Nought To 100kmph: Mass Market Edition

Gone are the days when mass market cars were all about just checking the right boxes and offering you a comfortable ownership experience. New-age cars have their emphasis set on performance, and believe it or not, a handful of them can duck under the 10 second mark when stomping it from nought to 100kmph. This used to be a thing where you needed to pay more money for a much superior car or a hot-performance model previously. 

So without further ado, here are the top 10 mass market cars we have tested that do 0-100kmph in 10 seconds and below. 

Honda City Hybrid - 9.95 seconds 

The Honda City hybrid manages to duck under the 10 second mark only barely. Its hybrid system puts out a combined output of 253Nm, which is available instantaneously for a peppy acceleration. It’s also incredibly fuel efficient, and we have pitched it against its diesel counterpart to see how far it can go on a tank full of fuel. 

MG Astor Turbo-petrol AT - 9.81 seconds  

The MG Astor is offered with naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol engine options. But if you have a whip of excitement, pick the latter. With around 140 horses on tap to play with, the Astor is quick, doing 0 to 100kmph in 9.81 seconds. To know more about the MG SUV, read our in-depth first drive review. 

Mahindra XUV700 Diesel AT - 9.67 seconds 

Little did we know that a fast diesel SUV would make it to this list. But with 185PS on tap and a smooth shifting six-speed slushbox, the XUV700 diesel automatic can really set the clock on fire. And the better part is that it can return decent fuel economy when driven sensibly. Take a closer look at the Mahindra XUV700 in our first drive review.

Kia Carens Turbo DCT - 9.61 seconds

The Kia Carens is a comfortable family MPV, offering decent space for up to seven occupants. And if you and your family members want the quickest version of this MPV, then you should consider the turbo-petrol DCT variant managing a sub-10-second 0-100kmph time. Read more about the Carens in our first drive review. 

Kia Seltos Turbo DCT - 9.51 seconds  

The Kia Seltos is basically the Carens minus the additional length and the extra row of seats. So it comes across as no surprise that the turbo-petrol variant is marginally faster here than the MPV. In fact, if you’re mingling with whether to pick the Carens or Seltos, we have pitched both of them for a detailed test and you can read it here. 

Mahindra XUV700 Petrol AT - 9.48 seconds  

We have already proved that the XUV700 is a quick SUV, but if you want a quicker one, then it's the turbo-petrol variant you should consider. Mahindra, during its unveiling, already billed it as a fast 200PS SUV, and they weren’t wrong. We mean its 9.48 second 0-100kmph timing is incredible for a large seven-seater SUV. 

Skoda Kushaq 1.5-litre TSI DSG - 9.38 seconds (WET) 

Wet conditions might not be the best weather for road testing. But the Kushaq, with its free-revving, 1.5-litre TSI DSG powertrain, really impresses. Yes, the launch is a bit slow off the mark to protect the ‘box, but once it’s on the move, the Kushaq is quick. Check out the Skoda Kushaq in our in-depth first drive review.

Tata Nexon EV Max - 9.13 seconds 

Electric cars, with their instant torque output, fly off the line with their instant acceleration; and the Nexon EV Max is no different. With an even more powerful motor than the standard model, the Max does 0-100kmph in 9.13 seconds in max attack. To know more about the Nexon EV Max, check out our in-depth first drive review. 

VW Virtus GT - 9.03 seconds

The VW Virtus GT, with its sportier cosmetic touches, not only looks good, but can move fast if your right leg decides to be throttle-heavy. Like the Kushaq, the 150PS, 1.5-litre TSI is matched to a fast-shifting seven-speed DSG. And in maximum attack, the sedan achieved a 0-100kmph time of 9.03 seconds. For more details, read our first drive review. 

VW Taigun 1.5-litre TSI MT - 8.89 seconds 

Volkswagen’s 1.5-litre TSI engine impresses when it comes to performance, and according to this author, it’s the best when it’s paired with the six-speed manual like this Taigun. Find an empty stretch of road, dump the clutch, time the shifts perfectly, and you can see the results for yourself. The Taigun managed to do 0-100kmph under the 9 seconds mark, which is really impressive. 

These are the 10 quickest mass market cars we have tested in the Zig garage. Which one in this list is your favourite? And why? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below.