Hatchbacks have always been the triumph card for auto majors in India; the liking of the blue-collar Indian consumers for this segment has never diminished. Apparently time and again the other segments have raised their heads to challenge its supremacy on the small car segment. However, the sky-rocketing fuel prices along with the hike in taxes in the other segment could not dethrone the hatchbacks. The auspicious occasion of Diwali speaks of a period when auto majors garner the maximum number of sales. After being hit by the hiked tax slabs, deprecating rupee value and low consumer sentiment almost all around the year, the fun and frolic of festive season can make the year end on a happy note for the auto majors.
The Indian market is mileage-driven when it comes to the passenger car segment, and that’s what the consumers would opt for in the festive season too. Now, when you look at the most fuel-efficient cars in India, chunk of them would in the hatchback car segment. Indian consumers’ ideology is ‘big dreams, small car’ and that is what has earned moolahs for many auto majors in India, making Maruti Suzuki the giant of the emerging Indian auto market. Auto majors around the world were inspired and have joined the fray in India to drive their profits. Let’s have a quick overview of the most efficient as well as extremely popular hatchback cars.
Hyundai Grand i10
The new entrant in the market, Hyundai Grand i10 has dug the unthinkable space between the Hyundai i10 and i20 hatchback. Hyundai i10 comes with mouth watering features making it sit in the top 10 best selling cars in the Indian market; this new version of i10 only seems to enhance that grandeur and will be soon in the same list, adjacent to its sibling. One of the most fuel efficient cars recently launched in the market and a stunner in terms of design and style, Hyundai Grand i10 features tried and tested 1.2 Kappa petrol and Hyundai’s 1.1 U2 CRDi diesel which will mark its debut with the hatch in the Indian market. The fuel efficiency of the Hyundai Grand i10 1.1 CRDi is 24kmpl and the best in class 1.2 Kappa engine offers 18.9kmpl fuel efficiency. The figures guarantee enhanced footfalls in the showroom of South Korean auto major.
Maruti Alto 800
The iconic Maruti Suzuki 800 which has ruled the Indian hearts for decades was recently replaced with Alto 800. Maruti has made the contemporary changes in the looks, and under the hoods it’s the same story. Alto 800 too is powered with the 796cc engine which comes with refinement to offer better mileage figure. The petrol powered Maruti Alto 800 mileage is 22.74kmpl, while the CNG cylinder holding fuel efficiency ranks higher and is marked at 30.46kmpl.
Tata Nano
Launched as a revolutionary product in the Indian market, Tata Nano has seen a lot of changes so far, the recent one being a complete makeover not only in the looks but also on the marketing front. The recent under-the-scalpel stint has made Tata Nano ‘people’s car’ to emerge as a new piece to appeal to the next generation with the futuristic looks. This cute little hatchback from Tata offers 23-25kmpl when it comes to highways, and on city traffic the hatchback manages to offer 17kmpl. With the homegrown auto major’s trustworthiness and low service costs, this looks like a head-on competition against two-wheelers in India.
Hyundai Eon
Hyundai’s smallest entry level hatch has carved its place in the Indian hearts with its stunning looks and peppy profiling, hi-tech gadgetry in the cabin and aggressive engine. Rendered with the trademark fluidic design technology, Eon flaunts class apart exteriors with a paint job done in the most effervescent tones. The mileage is as good as 21.1kmpl and suits your pockets as Hyundai has tagged the price pretty strategically.
Chevrolet Beat
Chevrolet Beat is among those hatchbacks which are known in the market for its aggressive price tag. The feature list is phenomenal and is bejeweled with the smallest oil burner in hatchback class. The power thumping powertrains offer a mileage of 18.6 kmpl in petrol and 25.44 kmpl in diesel. Chevy has made its hatch stand out in the crowd with its aerodynamic looks and distinctive front fascia.
Ford Figo
Ford Figo facilitated the American auto major like never before, and this small hatch is just three quarters away from completing three years in the Indian market. The hatch is run by 1.4 L Duratorq diesel engine and 1.2 L duratec petrol engine; the mileage figures are tagged at 17kmpl and 15.6kmpl respectively. Ford Figo has always attracted buyers with its value for money, and what makes it an irresistible choice is its low and easy maintenance feature which makes it a very beneficial buy.
Story Courtesy www.cardekho.com