Best Petrol Sedan Models

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 and 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 new Honda Amaze looks identical to its elder sibling, the City. Unveiled at Auto Expo 2018, the latest iteration of the Amaze carries major design overhauls both on the outside and inside. The looks of the new 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 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 addition of a touchscreen infotainment system also improves the Amaze’s desirability.

Tata Tigor, the sedan version of the Tata Tiago hatchback, features a unique design which the brand refers to as ‘styleback’ – an iteration of Tata Motors’ Impact Design philosophy. The Tigor gets all the comfort and features found inside the Tiago plus an armrest at the rear. Unlike the Tiago, the infotainment comes in the form of a 5-inch touchscreen unit with voice recognition, navigation and Tata’s ConnectNext connectivity options. 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.

The Maruti Ciaz came as a replacement to the SX4. 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 Ciaz is a good option for those who want more but like to stay loyal to Maruti.

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 Next-Gen Hyundai Verna brings out the best of the brand’s ‘Fluidic’ design philosophy. The sedan looks great from every angle, especially from the rear quarter. 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 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 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.

Toyota’s first C-segment sedan, the Yaris, offers a lot of first-in-segment features. The Yaris comes 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 Yaris is also a breeze, thanks to the low levels of NVH and the class-leading suspension setup. The Toyota Yaris is definitely the most comfortable sedan in its segment and is best for rear seat-travel rather than to drive.

The Toyota Corolla Altis carries the brand’s global design language and is available to buy in a lot of countries. The first Corolla (ninth-generation of the global model) was introduced in India in 2003. The sedan has gone through three updates since its introduction. The Corolla Altis offers lots of comfort inside and is still the most-preferred premium sedan for many. The current model has got a decent-performing petrol engine and comes mated to a 6-speed manual or a 7-step CVT. Interior comfort and space is also good and the car boasts of Toyota’s excellent reliability.

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. 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.