10 cars so RARE that you don’t even know they exist: Toyota Etios Cross to Tata Bolt

India’s car market is full of multiple cars in the same price bracket, offering customers a wide choice. Unfortunately, many customers just go with the flow and buy the car that everyone else is buying or is popular and miss out on some rather rare gems. Here is a list of 10 cars that are rarely seen on Indian roads today and why you should consider making them your car of choice.

Fiat Urban Cross

Italian carmaker Fiat launched the Urban Cross in India in 2017 as a stylish alternative to the Avventura. It does away with the Avventura’s pesky tailgate-mounted spare wheel and features body cladding, roof rails (standard across all variants) and a roof-mounted spoiler, which gives it a rather stylish look.

Why Should You Buy It?

The Fiat Urban Cross offers a host of features like dual-tone interiors that help it stand out from the rest of the crowd. Also, the top-spec model is powered by Fiat’s 1.4-litre T-Jet turbo petrol, which is tuned by Abarth to deliver 140 Bhp, which makes it the second most powerful car in the sub-Rs. 10-lakh segment after the Punto Abarth hit hatchback in India.

Isuzu MU-X

The Isuzu MU-X is the Japanese carmaker’s answer to the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour, in the premium SUV category. Isuzu launched the MU-X in 2014 and updated the looks of the SUV last year. However, it is the V-Cross, the pick-up truck based on the MU-X that has attracted more customers. The MU-X uses a 3.0-litre turbo diesel that produces 161 Bhp and 360Nm of torque.

So Why Should You Buy It?

The Isuzu MU-X is as big in size compared to the Fortuner and the Endeavour and has a commanding presence on the road in India, where it completely outsizes most vehicles. Isuzu has also given the MU-X a rather aggressive price tag of Rs. 20.14 lakhs for the manual gearbox variant and Rs. 23.19 for the automatic, which is a lot less than its rivals from Toyota and Ford.

Force Gurkha

The Gurkha from Force Motors is a vehicle built for off-roading and it is an alternative to the more popular Thar. While the Thar draws its looks from the iconic Willys Jeep, the Gurkha is inspired by the more popular Mercedes G-Wagen SUV, which is what many modders turn this purpose-built SUV into, here in India. Also it comes with that snorkel exhaust as standard.

So Why Should You Buy It?

The Gurkha’s inspired looks mean that it outclasses the Thar in the looks department. The boxy Gurkha is offered with a hard-top version and comes in both three- and 5-door versions.

Tata Bolt

The Tata Bolt is perhaps the rarest car from Tata Motors on the road today. Launched in 2015, the Bolt has nothing wrong with it but it looked and felt rather ordinary compared to rivals, such as the Maruti Swift, Hyundai i10 and the Ford Figo, which translated into low sales figures.

So why should you buy it?

The Bolt is a well-built hatchback that offers a whole lot of space inside at a very competitive price. If you want a car that has a Fiat Multijet diesel engine, this is a car that you should consider.

Abarth Punto

The Punto Abarth was the first ‘true’ hot hatchback to hit the Indian roads. The Punto’s good looks were complemented by Abarth’s Scorpion graphics, and its raw performance is ably assisted by the focused suspension set-up that allows you to blitz it through turns.

So why should you buy it?

The Abarth Punto is the most powerful car In India priced under Rs. 10 lakh, which also makes it the most affordable Abarth currently on sale in India. With its 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 145 Bhp and 212 Nm of torque, the Abarth offers truck loads of fun and is worth its price of Rs 9.95 lakhs.

Toyota Prius

If the words plug-in hybrid mean anything to you, then the first car that comes to mind will be the Toyota Prius. While the old Prius didn’t get much attention in India thanks to its plain design, the new car’s futuristic looks more than makes up for it. The Prius is priced at Rs, 44.09 lakhs ex-showroom (Delhi).

So why should you buy it?

The new Prius is the car to buy if you want to tell the world you care about the environment. With a mileage of 26.27 km/l, the running costs while contributing towards a clean environment are quite affordable as well. Also, the styling of the new Prius is sure to draw eyeballs wherever it goes.

Toyota Etios Cross

The Toyota Etios Cross takes everything good about the Etios Liva and amps it up. The Etios Cross features heavy cladding on the exterior that gives it a more rugged look while the all-black dash adds a dose of sportiness. The Etios cross comes with two engine options – a 1.2-litre petrol with 79 Bhp and 104 Nm of torque and a 1.5-litre diesel with 89 Bhp and 134 Nm of torque.

So why should you buy it?

The Etios Cross stands out from other vehicles on the road with its body cladding and prominent roof rails. Its rugged exterior gives way to spacious interiors. It is a car that is at ease both in city traffic and on the open road.

Mahindra E-Verito

Mahindra’s E2O is one of the best known electric vehicles in India but do you know that the Indian carmaker now has an all-electric sedan in the form of the eVerito? The eVerito replaces the 1.5-litre diesel with an electric car and ensures that emission numbers send power to all the driven wheels. The E Verito is powered by a 3-phase electric motor paired with produces 42 Bhp and 91 Nm of torque and has a range that pus your mike trust.

So why should you buy it?

The E-Verito is India’s only all-electric sedan, which makes it a good buy for the future. Its spacious interiors and boot add the practicality of a regular car to this EV compared to the regular E2O.

Renault Lodgy

The Renault Lodgy is Renault’s answer to the runaway success that is the Maruti Ertiga and its massive size ensure it can carry seven people without breaking into a sweat.

So Why should you Buy it?

The Renault Lodgy offers enough space to fit a large extended family. The fact that it looks good and has a frugal yet powerful engine means that this. Also, its rarity makes it quite a gem on the roads

Volkswagen Polo GTI 

The three letters GTI immediately conjure up the image of a speedy hot hatch hurtling into the sunset. The Polo GTI is powered by a 1.8-litre TSI engine borrowed from the Octavia which produces around 180 Bhp and propels this car from 0-100km/h in just 6.79 seconds. The Polo GTI is sent to India as a CBU, which is why it is priced at Rs 26.09 lakhs.

So why should you buy it?

The Volkswagen Polo GTI is the hottest of hot hatches in India today.  With its three-door design and limited numbers on sale every year, the car is a rare sight on Indian roads. Also, that GTI badge more than makes up for any problems you’ll have with the price tag.