Indian has a massive automotive industry with manufacturers from different parts of the world. The love Indians have for automobiles keeps the competition alive between homegrown manufacturers like Tata or Mahindra and also Foreign automakers like Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Honda. In this article, we take a peek at some of the popular cars in each segment.
Mini Hatchback: Maruti Suzuki Alto
Maruti Suzuki Alto has always been a popular option among affordable hatchbacks. Maruti Alto now meets all the latest Indian safety standards. Under the hood the Alto comes with a 796cc engine compatible with BSVI emissions norms, ensuring the Alto remains on business for a few more years. The Alto is available in gasoline and methane versions but only comes with a manual transmission option. Also, the CNG variant provides a mileage of 22.05kmpl. Alto is one of the most popular cars available in the Indian market.
Hatchback: Maruti Suzuki Swift
The Maruti Suzuki swift was so popular when it first came out it changed the automaker’s image permanently. The current swift is the third generation, and the popularity has only gone north with time. Thus, the Swift has become a permanent name among the bestselling vehicles every year. The new generation Swift gets a 1.2-litre petrol engine that can produce 90hp. Both automatic and manual transmission options are provided.
Premium Hatchback – Volkswagen Polo GT TSI
Image Source: Volkswagen
The Volkswagen Polo GT is a popular hatchback, especially among youngsters. The Polo GT is a sporty-looking car with Volkswagen’s classy aesthetics. Under the hood, Polo GT TSI gets a 1.0-litre three-cylinder MPI engine that produces a whopping 110hp.
The Polo GT TSI is available in both MT and AMT transmission setups. even with minimal exterior updates, Polo remains on top as one of the most popular cars in the hatchback segment.
Compact Sedan – Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire
The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is easily the most popular compact sedan in the country. The spacious cabin space and best-in-class features have made Swift Dzire a really desirable car for the Indians. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire gets a single 90PS 1.2-litre Dualjet petrol engine. It comes paired with a 5-speed manual or an AMT. The Swist Dzire will be available with a factory-fitted CNG kit, this model will hit the markets soon.
Sedan – Honda City
Honda city has been in the market for over 20 years. The car has been a favorite for customers all over the world. From being a driver-focused fun machine to a comfy and premium option for the backseat buyer, this sedan is surely an all-rounder. The fifth-generation honda city is equipped with two engine variants, a 121PS/145Nm 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol and a 100PS/200Nm 1.5-litre DOHC diesel motor. Both engines are connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Whereas, the petrol engine gets CVT as an option.
Premium Sedan – Skoda Superb
Luxurious and spacious interiors, powerful drivetrain, and latest features. Moreover, the Skoda Superb is a complete package and provides great value for money. The Premium design and built quality have made the Superb a popular Premium sedan in India. The 2020 Superb is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that can produce 190hp of power. The new superb is available in a single 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission setup.
Sub-Compact SUV – Tata Nexon
Tata Nexon is Tata’s popular sub-four-meter compact SUV. There is a lot more to this car than its amazing looks. In addition, the Nexon has a 5star GNCAP safety rating and is available in multiple engine and transmission options. The Tata Nexon is available in four different configurations. The variants include- petrol-manual, petrol-AMT auto, diesel-manual and diesel-AMT auto versions.
Nexon is the most sold vehicle by the homegrown manufacturer and the sales figures show that the latest updates have made the car even more popular in the Indian market.
Compact SUV – Hyundai Creta
The Creta is the most important car in Hyundai’s Indian lineup. In fact, the Creta was an instant success. Almost over 10,000 units are being sold every month over the past six years. Hyundai has shifted Creta to a premium segment of compact SUVs. The high built quality and great demand were a few of the reasons for this shift in class.
The Hyundai Creta comes equipped with three powertrains: Petrol, diesel, and a turbo petrol unit. Also, comes in 3 different transmission setups- a 6-speed manual, 6-speed CVT, and a 7-speed DCT transmission. Hyundai will be launching a facelifted Creta in the coming year and with the futuristic design and equipped with the latest features this new model will surely become a global success.
SUV – Mahindra XUV700
The XUV 700 is Mahindra’s latest addition to its lineup. the full-size SUV was an instant success. The homegrown automaker has crossed over 65000 bookings for the XUV 700. The XUV700 is providing best in class performance, comfort, and Technological and safety features. The SUV scored the highest points scored by Indian cars in the Global NCAP safety test. Safety features in the XUV700 include- ABS with EBD, a 360-degree camera, electronic stability control, and driver fatigue warning and level-1 autonomous driving tech with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
MPV – Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is an excellent seven-seat MPV that offers massive cabin space and storage at a reasonable price. The Ertiga is available in petrol-manual, petrol-auto, and diesel-manual versions. This MPV is a popular vehicle among MPVs because of the space and features it provides at a low cost compared to its competition. Also, the new version of the Ertiga is sold with the Toyota badge as Rumion.
Premium MPV – Kia Carnival
Kia Carnival is one of the most popular cars in the premium MPV segment. It is one of its kind in the premium MPV segment. The Carnival is available in 2 different seating layouts. The Limousine and the Limousine Plus variants are available in seven-seat options, whereas the Prestige variant is available in seven and nine-seater layouts. The interior of the MPV is spacious and luxurious. The luxury MPV houses a 2.2-litre CRDi diesel engine. This motor can generate 202bhp and 441Nm and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
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