Top 7 Cars of 2014

1.) Hyundai Elite i20: In the small car segment, Hyundai seems to have taken the game a notch up this year with the launch of its new generation i20. In a segment that has some very tough competitors like the long standing king the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the new Volkswagen Polo, the Elite i20 shone brighter than its predecessor. Striking looks, superior quality, packed with features and a good engine makes the Hyundai Elite i20 one wholesome package. To make matters a little more difficult other manufacturers, the space it has to offer goes beyond the borders of its segment. Needless to say that with such a strong product, the sales for Hyundai were going to skyrocket too. The Elite i20 sold more than 56,000 units pan India within four months of its launch. (Also Read: Sales Story) And then of that wasn’t enough; the Korean car maker even hit the right note with its sub-4 metre sedan, the Xcent. 

2.) Tata Zest: For 2014 and beyond, Tata Motors seems to working with a one-track mind. With the introduction of the first product, the Zest, under its Horizonext umbrella, Tata proved that they are taking steps in the right direction to bring about a change in its brand perception. The Zest is unlike any of the Tata cars we have seen so far. Despite being based on the Vista platform, the Tata Zest spacious insides, great ride quality and a fairly long list of features makes it quite an interesting product in its class. The quality has improved too, the dual-tone dashboard looks more premium than anything we have seen come off the Tata stables. And then to add the icing to the cake, at Rs 4.65 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) it is also one of the cheapest sub-4 metre offerings on sale. 

3.) Maruti Ciaz: Maruti needed to expand their product portfolio over the small cars they have on offer and for that they needed a strong product in the C-segment market. They tried hard with the SX4 but couldn’t taste as much success as their other products. So this time round in the Ciaz, the came with a much stronger product. The Maruti Ciaz has all that a buyer demands from that segment. With executive looks, ample of space, premium quality and loads of features they have it all in the Ciaz. And then, there is of course the reliability of a Maruti engine and a service network. The Maruti Ciaz is in fact one of the strongest competitor launched this year to go against the trusted Honda City. 

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4.) New Mahindra Scorpio: Spy shots of the new Mahindra Scorpio had been making its rounds on the internet long before its launch. And considering our liking towards brawny SUVs, this was one of the most anticipated cars of 2014. And it did not disappoint, not one bit. One of the biggest upgrades since 2002, the Scorpio not sits on a new chassis and sports all new body parts. In fact, everything except the doors and the roof is new. With improvements in the overall fit and finish and most importantly in its driving dynamics, the new Mahindra Scorpio is now one of the most convincing cars in its class. 

5.) Honda Mobilio: Aside from SUVs, this is one segment that has started to grow like never before mainly keeping in mind that it is absolutely practical for Indian conditions. Despite being based on the Amaze platform, the Mobilio manages to look different from its smaller sibling, especially in the RS trim. It makes the biggest impression in a place where it matters the most – space. With an adjustable middle-row, the Mobilio makes ample of space even in the third bench. To add to that, it has the proven petrol and diesel engines from Honda and despite its size it is pretty easy to drive too. But, most importantly, Honda has hit the sweet spot with respect to its product placement by pricing it exactly between the Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova. 

6.) Audi A3: The launch of the Audi A3 kick-started a new compact luxury sedan segment in the Indian market. With prices starting at Rs 22.95 lakh to Rs 32.66 lakh, it encroaches part of the space occupied by the likes of the Skoda Superb and the Hyundai Sonata. By launching the A3 ahead of the Mercedes-Benz CLA, Audi managed to get the first movers advantage. Aside from a powerful engine and that much sought after fun to drive factor, the A3 also brings with it the luxury of owning the four-ringed brand at an affordable price point. 

7.) Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class: Mercedes-Benz is on a roll. After tasting success with the E-Class and the S-Class, they have not brought in the GLA-Class to go up against the Audi Q3. With good performance, handling dynamics and luxurious interiors the GLA has got all that you would expect out of a compact SUV. Not to forget, it sports Mercedes’ new design language that has been appreciated by fans world over. But most importantly, the GLA-Class fills a long standing gap in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio.