Ranking of the 36 cars in our list with the best compromise between power/performance, driveability and running costs. Basically, if a buyer were to assign equal weightage to the above three parameters, this is how the cars would be ranked. This ranking table basically gives a good idea about how good the engine powering these cars are.
Performance, Driveability & Running Costs Small Car Rankings:
Maruti Swift 1.3 Diesel ------------- 99 pts
Maruti Ritz 1.3 Diesel --------------- 97 pts
Hyundai i20 1.4 Diesel -------------- 89 pts
Skoda Fabia 1.4 Diesel -------------- 85 pts
Fiat Palio 1.3 Diesel ----------------- 82 pts
Ford Figo `1.4 Diesel ---------------- 81 pts
Tata Vista 1.3 Diesel ---------------- 81 pts
Honda Jazz 1.2 Petrol --------------- 80 pts
Maruti A-Star 1.0 Petrol ------------- 73 pts
Hyundai Santro 1.1 Petrol ----------- 73 pts
Maruti Swift 1.2 Petrol --------------- 72 pts
Fiat Punto 1.3 Diesel ----------------- 72 pts
Fiat Palio 1.6 Petrol ------------------ 69 pts
Maruti Ritz 1.2 Petrol ---------------- 66 pts
Hyundai i10 1.1 Petrol --------------- 63 pts
Chevrolet Spark 1.0 Petrol ------------ 59 pts
Hyundai i10 1.2 Petrol ---------------- 57 pts
Maruti Estilo 1.0 Petrol ---------------- 56 pts
Hyundai Getz 1.3 Petrol --------------- 53 pts
Chevrolet Beat 1.2 Petrol -------------- 52 pts
Hyundai i20 1.2 Petrol ----------------- 48 pts
Skoda Fabia 1.2 Petrol ---------------- 47 pts
Fiat Punto 1.4 Petrol ------------------ 44 pts
Maruti WagonR 1.1 Petrol ------------- 44 pts
Maruti Alto 0.8 Petrol ----------------- 42 pts
Chevrolet U-VA 1.2 Petrol ------------- 37 pts
Tata Indica 1.4 Diesel ----------------- 37 pts
Maruti 800 0.8 Petrol ------------------ 36 pts
VW Polo 1.2 Petrol --------------------- 35 pts
Ford Figo 1.2 Petrol ------------------- 34 pts
Tata Indica 1.2 Petrol ----------------- 30 pts
Tata Nano 0.6 Petrol ------------------ 29 pts
Fiat Punto 1.2 Petrol ------------------ 28 pts
Tata Vista 1.2 Petrol ------------------ 22 pts
Hyundai Getz 1.1 Petrol ---------------- 20 pts
Fiat Palio 1.1 Petrol -------------------- 13 pts
Analysis:
- This is what everybody means when they say "
Diesel engines have come of age in recent times". Not only are they low on running costs, but they also scorch tarmac when needed.
- The above table pretty much tells us why everybody wants to plonk the Fiat's 1.3 litre diesel engine into their cars.
- Now we know why Skoda picked the old noisy 1.4 TDI engine for the Fabia - it scores quite well on all the three important engine parameters of power, driveability & fuel efficiency.
But when you pay Rs. X lacs for a car, you don't buy just an engine - there are other important measurable parameters like price, space & features.
@ KRRaj/Kalinga
Expect your Getz 1.1 petrol to move up the ladder from here
Coming up next, the important factor of
PRICE. This is where the diesel engine powered cars lose some of their sheen.