Let’s admit it- automatic cars are comfortable. They are convenient and practical, especially inside the city! In the past few years, we have seen a steep increase in their acceptance in India. Even budget cars now feature ‘automatic transmissions’. Affordable cars and SUVs come with AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) units. These are much simpler than conventional automatic gearboxes and cost much less in comparison. This allows manufacturers to price AMT-equipped cars and SUVs aggressively. This article will guide you through the 10 most affordable AMT automatic cars available for purchase in India in 2025…
An ‘Automated Manual Transmission’ is essentially a manual gearbox that operates like an automatic! It uses electronic or hydraulic actuators to operate the clutch and change gears automatically, freeing the human from having to do these. Convenience of an automatic with the simplicity and fuel efficiency of a manual transmission- best of both worlds for many!
Let's start with the positives. The biggest advantage is the cost-effective nature. AMTs are much cheaper than CVTs or torque converters. Plus, they are much more fuel efficient than traditional automatic transmissions. Some AMT transmissions even feature 'manual' modes, which can be quite useful in certain road and traffic scenarios. They are easier to maintain as well.
Now, the cons… AMT transmissions were notorious for their jerky shifts. This has improved with the latest generation of AMT transmissions, though you can still feel the shifts as barely noticeable jerks. Its not a big problem anymore, but its there and some might dislike it. Its mostly noticeable when trying to accelerate hard. Also, AMT gearboxes are generally slower than conventional automatic transmissions in shifting up or down. This is not a problem that would bother gentle drivers though.
AMT cars are usually reported to have shorter clutch life than manual ones. The earlier generations of AMTs sold here, used to have this issue. Over the years and generations of the technology, we have observed the impact to have come down drastically.
The cheapest car that you can buy in India in 2025 is the Maruti Spresso. It comes with an upright, SUV-like design and houses a 1.0L petrol engine under its hood. The Spresso has a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 3.5 lakh. It is also the cheapest automatic on sale here, with an ex-showroom price of Rs 4.74 lakh for the VXi (O) AMT variant. The transmission here is a five-speed AMT unit. It is tuned for efficiency. Shifts are noticeable but the quality has improved over the years. The range-topping automatic variant has an ex-showroom price of Rs 5.24 lakh.
The new Alto K10 now sits above the Spresso in Maruti’s portfolio. It uses the same 1.0-liter K10C engine and offers the choice of an AMT along with the five-speed manual transmission. The VXi (O) AGS variant has an ex-showroom price of Rs 4.94 lakh- Rs 20,000 more than the SPresso’s first AMT variant. The range-topping VXi Plus (O) costs Rs 5.44 lakh, ex-showroom. The AMT here feels tailored for city use. The shifts are mostly smooth. You may, however, find it to be jerky under hard acceleration.
Renault Kwid may not be too popular in its segment today. It, however, offers a five-speed AMT automatic transmission on several variants. The first automatic variant- Evolution AMT- has an ex-showroom price of Rs 4.99 lakh. The better-kitted Techno AMT comes at Rs 5.4 lakh, while the range-topping AMT variant has an ex-showroom price of Rs 5.99 lakh. The AMT variants come with a fancy rotary knob, for switching between drive modes (D,N, and R)- not the most ergonomic mechanism we would say!
Tata Tiago is a popular pick among hatchback buyers in India. Known for its safety standards, the Tiago is available with petrol, CNG and all-electric powertrains. The petrol and CNG versions come with both manual and AMT transmission options. AMT variants start at Rs 5.3 lakh, ex-showroom (XTA AMT). The range-topping CNG automatic has an ex-showroom price of Rs 7.8 lakh.
The Tiago's AMT is often noted for its noticeable shifts and prominent 'head-nod' effect, under strong acceleration.
The Celerio is known for its strong value proposition. It offers a comfortable cabin and fuel-efficient (and reliable) powertrain at attractive price points. This budget hatchback has an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 4.7 lakh. AMT variants start at Rs 5.6 lakh (VXi AMT) and go up to Rs 6.73 lakh (ZXi Plus AMT), both ex-showroom. Compared to those of other budget Marutis, the Celerio's AMT is a huge improvement- it is smooth and feels refined with its shifts.
The Wagon-R has been around for a long time and continues to sell well in India. It now comes with two petrol engines- 1.0L and 1.2L. Both offer the choice of manual and AMT transmissions. The 1.0L- AMT combination is available on the VXi AMT variant which has an ex-showroom price of Rs 5.9 lakh. Higher AMT variants come with the 1.2L engine and cost up to Rs 6.95 lakh (ex-showroom) for the ZXI Plus AT Dual tone.
The Magnite needs no introduction today. In the past few years, it has been single-handedly pulling Nissan’s India sales. A 1.0L naturally aspirated petrol and 1.0L turbocharged petrol engines are available on the Magnite. The former comes with an AMT transmission while the turbo gets a CVT. The AMT on this car is very comfortable to live with. You may, however, feel slight delays in response in cases when you have to floor the accelerator pedal.
The AMT version has an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 6.17 lakh- well within the reach of budget-conscious buyers. The range-topping AMT variant (Tekna Plus AMT) has an ex-showroom price of Rs 8.98 lakh. CVT variants start at Rs 9.14 lakh and go up to Rs 10.76 lakh, both ex-showroom.
The Kiger is Renault’s version of the Magnite. The two share their platforms, engines and transmission units. AMT variants of the Kiger start at Rs 6.95 lakh (Evolution AMT) and go up to Rs 8.17 lakh (Techno DT AMT), both ex-showroom. The AMT in this case, exhibits noticeable 'head-nod' effect during shifts.
Maruti Ignis is often overlooked by many when they are on the lookout for a new car. This premium tallboy hatchback comes powered by the 1.2L naturally aspirated K-series engine (K12) offered with the choice of a five-speed manual and AMT transmissions. The AMT variants start at Rs 6.29 lakh, ex-showroom (Delta AMT). The top-spec Alpha AMT Dual-Tone has an ex-showroom price of Rs 7.55 lakh.
The Grand i10 NIOS has five AMT variants on offer. The first of these- Magna AMT- has an ex-showroom price of Rs 6.85 lakh, while the range-topping Asta AMT costs Rs 7.9 lakh, ex-showroom. The i10 NIOS' AMT deserves praise for its smooth shifts and refinement. It is one of the best AMTs one can buy in this price range.
Maruti Suzuki models clearly dominate this list. The company seems to be well aware of the price-sensitive nature of the Indian market and the actual customer demands here, especially in the budget segment. ‘Democratising automatics’ was indeed a big move.
We have also driven Maruti AMT cars from various eras and can confidently say that they have evolved extensively over time. AMT units on modern Marutis are smooth, have near-seamless shifts and leave little room for complaints. Rival brands have yet to up on this front (Hyundai is an exception though)
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