Five Fun to Drive Small cars (Hatchbacks)
Indian market is bustling with new cars launched every 2-3 months. It is predicted to be the third largest car market by 2015 looking at the ever increasing demand for new cars.
At present the market has more than 30 hatchback cars on offer with either petrol or diesel options or manual or automatic options. It is normal for buyers to be confused with the mind matters fighting over heart. A questions seldom comes up in ones mind on which car is the best. But with constant improvements in technology and competition, it is tough to select any one car.Unless one is thinking of the fun to drive factor, the adrenaline rush that comes from driving. Here are five fun to drive cars for you.
1. Volkwagen Polo GT TDI : This car is not here because diesel is cheap. Volkswagen had a stonker Diesel 1.6 engine in the previous GT TDI. But the engine capacity did not help keep the price within range of competition. So VW came up with a 1.5L TDI engine. Result? Apart from losing 100cc displacement, the power and torque figures remain the same. So what makes this car the most fun to drive hatchback? No other car makes 250nm of torque and still gives 19-20 kmpl while burning asphalt. The new design makes use of a little chrome detailing here and there, but just like the Mitsubishi Lancer, this car has lines which wont age so fast. The car also comes with a 7-Speed DSG gearbox which is the only one of its kind in the market on a hatchback. (the other engine used with this gearbox is fitted on the Skoda Superb). Safety isn't skimped on and the car has the necessary ABS with EBD and airbags. I am also a fan of the solid colours offered on this car.
The downsides to this car are the expensive ownership costs which are further aided by mediocre dealership experience. Again, this car doesn't come cheap thanks to the state of art gearbox, European build and the zippy 1500cc engine. Also the DSG while seemingly worked on by the company recently seems to be error prone. But still it is tough to not enjoy this car whether in the city or on the highway.
Alternatives: The Hyundai I20 Elite has the next best diesel stonker on the list. The car looks like a sexy Korean model wearing an Armani Dress with sexy red heels. The feature list is best in class with almost everything covered. But the soft suspension and steering with little feedback takes away the sheen from this car. The 6-speed gearbox has good throw too. Again a pricey possession for a driver's car.
2. Ford Ecosport Ecoboost : There is nobody south of American Muscle car fans who would not love the turbo rush on a car. The Ecoboost should get brownie points for being right up there amongst the best engines out there. 123 PS and 170nm from a small 1000cc engine is a feat in itself. Some would question the lack of the fourth cylinder leading engine harshness and vibrations, but Ford engineers have taken perfect care of this issue. The car again is built on the new fiesta Platform which makes it a riot to drive even with a 205mm ground clearance.
While the car has the good kit, the interior quality is not the best out there. Also Ford has recently raised prices due to high demand making the car more expensive. VW polo GT TDI and Hyundai i20 Elite make better bargains compared to this one.
Alternatives: Fiat Avventura is one of the best looking hatchbacks out there. The 205mm ground clearance is the highest amongst hatchbacks making mincemeat of potholes and bumps. The ride quality also tops most other cars. The downside is the lack of interior space and the engine which has not been give the right treatment by Fiat engineers. The car also has lots of ergonomic flaws thus putting it as the best second car out there.
3. Honda Brio/ Maruti Alto K10: Cars need not always be high on power to be fun to drive. The Japanese work better with lower weight than working on higher power. While not exactly marketed as a driver's car, the Alto K10 is just that. At less than 4 lacs, the car has more power to weight ratio than competition which costs five times more. Given the right set of tyres, this car has the mettle to make a statement for itself. Nimble steering, high power, low maintenance costs means the driver can rip it to the extreme. Also, no other car makes a better value for money example.
What hinders this car is the interior quality and lack of any kind of safety gear. Small wheelbase with small tyres are not the best choice for this car and the car feels like a motorboat in heavy water. Also, the car feels to run out of breath on the highways due to the small engine.
Honda Brio is more expensive than most other cars its size. Interior quality, while good is low on space and Honda has recently lost its rank in build quality. Also, the smaller wheelbase tends to unsettle the car on bad roads.But the downsides end here.
At four lacs, the car has more power than the Alto K10 and comes with the right set of tyres. The handling is also better and so is the driveability. One can keep driving the within the city all day long without getting exhausted thanks to the peppy I-vtec engine.
4. Polo GT TSI : Take a normal commuter car. Give it a turbocharger. Wait, add a DSG and all the kit most competition offers. Give it an ageless design. Voila, you have the Polo TSI. No other car with 1200cc engine capacity is more power to drive. Power is modest at 102 bhp but the capable chassis means you can use almost all of it all the time even at the novice level. The car of choice for turbo petrol lovers out there until Ford brings in the Fiesta Hatch with the Ecoboost engine.
The car again is expensive due to the inclusion of DSG gearbox and the Turbocharger. Also the maintenance is on the heavy side and as mentioned before, the company needs to look into dealership service maintenance experience.
Alternative: The car which is an alternative to this one belongs to a different world. Tata motors has had a long history of making nice cars and a recent history of debacles leading to losses of sales and money. But Tata BOLT rights everything that was wrong with the company. Take almost everything available in cars up to 10 lacs and then, give the car a capable engine. You get the Tata zest. Projector Lamps, DRL lights, ABS, EBD, Airbags, Climate control, Bluetooth and USB audio, 15 inch alloy wheels and other luxuries keeps the family man in you happy. But the Revotron turbo petrol engine has enough power to Bolt the driver into the adrenaline rush which will keep the heart happy along with the mind. The engine doesn't hold a candle to the TSI from VW or Ecoboost from Ford but at this price range, there is little to complain.
Do not expect superb feedback from the chassis or the steering, also the engine doesn't have a perfectly linear power curve. And being a Tata, you get all the kit for the price range but build quality (has grown light years over the last 5 years) still remains marginally inferior compared to rivals.
5. Toyota EtiosLiva TRD/ Ford Figo: Most cars above have a powerful engine, turbocharger, lightweight body or good price. But none of this works if the car doesn't have a capable chassis. Enter Toyota Etios Liva TRD (Toyota Racing Development). A meagre 90ps from a 1500cc engine makes much more sense on this lightweight hatch. Only a handful other hatchbacks have chassis as capable as the Liva TRD and even the steering is a breeze to hold. Another car which is well priced and keeps the driver happy in the city (petrol) or the highway (diesel).
The looks are not the best out there and the additional bodykit just makes it look like another tin can from Japan. Also the car doesn't even have the most basic kit including climate control and loaded stereo at this price point. While the current engines give no reason to complain, a more power engine will only make the car more appealing.
Alternatives: Ford Figo: Don't let Ford tell you its a brand new car. Don't let Ford tell you, it is 'Made for India car' either. This car is a basically a redesigned Ford Fiesta Hatchback which was sold in India as a sedan. But, while the old fiesta (rechristened as 'Classic') can go circles around most other cars in its competition, the same can also be said of the Figo. The chassis is capable as that of a sportscar. The steering is the best to hold out there and communicates road details with minutest details. The engine lacks grunt and doesnt do justice to this car hence putting at as a strict second to the Etios. Also many cabin details are wrongly placed due to this car being a European model. (I told you its not a Made for India car).
image link: http://ic.maxabout.us//cars/ford/2015-ford-figo//2015-ford-figo-ka.jpg
Special mention. Tata Nano: Many Journalists have mentioned that the most fun to drive car is a rental car. You only rip a car which is not yours as you do not have to spend on Maintenance or worry about niggles. Now you cannot own a rental car but you can own a Nano. :D. A car which is so small on the outside that you can corner it anywhere but so big on the inside that four people travel comfortably. Driving dynamics are way off and the car is built to a cost but with a little effort, this car can become a fun to drive hot hatch. It still has a zippy character and feels peppy enough to keep the driver focused on the road completely entertained.
At present the market has more than 30 hatchback cars on offer with either petrol or diesel options or manual or automatic options. It is normal for buyers to be confused with the mind matters fighting over heart. A questions seldom comes up in ones mind on which car is the best. But with constant improvements in technology and competition, it is tough to select any one car.Unless one is thinking of the fun to drive factor, the adrenaline rush that comes from driving. Here are five fun to drive cars for you.
1. Volkwagen Polo GT TDI : This car is not here because diesel is cheap. Volkswagen had a stonker Diesel 1.6 engine in the previous GT TDI. But the engine capacity did not help keep the price within range of competition. So VW came up with a 1.5L TDI engine. Result? Apart from losing 100cc displacement, the power and torque figures remain the same. So what makes this car the most fun to drive hatchback? No other car makes 250nm of torque and still gives 19-20 kmpl while burning asphalt. The new design makes use of a little chrome detailing here and there, but just like the Mitsubishi Lancer, this car has lines which wont age so fast. The car also comes with a 7-Speed DSG gearbox which is the only one of its kind in the market on a hatchback. (the other engine used with this gearbox is fitted on the Skoda Superb). Safety isn't skimped on and the car has the necessary ABS with EBD and airbags. I am also a fan of the solid colours offered on this car.
The downsides to this car are the expensive ownership costs which are further aided by mediocre dealership experience. Again, this car doesn't come cheap thanks to the state of art gearbox, European build and the zippy 1500cc engine. Also the DSG while seemingly worked on by the company recently seems to be error prone. But still it is tough to not enjoy this car whether in the city or on the highway.
Alternatives: The Hyundai I20 Elite has the next best diesel stonker on the list. The car looks like a sexy Korean model wearing an Armani Dress with sexy red heels. The feature list is best in class with almost everything covered. But the soft suspension and steering with little feedback takes away the sheen from this car. The 6-speed gearbox has good throw too. Again a pricey possession for a driver's car.
2. Ford Ecosport Ecoboost : There is nobody south of American Muscle car fans who would not love the turbo rush on a car. The Ecoboost should get brownie points for being right up there amongst the best engines out there. 123 PS and 170nm from a small 1000cc engine is a feat in itself. Some would question the lack of the fourth cylinder leading engine harshness and vibrations, but Ford engineers have taken perfect care of this issue. The car again is built on the new fiesta Platform which makes it a riot to drive even with a 205mm ground clearance.
While the car has the good kit, the interior quality is not the best out there. Also Ford has recently raised prices due to high demand making the car more expensive. VW polo GT TDI and Hyundai i20 Elite make better bargains compared to this one.
Alternatives: Fiat Avventura is one of the best looking hatchbacks out there. The 205mm ground clearance is the highest amongst hatchbacks making mincemeat of potholes and bumps. The ride quality also tops most other cars. The downside is the lack of interior space and the engine which has not been give the right treatment by Fiat engineers. The car also has lots of ergonomic flaws thus putting it as the best second car out there.
3. Honda Brio/ Maruti Alto K10: Cars need not always be high on power to be fun to drive. The Japanese work better with lower weight than working on higher power. While not exactly marketed as a driver's car, the Alto K10 is just that. At less than 4 lacs, the car has more power to weight ratio than competition which costs five times more. Given the right set of tyres, this car has the mettle to make a statement for itself. Nimble steering, high power, low maintenance costs means the driver can rip it to the extreme. Also, no other car makes a better value for money example.
What hinders this car is the interior quality and lack of any kind of safety gear. Small wheelbase with small tyres are not the best choice for this car and the car feels like a motorboat in heavy water. Also, the car feels to run out of breath on the highways due to the small engine.
Honda Brio is more expensive than most other cars its size. Interior quality, while good is low on space and Honda has recently lost its rank in build quality. Also, the smaller wheelbase tends to unsettle the car on bad roads.But the downsides end here.
At four lacs, the car has more power than the Alto K10 and comes with the right set of tyres. The handling is also better and so is the driveability. One can keep driving the within the city all day long without getting exhausted thanks to the peppy I-vtec engine.
4. Polo GT TSI : Take a normal commuter car. Give it a turbocharger. Wait, add a DSG and all the kit most competition offers. Give it an ageless design. Voila, you have the Polo TSI. No other car with 1200cc engine capacity is more power to drive. Power is modest at 102 bhp but the capable chassis means you can use almost all of it all the time even at the novice level. The car of choice for turbo petrol lovers out there until Ford brings in the Fiesta Hatch with the Ecoboost engine.
The car again is expensive due to the inclusion of DSG gearbox and the Turbocharger. Also the maintenance is on the heavy side and as mentioned before, the company needs to look into dealership service maintenance experience.
Alternative: The car which is an alternative to this one belongs to a different world. Tata motors has had a long history of making nice cars and a recent history of debacles leading to losses of sales and money. But Tata BOLT rights everything that was wrong with the company. Take almost everything available in cars up to 10 lacs and then, give the car a capable engine. You get the Tata zest. Projector Lamps, DRL lights, ABS, EBD, Airbags, Climate control, Bluetooth and USB audio, 15 inch alloy wheels and other luxuries keeps the family man in you happy. But the Revotron turbo petrol engine has enough power to Bolt the driver into the adrenaline rush which will keep the heart happy along with the mind. The engine doesn't hold a candle to the TSI from VW or Ecoboost from Ford but at this price range, there is little to complain.
Do not expect superb feedback from the chassis or the steering, also the engine doesn't have a perfectly linear power curve. And being a Tata, you get all the kit for the price range but build quality (has grown light years over the last 5 years) still remains marginally inferior compared to rivals.
5. Toyota EtiosLiva TRD/ Ford Figo: Most cars above have a powerful engine, turbocharger, lightweight body or good price. But none of this works if the car doesn't have a capable chassis. Enter Toyota Etios Liva TRD (Toyota Racing Development). A meagre 90ps from a 1500cc engine makes much more sense on this lightweight hatch. Only a handful other hatchbacks have chassis as capable as the Liva TRD and even the steering is a breeze to hold. Another car which is well priced and keeps the driver happy in the city (petrol) or the highway (diesel).
The looks are not the best out there and the additional bodykit just makes it look like another tin can from Japan. Also the car doesn't even have the most basic kit including climate control and loaded stereo at this price point. While the current engines give no reason to complain, a more power engine will only make the car more appealing.
Alternatives: Ford Figo: Don't let Ford tell you its a brand new car. Don't let Ford tell you, it is 'Made for India car' either. This car is a basically a redesigned Ford Fiesta Hatchback which was sold in India as a sedan. But, while the old fiesta (rechristened as 'Classic') can go circles around most other cars in its competition, the same can also be said of the Figo. The chassis is capable as that of a sportscar. The steering is the best to hold out there and communicates road details with minutest details. The engine lacks grunt and doesnt do justice to this car hence putting at as a strict second to the Etios. Also many cabin details are wrongly placed due to this car being a European model. (I told you its not a Made for India car).
image link: http://ic.maxabout.us//cars/ford/2015-ford-figo//2015-ford-figo-ka.jpg
Special mention. Tata Nano: Many Journalists have mentioned that the most fun to drive car is a rental car. You only rip a car which is not yours as you do not have to spend on Maintenance or worry about niggles. Now you cannot own a rental car but you can own a Nano. :D. A car which is so small on the outside that you can corner it anywhere but so big on the inside that four people travel comfortably. Driving dynamics are way off and the car is built to a cost but with a little effort, this car can become a fun to drive hot hatch. It still has a zippy character and feels peppy enough to keep the driver focused on the road completely entertained.
Amazing!! car. One can also get the details of cheap tires pune to purchase from Shree Tyres. Thanks for sharing.
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