5 of the Best Sedans to buy this Diwali

Below is the evaluation and ranking of the 5 Best cars in the sedan category for this Diwali-

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 fuel efficient. 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.

Specifications

Variant: ZXI Plus

Fuel type: Petrol

Engine capacity: 1,197 cc

Mileage: 22 km/l

Running cost (per month @30 km a day): Rs 2,880

Loan EMI (loan for 5 years, 80% financed at 10% interest): Rs 11,592

Resale value (after 2 years): Rs 5.9 lakh

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.

Specifications

Variant: 1.2VTVT S AT

Fuel type: Petrol

Engine capacity: 1,197 cc

Mileage: 17 km/l

Running cost (per month @30 km a day): Rs 3,649

Loan EMI (loan for 5 years, 80% financed at 10% interest): Rs 10,370

Resale value (after 2 years): Rs 4.3 lakh

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.

Specifications

Variant: I-VTEC SV

Fuel type: Petrol

Engine capacity: 1,497 cc

Mileage: 17 km/l

Running cost (per month @30 km a day): Rs 3,641

Loan EMI (loan for 5 years, 80% financed at 10% interest): Rs 13,904

Resale value (after 2 years): Rs 6.5 lakh

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 feature-laden 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.

Specifications

Variant: VTVT 1.6SX

Fuel type: Petrol

Engine capacity: 1,591 cc

Mileage: 17 km/l

Running cost (per month @30 km a day): Rs 3,576

Loan EMI (loan for 5 years, 80% financed at 10% interest): Rs 14,212

Resale value (after 2 years): Rs 7.3 lakh

5. Hyundai Elantra

Price: Rs 12.9 lakh

The Hyundai Elantra is the only full-sized sedan that you can buy under Rs 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.

Specifications

Variant: 2.0S

Fuel type: Petrol

Engine capacity: 1,999 cc

Mileage: 14 km/l

Running cost (per month @30 km a day): Rs 4,342

Loan EMI (loan for 5 years, 80% financed at 10% interest): Rs 19,052

Resale value (after 2 years): Rs 10 lakh

All prices are ex-showroom Delhi. Cost of petrol is Rs 70.39 and diesel Rs 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.

Source- ET Wealth