Best Petrol Sedan Models

The Maruti Dzire is identical to the Swift hatchback, mechanically. With the extra luggage space, the Maruti Dzire offers better practicality and has got a rather elegant design. The Maruti Dzire is powered by the same petrol engine as in the Swift and showcases decent performance and good mileage.

The new Ford Aspire has got two petrol engines on offer: a new 1.2-litre and a 1.5-litre unit; the latter being mated only to an automatic transmission. The facelifted Ford Aspire comes with many new features and updates over the older version, along with some subtle cosmetic improvements. The Ford Aspire petrol offers good driveability and the 5-speed manual transmission is smooth to operate.

The new Honda Amaze has got a design similar to its elder sibling, the City. The looks of the Honda Amaze have received mixed opinions ranging from ‘sharp’ to ‘weird’. The 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine is the same as in the Honda Jazz hatchback. The engine on the Honda Amaze is quite responsive for its size and has a claimed mileage figure of 19.5km/l. The new Amaze also offers a CVT unit in addition to the 5-speed manual transmission.

The Tata Tigor features a unique design which the brand refers to as ‘styleback’ – an iteration of Tata Motors’ Impact Design philosophy. The Tata Tigor gets all the comfort and features found inside the Tiago hatchback plus an armrest at the rear. The 1.2-litre Revotron petrol engine offers decent performance and mileage, ideal for city commute. Being heavier, performance is a tad lower than the Tiago. Unlike the Tata Tiago, the infotainment comes in the form of a 5-inch touchscreen unit with voice recognition, navigation and Tata’s ConnectNext connectivity options.

The Maruti Ciaz came as a replacement to the now-discontinued SX4 and is sold exclusively through Maruti Suzuki’s Nexa dealerships, the Ciaz is the only full-size sedan currently sold by the brand. The petrol variant of the Maruti Ciaz is powered by a 1.4-litre VVT unit which comes mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. Being a Maruti product, the Ciaz boasts of excellent service network and resale value.

The Honda City has got over twenty years of market presence and is still one of the most-demanded sedans in India. 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 Hyundai Verna brings out the best of the brand’s ‘Fluidic’ design philosophy. Mostly preferred by young families, the Hyundai Verna has also bagged the prestigious ‘Indian Car Of The Year 2018’ award. The car comes feature-loaded and has also got two petrol engines on offer: 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre. While the 1.4 unit gives only decent output, the 1.6-litre mill is quite a performer on higher RPM ranges. The engines come mated to either a 6-speed manual or an automatic.

The Volkswagen Vento is similar to the Skoda Rapid and differs only in some minor styling bits The Vento has gone through one facelift after its introduction in 2010. The petrol avatar of the Volkswagen Vento has got a 1.2-litre TSi and a 1.6-litre MPI unit on offer. The engines come mated either to a 5-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission (1.2-litre TSi). The interiors are also well-equipped and comfortable. On the safety front, the Vento has got a 5-star rating in ASEAN NCAP.

The Toyota Yaris offers a lot of first-in-segment features and is the only C-segment sedan from the Japanese brand in India. The Toyota Yaris is available only in a petrol version and is available either with a 6-speed manual or CVT. The car also comes with seven airbags as standard. The cabin offers lots of space and the overall design looks ‘questionable’. Driving the Toyota Yaris petrol is also a breeze, thanks to the low levels of NVH and the class-leading suspension setup.

The Skoda Octavia offers a lot both in performance as well as in equipment. Although the diesel Octavia TDi variant is the better-selling of the lot, the petrol model is preferred by enthusiasts who like driving. The 1.8-litre TSi petrol unit is quite a capable powerhouse and is a tuner’s favourite, across India. The engine comes mated to Volkswagen’s reputed 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. If the regular petrol Octavia isn’t enough, there is a hardcore performance version of the sedan – the Octavia RS. The RS comes with a 2.0-litre TSi engine and an improved DSG transmission, making it one of the best driver’s car in India as of now.