[GTO]

It's time to look back at the year and cast your vote for The Team-BHP Car of the Year. This is where YOU the BHPian will choose the car of 2013.

Listed below are the launches of 2013. Also included are some relevant high-points on each car, along with the market's response to it.

NOTE:

• The contenders have been sorted in price-ascending order (cheapest first).
• It's only NEW cars that are included in our COTY award. That excludes the "refreshed" headlamp & tail-light versions, facelifts and engine variants.
• This is a public poll. Other BHPians will be able to see what car you have voted for.
• Models costing over 50 lakh rupees, and many fully-imported-cars (CBUs), have been excluded from our COTY. Reason = Low relevance & commitment to the marketplace.
• Link to our 2012 COTY.
• As has always been the case, we insist there will be only ONE Team-BHP Car of the Year. Why? Simply because we don't believe in handing out an award for the "door of the year" or "best sunroof of the year" (as examples). Some award ceremonies have 20 awards to ensure there's one for each car manufacturer (aka advertiser) in India. We have no such inclination, and will only focus on the best, most important new car of 2013.

Look forward to your votes, and also the reasoning behind your choice. Thanks!

EDIT on 26th December, 2013:

Originally Posted by GTO

Garnering over a whopping 50% of BHPian votes, the Ford EcoSport is the undisputed champion of 2013...and the Team-BHP Car of the Year. Well deserved, I say!

Ford is also the only manufacturer to win the Team-BHP COTY twice (Figo took the crown in 2010).

[GTO]

Hyundai Grand i10 : Official Review



What you'll like:
• All-rounded package in a contemporary design. Improved over the old i10 in nearly every way
• Interiors have best-in-class fit, finish & quality. Increased cabin space & boot capacity
• Fuel-efficient, practical diesel & peppy petrol. Smooth gearbox too
• Loaded with features (keyless start & go, electric folding ORVMs, rear air-con, cooled glovebox etc.)
• Comfortable ride quality and predictable handling. No bumpiness
• Hyundai's fussfree ownership experience & excellent after-sales service
• Priced lower than chief competitor, the Maruti Swift

What you won't:
• 1.1L diesel lacks the top-end punch of competition. Ordinary highway performance
• Missing climate control, adjustable front neck restraints and dead pedal
• The Swift and Brio are more fun to drive. Grand i10's steering & dynamics aren't to an enthusiast's tastes
• Rear defogger, ABS & Airbags only on Asta trim level. Should have been optional with the middle variant
• More suited as a 4 seater, rather than 5
• Diesel Automatic remains elusive

Market Response: Success

[GTO]

Chevrolet Sail (Sedan)



Not officially reviewed : Launch Thread

Market Response: Borderline Flop

[GTO]

Honda Amaze : Official Review



What you'll like:
• An all-rounded compact sedan that does most things well
• Packaging brilliance. Roomier backseat than the Dzire, and a larger 400 Liter boot
• 1.5L i-DTEC engine offers segment-best power & performance. Excellent driveability too
• Diesel's 25.8 kpl fuel economy rating is the highest of any car sold in India
• Light controls, slick gearshift and easy maneuverability for in-city commuting. AT gearbox available
• Honda's reliability & fuss-free ownership experience

What you won't:
• Diesel's NVH is a full level poorer than the refined Maruti Dzire
• Brio's unconventional dashboard is too basic for this class of car
• Not as dynamically accomplished as the Ford Fiesta Classic, Toyota Etios and others
• Diesel isn't as high-rpm friendly as the 1.3L MJD
• Many practical features missing (climate control, seat-belt height adjustment, adjustable neck restraints, auto-locking doors, full MID, folding rear seat etc.)

Market Response: Success

[GTO]

Chevrolet Enjoy : Official Review



What you'll like:
• A well priced 7-seater MPV. Priced on par with C segment sedans
• Compliant low speed ride, matched to neutral on-road behaviour
• 1.3L diesel offers excellent urban driveability and fuel economy
• Compact size & light controls make it easy to drive in the city
• Equipment list includes leather seats, dual-airbags, ABS, EBD, dual air-con, parking sensors etc.

What you won't:
• Not as well-rounded as the Ertiga. Several loose ends that need tying up
• Uninspired interior design. Ordinary part quality too
• Poor NVH insulation. Refinement levels miss the mark
• Underwhelming 1.4L petrol. Weak low end torque
• Missing essentials (MID, dead pedal, steering-mounted controls, tumble-down 2nd row seats etc.)

Market Response: Average

[GTO]

Mahindra Verito Vibe : Official Review



What you'll like:
• Robust build that has proven its reliability with the Logan / Verito
• Lots of interior space. Wide cabin easily seats 3 adults on the rear bench
• The frugal 1.5L Renault K9K engine has excellent driveability on tap
• A comfortable and balanced ride that soaks up bumps with ease
• Mahindra's low cost of ownership

What you won't:
• Boxy and dated design has been made more awkward at the rear
• Low on horsepower when compared to competitors, even hatchbacks
• Bare basic interior design and quality. Questionable ergonomics too
• Heavy steering means maneuvering in the city takes significant effort
• Deep penetration in the taxi segment makes personal buyers flinch

Market Response: Flop

[GTO]

Ford EcoSport : Official Review



What you'll like:
• Snazzy, futuristic styling makes the EcoSport a head-turner. Solid construction too
• 3 engine options, including the impressive 1.0L EcoBoost & economical 1.5L Diesel
• Loaded to the gills with technology & equipment (SYNC, keyless entry & go, cooled glovebox, leather seats, parking display...)
• Smartly packaged interior. Adequate space for 4 adults. Lots of storage and practical features
• Dynamically sorted. Competent handling by SUV standards
• City-friendly! Great ergonomics, driving position, manoeuvrability and size for urban India
• Safety kit includes 6 Airbags, ABS + EBD, Emergency assistance phone call, Emergency brake warning etc. AT variant gets ESP and Hill-Hold

What you won't:
• Hyundai-esque light electric steering on the Highway
• Ride quality isn't as plush as that of the Renault Duster. Underlying stiffness obvious
• 362 liter boot is significantly smaller than all competitors
• Narrow cabin width makes a 5th occupant unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• Sub-4 meter size and compact dimensions take street cred away
• Tree trunk thick A-Pillars result in severe blind spots
• EcoBoost only on top variant. No high-powered diesel like the Duster 110PS

Market Response: Success

[GTO]

Force Gurkha



Not officially reviewed : Launch Thread

Market Response: Flop

[GTO]

Mahindra e2o : Official Review



What you'll like:
• Help save the planet. Zero tailpipe emissions and smaller carbon footprint
• 'Auto box' & quick start-off are an absolute pleasure in stop & go traffic
• Tech-dream: GPS, reverse camera, feature laden head-unit, smart phone integration
• Cute size is a boon when finding parking and maneuvering in the city
• Interior fit and finish are a leap ahead of the Reva-i & bring it on par with today's hatchbacks
• ABS body panels are dent resistant and less prone to ugly scratches

What you won't:
• High price outside of Delhi results in negligible overall cost savings
• Limited battery range makes you think twice about every journey
• 83 km/h top speed & sub-par dynamics make it unsuitable for the highway
• Only 2 doors; inconvenient as a family car
• Brakes have an unpredictable and sudden bite to them
• Lack of power-steering makes parking difficult. Bad news for a city runabout

Market Response: Flop

[GTO]

Isuzu D-Max



Not officially reviewed : Launch Thread

Market Response: Currently available in Coimbatore & Hyderabad. Not yet launched across India

[GTO]

Ashok Leyland Stile : Official Review



What you’ll like:
• An ideal people-mover for the commercial & taxi segments
• Base variant is priced 1.3 lakhs lower than the Evalia. Smarter looking face too
• Fuel efficient 1.5L diesel motor is a proven workhorse
• Light steering, gearbox and tight turning radius. Easily driveable within the city
• Balanced road manners and predictable handling
• Middle-row captain seats are very comfortable

What you won’t:
• Sliding rear doors & tiny windows for backseat passengers
• Bare basic trim levels. Frugal engineering results in a laundry list of missing features
• No safety kit (ABS / Airbags) offered on any variant
• Clattery DCi engine is noisier in this application
• 3rd seat row doesn't entirely fold away, thereby limiting cargo flexibility
• Fleet-oriented LCV dealership network. Located mainly on the outskirts of metro cities

Market Response: Just launched. Too early to gauge

[GTO]

Nissan Terrano : Official Review



What you’ll like:
• Great styling! Looks better than its cousin, the Duster
• Robust, abuse-friendly build & construction
• Outstanding ride quality. Comfortable over any kind of road
• Car-like to drive. Balanced handling and dynamics
• Fuel efficient 1.5L diesel engines with adequate power on tap
• Practical boot (475 - 1064 liters of cargo capacity)
• 205mm ground clearance. Dismisses broken roads with aplomb

What you won’t:
• More expensive than the already pricey Duster! Terrano 110 sits too close to the bigger XUV500
• Cost cutting glaringly evident on the inside. Weird ergonomics as well
• 109 BHP diesel has noticeable turbo lag below 2,000 rpm. 1.6L Petrol is uninspiring
• Mediocre rear seat legroom. More like C1 segment sedans than C2
• No 3rd row of seats. A 5 seater SUV, unlike its many 7 seater competitors
• Missing equipment (climate control, steering audio controls, 60:40 split on rear seat, dead pedal etc.)
• Nissan's sub-par dealer & after sales service network

Market Response: Just launched. Too early to gauge, although the initial two months (~3,000 average) have been great

[GTO]

Skoda Octavia : Official Review



What you'll like:
• Classic European styling & build. Premium quality inside out
• Wide engine range: Adequate 1.4L TSI, economical 2.0L diesel and explosive 1.8L TSI
• Smooth, high-tech DSG. Lightning quick upshifts
• Enhanced cabin room & spacious rear seat. Cavernous 590 liter boot as well
• Loaded with features (panoramic sunroof, electric seats with memory, bi-xenon lights etc.)
• Middle Ambition variant is well-equipped. Has a Diesel Automatic available too
• 5 star NCAP rating. Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ABS + EBD, ESP, EDL and more

What you won't:
• 2.0L diesel & 1.4L petrol get an inferior (torsion beam) rear suspension
• 1.4L TSI has prominent turbo lag at low rpms
• Some niceties missing (paddle shifters, smart keyless entry & go, alloy wheel spare)
• 1.8L TSI isn't offered with a manual transmission for the purists
• Unusually tall floor hump makes things uncomfortable for the 5th occupant
• Long term reliability concerns over the DSG automatic
• Skoda’s ill-famed after sales service & dealer network

Market Response: Just launched. Too early to gauge, although the initial two months have been good

Honda CR-V : Official Review



What you’ll like:
• Locally built and thus, better priced (than the earlier CBU version)
• Car-like driving dynamics. Rides & handles like a sedan
• Spacious interiors. Accommodating boot too
• User-friendly nature. Also, very light & easy to pilot in the city
• Topnotch safety - ABS, EBD, 6 Airbags, all-round disc brakes etc.
• Honda's reliability & ownership experience

What you won’t:
• A petrol-only SUV. No diesel option. Thus, lower resale & higher running costs
• Bulky rear end styling. Looks quirky from some angles
• EPS steering stays light at highway speeds. The previous-gen's hydraulic steering is history
• 5-Speed AT has slow shift & response times
• Prominent road & wind noise
• No third row of seats (like the Outlander, Fortuner and other 7-seater SUVs)

Market Response: Average

[GTO]

BMW 1-Series



Not officially reviewed : Launch Thread

Mercedes A-Class : Official Review



What you'll like:
• Luxury status in a compact package. An über-premium urban hatchback
• Eye-catching styling with the diamond grille & big wheels. Appeals to the younger generation
• A proper Mercedes on the inside. Top-notch interior quality
• 7-speed automatic transmission is extremely smooth. Paddle shifters too
• An assortment of features (Panoramic sunroof, bi-xenon headlamps, memory seat etc.)
• 5 star NCAP safety rating. 7 airbags, ESP, ABS, attention assist & more

What you won't:
• CBU pricing & taxes take the on-road price to ~26 lakhs
• Not as fast as it looks. Unexciting engines deliver power similar to C-segment sedans
• Transmission isn't as quick to shift as a dual-clutch ought to be
• Only for the self-driven. Limited rear headroom, 5th occupant unwelcome
• Parking sensors & reverse camera missing. A sore point given the poor rearward visibility
• Taut ride further compromised by 17” rims on broken roads

[GTO]

Isuzu MU-7



Not officially reviewed : Launch Thread

Volvo V40 Cross Country



Not officially reviewed : Launch Thread