Top 5 Cars To Consider This Festive Season

We're right inside the festive season now and there’s a new car launching every few days. Of course, with so many cars to choose from, it’s easy to feel lost in the sea of options. Fear not, we’ve made your job easier and compiled this ready-reckoner – a list of 5 cars worth considering if you’re planning on getting a new set of wheels this festive season:

1. Mahindra e2oPlus

While you may be surprised to see this entry here, there is a reason why we’ve listed it first. Mahindra is the only zero-emissions carmaker in India and it offers the eVerito and e2oPlus. While the eVerito is a sedan, the e2oPlus is a hatchback that has four doors and space for some luggage, too. It has a 210Ah battery pack that is good for a travel range of 140km on a full charge. It makes 41PS power and 91Nm torque but delivers this power as soon as you press the accelerator pedal. Also, it can get up to a 95 per cent charge in just 90 minutes, should you opt for the fast-charging option. Prices start from Rs 5.46 lakh, which is fairly affordable for an electric car. Who said you cannot contribute to saving the environment this festive season?

2. Honda Accord Hybrid

The Accord Hybrid is the latest car to sport a hybrid powertrain in India and it now looks like a futuristic car. Set to compete against the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Honda has a 2.0-litre petrol engine that works together with an electric motor to deliver a combined output of 215PS of power and 315Nm of torque. The car has an e-CVT transmission and a claimed fuel-efficiency figure of 23.1kmpl! Honda has brought only one variant of the car in India and has priced it at Rs 37 lakh. Pricey? Yes, but the money gets you cutting-edge technology, a great balance of performance and efficiency and not to forget a stunning-looking car, too!

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3. Toyota Fortuner

If there is one car a lot of people are waiting for, it is the new Fortuner (people love SUVs). The Fortuner is considered to be the perfect blend of butch looks, off-road capability and reliability. The new Fortuner has been completely redesigned inside out. It is expected to come with 2.8-litre and 2.7-litre diesel and petrol engines, respectively. Like the Innova Crysta, it will be offered with both manual and automatic gearboxes and the feature list will be expansive too. It will also be more expensive than the outgoing version, but to find out by how much, we’ll have to wait till November 7.

4. Hyundai Tucson

Since we are talking about big vehicles, the Tucson name is all set to return to India. It is set to compete against the aging CR-V from Honda, though it slides in between the Creta and Santa Fe. It too carries the brand's Fluidic 2.0 design language, and to that end, bears similarities to its sedan sibling – the Elantra. Expect a lot of features from the Elantra to find their way into the Tucson. It is expected to come with both petrol and diesel engines. Hyundai aims to achieve 50 per cent localisation with the Tucson and it is expected to be priced in the same price range as the Elantra that could make the choice between the two cars a matter of body-style preference.

5. Volkswagen Ameo Diesel

The Ameo first went on sale a few months ago but only in the petrol guise. Now, the diesel variant of the Ameo is available, too, making it a better-rounded proposition. The 4-cylinder TDI diesel engine in the Ameo displaces 1.5 litres and churns out 110PS of power and 250Nm of torque. It can be had with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a delightful 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission which feels leagues ahead of the AMT boxes in rival cars. Claimed efficiency for both versions is just a shred under 22kmpl. What also makes the Ameo a compelling buy are the raft of segment-first features in the car like cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, remote-operated opening and closing of the windows and rear seats that can fold down to create more luggage space. The Ameo diesel range starts at Rs 6,33,600 and brings some big badge value to the compact sedan space.

(all prices are ex-showroom Delhi)

So, these are our top five picks from all the vehicles that have and will be launched in the festive season of 2016. Sure, you will have to wait for some cars in the list, but for what is up on offer, the wait will be worthwhile. And if you do end up buying any of the above models, do share with us your thoughts in comments. Drive safe and enjoy the festive season!