Hatchbacks have always been the first choice for a majority of Indians and, indeed, they are the most popular automotive body style in the country. First time buyers usually start with one of these and like to upgrade to sedans later on. However, the trend is changing with the introduction of compact sedans.
What is a compact sedan Indians have a penchant for sedans, and sub-4m vehicles attract fewer taxes manufacturers want to cash from this combination and sub-4- metre compact sedans were born. Of late, a lot of buyers bypass the hatchback step and go directly to these sub-4m sedans, in turn making this segment popular. Buying your first car Or considering an upgrade? Here are the five best sedans you can buy if you have about Rs 10 lakh to spend.
Volkswagen Ameo
We start with the new kid on the block. The compact sedan from Volkswagen is an exclusive ‘Made for India’ car and has just been launched at a very interesting price point of Rs 5.24 lakh. Currently, the Ameo only comes with a 1.2-litre petrol engine but if you are not in a hurry, you could wait for the more powerful 1.5-litre diesel that will be launched by August. If safety and build quality are your prime concerns the Ameo fits the bill perfectly. The Ameo comes standard with features like dual front airbags and ABS on all variants and, as with all Volkswagen cars, the quality of the interiors, along with fit and finish, is best in class.
You also get a very well equipped cabin in the top of the line Highline variants. It comes with a touchscreen infotainment system and first in class features like cruise control, rain sensing wipers and anti-pinch windows. We also think that the Ameo is one of the best looking cars in its class with its balanced body style and premium paint quality. All in all, this would be our pick as one of the most ‘value for money’ compact sedans you can buy in India today. Experience the Volkswagen Ameo here
Ford Figo Aspire
The Ford Figo Aspire has so far been one of our favourite compact sedans for several reasons. If funky European design is what excites you then the Figo Aspire is certainly one of the best looking compact sedans in the market, rivalled only by the recently launched Ameo. In terms of safety too, it tops the charts with ABS and a whopping 6-airbags on the range topping variants! And the positives continue with the Aspire also being one of the best handling cars in the segment with Ford’s great chassis underpinning it along with petrol and diesel engines that perform really well.
You also get a very well equipped cabin with a Bluetooth-enabled infotainment package but there is no touchscreen or colour display. Lower versions however do get a slot for your smartphone that could double up as a display but even that is a bit flimsy. The Aspire though does give you some of the best space in the rear both in terms of headroom and legroom and a large boot that can easily accommodate two large bags and a handful of smaller ones. All in all, the Aspire would be a great first time buy especially since it also comes with an automatic gearbox. Experience the Ford Figo Aspire here
Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire
The Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire is one of the bread and butter cars for Maruti and is often the highest selling car in India. With a no-nonsense attitude to motoring needs, the Dzire is still one of the most balanced packages out there. If offers great driving pleasure, a very good suspension balance between ride and handling, and a punchy 1.3-litre diesel engine that you can also get with a very capable AMT gearbox. All these factors make it one of the favourite cars for first time buyers and car buyers who are upgrading from smaller hatchbacks. Of course, you also have the advantage of the Maruti Suzuki dealership network and the relatively low cost of ownership and maintenance as compared to almost everything else in this segment.
There are a few drawbacks to the Swift Dzire though. For starters, the infotainment system is still slightly older as compared to some of its peers and there is no colour display or touchscreen offered. The petrol K12 engine, although highly refined and very smooth, is just a tad bit underpowered too and rear leg room is one of the least in this segment. All of those still do not stop people for buying the Dzire since the car gives what most first time buyers look for i.e. peace of mind ownership. Experience the Maruti Swift DZire here
Honda City
The logical upgrade for most people who own a hatchback and now want a full sized sedan is the Honda City. The City offers not only a social status that is associated with the brand since the introduction of the car in 1998 but also a great package, especially if you consider the slightly more expensive variants. The 1.5-litre petrol engine makes 119PS of peak power and is available with both a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic gearbox that also comes with paddle shifters. The diesel, of course, is the tried and tested 1.5-litre iDtec engine that makes 100PS of power.
The City also offers one of the best rear seats in the category with very good legspace and headroom. The City also offers a great boot which is easy enough to store travel bags for a family of five or anything else that the user may feel the need to carry. But what we love most about the City is the fact that even though it is priced competitively, it still feels very premium on the inside, with features like the touchscreen climate control, start stop button and leather upholstery on the range topping variant. All in all, if you were looking for a luxurious and comfortable car that also offered the badge value that a Rs 10 lakh car had to offer, the City would be one of our top choices. Experience the Honda City here
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz
Yes, Maruti gets two mentions in our top 5 lineup as both the Dzire and the Ciaz are the hottest selling cars in their respective segments. Now, while the Dzire offers fuss free and no-nonsense ownership, the Ciaz offers all the same values but with a much more luxurious package on offer. The Ciaz is not only one of the prettiest cars in the segment but is also one of the most value for money products as Maruti has crammed it with a whole bunch of gadgets and gizmos like a touch screen infotainment system, start-stop button with keyless entry and 16-inch wheels.
You also get the great 1.3-litre DDiS engine with 90PS of peak power and a 1.4-litre petrol engine that gets both a manual and an automatic gearbox. The diesel engine also gets a mild-hybrid or SHVS setup which improves fuel economy. Now, compared to the likes of the Honda City, the Ciaz might not have the badge appeal that many buyers who are upgrading from a hatchback are looking for, but as a package, the Ciaz is better if not at par with the City. Of course, Maruti’s great sales and service network also help buyers with an easier buying process and an even easier maintenance process and that is crucial to the Indian buyer. Experience the Maruti Ciaz here
Source: CarDekho.com
