Top 5 Sedans To Watch Out For In 2017

The year 2016 has been one of the most exciting years for the automotive industry as it witnessed a lot of new launches and facelifts from various car manufacturers. Now as the year draws to a close, it's time to take a look at what the auto giants have lined up for 2017. So, here’s a list of the five upcoming sedans in 2017.

Tata Kite 5

Tata Motors had showcased the compact sedan, codenamed Kite 5, earlier this year during the Auto Expo. The Kite 5 is based on the Tata Tiago. The car has a stout boot (capacity of 420 liters), wraparound taillamps and a long LED strip for the third brake light. Moreover, the car carries over the Tiago’s interiors, finished in a slightly darker shade. 

Mechanically, the car will be offered with a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, petrol engine which will pump out 84.96PS of power and 114Nm of torque and the all-new 1.05-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged diesel mill that will produce 69.96PS of power and a massive 140Nm of torque. Both the petrol and the diesel motors will be available with multi-drive Eco and City modes and Tata might throw in an AMT to make the car stand out of the crowd.

Expected Price - 4 to 6 lakh

Expected Launch - Frist half of 2017

Chevrolet Essentia

Chevrolet showcased the Essentia during the 2016 Auto Expo. The sub-4 metre car is based on the next-gen Chevrolet Beat and has a funky interior that should help attract the youth. Some of the features that the car gets are - a touchscreen, Chevrolet MyLink 2 infotainment system, with Andrioid Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibilities. Safety features on the car include dual airbags, ABS, and a reverse camera which are expected to come as standard. 

Mechanically, the Essentia is likely to get a 1.2-litre petrol mill and a 1.3-litre diesel motor. Both the mills will be tuned for better fuel efficiency and are expected to produce somewhere between 80 to 90PS of power. Transmission duties will be handled by a five-speed manual gearbox and an AMT might be offered as well.

Expected Price - 5 to 7 Lakh

Expected Launch - Frist quarter of 2017

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Hyundai Verna

The new-gen Hyundai Verna was showcased at the Chengdu Motor Show earlier this year and is expected to replace the current-gen Verna. The car was recently launched in China and features the company’s Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy. Speaking about the interiors, the car might feature a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Other features could include a sunroof, push-button start, heated seats and automatic climate control. 

In terms of dimensions, the new-gen Verna is 5mm longer, 28mm wider and 15mm taller than the car it will replace in India. On the outside, it is expected to get features like diamond-cut alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights. When launched in India, the Verna is expected to carry the same 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines but in a different state of tune. Hyundai could introduce a mild-hybrid tech in the Verna which will work on the same lines as the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) that comes in the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.

Expected Price - 8 to 10 Lakh

Expected Launch - Second half of 2017

Honda City

Honda is expected to launch a refreshed model of the City, which is expected to borrow its styling cues from the Honda Greiz, the City’s equivalent in China. The facelifted Honda City will carry the company’s new design language, as seen on the recently launched Honda Accord. On the outside, the car is expected to receive tweaks on the bumpers, the front grille, and the taillights. Speaking about the interiors, the Honda City is likely to feature equipment like a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, six airbags, and voice command integration. 

Mechanically, the car will be powered by the same tried-and-tested 1.5-litre iVTEC petrol producing 119PS and 145Nm and the 1.5-litre iDTEC oil burner which churns out 100PS of power and 200Nm of torque. Both engines come mated to a 5-speed, manual gearbox and a CVT unit as an option for the petrol variant.

Expected Price - 8 to 12 Lakh

Expected Launch - First quarter of 2017

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest passenger car maker, is expected to launch an updated version of its highly popular sedan, the Ciaz. On the outside, the car is likely to get some surface changes, such as a redesigned front grille, tweaked bumpers, new alloy wheels (for the Zeta and Alpha trims), electrical ORVMS across all variants and HID projector headlamps. However, features like a panoramic sunroof and DRLs might not make their way in the new Ciaz. Speaking about the interiors, the top-end variant is expected to feature electrically foldable seats, dash-mounted infotainment system and a reverse camera, while the glass antenna will be standard across all trims.

Powering the Ciaz will be the same Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel and a 1.4-litre petrol motor, both of which will come mated to a five-speed manual transmission as standard. An automatic option with the petrol one could also be in the pipeline. Also, Maruti will sell the Ciaz from Nexa dealerships from 2017 onwards.

Expected Price - 8 to 10 Lakh

Expected Launch - April 2017

While the cars in the above list are highly-anticipated in the coming year, we would love to see Toyota launch the Vios, a direct rival to the Honda City and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz as well. It has been spotted testing on multiple occasions and would make a perfect recipe for the Japanese automaker to land a punch in the Rs 10-12 lakh segment.