Best Petrol Automatic Cars

The Alto K10 features Maruti Suzuki’s peppy K-Series engine and is available with a 5-speed AMT gearbox. In addition to the petrol version, the Alto K10 also has a CNG variant. It is also one of the cheapest Maruti models currently available and is a joy to drive. The regular Maruti Alto has been the largest-selling car in India many times. This fact is particularly evident if you travel across India. At any given place, you will spot a Maruti Alto.

The Renault Kwid is the cheapest offering from the French brand in India. The SUV-like design of the Renault Kwid, with bulky fenders and good ground clearance, has got much appreciation in the Indian market. The Renault Kwid is available with either an 800cc or a 1.0-litre petrol engine. The 5-speed AMT is available only with the 1.0-litre option and is engaged using a rotary knob rather than a conventional gear stick. To cater to everyone's taste, the Renault Kwid has been introduced in numerous limited editions too.

The Maruti Celerio when launched, was the first affordable AMT car in India. Other manufacturers started making AMT versions of their hatchback models mainly after the introduction of the Celerio. The 5-speed AMT of the Maruti Celerio offers a smooth driving experience. A funkier version of the Maruti hatchback, named the Celerio X, is also available on the market. The Celerio X carries only cosmetic changes compared to the regular variant.

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 petrol variant uses the same old 1.2-litre unit but is now available with both a 5-speed manual and an automatic transmission. Sold as the Suzuki Swift globally, the hatchback has won many awards over the years and is an active participant in motorsports.

The second-generation Honda Jazz has got a lot of features and updates compared to its previous version. The petrol Jazz offers good performance from its 1.2-litre mill while also giving a decent mileage figure of around 18.7km/l. The design of the Jazz makes room for a lot of practicality too. The seats can be adjusted and folded in multiple ways for the most-efficient space utilisation. The petrol engine comes with a smooth-shifting 5-speed manual or a 7-step CVT unit.

The Volkswagen Polo is the only hatchback sold by the German brand in India. The Polo boasts of class-leading German engineering and offers premium quality interiors. While the current Polo petrol has been downsized to a rather underpowered 1.0-litre unit, the brand still has the more fun GT TSi variant. The turbocharged 1.2-litre unit is a solid performer in its segment and also features Volkswagen’s reputed seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The Polo is also the first car in the segment to introduce a dual-clutch transmission.

The Maruti Dzire – India’s most-loved compact sedan is the sibling to India’s most-loved hatchback – the Maruti Swift. Though the first-gen Dzire was a full-size sedan, the next two generations came as a sub-four-metre compact sedan. It is powered by the same petrol engine as in the Swift and showcases decent performance along with good mileage. The Dzire is an ideal choice for families who are looking forward to buying a small car, but can settle for a smaller sedan.

The Honda City has been the go-to premium sedan for the middle class ever since the first model came to India in 1998. The car has gone through four generations and eight facelifts. With twenty years of market presence, the Honda City is still one of the most-demanded sedans in India. The addition of premium features and comfort in newer models is perhaps what Honda does best with the City. The latest Honda City is powered by 1.5-litre i-VTEC unit which gives a good balance between performance and fuel efficiency. Though Honda enthusiasts miss the old VTEC unit, the current engine is the ideal choice for the wider mass. The petrol engine can be opted with a 5-speed manual or a 7-step CVT.

The Volkswagen Vento boasts of excellent German engineering and build quality. The car has gone through one facelift after its introduction in 2010. There is also a sibling to the Vento which bears a Skoda logo – the Rapid. The interiors are also well-equipped and comfortable. On the safety front, the Vento has got a 5-star rating in ASEAN NCAP. The petrol avatar of the Volkswagen Vento has got a 1.2-litre TSi and a 1.6-litre MPI unit on offer. While the MPi unit makes-do with a 5-speed manual, the more-capable TSi engine comes mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission.

Toyota’s first C-segment sedan in India offers a lot when compared to its competition. The Yaris comes only in a petrol version and is available either with a 6-speed manual or a 7-step CVT. The CVT variant also gets paddle-shifts on the top variant. The car gets seven airbags as standard; something not seen even in higher segment cars. The cabin offers lots of space and the overall design looks matured. Driving the Yaris is also a breeze, thanks to the low levels of NVH.