Best Diesel Automatic Cars

The Maruti Swift has been India’s most popular car, ever since its launch in 2005. The Swift has gone through three generations and the latest model was launched at Auto Expo 2018. The new Maruti Swift can be opted with the brand’s long-running diesel engine which offers a good balance between performance and fuel efficiency. The Swift diesel now comes with an automatic gearbox option too. Resale value of diesel Swift models has also been good over the years.

The Hyundai Verna is arguably the best C-segment sedan available in India today. If not the best overall, it is definitely the best-looking sedan on the market today. The Next-Gen Verna is available with a 1.6-litre diesel mill, which is also the most powerful engine option available. The engine is available mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The new Hyundai Verna is also packed with a lot of comfort and safety features. Above all that, it has won the prestigious ‘Indian Car Of The Year (ICOTY) 2018’ award – a good enough reason to make it a worthy buy!

With only a diesel engine in offer, the Maruti Vitara Brezza is aimed to be just one thing – a compact and practical vehicle just for Indians. The Brezza offers ample amounts of space and seat support even while being under four metres in length. And because of the trust of Indians in Maruti, the Vitara Brezza has also got good resale value. This is alongside the brand’s excellent sales and service network. The light and compact Brezza offers good mileage figures while also being available with a 5-speed AMT.

The Nexon is one of the strongest contenders in the compact-SUV segment. It is also the first compact-SUV from the Indian brand. The funky looks derived from Tata’s Impact Design 2.0 philosophy has won in attracting the younger mass. Available with a 1.5-litre Revotorq diesel mill, the Nexon comes mated to either a 6-speed manual or an AMT gearbox. The Tata Nexon offers just enough to be a practical, yet fun, daily. The compact-SUV also ticks a lot of boxes, if features are what you are looking for.

The Renault Duster, although not being under four metres in length, is one of the first SUVs that spread the compact-SUV trend in the country. Identical to the Nissan Terrano, the Duster’s diesel engine is offered in two states of tune – 85bhp and 110bhp. Both showcase good low-end torque while the 110bhp performs well on the highways, thanks to its 6-speed manual gearbox. However, the 6-speed AMT unit feels a bit sluggish and ‘confused’ compared to the manual but returns decent mileage.

With its sharp and elegant styling, the Hyundai Creta is preferred mostly by young families. The body shows a mature form of Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic’ design language and offers enough space for five passengers. The new Creta comes feature-rich and doesn’t compromise on safety either. For all these reasons, the Hyundai Creta even became the best-selling SUV in India at a point. There are two diesel engines on option: 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre. The 1.4-litre unit comes mated to a 6-speed manual while the 1.6-litre engine can be opted with a 6-speed automatic too.

The Volkswagen Vento – the sedan based on the Polo hatchback, showcases high levels of build quality thanks to the superior German engineering. The car is decently-equipped and the overall fit-and-finish on the inside is good. The Vento has also got a sibling with a Skoda badge – the Rapid. While the diesel variant of the Rapid is available only mated to a manual transmission, the Volkswagen Vento gets an automatic option too. Volkswagen’s reputed 7-speed DSG automatic transmission offers great driveability and is one of the best available on the market.

Powered by the same power plants as in the Swift hatchback, the Dzire is the more ‘Indian-focussed’ Maruti of the lot. The first ‘Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire’ was launched in India back in 2008. The car was initially a full-size sedan but the tax benefits for a sub-four-metre car made Maruti develop a compact-sedan for the Indian market. Now named just the ‘Dzire’, the compact-sedan is in its third avatar and is available with a good diesel engine. The diesel Dzire gives excellent mileage and comes mated to a 5-speed AMT too.

The second-generation Honda Amaze comes with a lighter chassis and more spacious interiors. Though the overall looks of the Honda Amaze aren’t great, the car has been getting good market response since its launch. The Amaze is the first Honda to get the brand’s i-DTEC diesel engine. The Amaze diesel is also available mated to a CVT. In fact, the Honda Amaze is the first and only diesel-CVT compact-sedan available in India. The 1.5-litre unit is the same as in the bigger Honda City.

The Nissan Micra was one of the most feature-loaded hatchbacks in its segment when it was launched back in 2010. It was also one of the first hatchbacks in India to have a start/stop button. Now in its second iteration, the Nissan Micra is also a favourite among cab drivers. The diesel engine in the Micra is sourced from Renault and is a decent performer. The diesel unit is also available mated to a CVT.