Last year, India became the third largest exporter of cars among Asian countries. Almost all the car companies, both home-grown and international, are tapping export potential from the Indian market – some more than others. Here are some of the car companies that are doing very well in terms of car exports from India, and there are some surprises here.

Nissan: Micra

Photo: Micra is a big export hit for Nissan

Did you know, that although the Nissan Micra sells only about 1,650 cars a month in the domestic market, it exports over 1 lakh cars from India, which include nearly 87,000 units of the Micra in the past one year? The Sunny, which was launched in India in September, last year, is also now among the most exported cars from India, selling in South-east Asia and the Middle-east. The Micra and the Sunny share the same platform – Nissan’s V platform – and are made at the company’s plant near Chennai. Nissan also shares the manufacturing facilities with sister company Renault for the Pulse and Fluence. Check out our car research hub for Nissan Micra.

Nissan will be doubling export volumes this year, as it has ramped up its production capacity from 2 lakh cars to 4 lakh cars. The company also plans to bring in the Datsun brand, which will have a larger domestic focus and lower cost cars.

Maruti: A-Star

Maruti is India’s largest carmaker and one of India’s largest car exporters too. It sells cars in 125 countries around the world, including Europe, Africa and the ASEAN region. The biggest selling car from Maruti is the A-Star, which has sold over 300,000 units cumulatively.

The A-Star is branded differently in different countries. It sells as the Celerio in Algeria and as the Alto in Europe. Other exports include the Alto that has sold 250,000 units cumulatively and the 800. The company’s top three export markets are Algeria, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, where it recently launched the Ertiga as well. The company also exports the Swift to markets in Europe and the Ritz to South Asian markets. Check out our car research hub for the Maruti Suzuki A Star.

Ford: Figo

Photo: Figo a big hit in India

Ford India has been slowly scaling up exports of the Figo, which was developed first as an India-specific model. By the end of the year, Ford plans to sell the Figo in 50 countries. It currently exports about  2,400 units of the Figo a month to 35 countries, to markets like Cape Verde, the Carribean, Mexico, Africa, and the Middle-East. Ford currently has only a single plant in Chennai, with the second one coming up in Sanand, Gujarat. By 2014, Ford sees India, China and Thailand, all countries where it has manufacturing facilities, as key components of its global “One Ford” program. Check out our car research hub for the Ford Figo.

Mahindra: Scorpio, Getaway

Photo: In India, the Scorpio is overshadowed by big brother XUV500 now

Mahindra’s plans of exporting the Scorpio to the U.S. have hit rough weather and been in the news for all the wrong reasons. However, the company has been scaling up exports in many of its other markets such as South Africa, South America, European markets like Italy, France and also Russia, Australia, the Middle East and South East Asia. The Scorpio sells under the brand name “Goa” in some markets. It also sells the pick-up version (which we know as the Getaway). The Bolero and the Thar are other Mahindra vehicles that are exported, while it has been going slow on its XUV500 export plans because of production constraints. Check out our car research hub for the Mahindra Scorpio. 

Tata: Indica, Telcoline

Photo: Indica is value for money in India and abroad!

Tata is another large exporter of vehicles. The Tata Indica is one of its largest exported vehicles, followed by the Tata Safari, Tata Xenon and Tata 207 (which sells as the Telcoline pick-up in some markets). South Africa is one of Tata’s biggest markets followed by Europe. Tata has also begun exporting the Nano and has big plans for further development on this platform. Although at present Nano exports are miniscule, the Nano Europa is likely to be developed as a purely international car. It has already caught the imagination of car enthusiasts around the world – being the cheapest car in the world, with even TV host Jay Leno adding a Nano to his collection of cars recently. Check out our car research hub for the Tata Indica.

Hyundai: Santro Xing, i10, i20

Photo: The Santro is still popular among buyers looking for a low cost car

Hyundai has been big on exports from its India plant near Chennai. It builds and exports the Santro and the Accent, and in the past couple of years it added the i10 and i20 to its growing export portfolio. , It sells its cars to South Africa, Australia, UK and South East Asia. Since starting exports in 1999 from India, Hyundai sold over 10 lakh vehicles overseas by 2010. The Santro has been its most popular export model so far. Check out our car research hub for the Hyundai Santro.

Toyota: Etios, Liva

Photo: Slow starter in India, now sales are picking up

The latest company to start exports from India is Toyota, with a first lot of shipments of the Liva and Etios being sent off to South Africa in April this year. These cars were developed specifically for the Indian market and find takers in similar markets. It plans to send about 20,000 cars to South Africa this year. Check out our car research hub for the Toyota Etios.

Other companies such as Volkswagen plan to also make India an export hub, by making and selling the Polo from India in other countries in Asia. Next time you hop into a familiar looking car in a foreign country, don’t be surprised to see the “Made in India” stamped on it.

Alongside the launch of the Punto Sport limited edition, the company has also inaugurated the second Fiat Caffe in the country in Pune, while the first was inaugurated in Delhi couple of months ago.

Photo: The Punto sport looks attractive with its decals and custom colors

What’s new?

The Punto Sport is based on the Punto 90 HP variant and is powered by a 1.3-litre 91.7 Bhp motor, making it the most powerful diesel hatchback available in the market. The Punto 90HP also gets chrome exhaust tips, chrome exterior door handles, sport decals, sporty metallic pedals, premium red stitching on the seats, the word ‘Punto’ embossed on door sill and sport decals on the ORVMs. The limited edition Punto Sport comes only in three colors: namely, bossa nova white, exotica red and hip hop black.

Photo: With minor add-ons like a chrome exhaust tip and sporty decals the rear too looks sporty

Performance

The Punto 90HP variant is powered by a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel motor that puts out 91.7 Bhp (93 PS) of power and 209 Nm of torque unlike the regular Punto diesel which is powered by a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel motor that puts out 74.9 Bhp (76 PS) of power and 197 Nm of torque.

The Punto 90HP should offer better acceleration and top-end performance than the regular Punto.  The claimed mileage of Punto 90 HP is 20.5 Kmpl which is slightly better than the claimed mileage of regular Punto (20.3 Kmpl). Also read: Fiat Punto 90 HP Sports launch on May 18!

Photo: There are minor changes on the inside as well like the premium red stitching on the seats

Features

The Punto Sport is offered only in the top-end ‘Emotion’ variant that is loaded with comfort features such as Bluetooth (Blue&Me), follow me home headlamps, multi info display, automatic AC, steering mounted audio controls, power windows with delay & auto down function, electrically adjustable ORVMs and driver seat height adjust. The following table shows the complete list of features offered in the Punto Sport.

Photo: Sporty metallic pedals add to the sporty feel of the the Punto on the inside

Photo: As a little touch of detailing the door sill gets the word 'Punto' on a metallic plate

Variants and prices

The Punto Sport comes only in one variant and is priced Rs.52,000 more than the regular Punto diesel (76 PS) Emotion priced at Rs.6.84 lakh. Also read: Hyundai i-Gen i20 vs. Fiat Grande Punto

The Santa Fe looks bulky and little more aggressive than the studio images that were revealed by Hyundai earlier. Read more: Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and seven seater unveiled

Photo: The new Santa Fe looks looks sharp and futuristic from the front

The Santa Fe was showcased at the 2012 New York Auto Show. The Santa Fe adopts the ‘Storm Edge’ design concept which is based on the company’s fluidic design sculpture. The peripheral cladding, large wheel arches and bold front grille gives it strong road presence. The new Santa Fe is 244 mm longer and has a 99 mm larger wheel base than the outgoing Santa Fe. Hence, expect a significant improvement in the interior space with more legroom for third row passengers.

Photo: From the sides the new Hyundai Santa Fe reveals that it may have more space than the present model

The new Santa Fe is expected to be powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine that puts out 221 Bhp of power and 500 Nm of torque making it more powerful than the current model which is powered y a 2.2-litre CRDi motor that puts out 195 Bhp of power and 420 Nm of torque.

Photo: From the rear the Santa Fe still still looks similar to the present model although more attractive

The Price of the new Santa Fe may be marginally higher than the price of the current model which ranges between Rs. 22.34 lakh – Rs. 25.37 lakh. The new Santa Fe is expected to hit the Indian market by the end of 2012 or early 2013. The new Santa Fe will face stiff competition from the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour etc.

(Photos Courtesy: Decoches.blogspot.in)

The car now returns to a six-speed gearbox and the handling has been slightly improved. In terms of features the i20 tops the list among all cars in its segment. For more on the Hyundai iGen i20 Asta CRDi, watch the video. Also read: Road test report of Hyundai iGen i20

The new Rexton has contemporary and sporty looks unlike the Rexton showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The headlamps with LED surrounds give the SUV, a sharp look. The radiator grille with horizontal chrome slats and large Ssangyong logo at the centre, gives the SUV a bold stance.

Photo: The face-lifted Rexton is much more futuristic and sporty looking than to older version

The chunky alloy wheels and turn indicators on the ORVMs, give the new Rexton, a sporty appeal.  The ‘Z’ shaped C pillar of the old Rexton is retained in the new model. However, the rear styling is radical with a new taillamp cluster and large bumper with integrated reflectors.

The stylish exterior upgrade suggest that Ssangyong may have thoroughly revamped the interiors with new central console, instrument cluster and more comfortable features than offered in the present model.

Photo: From the rear the face lifted Rexton looks like a huge SUV but there isn't anything dramatic or unqie

With regard to performance, the new Rexton is expected to be powered by the same engine that powers the pre-facelift model. The older Rexton is powered by a 2.7 litre turbo diesel engine that churns out 183 hp of maximum power and 402 Nm of maximum torque. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual gear box or a 5-speed automatic. Rexton will accelerate from 0 – 100 kmph in 11.6 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 181 kmph as per the company. Read more about the India Bound Rexton here.

Mahindra has scheduled the launch of the Rexton in September 2012 and with just months away from the launch it may not be feasible for the company to launch the facelift version. Hence, expect the pre-facelift model to hit showrooms first.

CarToq Expert Babychen Mathew shared a video comparison (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz18tRdWEWM) and said, “The biggest difference is in the platform – it uses the newer Aria platform. So theoretically, it will be stiffer and more solid; less body roll etc. of course to be really sure we have to drive it!”

Another CarToq Expert Devdath Narayan said, “The Storme has better interiors, a supposedly better performing ac and an easier gearbox when it comes to shifting effort.”

Photo: The Safari Storme has been restyled and it has both fans and haters

The Safari Storme has an upgraded 2.2-litre Dicor engine that puts out 138 Bhp of power and 320 Nm of torque with changed gear ratios. There are no changes in the actual specifications. It also comes with rear disc brakes and a light weight hydro-formed chassis.

We can expect the Storme to have better acceleration a more precise steering and more effective braking. The Major difference between the two is inside the cabin. The Storme has better quality plastics, smoother shut lines, a deeper glove box, deep cubby holes and door pockets. For more info read: The Tata Safari Storme takes on the present Safari!

In terms of other changes the Storme has a new grille that has a thick horizontal chrome slat, a new headlamp cluster with projector headlamps, chrome-tipped dual exhausts and an integrated roof spoiler. The tail lamps too are new, though not very different. To sum it up: The X2 platform will likely give the Storme better ride and handling, however more can only be said after a full fledged road test.

The Q3 is expected to be the most affordable Audi in the country. The Q3 will be the key model to help the German brand sustain its hold in the luxury SUV segment. Let’s find out whether the upcoming Q3 will be better than the BMW X1.

Performance and Handling

The X1 sDrive 1.8i is powered by a 2.0 litre petrol engine that produces 150 Bhp of power while the X1 sDrive 2.0d is powered by a 2.0 litre diesel engine that puts out 177 Bhp of power. On the other hand, the Q3 petrol will be powered by a 2.0 litre TFSI engine that puts out 211 Bhp of power while the Q3 diesel will be powered by a 2.0 litre TDI engine that puts out 176 Bhp of power. Also read: BMW X1 face lift images leaked, India launch in 2012

Hence, based on the engine specifications, it is clear that the Q3 petrol is more powerful than the X1 petrol while the Q3 diesel has a power output that is close to the diesel X1. What gives the Q3 a real advantage is its Quattro all-wheel-drive system that makes it capable for occasional off roading unlike the X1 which doesn’t offer an all-wheel-drive system.

BMW cars are known for their handling and the X1 is no exception. But, we are yet to test the Q3 and hence cannot say which car handles better just yet. Summing up, the Q3 (especially the petrol) will most likely perform better than the X1 and the all-wheel-drive system will likely make the Q3, a more capable SUV.

Space and comfort

The Q3 seems to have an edge over the X1 when it comes to interior space. This is because the Q3 is wider and taller, offering more shoulder room and headroom than the X1. Also, the rear seat in the Q3 offers a bit more space than that of the X1. Comfort wise, both the X1 and the Q3 can be expected to be a close match.

Looks

The Q3 has a coupe-like styling similar to the Q5 and the Q7. The striking headlights and flat-set rear window lends the Q3, a menacing road presence. The X1 has the typical BMW kidney grille and a long snout gives it a majestic look. The interiors of both the luxury cars look fresh and have top notch plastic quality and fit and finish.

Overall, when compared to the BMW X1, the Q3 looks more SUV-like than a crossover and hence, would appeal to more buyers.

Features

The X1 comes with safety features such as six airbags, ABS, brake assist, dynamic stability control, dynamic traction control and gadgets such as eight loudspeakers, hard disc (12 GB) supported system, and a iPod-USB cable.

The Q3 will likely come with on-board computer with a fuel efficiency program, start-stop technology, keyless entry, dual-zone AC, ambient lighting package with LEDs, sporty seats, electrically adjustable and heated seats, and tinted rear windows. Expect both the X1 and the Q3 to have comfort and safety features that are very similar in nature.

Price, mileage and VFM

The BMW X1 is offered in three variants, the sDrive18i priced at Rs. 22.40 lakh, the sDrive20d priced at Rs. 24.40 lakh and the sDrive20d Exclusive priced at Rs. 30.40 lakh. The Q3 is expected to be priced at around Rs. 25 lakh. So, both the mini SUVs will likely be in the same price range.

With regard to mileage, the fuel efficiency of the X1 petrol is 11.25 Kmpl and that of the X1 diesel is 15.24 Kmpl. The Q3 can be expected to offer similar mileage figures. Hence, there may not be clear winner in terms of mileage.

Whether the Q3 is a better value for money proposition than the X1 can be determined only after the prices of the Q3 are officially announced.

Conclusion

The Q3 has aggressive looks, a sporty exterior design, powerful engines with all-wheel-drive system and being an Audi, will also have impressive list of creature comforts. Assuming that the Q3 is priced in the same range as the X1, the Q3 seems to offer more value than the X1 and hence is the winner in this preliminary comparison.

Mahindra also showcased a customized edition of the Thar called the Thar Expedition, which is fully kitted out to handle adverse terrain conditions for cross-country expeditions.

Photo: The Thar Expedition

It also unveiled its Adventure division’s activity calendar for the year, where owners of the Mahindra Thar, can go on off-road expeditions organized by Mahindra to fully explore the potential of their vehicles with plenty of fun and adventure thrown in.
The Thar AC makes do with a 150cc compressor that is used in the Mahindra Scorpio, but the system is rather basic – and does what it’s meant to – just cool the cabin. The Thar continues to be available with a soft top as standard, although the company now offers a fibre glass hard-top as an option for about Rs. 70,000 extra.

The Thar is powered by a 2.5 litre common-rail diesel engine that puts out 105 bhp of power and 247 Nm of torque, with a five-speed manual transmission and manual-shift four-wheel drive system with a low-ratio gearbox.

The Expedition customized variant comes with a special front bumper that houses an 8,000 pound winch, full external roll cage, wider tyres, jerry can holders, off-road lights, spot lights, tent rack and snorkel.  If you want to customize the Thar, one needs to buy a normal Thar and then give it to Mahindra’s customization division for the makeover.

Mahindra Adventure Calendar

Great Escape off-road drive events
June 23, 2012: Kottayam
July 7, 2012: Mumbai
August 11, 2012: Goa
August 18, 2012: Chandigarh
August 25, 2012: Sakleshpur
October 20, 2012: Kohima
November 24, 2012: Jaipur
December 7-9, 2012: Mumbai
January 13, 2013: Kolkata
January 20, 2013: Hyderabad
February 3, 2013: Coimbatore

Small car buyers who are looking to upgrade to a sedan, have lot of models to choose from in the market today. However, with lots of options, it is increasingly difficult for the buyer to choose the best car that fulfils his/her needs. CarToq has picked the top three sedans with maximum interior space for those who primarily need a spacious sedan.

Nissan Sunny XV

Photo: The Sunny has a lot of space especially in the rear seats, it's big on both head and legroom

Price: Rs. 7.86 lakh (Petrol) and Rs. 8.93 lakh (Diesel)

The Sunny offers loads of space on the inside, thanks to its long wheelbase and intelligent design. If there is one sedan with phenomenal rear seat legroom, it is the Sunny. With the rear seat height set a bit low, the headroom is sufficient even for tall occupants. The rear seat passengers will also feel comfortable as they get a rear comfort fan which circulates air-conditioned air and helps cool the rear of the cabin. The Sunny comes with a luggage space of 490 litres. Also read: Nissan Sunny XL vs. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZDi: Buy the sedan, or the mini-MPV?

The Sunny petrol is powered by a 1.5 litre motor that produces 98 Bhp of maximum power and 134 Nm of maximum torque and returns an ARAI-certified fuel economy of 16.95 Kmpl. The diesel version is powered by 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder K9K engine that churns out 85 Bhp of power and a maximum torque of 200 Nm and returns an ARAI-certified fuel economy of 21.6 Kmpl.

The top-end variant XV comes with features such as dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and BA (Brake Assist), alloy wheels, fog lamps, electric folding mirrors and an intelligent key with push button start.

Honda City V Sunroof

Photo: The City may look like its a small sedan but it carves out ample space on the inside

Price: Rs.9.70 lakh (MT) and Rs. 10.43 lakh (AT)

The City may look compact on the outside, but is spacious on the inside. The front seats of the City offer sufficient legroom, headroom and shoulder room. When it comes to rear seat comfort, the City has class leading width and sufficient headroom even for tall passengers. The rear seat can easily accommodate three passengers as there is sufficient shoulder room and legroom. The City also offers 506 litres of luggage space.

The only drawback that City has is the lack of a diesel engine. The City is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that puts out 116 Bhp of power and is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission (MT) or a 5-speed automatic transmission (AT). The City returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 16.70 Kmpl (MT) and 15.50 Kmpl (AT). Also read: Is the Fiesta Ambiente more value for money than the City Corporate and the Vento Trendline?

The top-end variant, V AT (Sunroof) priced at Rs. 10.43 lakh, comes with cruise control and electric sunroof apart from standard features such as dual front airbags and ABS with EBD.

2012 Fiat Linea

Photo: The Linea is an elegant and classy looking sedan that is also big on space and comfort

Price: Rs. 7.94 lakh (Dynamic Petrol) and Rs. 9.35 lakh (Emotion Diesel)

The Linea is a gorgeous looking sedan, thanks to its attractive proportions and aesthetic design. The Linea has interiors that rival even some cars that belong to a segment above it. The plush front and rear seats offer excellent all round support and are comfortable during both short and long drives. The Linea also offers luggage space of 500 litres.

The 1.4 litre petrol engine of the Linea puts out 88 Bhp and returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 14.6 Kmpl. The Linea petrol is a bit under powered especially when compared to the Honda City and the Volkswagen Vento, but for city runs, the engine’s power is just adequate. The Linea diesel is powered a 1.3-litre MULTIJET motor that churns out 92 Bhp of power and returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 20.4 Kmpl.

The Linea Dynamic variant gets all the features such as ABS with EBD, dual front airbags, Bluetooth and steering mounted audio controls. The Emotion variant gets premium leather upholstery, double folding rear backseat and R16 alloy wheels.

Summary

Now that we have discussed the top three spacious sedans lets take a quick look at how spacious other cars in this segment are.

Verna: The Verna offers decent rear seat space, but the seat is set a bit low leading to poor under thigh support for tall passengers.

Vento and Rapid: The Vento falls short in terms of rear legroom and the transmission hump eats up the middle passenger legroom, making it best suited for four passengers. The Rapid though offers slightly more legroom than the Vento, still doesn’t offer as much rear seat legroom as the top three sedans (Sunny, City and Verna) offer.

Fiesta: The Fiesta’s rear seat is best suited for two passengers because the width is less and hence shoulder room is insufficient for the middle passenger.

There are pros and cons to both – a new Mahindra Thar and a custom-built secondhand jeep. Many old Jeeps are available at army auctions and land up at places like Mayapuri in Delhi or Avadi near Chennai. And then there are ready-made ex-army jeeps custom-built at places like Mandi Dabwali in Punjab, which are usually blinged-out posers and not really great off-road.

So for Rs. 7 lakh what is a better deal – a Mahindra Thar or a custom-built ex-army jeep?

Photo: Harjeev Chadha

Buying an ex-army jeep

Looking for an ex-army jeep is hard work and you really need to know your vehicles well. If not, befriend a competent mechanic and take him along when you go scouting for a jeep to places like Mayapuri in Delhi, else you risk being fleeced of your hard-earned money and land yourself a lemon.

The Mahindra 540, CJ3B and 550s, which land up in Mayapuri, have been bought from army scrap auctions and many are not in useable condition at all. Many of these are available for about Rs. 50,000 only, but are not likely to be in running condition. Just make sure that all the components are there – as in gearbox, engine and most definitely the 4×4 transfer case, propeller shafts and differentials.

Once you’ve got a good jeep body, the next thing to do is to get the engine into running condition or replace it with a reconditioned engine. The MM550 (predecessor to the Thar, with the same body), is a good bet for a competent off-roader. It had a 2112 cc Peugeot diesel engine that put out 62 bhp of power and 124 Nm of torque. In today’s world, that’s quite underpowered.

Photo: Harjeev Chadha

Later year (year 1999-2000) models came with a 2.5 litre diesel that put out 72 bhp of power. Civilian versions had a five-speed gearbox, while the army version retained the four-speed manual transmission and 4×4 transfer case with high and low ratios.

Harjeev Chadha, an ex-army man himself and an off-road enthusiast has custom-built many such off-roaders from ex-army vehicles – which include MM540/550, CJ3B and Gypsy. One such build (pictured) was an MM550. The vehicle took nearly half a year to complete, but cost just about half of what a Mahindra Thar costs. It had custom-built power-steering and sand tyres. It proved very competent off-road, but the only issue it had was with long-term reliability. When custom-building jeeps, one needs to have the patience to spend long hours at the workshop, because there are a number of things that can go wrong.

Advantage of a custom-built jeep

-          Built to your specifications

-          Low purchase price

-          Simplicity of technology

-          Easy to fix

If you have the time and patience, the thrill of building your own off-roader is worth it. However, make sure you have the right mechanic and are prepared for delays in sourcing of parts. Refurbished diesel engines are available for about Rs. 70,000 in the market. Gearboxes too can be sourced. It’s the assembling that takes a lot of time. However, the total cost of building a jeep will come to under Rs. 3 lakh.

Disadvantages of custom-built jeep

-          Problems with registering jeep

-          Long-term mechanical reliability

-          High maintenance costs in long-term

-          Low resale

One of the biggest drawbacks of these custom builds is in trying to get it legally registered. Metros are now all BSIV compliant and such jeeps cannot be registered in the metros. If you are lucky enough to come across a civilian jeep that has already been registered, it is a lot easier. However, re-registering an ex-army jeep for civilian use is a tough task – although if you do have contacts in smaller towns it can be registered there.

Why buy a new Thar?

The biggest advantage of a new Thar is that it comes with a company-backed warranty and more modern mechanicals. It is a BSIV compliant vehicle and can be registered in all the metros without any hassles. It now also has air-conditioning on its feature list. The Thar has an independent front-suspension system which makes it more comfortable on-road, and hence it can be used for daily commutes to work and back as well.

What we think

If you are the kind of person who has the time and patience to spare, go ahead and custom-build a jeep (if you can work out the registration logistics). However, if you want peace of mind, reliability and a vehicle that’s ready to face the worst straight out of the showroom, pick a Mahindra Thar – although you’ll be spending twice as much on the purchase price.