[raj_5004]

We have quite a few threads on hatchbacks - some comparing the premium hatches while others comparing the features. For example -

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/hatchb...omparison.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...75-6-65-d.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...khs-range.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...atchbacks.html

This is a simple thread which lists out all the hatchbacks present in our market. I will try to update this thread whenever some new launches happen. Some hatches costing above 10 Lacs are not considered.

The last time I made a thread on UVs here, I was told that the comparo would have been nice had it been on an Excel sheet, hence I am attaching an Excel sheet with all Specifications and prices in this comparo. Rest of the details continue in this thread.

So for specifications and prices, please refer the Excel sheet attached in the 5th post.

Note:
1) To be fair, prices of all vehicles are on-road Mumbai in Lacs.
2) Source of all figures and prices is ACI.
3) The vehicles are listed according to their prices in ascending order.

# Copyright of all images to respective owners.

[raj_5004]

************************************************** **********************************

~ Tata Nano ~




+ Spacious interiors for 4 adults. Generous legroom & headroom
+ Peppy performance at speeds <80 kph. Engine offers good urban driveability too
+ Small footprint & tiny turning radius make it immensely chuckable within the city
+ Powerful air-conditioner will chill you to the bone
+ 2012 Nano sees a lot of customer feedback being incorporated

- Feels underpowered on steep ghats (inclines) with passengers onboard.
- Missing essentials (no glove box, openable rear hatch, front disc brakes).
- Small boot with a limited 80 liter capacity
- Low cost nature & quality are glaringly obvious
- Very heavy steering at parking speeds. Even top-variant doesn't get power steering
- Image of the "cheapest car in India / the world"
- Tata's sub-par after sales service experience

Website :

Welcome to Tata Nano :: HOME

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...=0&q=tata+nano

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Maruti Alto ~




+ Power! 67 BHP (68 PS) in a 760 kg kerb weight car in the Alto K10
+ Thoroughly fun-to-drive hatchback
+ NVH levels are surprisingly low for a 3-cylinder engine
+ Mileage: 20.2 kpl ARAI figure.
+ VFM pricing; upto only 50K more than the top-end Alto 800. Pocket rocket for < 4 lakh rupees

- Vague & rubbery gearshift quality.
- High speed handling & significant under-steer.
- Lifeless steering.

Website :

Maruti Suzuki Alto: India
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd: Presenting the all new Alto K10 small car features, specifications, features, variants, colors

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...com%2Fforum%2F

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...-pictures.html

~ Hyundai EON ~




+ Great looking, modern design for 3 lakhs. Makes other budget cars look outdated
+ Best-in-class interior quality, fit & finish.
+ Excellent air-conditioner.
+ Many segment first features (driver airbag, tilt steering, gear indicator etc.)
+ Frugal 3 cylinder petrol engine delivers high fuel efficiency
+ Big 215 liter boot has a practical layout
+ Hyundai's excellent after-sales service

- Shaky, vibrating gear lever at all speeds. Overall NVH is unimpressive
- Pricing is too close to other 4 cylinder hatchbacks (including the Santro). Top variant overpriced @ 3.71 lakh
- Ordinary commuter engine that doesn't really impress in any particular area
- Steering is too light & sensitive at highway speeds
- Hyundai's service costs are usually higher than that of the competition

Website :

http://www.hyundai.com/in/en/Showroo...010151236.html

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...&q=hyundai+EON

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Tata Indica ~




+ Cabin space
+ Cheap to maintain
+ Fuel efficiency
+ LPG option available

- Too outdated now
- Ergonomic issues
- Taxi image

Website :

Indica eV2 – India’s Most Fuel Efficient Car

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...com%2Fforum%2F

~ Chevrolet Spark ~




+ Good city hatch
+ Fuel efficiency
+ LPG option available

- Cramped cabin
- A little long in the tooth now

Website :

Chevrolet Spark Car India, New Spark Car 2012, Small Cars India - Chevrolet India

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...com%2Fforum%2F

~ Maruti Estilo ~




+ Spacious cabin
+ Zippy in town
+ CNG option available

- A bit too fragile
- Wagon R seems to be a better option

Website :

http://www.marutisuzukiestilo.com/

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...com%2Fforum%2F

~ Maruti Wagon R ~




+ Better road manners, especially urban ride quality
+ Improved interior space
+ Precise gear shifts, unlike the previously lousy quality
+ Optional ABS & Dual Airbags on the VXi variant
+ Maruti's stellar after-sales quality & network

- Higher NVH levels, inherent to 3 cylinder engines. Average low rpm throttle response
- Iffy build & interior part quality
- Smaller boot compared to the outgoing gen. 180L capacity
- Looks are not as contemporary as other recent launches

Website :

Maruti WagonR

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...com%2Fforum%2F

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Hyundai i10 ~





+ Best-in-class interior fit, finish and quality
+ Refined 1.2L petrol is a sprightly performer. Variable valve timing tech too
+ Light clutch, gearbox & steering. Incredibly easy to drive
+ Hyundai’s excellent after-sales service quality
+ A/T option available
+ LPG option available with 1.1 engine

- Unsettled ride on less-than-perfect roads. Rear (especially) gets bouncy
- Narrow width makes it a strict 4 seater. Unwelcome 5th adult
- Missing goodies (No climate control, alloy wheels, dead pedal or adjustable front neck restraints)
- Severely under-tyred. An upgrade to 175/70 R13 is highly recommended
- No diesel variant available yet. Most competitors offer the oil-burner option

Website :

http://www.hyundai.com/in/en/Showroo...313114302.html

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...com%2Fforum%2F

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Maruti A-star ~




+ Surefooted Handling and Stability
+ Unfazed over potholes
+ Nippy Steering
+ Very Comfortable in the front for 6 footers
+ Great entry point for automatics is priced less than Rs 4.4 Lakhs
+ Peppy engine

- Bumpy ride at rear, appalling space if you have legs and luggage, rear visibility
- Autobox not suited for highway driving especially when you have slow moving traffic jumping in and out
- Gear ratios of A/T is poorly matched
- No engine braking
- Poor A/c

Website :

Maruti Suzuki A-Star: Stop at nothing with KB series Engine

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...com%2Fforum%2F

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...road-test.html

~ Chevrolet Beat ~




+ Available in LPG as well as diesel
+ Funky styling inside & out.
+ Light, easy to drive and chuckable
+ Compliant ride quality. No bumpiness
+ Well packaged interiors (for 4)
+ ARAI fuel efficiency topper
+ Chevy's 3 year service guarantee
+ Excellent urban driveability from the diesel engine. Effortless to drive within city
+ Vibrations surprisingly well-controlled for a 3 cylinder engine
+ Equipment levels identical to the petrol. Full safety kit (ABS & Airbags) available

What you won't:

- Unconventional styling isn't to everyone's taste
- Compact 170 liter boot. 50 - 60 liters smaller than competition
- Very dull dark-grey interior shade. No beige option either
- Horribly undertyred (155 mm width). An upgrade is a must
- Some goodies missing (keyless entry, driver seat height adjust, steering mounted controls)
- Small rear window creates a claustrophobic ambience at the back
- Diesel Motor lacks top-end punch. Not a sprightly highway performer at all. Gruff engine note at higher rpms

Website :

Chevrolet Beat Hatchback Car India, 2012 Chevy Beat Petrol LPG, New Beat Car - Chevrolet India

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...com%2Fforum%2F

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

[raj_5004]

************************************************** ******************************************

~ Ford Figo ~




+ Interiors more comfortable than chief competitors i10 & Swift
+ 1.4 Diesel's proven driveability and fuel efficiency. No turbolag
+ Mature big-car-like ride quality
+ Ford's DNA in the on-road behaviour and quick steering
+ Class-topping 284 liter boot space

- Lacks the modernity of recently launched hatchbacks
- Both of the engines in the Figo are lacking in outright performance. Neither engine can exploit the car's dynamics
- No true top-end variant (tilt adjustable steering, rear power windows, MID etc.)
- Average backseat legroom.
- Ford's sub-par dealership experience

Website :

Ford India Private Limited - Ford Figo 2011 & 2012 | Review price & features

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...=0&q=ford+figo

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...-pictures.html

~ Tata Indica Vista ~




+ Variety of engine options (Tdi, Quadrajet, Safire65, Safire90). Take your pick!
+ New interiors look and feel much better in terms of overall quality
+ Improved gearbox, light clutch and light steering make for effortless city driving
+ Spacious interiors. Roomiest in the segment; beats some sedans from 2 segments up
+ Absorbent, comfortable ride quality
+ Powerful, free revving engine. Great sounding note at high rpm too (Vista90)

- Fit and finish need improvement. Exterior panel gaps are inconsistent too
- Soft suspension setup. Best driven sedately
- Centrally-mounted instrument cluster takes some getting used to
- Niggling issues & irritants persist (as reported by existing Vista owners)
- Tata’s after-sales-service remains a gamble

Website :

The New Tata Indica Vista EV
Vista | Sedan Class | High Bandwidth & Low Bandwidth

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Honda Brio ~




+ Entertaining performance, sweet i-VTEC engine & healthy power-to-weight ratio
+ High quality interiors for the segment
+ Light controls, slick gearshift and easy maneuverability for in-city commuting
+ Honda reliability & fuss-free ownership experience

- Equipment list lacks rear defogger, CD player & driver seat height adjustment
- Basic, unsettled ride quality on imperfect roads. Gets choppy on uneven highways
- Small 175 liter boot
- Ordinary space for back seat passengers. Rear seat-back too short
- Quirky rear-end styling is a hit or miss

Website :

Honda Brio Tvc|Honda Brio

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Maruti Ritz ~




+ Practicality
+ Well-packaged interiors
+ Outstanding petrol & diesel engines
+ Composed handling for a tall boy
+ Maruti’s after-sales service

- Weird rear styling can be a deal breaker
- Ride quality at low speeds is bumpy
- Interior part quality isn't as good as the Hyundais

Website :

www.marutisuzukiritz.com

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Chevrolet Aveo U-VA ~




+ Spacious cabin
+ Ride quality

- Outdated now
- Chevy's A.S.S.
- No diesel option

Website :

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA India, Chevrolet Aveo UVA Cars, Chevy UVA 2012 - Chevrolet India

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

~ Nissan Micra ~




+ Cheeky styling.
+ Quality, well-designed, interiors
+ Driver airbag standard across the range (including base variant)
+ Diesel engine offers stunning driveability. Fuel efficient as well
+ Compliant ride quality. Suspension tuned for comfort
+ Gizmos : Keyless entry & go, engine start / stop button, electric folding mirrors, climate control

- Ordinary three-cylinder petrol engine. Dull to drive
- ABS brakes removed from the diesel Micra
- Inexistent under-thigh support from the rear seat
- Quirky design may not be to your taste
- The wafer-thin dealer network
- Nissan's cost of ownership is yet uncharted territory

Website :

Nissan Micra

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Toyota Liva ~




+ Spacious interiors can easily carry 5 adults
+ Super light controls, especially steering & short-throw clutch. Effortless to drive within the city
+ Well-tuned suspension. Safe handling and flat ride
+ Safety package (Airbags, ABS & EBD) optional on middle variant too
+ Toyota’s fuss-free ownership experience & excellent after-sales
+ Modern diesel engine with minimal turbo lag and excellent driveability

- 1.2L engine lacks bottom end; isn't a class-topper like the Etios 1.5 (from which it is derived)
- Cost-cutting glaringly obvious in many areas
- Economy-grade interior quality & unconventional dashboard
- Missing equipment (climate control, height adjustable driver's seat etc.)
- Poor insulation. Engine, suspension & road noise are prominent
- Diesel clatter above 3,000 rpm can get very intrusive
- Diesel engine doesn’t like to be revved beyond 3,500 rpm

Website :

Toyota - Etios Liva - Q Class Hatch

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Skoda Fabia ~




+ Spacious cabin
+ Ride quality
+ Good quality interiors

- Skoda A.S.S.
- 3 cylinder diesel engine

Website :

Skoda Fabia India - Features, Photos and Prices

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

~ Fiat Punto ~




+ Stunning design.
+ Solid build quality
+ Fuel efficient diesel
+ Mature & superb ride quality
+ Outstanding high speed dynamics.
+ Perfectly calibrated & weighted power steering.
+ 5 star safety, ABS & airbags (even on the diesel variant)

- Rear bench space. Cosy interiors by big hatch standards. Not an Indica Vista
- Interior fit, finish and quality are strictly average
- Low FE of the petrol
- Engine noise at speed (petrol and diesel both)
- Service network not a match of say, Maruti or Hyundai

Website :

Fiat India

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Volkswagen Polo ~




+ A well-built solid European hatchback
+ "Big car like" ride quality. Suspension setup ideal for Indian roads
+ Neutral handling & mature road behaviour
+ Fuel efficient range of engines
+ 280 liter boot. Figo-like & substantially larger than direct competition

- Commuter 3-cylinder engines.
- Some niceties missing. Climate control, USB / AUX audio input, etc.
- Ordinary rear bench legroom.
- Thin dealership network
- VW's cost of ownership

Website :

Gallery < Polo < Models < Welcome to Volkswagen India

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

[raj_5004]

************************************************** **********************************

~ Hyundai i20 ~




+ Improved Air conditioning and marginally stiffer suspension
+ Packed with gizmos and equipment akin to high end luxury sedans
+ Best in class diesel engine refinement and straight line acceleration
+ Wide variety of engine, transmission options and variants catering to all target groups
+ Hyundai's wide spread after sales service network

- Artificial steering feel and clunky rear suspension
- Petrol motor feels sluggish and underpowered on open road
- Driveability in diesel just about average
- Costly mid and high end diesel variants
- Hyundai's expensive maintenance costs and dwindling after sales service quality

(Credit : Our member 'sidindica')

Website :

http://www.hyundai.com/in/en/showroo...313131438.html

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Test drive and review by member 'sidindica':

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ve-review.html

~ Maruti Swift ~




+ Snazzy styling packs appeal. Interiors are well-designed too
+ Competent engine range. Very refined motors
+ Balanced ride and handling. Superbly tuned suspension
+ Terrific fuel efficiency, especially from the diesel
+ Effortless to drive in the city; lots of fun on the highway
+ Maruti’s excellent after-sales service & wide dealer network

- Small, impractical boot. Luggage capacity is severely restricted
- Mediocre brakes (LXi / LDi & VXi / VDi). Inadequate for emergency braking conditions
- Looks nearly identical to the outgoing generation car
- Rear seat space, though improved, still isn't "spacious"
- Pricey ZXi / ZDi variants. Also, ABS no longer an option on the middle “V” variants
- Long waiting period for delivery.

Website :

Maruti Suzuki swift car

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Honda Jazz ~




+ Premium build & quality
+ Extremely spacious interiors
+ Fuel efficient, revv happy engine
+ Flexible storage solution (magic seats)
+ Light & easy to drive. An excellent city car

- Ride quality has stiff edge at low speeds
- Low rpm torque delivery is weak
- Poor level of equipment

Website :

Honda Jazz|Honda Jazz India|Honda Jazz Price|Buy Honda Jazz|Honda Jazz Car|Honda Jazz Specifications

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

Official test drive & review:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offici...ve-review.html

~ Renault Pulse ~




+ A better alternative to Micra
+ Space

- Renault's A.S.S.
- Resale value

Website :

Renault - HOME

Team-BHP Links:

http://www.team-bhp.com/web/search.p...m%2Fusercp.php

[raj_5004]

Please find the excel sheet attached with this post. There are 2 excel sheets. Both are the same, just in different formats.

Cheapest diesel hatch - Tata Indica diesel
Most expensive diesel hatch - Hyundai i20

Cheapest petrol hatch - Tata Nano
Most expensive petrol hatch - Honda Jazz

Most powerful petrol hatch - Skoda Fabia 1.6 and Volkswagen Polo 1.6 (105 bhp)
Most powerful diesel hatch - Fiat Punto 90hp and Hyundai i20 (90 bhp)

Least powerful petrol hatch - Tata Nano (37.4 bhp)
Least powerful diesel hatch - Chevrolet Beat (58.5 bhp)

Lightest petrol hatch - Tata Nano (635 kgs)
Heaviest petrol hatch - Fiat Punto (1090 kgs)

Lightest diesel hatch - Toyota Liva (980 kgs)
Heaviest diesel hatch - Skoda Fabia (1644 kgs)

Best acceleration (0-100 kmph) among petrol hatches - Polo 1.6 (11.62 secs)
Slowest acceleration (0-100 kmph) among petrol hatches - Tata Nano (26.83 secs)

Best acceleration (0-100 kmph) among diesel hatches - Hyundai i20 (13 secs)
Slowest acceleration (0-100 kmph) among diesel hatches - Chevrolet Beat (18.59 secs)

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Indian Car Scene. Thanks for sharing!

[StarrySky]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

Heaviest diesel hatch - Skoda Fabia (1644 kgs)

Is that the gross vehicle weight (including passengers+luggage)? Otherwise, I think the figure should be in the 1000-1200 range.

[ani_meher]

Terrific compilation! Very useful for any Hatchback buyer. Thanks for compiling.

One suggestion: In the Least powerful hatch section, actually the ccs of the cars are lesser than other competitors. Can we compare power per ton or something rather than comparing bhps straightaway?

Also, if possible please add the highest ARAI mileage too.

[KarthikK]

Wonderful article to have, thanks raj_5004. This lists the pros and cons of almost everything in the hatchback market, and should serve as a ready reference to anyone looking for this information.

As a suggestion, could we include 3 more hatches available in India today, although they are iconic ones in a different budget segment, it would be good to have them also listed in the same thread (considering the thread is for all hatchbacks in India) - Fiat 500, Volkswagen Beetle and the Mini Cooper

Originally Posted by StarrySky

Is that the gross vehicle weight (including passengers+luggage)? Otherwise, I think the figure should be in the 1000-1200 range.

+1. Just checked the Skoda website. It looks like raj pasted the gross weight by mistake instead of kerb weight . It should be 1152kg for the Fabia 1.2 TDI.

Originally Posted by ani_meher

Can we compare power per ton or something rather than comparing bhps straightaway?

+1. How about including a comparo on power to weight ratio, if possible torque to weight ratio as well. Also useful would be the in-gear acceleration timings such as for 20-80kmph in 3rd gear or 40-100kmph in 4th gear. This would give an idea about the peppiness quotient for in-city commuting.

[motomaverick]

Ahh! Raj you are at it again, just love your compilations. Great work once again, though can Nano be really a Hatch because the rear door does not open and I guess for power comparisons its better to compare bhp/ton as that would translate to real world scenarios.

[raj_5004]

Dear friends, I have taken utmost care to see that the thread is free from mistakes, but please do point out the errors so that I can get it rectified.

Originally Posted by StarrySky

Is that the gross vehicle weight (including passengers+luggage)? Otherwise, I think the figure should be in the 1000-1200 range.

Originally Posted by KarthikK

+1. Just checked the Skoda website. It looks like raj pasted the gross weight by mistake instead of kerb weight . It should be 1152kg for the Fabia 1.2 TDI.

Thank you friends. All figures have been taken from ACI and it mentions the kerb weight as 1644 kgs for the diesel Fabia. I will still check this.

As a suggestion, could we include 3 more hatches available in India today, although they are iconic ones in a different budget segment, it would be good to have them also listed in the same thread (considering the thread is for all hatchbacks in India) - Fiat 500, Volkswagen Beetle and the Mini Cooper

As mentioned in my comparo, I have not included hatches costing above 10 Lacs as they belong to a niche segment. We dont have much information or reviews about it on this forum.

+1. How about including a comparo on power to weight ratio, if possible torque to weight ratio as well. Also useful would be the in-gear acceleration timings such as for 20-80kmph in 3rd gear or 40-100kmph in 4th gear. This would give an idea about the peppiness quotient for in-city commuting.

Nice suggestion. Thanks. I'll surely add this.

Originally Posted by ani_meher

Also, if possible please add the highest ARAI mileage too.

I did consider this, but ARAI figures are not publicized openly by every manufacturer. That is the reason I avoided that.

Originally Posted by motomaverick

Ahh! Raj you are at it again, just love your compilations. Great work once again, though can Nano be really a Hatch because the rear door does not open and I guess for power comparisons its better to compare bhp/ton as that would translate to real world scenarios.

Thank you buddy.

The power figures are just for comparison's sake. That is the reason I have added the 0-100 kmph to judge the actual real world performance.

[Abhi_abarth]

Excellent thread and thank you Raj_5004. Has all the information on the hatch backs with the pros & cons one would need to research for their buy.

This has come at the right time for me as I am planning for a hatch. Thanks to yesterday's fuel hike shock my mind is toggling between Petrol & diesel options.

Thank you

[car.lover]

Very nice compilation -definitely useful for both new car buyers as well as keen observers of the industry. Thanks for putting it together Raj.
With petrol prices going the way they are, expect more diesel offerings to come into the market

[carfreak]

Can anyone help me in which hatch among these have the best rear seats:
1)Tata Vista
2)Ford Figo
3)Toyota liva
4)Volkswagen polo

Please rate from the best to the worst, in that order!!

Thank you very much!!

[wolf_lone]

My query is that has the gear box in Alto + Alto K10 changed from the earlier Alto LX (2005). I own the 2005 model & really unsatisfied by it.

What exactly the rubbery feel mean here.