5 quick yet affordable (fastest accelerating) diesel cars under Rs 10 lakh

Diesel engines have a lot of torque, especially when compared to naturally aspirated petrol counterparts. And apart from being easier to drive, the diesels can also provide some serious acceleration figures. We take a look at 5 quickest cars (under Rs 10 lakhs) that aren’t just economical to run but can be fun, especially in the straight line.

Ford Figo Aspire (0-100 kmph: 9.72 seconds)

With the same 1.5-litre diesel engine being offered in the Figo and Figo Aspire, the larger EcoSport and Fiesta don’t really stand a chance. With a maximum power of 100PS (that’s 10PS more than the two larger vehicles!), the engine helps the car achieve a sub 10 second 0-100 kmph time. And when you don’t have the throttle pinned, the car can return a decent average, too – the company claims a figure of 25.8 kmpl. And if you don’t really want the added boot space, opt for the Figo hatchback. There could be a slight weight saving there, and it certainly looks better!

Hyundai Verna 1.6 (0-100 kmph: 10.6 seconds)

Hyundai offers the Verna diesel in two engine options: a 1.4-litre unit and a more powerful 1.6-litre unit. The latter helps the car hit the 100kmph mark in just a little above 10.5 seconds. And if that’s not quick, then what is. Handling wise the Verna is still not the best car around. If Hyundai manages to sort that somehow not only will they improve the car’s sales, they’ll easily take a bit of the market that currently belongs to the VW Vento and Fiat Linea.

Volkswagen Vento (0-100 kmph: 11.29 seconds)

Like the new Polo, both Vento and Rapid now come powered by a 1.5-litre diesel engine. But unlike the GT TDI, these two get dual clutch automatic gearbox (7-speed DSG), which not only encourages spirited driving but also keeps shift times quite low. The downside, as Motorbeam points out in one of their reviews, is that the gearbox won’t let you launch the car while revving. That takes away a few milliseconds off the Vento’s 0-100 kmph time. The 0-100 time hovers around the 11 second mark, which is very respectable.

Volkswagen GT TDI (0-100 kmph: 11.5 seconds)

(Photo courtesy: Motorbeam)

This is easily the most driver oriented car in the list here, and thus deserves to be in the middle of the list. Unlike in the past when the Polo GT TDI used the hugely enthusiastic (but equally noisy) 1.6-litre engine, the new car uses a 1.5-litre engine like a couple of other VW Group cars. The very capable chassis and powertrain combo makes the GT TDI a great car to own.

The only downside is space. So if you’re looking for something practical but fast, the GT (or any Polo for that matter) doesn’t suit the job. It takes 11.5 seconds to hit 100 from standstill, which is quite decent if not the best out there.

Hyundai Elite i20 (0-100 kmph: 11.94 seconds)

The i20 has over the period improved, both in terms of handling as well as its ability to inspire confidence. It’s still a long way to go but the car’s 1.4-litre diesel engine is another strong aspect of the car. It helps the Hyundai Elite i20 do a 0-100 kmph in just about 12 seconds. So in terms of straight line acceleration, the Elite i20 won’t really leave you disappointed.

Please note that these 0-100 times are by magazines and websites tested and recorded on their respective VBOX devices – a GPS-based instrument that accurately determines the vehicle’s speed and acceleration. Given the varying test conditions, there’s always going to be a difference between two publications’ times. Also, please keep in mind that unless you’re on the racetrack, the 0-100 kmph time is not going to be the only aspect of performance; it just gives an idea of how capable the vehicle is.