The year of the pandemic, well at least the first half of it was nothing short of a disaster for the Indian auto industry. For the first time in history, there was a month which reported zero sales for carmakers as dealers remained shut throughout the country owing to the nationwide lockdown. But as the festive season approached, the industry bounced back and how. A combination of pent-up demand, social distancing protocols and some attractive launches ensured the car sales hit record numbers. Some cars attracted more buyers than others. Here’s what I think are the top 5 cars that came out this year.
MAHINDRA THAR
The much-awaited second generation of the iconic off-roader from Mahindra, the Thar arrived just at the onset of the festive season. Almost everything was new on the car and purely by its looks, it increased the fan base by a huge margin. The circular headlamps, now accompanied by LED daytime running lamps and the dual-tone bumpers added to an aggressive front look. The cabin became much more luxurious and you also get front-facing second-row seats. The car also got power, windows, electrically adjustable ORVMs, and central locking with remote flip key. Also, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Thar was available in both petrol and diesel engine options with both manual and automatic gearboxes. Mahindra offered the AX model for adventure enthusiasts who love to go off-roading and LX for the lifestyle buyer who would like to use the Thar as an everyday vehicle.
HONDA CITY
One of the most awaited cars this year has also been one of India’s most loved cars for a very long time, the next-gen Honda City. It got a new look with full LED headlamps with nine LED array inline shells, integrated LED DRLs, and Z-Shaped 3D wraparound LED tail lamps with LED side marker lamps. The dashboard came with a real stitch soft pad, and woody garnish, something that helped in giving it a luxury feel. The new-generation Honda City became India’s first connected car with Alexa remote capability. There was a 20.3 cm touchscreen system, and a large 17.7 cm HD TFT meter for multi-function driver information interface like trip meter, real-time fuel efficiency, digital speed, and an innovative G-meter. Engine and gearbox options were many and the buyer was spoilt for choice.
HYUNDAI I20
The new i20 was edgier and sharper than before. The parametric jewel pattern grille finished in black looked premium. The car got LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs, and unique Z-shaped tail lamps. The 10.25-inch touch screen felt too big for a cabin of this size. It came with Hyundai’s blue link tech connected car tech where amongst other things you could also start/ stop the engine remotely, use climate control, and find the car’s location. There was a lot to choose from when it comes to engine and gearbox options. A 1.5-litre diesel engine came with just manual transmission while a 1.2-litre petrol engine got manual transmission and CVT. A 1.0-litre Turbo petrol had the buyers choosing between Intelligent Manual Transmission and Dual Clutch Transmission.
KIA SONET
Korean carmaker Kia entered the ultra-competitive sub-4 meter SUV space with the Sonet this year. At the front was the brand’s now familiar signature design trait, the ‘tiger-nose’ grille which was flanked by ‘heart beat’ LED DRLs and stylish skid plates. Adding to the sporty character was the raised hood along with 16-inch crystal-cut alloys. At the rear, ‘heart beat’ LED tail lamps connected with a reflector strip looked great. This was a premium cabin with features such as ventilated driver and front passenger seats, a seven-speaker bose sound system with subwoofer, and a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen infotainment and navigation system. There were a plethora of engine and gearbox options and the car became a runaway success in the Indian car market.
TATA ALTROZ
Another brand new car from Tata Motors as the company entered the premium hatch space with the Altroz. The car looked very futuristic and was loaded with features to help it take on some fancied rivals in the segment. It also got a five-star crash safety rating, something that pulled a lot of buyers. There were both petrol and diesel engine options which meant the company presented an all-round product to the consumer, something that pushed sales for the company.