Top Cars We Wish Would Receive BS6 Upgrades In India

The clock’s ticking and there’s only four months left for the implementation of BS6 emission norms in India. Almost all car manufacturers are hard at work upgrading their current range of cars to meet the new regulations. As part of this preparation, some of them are even discontinuing certain models or variants due to the huge costs involved in upgrading them to BS6. It’s sad but we will have to bid farewell to some of them for good. Yes, a few might exist with a powertrain upgrade, but will it provide the same feel as its BS4 predecessor? Only time will tell.

Here are the cars which we wish could get BS6 upgrades.

Maruti Suzuki Swift/Dzire 1.3-litre DDIS:

The Swift diesel is the de facto choice for those who want a diesel hatchback that’s reliable, frugal and enthusiastic. The Dzire offered a more practical option with its big boot. Both models sold like hot cakes. Despite that, they will bid goodbye to Indian roads in April 2020 as the 1.3-litre DDIS powertrain won’t be upgraded to meet BS6 emission norms. The Fiat-sourced engine is more than eight years old and will be phased out globally. So now is the right time to pick one.

Volkswagen Polo/Vento/GT TDI & Skoda Rapid TDI:

We wish the Volkswagen Polo, Vento and the Skoda Rapid TDI would exist in the BS6 era as the 1.5-litre TDI engine plasters a smile when driven hard. Yes, it is noisy when pushed to the limit but it loves to be revved to a very un-diesel like 5500 rpm. Mod-friendly owners were also satisfied as it’s a remap-friendly engine. Both manufacturers are offering hefty discounts and now is a good time if you intend to buy any of these cars. Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has announced that the 1.5-litre TDI will be replaced by the 1.0-litre TSI engine.

Skoda Octavia/Superb TSI & TDI:

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Both models will continue to exist in the BS6 era. However, the current 1.4-litre TSI (Octavia only), 1.8-litre TSI and 2.0-litre TDI engines found in the current versions are what we’ll miss after April. They are known for their explosive nature, especially the 1.8-litre TSI that keeps the traction control working hard. The current generation models will also be discontinued in April 2020. Skoda will take the wraps off the facelifted Superb with a more powerful 2.0-litre TSI in May 2020 while the Octy’s successor with the 1.5-litre TSI will be launched by end-2020.

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz/Ertiga 1.5-litre DDIS:

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and Ertiga weren’t much fun-to-drive until the manufacturer plonked the in-house developed 1.5-litre DDIS engine. The refinement of the new powertrain is segment-leading and both models had plenty of poke till their 5000rpm redline. Further, the 6-speed manual gearbox was light, crisp to use and kept the engine ticking at low revs during cruising. However, Maruti took its own sweet time to launch this engine, which is BS4 compliant. It also came during a time when manufacturers were upgrading powertrains to meet BS6 emission norms. Yes, Maruti will be discontinuing this powertrain in April 2020. But the chances of seeing a BS6 compliant version of this motor is extremely high as a BS6 diesel Ertiga was spotted testing in India twice. 

Tata Safari Storme:

The Tata Safari Storme is one SUV that caught the hearts of all Indians with its macho looks, tough-as-nails underpinnings and spacious cabin. The 4x4 variants were also popular as it could take on rough terrain with ease. However, the Safari Storme failed to gather buyers because of its slightly high asking price. Considering its poor sales, Tata Motors has discontinued the Safari and the existing stock is being offered at a discount of Rs 50,000. So hurry up if you intend to buy one of the last few pieces of an icon! 

Renault Duster DCi:

The Renault Duster laid the foundation for the compact SUV segment in India. Its no-nonsense yet attractive design, plush ride quality and a strong diesel engine were its positives. The Duster will chug on as a petrol-only model in the BS6 era. But it’s the diesel Duster that’s the better out of the two. It’s responsive in the city, powerful on the highway and is globally known for its reliability. Further, when Renault plonked in the all-wheel drive system in the Duster, there was simply no model in that segment that could catch it out in the rough stuff! 

Ford EcoSport EcoBoost:

The existing version of Ford’s EcoSport with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost will face the axe come April 2020. The reason is due to poor sales numbers and the standard variant’s already fantastic 1.5-litre Dragon engine. The EcoSport EcoBoost tag will be retained in the BS6 era, albeit with the XUV300’s turbo-petrol engine. But that engine is nowhere near as enthusiastic as Ford’s EcoBoost motor which keeps you grinning throughout the drive. 

Volkswagen Ameo:

Volkswagen will be axing the Ameo completely from its portfolio come April 2020. The Ameo gets all the basics right. It’s got a long list of features, a strong diesel engine, a quick 7-speed DSG and is also fun to drive. However, it does suffer in terms of rear seat legroom, which is almost non existent, and the lacklustre 1.0-litre MPI petrol engine. This put it at an instant disadvantage against the segment leaders - the Dzire and Amaze. Despite it having class-leading performance (TDI) and an advanced DSG, the Ameo really never took off. Therefore, VW will be discontinuing this model come April 2020. 

Hyundai Elite i20, Creta and Verna CRDI: 

The current iteration of the Elite i20 comes with a brilliant 1.4-litre CRDI engine while the Verna and Creta are offered with a bigger 1.6-litre unit. Both these units are known for their punchy performance and petrol-engine like refinement. However, they will be pulled out once BS6 emission norms come in. However, they will be replaced by the Kia Seltos’ BS6 compliant 1.5-litre CRDI unit, which is nothing short of fantastic. The next-gen Creta and Verna will use the same 115PS tune as the Seltos while the i20 will utilise a detuned version of this powertrain. You can read our detailed review of the Seltos right here. 

Volkswagen Polo GT TSI:

The Polo GT TSI will trade in its smooth yet punchy 105PS 1.2-litre TSI for a 115PS 1.0-litre TSI engine. Yes, the smaller engine is more powerful but will it provide the same feel as the 1.2-litre TSI? Well, we’ll have to wait until we can sample the upcoming Rapid TSI to answer that question. That said, the 1.2-litre TSI is a stonker of an engine and is known for its punchy performance. Yes, a manual gearbox was missed, but the 7-speed DSG was more than capable with its quick and precise shifts. We just hope that the 1.0-litre TSI replicates this experience. 

All Audi TDI Models:

Audi India is set to revamp its portfolio and we’ll be getting nine new models by the end of 2020. However, if you’ve been waiting for an Audi with a TDI motor, we’re sorry to inform that they won’t be launched anytime soon. The carmaker is planning to take the petrol/electric route post April 2020 in India due to BS6 emission norms. Currently, Audi has two diesel engines in its lineup - the 2.0-litre TDI 4-cylinder and 3.0-litre TDI V6. Both powertrains will be discontinued in April 2020 and the Audi India entire portfolio will comprise of petrol and electric models. 

Mercedes-AMG C63S:

Last but not least is the Mercedes-AMG C63S. We’ve seen manufacturers scaling down from V12s to V10s, V8s, V6s. But Mercedes is going one step further and is downsizing the C63’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 to a 2.0-litre twin-turbo 4-cylinder hybrid! The hybrid engine is expected to make as much power as the V8 and could be quicker as well. But will it have the soul of the V8? Absolutely not. Mercedes, we wouldn’t have complained if you’d have given us a detuned V8 or even a V6 for that matter. Our advice to the current C63S owners would be to hold on to their cars as long as possible as it’s a classic.  

These are the cars that we wish would still exist in the BS6 era. Which of these cars do you think you’d miss the most in the BS6 era and why? Let us know in the comments section below.