As of 2023, India is the third largest car market in the world. Most of the car buyers in India are from the middle class, and Indian roads and driving conditions give an unfair advantage to cars that are small, light, nimble, easy-to-drive, easy to park, can fit into tight spaces, and cheap (not just to buy but also to maintain). Also, since most of the buyers are from the middle-class, especially with the rising fuel prices today, they want a car that is fuel-efficient, because they surely do not want to pay a hefty fuel bill, they also want ride-quality because they want to use it on bad roads. They would also love to have a bit of high-speed stability because they are occasionally going to take the car for a road trip on the highway. They would also want comfort and features, they want all this on a budget, so they obviously want something value-for-money. Now, there is only one type of car that fits the bill for the diverse group of customers that is the Indian middle-class. It is, the hatchback.
In the rat-race for Indians to buy a hatchback, there are very few cars that prevail, that dominate the sales chart. However, there are some gems, that get overlooked. Here are 5 of those underrated hatchbacks that deserved to sell more in the Indian market. Interesting fact, you can still buy them today!
1. Fiat Punto- The Fiat Punto has its own fan following. But it is still in the list because they did not sell in the numbers they deserved to, thanks to cars like the Maruti-Suzuki Swift and the Hyundai i20 that stole it’s customers away, because they had more features, comfort, more value-for-money etc. This car since always has had it’s own charm. That Italian design is beautiful, even by today’s standards. It was known for being decently reliable, easy to maintain, and for the tank-like build quality that made it feel much more structurally rigid than it’s Maruti and Hyundai rivals. But what separates it from it’s competition is it’s stunning ride-quality and the way it drives. It was easily one of, if not the best handling hatchbacks in it’s heyday. It has an old-school hydraulic steering which gives much better feedback at high speed than today’s modern electric power-steering systems. It also had an Abarth version that was the most powerful in it’s segment, with a 1.4 liter turbo-petrol engine producing around 140 bhp. What’s more, is that you can tune it to produce upwards of 250 bhp! The 1.3-litre diesel engine in the normal Punto is also a really good engine that combines performance, reliability and fuel efficiency, something that is very important now with the rising fuel prices. You can tune that as well! These did not sell because of the poor ergonomics, not a good sales and service network, bad reputation in the market, lack of features, and the car was heavier than it’s competition so it did not give the best fuel-economy numbers. Adding to that, the hydraulic steering was notoriously heavy and difficult to use in city traffic. Now that Fiat has left India, this will certainly appeal to someone who loves driving, and does not care about the practical, logical stuff. So, what will you listen to? Your head, or your heart?
2. Ford Figo- Yes, Ford has left India, so the Ford Figo is only on the used car market just like the Punto, but it is easy to maintain because Ford still provides good-quality service to those who own a Ford. So, this purchase will be worth it. The Figo, both the first and second generation, has always been an amazing car, that just ticked all the right boxes. It was cheap, easy-to-drive, easy-to-maintain, had good fuel economy, good seating space, had good ride comfort, and had really good handling, stability, and steering feel. But, not many people really bought the Figo. In this case, it can be because of the marketing, or because the Indians were so wowed by the Marutis and Hyundais that they forgot that Ford, as a brand, existed. I would recommend buying the diesel, which is really good in terms of performance, reliability, fuel-efficiency and tunability. So, whether you are an enthusiast, want a project car that you want to turn into a torque monster, or want a practical car for your family, the Figo is the right choice. Used car markets can give it to you in 3-4 lakh rupees, an offer that is hard to refuse.
3. Honda Brio-Yes, this is a real Honda, so you don’t have to worry about reliability and maintenance and you can use it forever. Jokes apart, this is a really good car. It has a really refined, powerful and fuel-efficient petrol engine, good dynamics, and quite easy to drive and park in tight spaces and bumper-to-bumper city traffic, because of it’s small size and low weight. It did not sell a lot because of lack of boot space, cost cutting and lack of features. It got an update and then eventually got discontinued. If you have a small family or you live alone, this is the car for you. If you have other crazy ideas, you can swap the engine with the bigger engine from the Honda City, give it custom headers, an exhaust, an air filter, do some ECU tuning, and you have a real pocket-rocket in your hands, without spending a huge deal. You can get this for a steal in the used car market, around 1-3 lakhs.
4. Maruti Suzuki Ignis- When we talk about practical and cheap enthusiast cars in India, it’s always the Swift that comes to mind. However, there is another car, the Swift’s brother, that deserves an honorable mention. The Ignis. It has the same engine, same gearbox, and similar if not the same underpinnings. It’s just that it does not sell as much as the Swift, isn’t talked about much, and has it’s own different style if compared to the Swift. Yes, it is a practical family car, but it also has potential for a project car. Don’t believe me? Look at the Internet! You will see an Ignis taking part in autocross races and beating Mini Coopers and Porsches all day.
5. Chevrolet Beat-This tiny car is quite a rare sight in India now, but when it was released, it was quite popular. But it did not sell as much as the Marutis. This is quite a practical package, and gives decent fuel-economy numbers. It is a really good car for city driving. Quite funky, good build-quality and easy to drive, easy to park and good ride quality. Not to mention, very refined. The diesel gives 24-25 km/l. Is it an enthusiast’s car? I don’t think so. But is it a good city family car? Yes, it is. Is it fun? Yes, indeed.
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