You have saved enough, and you now are ready to buy your first car. The Pakistani car market has expanded a great deal compared to what it was a decade ago. Not only new cars are being launched but older used cars are getting cheaper day by day. Also, options in imports are getting better and better. With PKR 1 million, you can easily purchase a decent car.

First, make up your mind whether you want a brand new car from the showroom or a used car. Suffice it to say, both new and used cars come with their respective benefits but also certain restrictions.

For example, if your need is a 4×4, you won’t be able to find a brand new 4×4 in Rs1 million. So you will have to hunt around for used cars in that range. Decide according to your requirements.

In this blog, I will be talking about potential car options under one million rupees. I am going to divide the options into three broad categories:

• Hatchbacks

• Sedans

• SUV

Hatchbacks

If you are looking to buy a hatch, rest assured, you have a great number of cars at your disposal. You have a wide variety of hatchbacks, new or used, under the price tag of Rs1 million.

For a brand new car, the most obvious option is a new Suzuki Mehran. The new Mehran is priced at Rs630,000 whereas Euro II Mehran is priced at around Rs680,000.

If you want something relatively new, Suzuki Wagon R is a great option. The new Wagon R is priced at Rs850,000 for a base model. There are a boatload of imported used hatchbacks available under PKR 1 million — from Suzuki to Toyota to Daihatsu and many more. You can see a bunch of these here.

Sedans

Unfortunately, under PKR 1 million, you cannot buy a new sedan anymore. Those days are long gone. But the used car market is filled with sedans at this price.

If you are interested in a Honda, you can buy the late model sixth and early model seventh generation Civics. Around the one million mark, you can even find an eighth generation Civic.

The 2009-2010 Toyota Corollas are also available in abundance. But keep in mind that 6th and 7th generation Civic cars are considered old now. Older cars come with their own set of problems.

If you are feeling brave and want a newer model, Suzuki Liana is a nice option for this price. You can easily find a 2010-2012 Liana under Rs1 million. Even the pre-2000 C-Class Mercedes-Benz is an option.

SUV

This is usually a tough segment. Usually, people buy expensive SUVs with the purpose to show off. There aren’t many who buy these expensive SUVs that cost in crores to use in rough terrains.

Those who want to buy off-roaders for their personal needs or for some off-roading fun on the weekendsshould get a cheaper and rugged machine. Toyota 4x4s are usually expensive (RKR, Prado).

Toyota single and double cabs are available but those are old models (usually 80s and few early 90s). But you can easily find an MMC Pajero in Rs1 million (1995 upwards). A mini pajero is also a potential option.

There are a lot of options to choose from if you go out in the market and/or search over the Internet. You just need to be sure about what you are looking for. Happy motoring.

This article originally appeared on Pakwheels.com and has been reproduced with permission.