Maruti Swift to Ford Figo: India’s FASTEST accelerating, affordable diesel hatchbacks

When you mention diesel, the first thing that pops into your head is fuel efficiency. While enthusiasts may turn up their noses at diesel-powered cars but the large amount of low-end torque they offer can make these cars quite a lot of fun to drive.

There are quite a lot of brisk diesel cars currently on sale in India that offer quick acceleration along with low running costs. In this post, we’ll take a look at the fastest accelerating affordable diesel hatchbacks you can buy in India.

Volkswagen Polo GT TDI
0-100 km/h time: 10.27 seconds

The Volkswagen GT TDI is the fastest accelerating affordable diesel hatchback currently on sale in India. THE GTI TDI is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine that makes 103 Bhp and 205 Nm available for use of your right foot. The GT TDI is only offered with a manual gearbox and sprints from 0-100 km/h in 10.27 seconds.

Ford Figo S
0-100 km/h time: 10.55 seconds

Ford has always been known for making cars that are focused on delivering performance and good driving dynamics. Last year, Ford launched the Figo S, which upgraded the regular hatchback’s suspension setup and bolted on larger 15-inch wheels to help improve the car’s handling capabilities.

The Ford Figo S diesel is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine offering 99 Bhp and 215 Nm of torque. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The Ford Figo S diesel accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 10.55 seconds.

Honda Jazz
0-100 km/h time: 11.4 seconds

While enthusiasts may want to go for the petrol version of the Jazz, it will come as a surprise to them that the diesel models of the premium Honda hatchback are actually two full seconds quicker off the line..

The Honda Jazz diesel is powered by a 1.5-litre iDTEC engine that produces 98 Bhp and 200 Nm of torque and comes paired to a manual gearbox. The Honda Jazz diesel can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 11.4 seconds.

Hyundai Elite i20
0-100 km/h time: 11.94 seconds

The Elite i20 is Hyundai’s offering in the premium hatchback segment and offers a whole lot of features that have made it a popular choice for customers. The Elite i20 diesel is powered by a 1.4-litre engine that cranks out 89 Bhp and 220 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The Hyundai Elite i20 accelerates to 100 km/h from standstill in 11.94 seconds.

Maruti Swift

0-100 Kph: 12.6 seconds

The all-new Maruti Swift is the lightest in three generations thanks to the use of the super lightweight HEARTECT platform. This means that the car’s pick up has increased greatly despite no real increase in power and torque numbers. The Maruti Swift continues to use the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet turbocharged diesel engine with 74 Bhp-190 Nm on tap. A 5 speed manual gearbox is standard while an AMT is optional. The manual gearbox equipped Swift Diesel sprints to 100 Kph from standstill in just 12.6 seconds.

Maruti Baleno
0-100 km/h: 13.2 seconds

The Maruti Baleno is the best selling premium hatchback in India today. The Baleno is the first premium hatchback from Maruti and comes packed with a host of features. The Baleno diesel draws power from a 1.3-litre engine that produces just 74 Bhp and 190 Nm of torque. While the engine may not be very powerful, the Baleno is based on Maruti’s HEARTECT platform which helps keep its weight down. The Baleno diesel has a 0-100km/h sprint time of 13.2 seconds while still delivering an ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 27.39 km/l.