While it is already confusing for car buyers to choose from among the small cars in India, here is something that will add to your choices or woes, whatever you might want to call it. Mahindra and Renault Joint Venture is coming with a new hatchback for India called Mahindra Renault Sandero.

Sandero will be available in both diesel and petrol variants. While the petrol version will be powered by 1200 cc engine, the diesel one, equipped with a 1500 cc engine, will be more powerful.

The five-door Mahindra Renault Sandero hatchback is very spacious when compared to its counterparts in the small car category. Sandero is about 4.02 meters in length, with a storage capacity of 320 litres. The rear doors, which open at an angle of 67 degrees, add to the spaciousness of the car.

Pawan Goenka, head of Mahindra’s automotive division, said he was not in a position to make any immediate comment on the matter. “Nothing has been decided as yet. Talks are at a preliminary stage,” he said.

Considering the current scenario in the Indian small car market, the Sandero seems like just the perfect deal for Mahindra and Renault. Sandero would give Renault an entry into the small car segment, without making any fresh investments. And Mahindra, which has so far ventured in the utility vehicle category only, should be as much happy to bring a small car.

Mahindra Renault Sandero would be built at the Nashik facility. Since the Mahindra Renault Sandero is built on the Logan platform, it would be much easier to assemble the car at the Nashik plant. Mahindra’s existing network, which also distributes Logan, will be distributing the Sandero.

Mahindra and Renault formed a Joint Venture in February 2005 with a 51:49 partnership. Later they lined up an initial investment of about Rs 700 crore for their Nashik production facility.