Maruti 800 (1983)Rainer Halama, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Maruti 800

1983 — India

Malaise Era (1975-1985)
Engine796 cc
DrivetrainRWD

Maruti 800

The Maruti 800 revolutionized Indian transportation, bringing affordable motoring to the masses as India's first modern small car. Based on the Suzuki Alto and built through Indo-Japanese joint venture, it featured fuel-efficient three-cylinder engine and simple maintenance. The 800 became synonymous with the Indian middle class dream, dominating sales charts for decades. Despite basic specifications and minimal changes over 31 years, over 2.8 million were sold, making it a cultural phenomenon in Indian automotive history.