Compact Sedan or Sub 4metre sedan has taken a major market share in the Indian car market in the past decade. The reason behind the whole evolution of compact sedans is the subsidy that Indian Government offers to cars under 4 metres. This has offered a lower price to consumers and hence every other company started bringing in a compact sedan of their own into the market which most of often is an improvised version of an existing hatchback.
Here in this list of top compact sedans with pros and cons of each car and finally will help you choose the best car to fit your requirements.
List of Top & Best Compact Sedans In India
Honda Amaze
The leader of the starter sedan segment for years with Honda City, released the Honda Amaze back in 2013 which was very similar to the Honda Brio. Later in 2018, the new Honda Amaze appeared with all-new styling and interior with design cues from its elder sibling, Honda City. It has 1.2L Petrol and 1.5l Diesel variants starting from 5.81 and 6.91 lakhs respectively.
You also get a CVT (automatic transmission) in the top variant of both apart from the 5-speed manual gearbox. ABS, EBD and Dual airbags are standard across all variants which is good for a car this price. The top spec trims come with climate control, touchscreen infotainment system and rear AC vents. The cabin is one of the well spacious options in the segment. Ride quality has improved with the newer platform. The car is tuned more towards mileage than being sporty and hence lacks torque in the midrange.
PROs
Well refined engine
New design
Knee room
Up-to-date features
Automatic gearbox available
ABS, EBD and dual from the airbag
CONs
Door quality
Headroom
Rear seats feel cramped for 3 passengers
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
The top-selling compact sedan since the introduction till date had a design overhaul and feature update in 2017 and still tops the chart in sales. Maruti Suzuki Dzire comes with the trusty 1.3L multijet diesel which it has been using for more than a decade starts at 6.58 lakhs. The petrol version has a 1.2L engine starting at 5.6 lakhs. 5-speed manual gearbox is standard and you can choose to get an AMT if automatic is your choice. You get loaded with all features like rear ac vents, touchscreen infotainment with Apple car play and Android Auto. The new design is refreshing and attractive. The heartect platform has given way for more space and reduced the weight by 105 KGs. The inner cabin is spacious and well suited for 3 passengers in the rear. ABS and Dual front airbag are common across all variants.
PROs
New design
Spacious cabin
Up-to-date features
Automatic gearbox available
ABS and dual front airbag
CONs
No engine upgrade in years
Also Check:Â 10 Best Automatic Cars Ruling The Indian Roads
Tata Tigor
A strong contender from Tata though it was late to the competition. The Tata Tigor is the cheapest in the competition but still offers a lot of value for the price. Tata Tigor comes in 1.2L petrol and a comparatively small 1.05L diesel engines to choose from. There are a lot of variants to choose from in which only one of it is automatic transmission. The car’s design is modern and unlike conventional sedans. The cabins are spacious and the interiors look classy though made of plastic and not so premium materials. No rear AC vents available. ABS and Dual airbags are not present in lower variants. Touch screen infotainment is available in top-spec variants.
PROs
Best mileage
Spacious cabin
Cheapest compact car
Automatic gearbox available
CONs
Mediocre engine
Plastic build
No ABS, Dual front airbags for lower variant.
Rear AC vents
Hyundai Xcent
One of the well-balanced cars in the segment is the Hyundai Xcent. Both petrol and diesel options have a 1.2l engine coupled with the 5speed automatic transmission. Sadly, AMT option is not available in a Diesel engine. The car is well built offers good riding quality and loaded with enough features. ABS and dual front airbags are common across all variants. The car starts at 5.64 Lakhs for the petrol engine and 6.57 lakhs for a diesel engine.
PROs
Good design
Spacious cabin
Easy handling
ABS, Dual front airbags
Cheaper fully spec variant
Petrol AMT
CONs
Diesel Automatic.
Also Check:Â 5 Cars Which Can Be Synchronized With Luxury
Volkswagen Ameo
Volkswagen is the best when it comes to safety features. Ameo offers a powerful diesel engine compared to its competitor at 1.5L. It produces 250 Nm torque and 109 Bhp power. The price starts at 6.7 lakhs. The recent update brought a puny 1L petrol engine with the starting price of 5.67 lakhs. Apart from the usual 5-speed gearbox, you get a 7 speed DSG gearbox which is a very good option if you are looking for diesel automatics. The cabin is a little low on the space. Cruise control, touch screen infotainment is available with the top variant. Rear ac vents and dual airbags are basic. ABS is not available in the starting variant.
PROs
Sporty diesel engine
Premium build quality
Comfortable ride
DSG automatic option
Rear ac vents
Cruise control
CONs
Not sufficient cabin space for a sedan
Common features like an automatic dimmer, automatic wiper not present
High prices top variant
No petrol automatic
Ford Aspire
Ford Aspire is easily the most underrated car in the segment. It has a lot to offer for the price and it is expected a facelift toward the end of 2018. The car comes with a 1.2l petrol or 1.5l diesel engine. The price starts at 5.81 and 6.92 which looks costly but the top ends are cheaper comparatively. Both the engines get a 5-speed manual gearbox. There is a dual clutch automatic version with a 1.5l petrol engine in the fleet. Interiors are well done but lack a rear AC vent. Hope the 2018 version includes the feature. Dual Airbags are standard along the variants but ABS is not available with the lowermost variant.
PROs
Best in class engine
DSG petrol option
Enough cabin space
CONs
No diesel automatic
Absence of rear ac vent
Automatic vipers
Also Check: Upcoming SUV in India below 10 lakhs
How To Choose The Best Car To Meet Your Requirements?
Choose a car deserves its own time. Know the specifications and features of the car as we have listed above. Then prioritise your requirements and make a list of it. Now compare it with the top cars in the segment and note down which of the following ticks most of the boxes. Do not choose a car based on the highest features alone. For instance, Ford Figo checks most of the boxes but loses on a key feature like Rear AC vent which is most preferred if you travel in groups. Our picks are Maruti Suzuki Dzire if you are on a budget and want a well-rounded budget, Honda Amaze for all new features and modern design. Volkswagen Ameo is the best when you choose to compromise on other features and wish to get the best performance. For automatic lovers, either of Dzire or Amaze would do.
