10 affordable, petrol-powered ‘straight-line ROCKET’ cars & SUVs of India; Baleno to Creta

Curious to know of whom we are talking about? Here’s a list of top 10 petrol cars, hatchback, sedans, MPVs, and SUVs included, in India which are basically straight line rockets!

HATCHBACKS

Fiat Abarth Punto

(0-100: 9.5 seconds)

Powered by a 1.4-litre, T-Jet turbo petrol engine, the Fiat Abarth Punto goes from nought to 100kmph in just 9.5 seconds. The petrol engine churns out 140 Bhp along with 212 Nm of peak torque. The power is transmitted to the front wheels with the help of the 5-speed manual gearbox. Though the car is high on power, it is not less on fuel-efficiency. Fiat claims an ARAI certified mileage figure of 16 kmpl on the Abarth Punto. Owning one will set you back by 9.72 lakh (ex-showroom).

Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS

(0-100: 10.2 seconds)

The Baleno RS is Maruti Suzuki’s first attempt at taking on the giants in the performance hatchback arena. The “Hot-Hatch” sprints from 0-100kmph in 10.2 seconds. It is powered by the automaker’s newly introduced 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. This BoosterJet engine churns out 101 Bhp along with 150 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox which takes the power to the front wheels. A brand new Baleno RS could be yours at just INR 9.41 lakh (ex-showroom).

Volkswagen Polo GT TSI

(0-100: 10.9 seconds)

The original hot-hatch of India, the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI is essentially the very vehicle which started the pocket rocket, performance-oriented hatchback culture in India. The GT TSI comes with a 1.2-litre, turbo petrol, 4-cylinder motor which is capable of churning out 104 Bhp along with 175 Nm of peak torque. The real deal, however, is the 7-speed DSG gearbox which offers seamless gear changes at lightning fast speeds, taking you from standing to 100kmph in just 10.9 seconds. This pocket-rocket is slotted at a price of INR 10.33 lakh (ex-showroom).

Ford Figo 1.5

(0-100: 11.1 seconds)

 

The jewel in the crown on the Ford Figo is its 1.5-litre TI-VCT petrol engine. Available only on the top of the line Titanium spec, this 4-cylinder naturally aspirated motor churns out 110 Bhp along with 136 Nm of peak torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, the engine sprints the car from 0 to 100kmph in just 11.1 seconds, with a top speed of 156 kmph. You have to dig out INR 7.80 lakh (ex-showroom), out of your pocket to own one.

SEDANS

Volkswagen Vento TSI

(0-100: 10.8 seconds)

 

Volkswagen’s yet another performance oriented, yet budget friendly vehicle available in the Indian car market is the Vento TSI. The C-Segment sedan takes its power from 1.2-litre turbo petrol motor capable of churning out 103 Bhp along with 175 Nm of peak torque. The power is transmitted to the front wheels with the help of the 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The Vento TSI costs INR 11.46 lakh (ex-showroom) to own.

Fiat Linea T-Jet

(0-100: 11.05 seconds)

The Linea T-Jet has been an underdog in the made race which the India automotive arena has become. It gets a 1.4-litre, turbocharged petrol engine which pumps out 124 Bhp and can take the sedan from 0 to 100 in just 11.05 seconds. The engine is mated to 5-speed manual transmission, driving the front wheels. The Linea T-Jet is priced at INR 10 lakh (ex-showroom).

Hyundai Verna 1.6

(0-100: 10.5 seconds)

Hyundai’s C-segment sedan, the Verna has just been launched in an all-new avatar. Despite a completely new profile, both on the outside as well as the inside, the Verna continues to be offered with its earlier set of brilliant engines. The one which impresses the most is the 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder petrol unit. Churning out 121 Bhp along with 151 Nm of peak torque, it sprints the car from 0-100kmph in just 10.5 seconds. Prices fall in the range of INR 9.02 lakh to INR 13.01 lakh (ex-showroom).

SUVs

Hyundai Creta 1.6

(0-100: 12.8 seconds)

 

Hyundai’s mid-size premium SUV, Creta, though the perfect urban SUV, does pack in a bit of a surprise with its 1.6-litre petrol motor. The naturally aspirated 4-cylinder unit, available in both manual and automatic guises, promises a 0 to 100kmph dash in just 12.8 seconds. Power figures stand at 121 Bhp along with 151 Nm of peak torque. Despite being a compact SUV, the Creta sticks to the ground well if taken around a bend quickly. Owning one will set you back by INR 10.47 lakh (ex-showroom).

Jeep Compass

(0-100: 10.29 seconds)

Jeep’s cheapest SUV in India, the recently launched Compass gets a 1.4-litre T-Jet petrol engine which is good for churning out 161 Bhp along with a peak torque of 250 Nm. Both manual and automatic transmission options are available. The off-roader can reach 100 kmph from a standstill in just 10.29 seconds. Prices fall in the range of INR 17.73 lakh to 23 lakh (ex-showroom).

MPVs

Toyota Innova Crysta

(0-100: 12 seconds)

The wild-card entry in our list is the all-new Toyota Innova Crysta’s newly introduced 2.7-litre petrol derivative. For the first time, the Japanese automaker has introduced the India’s largest selling MPV in a petrol guise. The Innova’s petrol engine makes 164 Bhp and 245 Nm. The MPV springs from nought to 100 kmph in just 12 seconds.