India’s SUPERHIT cars & SUVs of 2017: From Maruti Dzire to Jeep Compass!

With a subdued economy, car makers chose to go slow on launched in 2017. Despite the overall slowdown, plenty of cars spanning the hatchback, sedan and SUV segments were launched over the last one year. Here’s a quick round-up of the 10 biggest hit cars of 2018.

Maruti Dzire

The Dzire is the undisputed MONSTER hit of 2017, what with the compact sedan outselling even the Alto to become India’s best selling car. Sold with 1.2 liter petrol (82 Bhp-114 Nm) and 1.3 liter turbo diesel (74 Bhp-190 Nm) engine options, the Dzire gets 5 speed manual and AMT options on both these engines. Prices start from Rs. 5.43 lakhs, and both private car buyers and cab operators love this car.

Maruti Ignis

The Ignis was launched as a Ritz replacement and the funky new Maruti hatchback has filled the Ritz’s place very well. The car sells close to 4,000 units each month, consistently. It offers wide range for the buyer, with 1.2 liter petrol (82 Bhp-114 Nm) and 1.3 liter turbo diesel (74 Bhp-190 Nm) engine options. Both 5 speed manual and AMT options are also offered. Prices start from Rs. 4.56 lakhs.

 

Tata Nexon

Tata’s Nexon – a sub-4 meter compact SUV – is doing very well for the brand, propelling it to third position in the Indian market – a position that Tata hasn’t seen in years. The Nexon averages about 4,000 units a month and Tata Motors is sitting on a large order book. The compact SUV gets turbocharged 1.2 liter petrol (108 Bhp-170 Nm) and 1.5 liter diesel (108 Bhp-260 Nm) engines. 6 speed manual gearboxes are on offer with AMT options slated to be added next year. Prices start from Rs. 5.85 lakhs.

Ford EcoSport

A Nexon and Vitara Brezza rival, the EcoSport from Ford got a major makeover a few months ago. And it’s started off very strongly, with the first month’s sales surpassing the 5,000 mark. The facelifted EcoSport gets fresh looks, new features, a 1.5 liter-3 cylinder Dragon petrol engine (122 Bhp-150 Nm), a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder TDCI turbo diesel engine (98.6 Bhp-205 Nm), and 5 speed manual gearboxes. The petrol gets a 6 speed automatic torque converter gearbox option. Prices start from Rs. 7.31 lakhs.

Honda WR-V

The WR-V – a hatchback based compact crossover – has been Honda’s biggest hit in 2017, and surprisingly has outsold even the flagship City sedan. The car’s bold looks have found a lot of takers, with sales averaging about 4,000 units a month. The WR-V is sold with 1.2 liter petrol (87 Bhp-110 Nm) and 1.5 liter turbo diesel (98.6 Bhp-200 Nm), and a 5 speed manual gearbox on the petrol and a 6 speeder on the diesel. Prices start from Rs. 7.8 lakhs.

2017 Honda City

Honda gave the City sedan a nip and tuck earlier this year, and buyers have received the car enthusiastically. The car continues to be a hot seller with monthly sales averaging about 5,000 units, and for many months, Honda’s best seller. The City is sold with 1.5 liter petrol (118 Bhp-145 Nm) and 1.5 liter turbo diesel (98.6 Bhp-200 Nm). The petrol engine gets 5 speed manual and CVT automatic gearboxes while the diesel gets a 6 speed manual as standard. Prices of the 2017 City start from Rs. 8.58 lakhs.

Hyundai Verna

Hyundai launched the all-new Verna in the second half of this year, and right from launch, the C-Segment sedan has been a best seller. Hyundai has a hefty order book for the new car. The Verna is sold with 1.6 liter petrol (122 Bhp-153 Nm) and turbo diesel (126 Bhp-260 Nm) engines, and both engines are offered with 6 speed manual and automatic gearboxes. Prices of the Verna start from Rs. 8 lakhs.

Jeep Compass

Jeep’s only affordable SUV in the Indian market – the Compass has literally turned around fortunes for the Fiat Chrysler group here. Even outselling the Mahindra XUV500 last month, the Compass seems to be hitting a purple patch. Demand for this SUV is high. The Compass is sold with 1.4 liter turbo petrol (160 Bhp-250 Nm) and 2 liter turbo diesel engine (170 Bhp-350 Nm) options. 6 speed manual gearboxes are standard while the petrol engine also gets a 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox option. Prices start from Rs. 15.16 lakhs.

Skoda Octavia vRS

The hottest high-performance yet affordable car of 2017 – the Skoda Octavia vRS – has sold 250 units in months, completing this year’s quota for India. The car is powered by a 2 liter turbo petrol engine with 227 Bhp-350 Nm. A 6 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox is standard. The Skoda Octavia can shame BMWs and Audis, and is yet priced at half their prices. The car starts from Rs. 25.49 lakhs.

Skoda Kodiaq

Another surprise hit from Skoda is the Kodiaq, which is selling very well despite its high initial price. The 7 seat SUV is outselling both the Octavia and the Superb sedans, making it a best-seller in Skoda’s premium car range. The Kodiaq is sold with a 2 liter TDI turbo diesel engine making 148 Bhp-340 Nm. A 6 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox is standard. Prices start from Rs. 34.5 lakhs.