Torque Kings of India – Mass Market Diesel Sedans and Hatchbacks

Snapshot – Torque speaks the loudest in diesels, making for sprightly acceleration and also good fuel efficiency. Naturally, torquey turbo diesel engined sedans and hatchbacks deliver wide smiles on their drivers’ faces with their lusty acceleration. Here are five such mass market diesel sedans and hatchbacks in India that make it to the Torque Kings list, for the sheer amount of torque their turbo diesel motors produce.

Hyundai Verna 1.6 CRDI

 

Hyundai makes some of the smoothest turbo diesel engines that power mass market cars in India. One such unit is the 1.6 liter CRDI turbo diesel engine that powers the Verna, a car that recently received a facelift. This motor is also the most powerful in its segment, with 126 Bhp-259 Nm outputs. A six speed manual gearbox with a tall sixth gear makes for relaxed highway cruising. A torque bomb, the engine’s strong suit is acceleration, while mileage is extremely impressive too, at 24.8 Kmpl. However, the car is more of a drag strip favourite than a corner carver, as scary handling and the lifeless steering are deal downers.

Volkswagen Vento TDI AT

 

The Volkswagen Vento TDI now features a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbo diesel motor, designed and built specifically with the Indian car market in mind. This motor makes 103 Bhp of peak power and 250 Nm of peak torque, making it one of the most powerful diesel engines to power a C-Segment sedan in India. The Vento’s sure footed handling and reasonably pliant ride make the car a top favourite for those who want a powerful diesel sedan to conquer the Indian highways. Since we’re talking diesels here, fuel efficiency is impressive too, with an ARAI certified 21.21 Kmpl mileage. The good fuel efficiency in part is also due to the 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox, which manages to turn out a better mileage number than the 5 speed manual transmission.

Skoda Rapid TDI

 

 

The Skoda Rapid is the badge engineered sibling of the Volkswagen Vento sedan, and one that also delivers sharper handling and a more pliant ride. The car is powered by the same 1.5 liter TDI turbo diesel engine seen on the Vento Diesel, even retaining power and torque outputs. The manual variant uses a 5 speed gearbox while the automatic variant uses twin clutches and 7 speeds for transmitting the 250 Nm of torque to the front wheels of the car. Fuel efficiencies of the manual and automatic variants stand at 21.14 Kmpl and 21.66 Kmpl respectively. The Rapid looks especially fetching with the Black package.

Volkswagen Polo GT TDI

 

The torque run of the turbo diesels continues with the Volkswagen Polo hatchback, whose GT TDI variant sits at the top of the torque stakes as far as hatchbacks in the Indian car market are concerned, with a 250 Nm number. Peak power, is equally impressive at 103 Bhp. The car uses a 5 speed manual gearbox to channel torque to its front wheels. The Polo GT TDI, like its petrol powered counterpart – the GT TSI, is aimed at driving enthusiasts. Another selling point of The diesel powered machine is its fuel efficiency number, which is rated at 19.91 Kmpl.

 

 

Hyundai i20 Elite

A dominant force in the B+ segment premium hatchback space, the Hyundai i20 Elite is very well built, and reeks of quality all around. In diesel guise, the car is extremely driveable in all gears, with a solid kick in the pants when the right foot is exercised. With a 1.4 liter U2 CRDI turbo diesel engine that makes 89 Bhp-220 Nm, the diesel powered i20 Elite also delivers great mileage,H ARAI rated at 22.54 Kmpl. Like all Hyundai’s the weak spot of the i20 Elite is its handling, while the ride somewhat makes up by offering good cushioning on most surfaces. The electric power steering, although better than the one found on the Verna Facelift, leaves plenty of room for improvement.