Best cars to buy 2017
Use our ranking of best cars to make the
right purchase decisions during this festive season.
For prospective car buyers, the festive
season doesn't begin in earnest till they are deluged with discounts and freebies
on new and existing cars. The auto manufacturers, too, wait for the auspicious
period around October and November to synch their new car launches, facelifts
and heavy discounts. The frantic activity continues through December till
March, the other months that see a surge in car purchases.
Expectedly, then, the Renault Captur, Maruti
Suzuki Celerio X, Tata Nexon, Audi Q5 and Ford EcoSport (facelift), are among
the many cars that have either been launched or are lined up during October
this year. This is besides the flurry of discounts--cash, exchange bonus, free
insurance, loyalty bonus--being dished out by Maruti Suzuki, Nissan, Honda
Cars, Volkswagen and Tata Motors.
If you are planning to pick a car this month,
go through the ET Wealth ranking of best cars brought out in collaboration with
CarDekho.com. Unlike last year, we have not classified the contenders according
to price. This year, we have considered the Top 5 cars in four
categories--hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs & compact crossovers, and electric
& hybrid cars.
The new category of electric and hybrid cars
is in keeping with the government's recent initiative to move completely
towards electric cars by 2030. The pricing of the hybrid cars, in particular,
may not suit your wallet, and the complete conversion to electric cars may be a
distant reality, but it's a move worth taking note of. More so, after a nudge
by the government to place an order for 10,000 electric cars, which is now
being fulfilled by Tata Motors. It has elbowed out Mahindra & Mahindra, the
company that has held sway in the market for several years.
The new classification does not mean that you
will not be able to find a car in your price comfort zone. On the contrary, you
will find a wider variety of vehicles that you can pick based on your specific
requirements and budget. To help you with the decision-making, Umang Kumar,
President, CarDekho.com has not only provided standard specifications like
mileage, variant and engine capacity, but has also listed essentials like the monthly
running cost, resale value after two years, and loan EMI, if you plan to
acquire the car through a bank loan.
As you scour the market for the car of your
choice, we hope this listing will help ease the culling process and make your
Diwali happier!
TOP 5
HATCHBACKS
1 Maruti Alto K10
PRICE: Rs 3.5 LAKH
Maruti Suzuki's Alto brand does not have a
dull moment on the sales chart. While the Alto 800 is popular too, the K10 has
made it to the top rank for its peppy 1-litre engine, which is also fuelefficient.
The car claims to deliver a mileage of 24.07 km per litre, has compact
dimensions, unbelievably low running cost, and to top it all, it has a good
resale value. That explains its high demand in the used car market. The brand
lacks in the features department and exteriors, but the positive attributes
overshadow these. The low running cost, fuel-efficient engine, Maruti's
widespread sales and service network, and high resale value easily justify the
top spot for K10.
2 Renault Kwid
PRICE: Rs 3.9 LAKH
Renault took a bold step when it decided to
challenge the Alto in the entry-level hatchback segment, with its Kwid. Its
SUV-inspired exterior meant that it completely changed the way a low-cost car
was perceived in India. Expectedly, it was an instant hit among the masses. It
was launched with a 0.8-litre engine and later a 1-litre engine was added to
the line-up. Apart from the design, Kwid offers good cabin space and is loaded
with unheard of features in its segment, such as the all-digital instrument
console, touchscreen infotainment system, navigation, etc. It gives a mileage
of 25.17, 23.01 and 24.04 km per litre with its 0.8-litre, 1-litre and AMT
variants, respectively, which makes it affordable too.
3 Tata Tiago
PRICE: Rs 5.3 LAKH
Tata Motors launched the Tiago in April 2016
and, since then, the hatchback has raked up consistent sales and helped the
auto major revive its position in the passenger car segment. Solidly built, the
Tiago impresses all with its simple, yet, attractive exterior. Boasting
adequate space for five passengers, the hatch has standout features like an
integrated music system, 8-speaker sound system by Harman, chilled glovebox,
electric mirrors and multiple drive modes. It is one of the most affordable
hatchbacks with a 1.2-litre petrol engine, and is also fuel-efficient, with a
claimed mileage of 23.84 km per litre.
All prices are ex-showroom Delhi.Cost of
petrol is `70.39 and diesel `58.72 per litre as on 12 October 2017.Estimated
price for resale value is for 30,000 km after two years.Mileage figures are for
highway driving and are sourced from Automotive Research Association of India
(ARAI).Figures for running cost and loan EMI are indicative and may vary.
4 Maruti Suzuki Baleno
PRICE: Rs 5.9 LAKH
This is another Maruti product that is
keeping its manufacturing plants busy. The premium hatch gets `liquid flow'
design with projector headlamps and daytime running lights. It is certainly one
of the best looking Maruti cars today. Its features include SmartPlay
infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, voice command, navigation system, tilt
and telescopic steering, and push startstop with smart key, among others. The
Baleno is also spacious and extracts 21.4 km per litre from its 1.2-litre
petrol motor, which makes it easy on the pocket. All this, of course, is backed
by Maruti's wide sales and service network.
5 Volkswagen Polo
PRICE: Rs 9.2 LAKH
It's a given that the Polo GT TSI will never
command as high a resale value as the Baleno. It won't be cheap to run either.
But it still makes it to the list of top 5 hatchbacks under `15 lakh,
considering low average running conditions for a five-year period.No other
hatchback offers the premium quality of Polo, and with the DSG transmission
mated to the turbocharged engine, it makes you feel as if you are in a car in a
higher price segment. It's a treat to drive and the overall quality of
craftsmanship is good.
TOP 5 SEDANS
1 Maruti Suzuki Dzire
PRICE: Rs 7.9 LAKH
This has been a top-selling compact sedan in
India. While the previous versions were less appealing and criticised for their
styling, the new Dzire is anything but. It has upped its game with equipment
that matches those of mid-sized sedans, with features like LED projector
headlamps and 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Its new, lightweight platform makes it more fuelefficient. Except for the base
variant, all others in the new Dzire come with the automatic transmission, so
you can get your desired engine-transmission combination in a wider price
range.
2 Hyundai Xcent
PRICE: Rs 7.03 LAKH
Hyundai launched the Xcent facelift this year
in India. It is at par with the Dzire when it comes to mechanicals, features
and, to an extent, running cost. It loses a few points on styling, but on the
brighter side, you get a fairly efficient and peppy 1.2-litre petrol engine with
the option of manual or conventional automatic transmission. Its resale value
is close to that of Maruti in the mass-market segment. Competitive price, good
build quality, comfortable interiors and easy maintenance make it a good buy.
3 Honda City
PRICE: Rs 9.6 LAKH
If you plan to upgrade from a sub-4 m sedan,
the first car that comes to mind is Honda City. Apart from the snob value, it
has been a consistent performer in this space. It has a refined and
fuel-efficient petrol motor, which is reliable and doles out enough power to
keep you cruising comfortably on highways. Honda recently revamped the City in
India and updated its features as well, a department in which it lacked
earlier. In the used car market, you'll be surprised to see how well it retains
its value. It is also easy to maintain.
4 Hyundai Verna
PRICE: Rs 9.6 LAKH
The new Verna has upped the game when it
comes to overall packaging in the mid-sized sedan segment. It is not only one
of the most featureladen cars in this space, but is also the most powerful. It
flaunts features like ventilated front seats and hands-free smart boot that
we're used to seeing in more premium cars. Though its manual variant is at par
with the City when it comes to fuel efficiency, the automatic version falls
behind when compared with the latter. However, its motor is as reliable as that
of the Honda, offers a hassle-free ownership like Maruti, and has a vast
service network.
5 Hyundai Elantra
PRICE: Rs 12.9 LAKH
The Hyundai Elantra is the only full-sized
sedan that you can buy under `15 lakh. Considering a daily run of 30 km makes
the Elantra petrol a perfect fit if you want a car that is not only bigger but
also more powerful than the mid-sized sedans. You won't get automatic
transmission at this price, but the SX-manual variant that fits the budget is
loaded with features that you are unlikely to find in the top variants of some
of the mid sized sedans. Attractive exterior, aggressive pricing, powerful
engine (compared to the other cars considered here), and Hyundai's wide service
network make it a good purchase.
TOP 5 SUVs
& COMPACT CROSSOVERS
1 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza
PRICE: Rs 7.9 LAKH
It is only one of the two diesel vehicles in
the ranking that is worth buying in the below `15 lakh category. The reason?
Its price. What you get in Brezza, including the ownership experience, at this
price, is exceptional. It has the road presence of a compact SUV and is
mechanically sound. Its diesel engine has proven itself over the years, is
fuel-efficient and offers decent performance too. The Brezza rides a little
hard and is probably the only thing that should keep you away from it.Maruti
Suzuki's after-sales service network, low running and maintenance costs, and
stress-free resale experience are the icing on the cake.
2 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
PRICE: Rs 7.4 LAKH
Can you think of one car priced below `15
lakh that is as easy to drive in the city as a hatchback, has a refined petrol
engine and can carry seven people? The answer is Ertiga. It looks a little
dated now and the engine feels short of power in hilly areas, but consider the
fact that the petrol version starts from `6.24 lakh and goes up to `8.75 lakh,
and you know that it's a no-brainer for those who consider buying practical
vehicles. Besides, it is easy to maintain and has no real competition.
3 Hyundai Creta
PRICE: Rs 12 LAKH
Hyundai's image as a mass-market carmaker has
evolved into a mass-market premium carmaker because of vehicles like Creta that
are well-built and offer a lot of features. The Indian market has also embraced
almost all of Hyundai's recent designs and a long feature list is now virtually
standard. Since it has a petrol engine and is a proven product, Creta is one
SUV that can be recommended in the below `15 lakh category. Its powerful petrol
engine, option of automatic transmission, long feature list, Hyundai's wide
service network and interiors quality, make it worth a buy.
4 Mahindra Scorpio 4WD
PRICE: Rs 11.7 LAKH
There must be something special about Scorpio
to be only one of the two diesel vehicles being recommended even if your
average daily run is just 30 km. This is because it is the only 7-seater SUV in
this range with off-road ability. It also has the Intelli-Hybrid tech that
helps in saving fuel, not to mention features like onboard GPS navigation,
tyre-tronics, auto headlamps and wipers, automatic climate control and cruise
control that make it practical for outstation trips.
5 Toyota Innova Crysta
PRICE: Rs 14.5 LAKH
This is a surprise entry since its automatic
version is also available with the petrol engine for less than `15 lakh. While
the diesel manual Crysta would fetch a better resale value after five years, we
chose petrol-AT as it'll be registered for 15 years (diesel for 10 years) and
has automatic transmission.So whether you take it out every day for 30 km or
just over the weekends, you'll drive it with ease. Its resale value,
reliability, 7-seats with captain seats in the middle row make it a good pick.
TOP 5
HYBRIDELECTRIC CARS
1 Mahindra e2o Plus
PRICE: Rs 8.3 LAKH
After acquiring a 55.2% controlling stake in
the Reva Electric Car Company in 2010, Mahindra launched an improved version of
Reva, known as the e2o, in 2013. It has recently launched an improved four-door
version of the compact electric vehicle, the e2o Plus. It is the latest and the
most practical iteration of the electric hatchback with four comfortable seats,
four doors and a range of 140 km, an improvement of 20 km. The features have also
been enhanced and it is the most affordable EV.
2 Toyota Camry Hybrid
PRICE: Rs 37.2 LAKH
Toyota's Indian fleet includes two hybrid
cars: Camry Hybrid and Prius. The former is assembled in India and is more
affordable than Prius. It's also more plush and richer on the inside. We've
given Camry more weightage as it's a more practical choice and has better
resale value. Being the most affordable hybrid (not mild-hybrid) car and
Toyota's bulletproof reliability are some of the other reasons to pick it, if
you have the money.
3 Lexus RX 450h
PRICE: Rs 1.26 CRORE
Lexus is not an alien brand in India and,
before it officially entered the market this year, it was expected to bring
hybrid technology to multiple vehicles.Lexus launched two hybrid vehicles--ES
300h and RX 450h.The latter is an SUV and commands good road presence, thanks
to its loud exterior and large proportions. It is certainly expensive,
retailing for over `1.25 crore, but is reliable given that it's a Lexus. A
striking exterior, road presence and Toyota's reliability make it a good
choice.
4 Volvo XC90 Excellence
PRICE: Rs 1.2 CRORE
The Volvo XC90 Excellence is a plug-in hybrid
and that's what makes this luxurious hybrid SUV special. It can be charged like
an electric vehicle and can run on pure electric mode for short distances. It
has a petrol engine that takes on propulsion duties when required, which means
you don't have to suffer range anxiety that one normally associates with pure
electric vehicles. For its lavish interiors, features on offer, and the ability
to run on pure electric mode, the XC90 Excellence gets our thumbs up.
5 BMW i8
PRICE: Rs 2.6 CRORE
While we associate hybrid vehicles with
environment friendliness and fuel efficiency, the BMW i8 gives it a completely
different meaning. The car is a good performer, with a range of 550 km, and
numbers to back it up. It can do 0-100 km an hour in 4.4 seconds and reach a
maximum speed of 120 kmh in pure electric mode as well. It can also run for a
maximum distance of 37 km without a drop of fuel. It can seat four people, but
don't expect the two seats at the rear to be roomy and comfortable
ETW16OCT17
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