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Old 10th November 2023, 14:38   #1
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2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India

There are cars and then, there are cars. As BHPians, we aren't looking at a mere mode of transportation from point A -> point B. To us, the journey is as important as the destination...be it that simple early morning drive in the city, or the pleasurable 1000 km road trip with our families.

Good thing is, the vibrant Indian market offers petrolheads a wide variety of fun-to-drive cars. Turbo-charged petrols and EVs have spiced up the game too. And if you thought you need to spend big bucks to have fun, think again. Excellent options are available at each & every price point.

Best part is, most of these rides will keep the driver as well as the family man in you happy. After all, the car of a typical Indian household just has to be a multi-tasker (ghat cornering on Sunday, work on Monday, kids to football ground on Wednesday, late-night revving on Friday, visit in-laws on Saturday, breakfast run with BHPians on Sunday morning).

Listed below, in no particular order, are the best enthusiast cars on sale today. Only those with a price tag of ~75 lakhs & under have been included, to keep the line-up relevant to gearheads.

Each of these cars will bring a smile to your face (*guaranteed*) in their own special way, every time you head out for a drive ! What's more, if you wish to enhance the driving experience, they are modification-friendly too.

Last edited by Omkar : 10th November 2023 at 14:51.
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Old 10th November 2023, 14:38   #2
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BMW M340i xDrive


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-img_7411-conv.jpeg

What's hot: Ferocious 6-cylinder turbo-petrol motor with 382 BHP on tap! Lives for 7,000 rpm, all-wheel-drive gives the BMW M340i leech-like grip & solid stability levels, sporty and well-tuned exhaust note is addictive at high revs, ZF 8-speed AT is the best gearbox in the segment...fast & smooth, 0 – 100 in 4.4 seconds with 4-door everyday practicality...go touring with the family, lovely cabin, premium build, very supportive seats & a fab driving position, BMW’s strong track record for reliability (among the luxury marques), 5-star NCAP rating, awesome brakes & a laundry list of safety equipment

What's not: Ride is much firmer than a regular 3-Series...liveable, but you feel everything on the road, sad boot space with a spare wheel, we don’t like the radiator grille, rear floor hump is enormous! The car is better as a 4-seater than 5, your fuel costs will be a lot higher than say, a 530d, runflat tyres come with many compromises...wear out soon & are expensive to replace, we hate the all-digital instrument console...also, the rev counter is weirdly inverted, some irritants such as w-i-d-e 6-meter turning radius & annoying speed warnings

Official Review

Ownership Report

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:38   #3
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Citroen C3 1.2L Turbo-Petrol (you'll be surprised!)




What's hot: Striking design! Very funky, yet likeable at the same time, good-looking cabin that is practical too, fast 1.2L turbo-petrol is genuinely fun-to-drive, 6-speed MT is slick and light to operate...definitely one of the better gearboxes in the segment, sorted suspension offers a very good ride & handling package, compact size and light controls are perfect for the urban environment, 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay is excellent to use, lots of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique

What's not: No automatic transmission on offer, quality of cabin materials doesn't feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas, some ergonomic issues like the placement of rear power window switches, unusable rear headrest, cabin width makes the interiors suitable for 4 adults...not 5, missing features like electric ORVM adjustment, climate control, and tachometer! long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is tiny

Official Review

Last edited by GTO : 13th November 2023 at 11:05.
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Old 10th November 2023, 14:38   #4
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The Hyundai N lines



i20 N Line


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-dsc00485.jpg

What's hot: Aggressive styling with distinctive touches that set it apart from the garden-variety i20, punchy 1.0 turbo-petrol motor with 118 BHP on tap, firm yet compliant suspension coupled with a weighted steering + paddle shifters + fruity exhaust note, tasteful N Line-exclusive steering wheel, gear selector, red accents etc. liven up the interior, feature-rich equipment list includes cruise control, LED projectors, voice-activated sunroof, wireless charging & more, spacious cabin with a 311-liter boot makes this a practical yet fun-to-drive car, price premium over the regular i20 is totally justified by the additions & improvements, safety kit = ESP, 6 airbags, rear disc brakes, Blue Link SOS, Hill Assist…

What's not: Although well-priced in relation to the i20 Asta variant, it is still an expensive hatchback, 1.0L DCT variant shows initial lag...even otherwise, it’s not as explosive as VW’s 1.0 Turbo, some misses such as auto wipers, split folding rear seats, you absolutely need a tyre upgrade...the OEM rubber gives up easily, this 3rd-gen i20’s styling can be polarizing, unlike the more neutral previous generation cars, dual-clutch ATs have had a troubled reliability record in India, more of a warmed-up hatchback in terms of power & handling, rather than a “hot hatch”

Official Review

Venue N Line



What's hot: Aggressive styling and distinctive touches set it apart from the regular Venue, punchy 1.0L turbo-petrol motor with 118 BHP mated to a fast shifting dual-clutch AT, firm yet compliant suspension coupled with weighted steering + paddle shifters + fruity exhaust note that make the Venue N Line a fun little package, tasteful N Line-exclusive touches liven up the otherwise drab interior, feature-rich equipment list includes 4-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, auto-dimming IRVM, cabin air purifier, BlueLink telematics, Home to car (H2C) with Alexa / Google Voice assistant, voice-activated sunroof, wireless charging & more, price premium over the regular Venue is totally justified by the additions & improvements, safety kit = ESP, 6 airbags, rear disc brakes, Blue Link SOS, Hill Assist, factory-fitted dual camera dash-cam, Hyundai's wide & competent after-sales network

What's not: More of a warmed-up compact crossover than a proper hot crossover, 1.0L DCT variant shows initial lag...even otherwise, it’s not as explosive as VW’s 1.0 TSI, handling is not as confidence-inspiring as one would expect from a "hot" crossover...tyre upgrade is mandatory! The OEM rubber gives up easily, diminutive street presence...looks more hatchback than SUV from some angles, especially the rear, strictly a 4-seater; the rear bench has very awkward seating for the middle occupant, no manual transmission even as an option! Long term reliability of the DCT is a concern, missing kit (auto wipers, steering reach adjustment...)

Official Review

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:39   #5
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Fast Sedans



BMW 330Li


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-bmw330liclci.jpg

What's hot: Just the right size for a luxury sedan in India, punchy rev-happy engine & well-tuned gearbox deliver superb performance, a great combination of ride and handling; just how a 3 Series should be, big step up in interior quality & design (from the F30), loaded with tech, stylish speedometer & more...iDrive 7 is nice to use

What's not: Sad boot space with the spare wheel underneath, pricing is stiff for some variants, fake engine noise piped in; tad too fake for our tastes

Official Review

Mercedes C300d AMG Line


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-c300damgline.jpg

What's hot: Powerful engine with a 0 - 100 time of ~6 seconds, lovely 9-speed gearbox, AMG Line body kit looks hot, suspension offers the perfect ride & handling balance for India

What's not: Very expensive, spare tyre placed on the boot floor chews into cargo space, some missing features

Test drive report

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:39   #6
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Mahindra XUV300 TurboSport


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-mahindra-turbo-petrol.jpg

What's hot: Punchy turbo-petrol engine with 129 BHP and 230 Nm mated to a 6-speed MT, a truly premium crossover...nice build, quality & refinement levels, great looking! Smart design has none of the usual Mahindra quirkiness, cabin has enough space for 5, quality-wise, the interior is more like a Hyundai, a compliant ride with neutral road manners, 5-star NCAP rating & kit...6 airbags, ESP, ABS, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS, seatbelt reminders for all & more

What's not: Not overpriced, but definitely higher than expected, 257-liter boot is the smallest in the segment. There are cheaper hatchbacks which have a larger boot, no automatic offered on the TurboSport variant, Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss...remains a gamble, some important features missing (dead pedal, parcel tray, rear air-con, steering reach adjustment, etc.)

Ownership Review

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:39   #7
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The 4x4 Offroaders



Maruti Jimny


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-whatsapp-image-20230918-13.24.10.jpeg

What's hot: Extremely stylish retro-modern SUV with loads of character... a total head-turner that’s available in very interesting colours, build quality is more solid than you’d expect of a Maruti...even the interiors feel hard-wearing (note: plastic quality is nothing to write home about), an agile mountain goat! 4x4 with low range, satisfactory all-round visibility, 210 mm GC, good wheel articulation and excellent approach, departure & break-over angles make it a potent offroader, compact size & lighter kerb weight (than the Thar & Gurkha) bring advantages off-the-road and on it (in urban confines), stylish interiors with good space utilization for 4 adults, 4 doors make it more practical & family-friendly than the competing 2-door offroaders, smooth torque-converter automatic transmission available, you can expect lots of modification & customization options, as is the case internationally...go out & personalize your Jimny! Features such as the hard top, tinted green glasses, near-flat reclining front seats, LED auto headlamps with washers, rear wash & wipe, cruise control, 9-inch touchscreen HU, safety kit includes 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, ESP, brake-based limited slip differential, traction control, hill hold / descent control and ISOFIX mounts, Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences

What's not: Small size doesn’t give it the presence of a Thar or Gurkha, unexciting 1.5L petrol engine with merely 103 BHP and 134 Nm...don’t expect Maruti-esque fuel economy either (we saw high single-digit FE in our test-drive of the MT variant), notchy 5-speed MT with a heavy clutch pedal...MT owners will find the footwell to be cramped, firm steering requires effort to operate...vague on-road behaviour, weak return-to-centre action and wide 5.7 m turning radius, just a 4-seater (even legally)...not being able to carry 5 limits family-wise practicality, imperfect ride quality...don’t expect road manners like a monocoque crossover, yet it is superior to the Thar’s bumpy ride, 4-speed AT feels very old and outdated (has an “OD” button like in the ‘90s!)...that being said, the gearbox has smooth shifts & proven reliability, missing features such as a sunroof, DRLs, rear A/C vents, auto wipers, TPMS, driver's seat height & lumbar adjustment, steering reach adjustment, auto-dimming IRVM, dead pedal, boot space is just 208-liters; however, it is useable and more accommodating than the Thar’s...disappointingly, the Jimny’s cabin has very few storage options & cubicles, no soft-top convertible or 2-door options available...forget about the joy of open-top cruising, no diesel engine for those with high-running...the market still loves diesels in body-on-frame SUVs

Mahindra Thar


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-2023rushthar01.jpg

What's hot: Fun, fun, fun! A loveable car that will bring you loads of laughs & smiles, handsome Jeep styling & brute character, tough build too, far more user-friendly than the ol’ Thar due to superior interiors & the amenities, very competent, refined turbo-petrol & diesel engine range, butter-smooth 6-speed automatics available with both engines, 4x4 hardware, offroad capability & 226 mm GC, get ready for slush, muck, deserts, jungles & the mountains! Practical hard-top or fun convertible available in the Thar – take your pick, features such as removable doors, ESP, cruise control, hill hold / descent, TPMS

What's not: Very bumpy ride quality, the Thar is never settled, no matter what the road or speed, poor road manners at high speed, best to cruise at 100 - 110 km/h only, impractical due to the 2-doors, 4 seats (not 5) & difficult access to the back seat, laughably small boot simply isn’t enough for holiday luggage, petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 150 BHP & torque-converter AT, premium pricing for the higher variants, lot of money for the Thar's limited usability, sad feature list for a 17-lakh car, no reversing cam, auto-dimming IRVM, auto headlamps & wipers, electrically-folding ORVMs, rear wash & wipe, apprehensions of niggles & Mahindra's hit-or-miss after-sales service quality

Official Review

GTO's Thar Ownership Review

Force Gurkha


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-coffroad-cover.jpg

What's hot: A very competent and hardcore off-roader, ample low-end torque, better low-speed ride quality than other purpose-built off-roaders, decent bit of equipment...doesn't feel bare bones like before

What's not: Engine has a narrow powerband with a non-existent top-end, sub-par interior quality, after-sales service quality is unknown; dealer network is tiny too

Official Review

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:39   #8
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The Skoda-VW 1.5 Turbo-petrols



Virtus / Slavia


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-sedans.jpg

What's hot: 148 BHP engine makes the Virtus / Slavia among the most fun-to-drive sedans in the segment, sporty 1.5L turbo-petrol is mated to smooth DSG transmission & 6-speed MT, sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package, a ‘complete’ car that just might bring some love back to sedans, classy exterior & interior styling, along with solid build quality, cabin has good legroom on offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & enough storage, 521-liter boot is the largest in its segment, safety features include 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more, features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, auto headlamps & wipers etc., 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all-inclusive service packages available

What's not: DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India, the backseat is better for 2 healthy adults and a child, rather than 3 adults, interior quality doesn’t feel up to oldschool VW standards...body-coloured interior highlights (in Virtus) are polarising too, missing some features such as a subwoofer (in Virtus), driving modes (sport), and 360-degree camera, turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style...FE will drop drastically when you drive hard, VW and Skoda’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss, the brand’s long-term reliability can be patchy as well

Virtus Review, Slavia Review

Taigun / Kushaq


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-kushaqtaigun2023.jpg

What's hot: A breath of fresh (European) air in a sea of Korean, Chinese & Indian SUVs, classy exterior & interior styling matched with solid European build quality, cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage, 148 BHP engine makes the Taigun / Kushaq one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment, sporty 1.5L turbo-petrol is mated to slick 6-speed MT & quick DSG, sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package, safety features include 6 airbags, ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more, 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all inclusive service packages available, features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, auto headlamps & wipers etc., 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!

What's not: DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India, narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome...best for 4 onboard, at 385 litres, boot space is lesser than its direct rivals (Creta & Seltos = 433L), both crossovers lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors, notorious dealerships & after-sales service can be a hit or miss, missing some now expected features such as driving modes (sport), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, subwoofer (in Taigun) & regular USB ports, turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style...FE will drop drastically when you drive hard

Taigun Review, Kushaq Review

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:39   #9
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The Hyundai-Kia 1.5 Turbo-Petrols


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-hyundaivernakiaseltos.jpg

What's hot: 158 BHP, 1.5L turbo-petrol engine is the most powerful in the segment...gets a quick DCT too, comfortable, neutral suspension setup, we find them to be well-priced for what they offer, user-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality parts, long list of features includes LED auto headlamps, ventilated seats, electric driver’s seat, sunroof, wireless charging, rear sunshade & more, safety equipment includes level 2 ADAS tech, 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, rear disc brakes, front & rear parking sensors etc.

What's not: Verna's futuristic styling will polarise opinions... many BHPians think the design is too edgy & unusual, turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style... FE will drop drastically when you drive hard, dual-clutch ATs have a history of poor reliability in India, back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child (not 3 healthy adults), not as much fun-to-drive as the VW Virtus/Taigun and Skoda Slavia/Kushaq

Hyundai Verna Review

Kia Seltos Review

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:39   #10
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Honda City 1.5L Petrol


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-2023hondacityfacelift01.jpg

What's hot: This is the benchmark C2-segment family sedan, insanely rev-happy 1.5L petrol is the benchmark naturally-aspirated engine, sounds terrific at high rpm, slick gearbox & sweet clutch (smooth AT available too), quick & responsive steering, compliant ride quality, part quality has overall improved, spacious cabin, practical boot, safety features include 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, ESP, Hill Start Assist etc., goodies like sunroof, Honda connect with Alexa, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control, Honda's reliability

What's not: Rear end gets bouncy at high speeds on undulating roads (typical Honda City trait), chassis & suspension don't match the potent engine at 120 km/h and above, jerky rev-limiter in the petrol, puny 185-section tyres give up easily - an upgrade to 195 / 205 mm rubber is mandatory, petrol's midrange feels flat in this era of turbo-petrols, sad audio head-unit has an outdated interface, ICE sound quality is just average, low seating isn't senior citizen-friendly, poor sound insulation at high speeds

Link to GTO's review

Ownership Review

Maruti Fronx 1.0L Turbo-Petrol Boosterjet 5-speed MT


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-2023marutifronx01.jpg

What's hot: Smart looking crossover with sharp & attractive styling, feels better built than some other Maruti cars, 1.0L Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine is quick and has minimal turbo lag... driveability is satisfactory, smart Hybrid system ensures excellent fuel efficiency. ARAI = 20.01 to 22.89 kmpl, nicely tuned suspension glides over small bumps, potholes and road imperfections, user-friendly cabin with loads of space! Can easily seat 5 adults (unlike many competitors), long feature list includes LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs, cruise control, 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system, 360-degree camera, head-up display, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, footwell lighting, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, connected car features etc. Safety kit includes 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, ESP, traction control, hill-hold assist and ISOFIX, Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences

What's not: On the inside, it’s almost identical to the regular Baleno...differentiation should’ve been more, quality of some plastic parts and fabric upholstery is mediocre, 1.0L turbo-petrol although quick, is not exciting enough for enthusiasts, 308-litre boot is among the smallest in the segment, no diesel option like some rivals, rear seat’s under-thigh support is lacking for taller passengers, a few missing features like sunroof, TPMS, rear armrest, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensors, lesser height means, despite the smart styling, it doesn’t have the road presence of typical crossovers

Official Review

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Jeep Compass 2.0 Diesel


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-dsc03526_3000.jpg

What's hot: Handsome styling + loads of character, terrific 2.0L diesel offers good driveability & fast performance, mature suspension setup & rock-solid stability, nicely tuned EPS, robust build quality, capable AWD, top-notch safety, will leave a grin plastered on your face after a highway drive

What's not: Small size for the price, feels overpriced in the light of newer competition, compact cabin + boot, small dealer network, many owners are reporting niggles, ~3 lakh premium for the AWD, wide 5.65m turning radius, some missing features

Link to GTO's review

Ownership Review

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:40   #12
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Audi Q3 Sportback


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-audi-q3-sportback-front.jpg

What's hot: Evolved sporty coupe SUV styling, matched with solid build quality, increased cabin space, practicality and boot capacity (530 litres), incredibly fun-to-drive 2.0L turbo-petrol with a quick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, quattro all-wheel drive provides loads of grip & will help you get out of tricky situations (sand, mud etc.), good road manners with sorted ride quality, well-equipped (panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, virtual cockpit & more), 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating and equipment

What's not: Same 187 horses as the Kodiaq & Tiguan. We would've preferred a higher state of tune on a more expensive Audi, the Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan are ~10-15 lakhs cheaper on-road, no cheaper FWD entry-level variant available, should’ve gotten adaptive dampers, cabin is best suited for 4 adults, not 5, missing features like a 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, driving assist tech, etc.

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 Turbo-Petrol DSG


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-240433523_4094940300632432_8138300495261263061_n.jpg
Source

What's hot: Fast 2.0 turbo-petrol engine with 187 BHP and 320 Nm on tap, improved wet-clutch 7-speed DSG is fast and smooth, stiff suspension lets you have plenty fun in the corners, highway stability is impressive too, loaded with features & technology, 5-star NCAP rating & top-notch safety kit

What's not: Carries a price premium, many will find the design too bland & understated...lacks street cred, lack of powertrain options... no diesel engine or a cheaper more reliable MT, DSG reliability woes, stiff suspension means bumpy ride on bad roads, VW after-sales service can be a hit or miss

Official Review

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The 4x4 Pickup Trucks



Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-babsmtruck.jpg


What's hot: Macho styling & incredible street presence...turns heads wherever it goes, very solid, very robust...build quality is impressive, powerful 1.9L diesel engine puts out 161 BHP, proper 4x4 system with low range transfer case, excellent cargo capacity makes it a talented work truck, user-friendly cabin can easily accommodate 5 adults...rear legroom is sufficient

What's not: Sheer length, heavy steering & 6.3m turning radius make it cumbersome in the city, bumpy ride quality, especially at the rear (due to leaf springs), heavy kerb weight, long wheelbase & rear overhang limit its offroad credentials, Isuzu's wafer-thin dealership network, short 5,000 km service interval...dealer visits will be frequent!

Official Review, Ownership report

Toyota Hilux


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-2.jpg

What's hot: Fantastic 2.8L diesel engine puts out 201 BHP and 500 Nm of torque, smooth 6-speed automatic gearbox, tough build...Toyota body-on-frame UVs are known to have very long lives, impressive offroad capability with electronic differential lock, electronic drive control and active traction control, Toyota's excellent after-sales quality, fuss-free ownership experiences

What's not: Quite expensive...will cost 40-45 lakhs on road, no cheaper / smaller diesel variant for mass market, bumpy ride thanks to the leaf spring suspension at the rear, no full-time 4x4 like the old Fortuner

Ownership report

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Old 10th November 2023, 14:40   #14
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The Affordable EVs



MG ZS EV


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-1b-mg-zs-ev-copy.jpg

What's hot: One of the most sorted EVs in India! Drive it and you'll be a convert, a well-built car with good interiors, fast performance and excellent mid-range...0-100 km/h run of 8.5 seconds is enjoyable, selectable regenerative braking and drive modes help you extract maximum performance or efficiency, as needed, range is adequate for urban commuting as well as road-trips to nearby destinations, 5 year / unlimited km warranty, 5 labour-free services & 8 year / 150,000 km battery warranty, features such as the panoramic sunroof, cruise control, Bluetooth key, connected car tech & more, the international model got a 5-star Euro NCAP rating

What's not: Expensive! Even after subsidies, EVs carry a huge price premium over ICE cars...you're paying for the tech & being an early adopter, the very similar & arguably more practical MG Astor is 8 - 12 lakhs cheaper, ~350 km range limits long-distance / highway usability, firm ride quality means you always feel the road, especially with the recommended 41 PSI tyre pressure, missing features such as ventilated seats, auto-dimming IRVM, steering reach adjustment, and wireless Android Auto / CarPlay, size & interior quality are more comparable to a Creta than other 28-30 lakh rupee cars, the rear seat is better suited to 2 adults & a kid, not 3 adults, 6-speaker sound system is ordinary for the price...subwoofer conspicuous by its absence

Official Review

Tata Nexon .EV


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-2023_tata_nexon_ev_facelift_exterior_01.jpg

What's hot: A solidly built & good-looking electric car, increased driving range is adequate for city commutes & inter-city travel to nearby destinations, fast performance! 0-100 km/h in ~9 seconds is enjoyable, sorted road manners & solid high-speed stability due to the lower center of gravity & firmer suspension, smooth drive, no gears, light controls & compact size make it an ideal city car, nice and spacious cabin with comfortable seats, you get a practical 350-liter boot too, features like ventilated seats, auto-dimming IRVM, Sport & Eco modes, multi-mode regen, cruise control, air purifier, wireless smartphone charging, sunroof and more, safety kit includes disc brakes all-round, ESP, traction control, TPMS, electronic parking brake, auto hold etc.

What's not: Considerably more expensive than the Petrol / Diesel Nexon...you're paying for the tech & being an early adopter, top speed is restricted to 140 km/h, ride is compliant, but not plush...firmness at lower speeds means you feel the big potholes, fit, finish & interior quality don’t match up to the 20-lakh on-road price, Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss...remains a gamble, it's a brand-new technology, so there will be issues & niggles, Petrol / Diesel Nexon carry a 5-star GNCAP rating...Nexon EV is still unrated

Official Review

2023 Facelift Review

Mahindra XUV400


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-2022mahindraxuv40002.jpg

What's hot: Finally a proper EV from Mahindra that's well-built and refined, exhilarating performance! 0-100 km/h in 8.3 sec is fun, 250-260 km real-world driving range should be adequate for city commutes & inter-city travel to nearby destinations, sorted road manners, compliant ride quality & solid high-speed stability...beautiful handling package, smooth drive, no gears, one pedal operation, light controls & compact size make it an ideal city car, spacious and wide cabin with comfortable seats...now gets a more practical 378-litre boot too, well-equipped with features like drive modes, sunroof, cruise control, auto headlamps & wipers, safety kit includes 6 airbags, disc brakes all-round, IP67 protection for motor and battery, and adjustable headrests for all 5 passengers...the XUV300 has scored 5-stars in the GNCAP!

What's not: Boring interior design feels kind of old by current standards, concerns over niggles in a freshly baked Mahindra EV, a few cabin plastics & rough areas don't feel premium, Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss, missing features such as fog lamps, front parking sensors, auto-dimming IRVM, ventilated seats, wireless charging, rear AC vents, etc. (Some of these are provided in the XUV300), OEM speaker & sound quality are terrible

Last edited by Omkar : 10th November 2023 at 15:34.
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Old 10th November 2023, 14:40   #15
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Jeep Wrangler


2023 Lineup | The Best Enthusiast Cars in India-jeepwrangler-2.jpg

Drive Report

Last edited by Omkar : 10th November 2023 at 14:45.
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