.5Nm
Transmission5MT/ 6AT5MT

Ex-showroom prices as of October 28, 2025.

Also see:

MG Windsor vs Tata Nexon EV real world range comparison

Hyundai Venue new vs old: differences explained

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