As 2013 draws to a close, it’s time once again to look back at all the new cars launched in the twelve months prior. This has been an interesting year, and although you will have read about many exciting launches, both on this website and on the pages of Autocar India, many of them were facelifts, new variants and special editions, rather than all-new cars – and therefore ineligible for our top prize. So, the contenders may be fewer than in previous years, but what this year lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in variety. Hatchbacks, saloons, SUVs of various sizes, MPVs and even an electric car – there was something for just about any taste.
As ever, we gathered the year’s new cars together to reacquaint ourselves with them, and brought back our team of expert jurors to drive them in a variety of conditions and give us their verdict. So what was their pick as Car of the Year 2013-14? You’ll have to wait a bit more for that answer, but in the meantime, get to know the contenders for this year’s top honour. Which one would you pick?
THE JURY:
Hormazd Sorabjee –Editor, Autocar India
Shapur Kotwal – Deputy editor, Autocar India
Narain Karthikeyan – Professional racing driver,
Renuka Kirpalani – Editor, the Autocar Show
Manvendra Singh – India’s foremost automobile historian
Here's a detailed look at the contenders >>>>
THE CONTENDERS
Chevrolet Sail saloon
The Sail U-VA hatchback took home our award for best compact car last year, so its booted up brother already has a chip on its shoulder. With the Sail, GM India promises mid-size saloon comfort at a compact saloon price, and on paper, it certainly delivers. It’s a comfortable and neat looking mid-size saloon that’s definitely worth a look.
Honda CR-V
The original CR-V was the one that kicked off the soft-roader craze here in India, and really drove home the point that SUVs need not be crude and cumbersome. And now, for its third generation, the company has made the CR-V even more appealing by assembling it in India and thereby bringing the price down. Shame there’s still no diesel engine option, however.
Mahindra e2o
The e2o picks up the mantle from the old Maini Reva and truly ushers the Indian Electric Car into the modern world. More space, comfort, refinement, power and range make this an easier car to live with, and the technology is really well integrated into the driving experience. It is a little pricey, but what the e2o proves is that electric cars are becoming very much part of the mainstream.
Honda Amaze
This is Honda’s maiden entry to the hugely popular compact saloon market, and also the carrier of its first diesel engine for India. These two factors alone make it a very attractive car, but Honda has worked its magic in other areas to really make this a car you want to buy. It’s truly spacious in the cabin and the boot, it performs decently, and with two engine and two gearbox options, there’s a wide range to choose from.
Chevrolet Enjoy
Continuing Chevrolet’s trend of big space for compact money is the Enjoy MPV. It may lack a certain feel-good factor, but then it really delivers where an MPV should – space, comfort, an airy cabin and good practicality. It’s got a flexible interior with seats that flip, slide and fold in various configurations to give you the space you need. All in all, a good choice for a family MPV.
Mercedes-Benz GL-class
Mercedes’ gargantuan seven-seat luxury SUV is back in an all-new avatar, and is bigger and even more luxurious than before. Back too are the silky smooth 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine and fantastic air suspension, as well as the hugely comfortable seats in all three rows. And the good news is it’s now assembled here, so it’s a little more affordable as a result.
Mercedes-Benz A-class
The A-class, Merc’s most affordable model, shakes away all doubts anyone might have about a hatchback being luxurious. The cabin is pukka Mercedes, with leather, aluminium and delicate stitching everywhere. There’s good equipment and decent driving dynamics, and if those things don’t get you, the looks certainly will – this is a stunning looking car.
Mahindra Verito Vibe
Mahindra has been selling Renault and Dacia’s capable Logan saloon as the Verito for some time now, but now, thanks to a little Indian ingenuity, has managed to make it an even better value proposition. The Vibe is still technically a saloon, albeit one with a heavily truncated boot, but because it’s less than four metres long, it benefits from small car tax cuts.
Volvo V40 Cross Country
The Cross Country is Volvo’s V40 hatchback with greater ground clearance and tough looking off-roader styling details; in other words, the version that’s perfect for India. But this isn’t an off-roader or a crossover – it’s a luxury hatchback with a tough-guy image. It’s got loads of equipment, a powerful diesel engine and a properly plush cabin too.
Ford EcoSport
Like the Renault Duster, the Ford EcoSport is a front-wheel drive, compact SUV that’s based on a saloon car, but it is even more road-focussed and car-like. It’s smaller and less spacious than the Renault, but because it’s less than four metres long, it’s also a whole lot more affordable. There’s no wonder it’s one of the most in demand cars on the market right now.
BMW 1-series
Hot on the heels of the Mercedes A-class in 2013 was BMW’s own compact luxury hatchback, the 1-series. The styling may not be to everyone’s taste, but there’s no doubt that this is a BMW. A fact that’s cemented when you drive it – this front-engine, rear-wheel-drive hatchback is an absolute joy to drive. It’s luxurious too, but perhaps a tad on the expensive side.
Hyundai Grand i10
This is a car that was meant to replace the i10, but it’s such a step up from its predecessor – not to mention half a size larger – that Hyundai’s decided to sell both side by side. It sets new standards of quality and equipment for the segment and also brings with it a new compact diesel engine. However, prices of higher-spec models tread dangerously into i20 territory.
Skoda Octavia
The Laura is gone and the Octavia is back. Despite Skoda’s confusing model nomenclature, what’s clear is that this is an all-new car that improves heavily on its predecessor in almost every facet. It’s still got all the traits the Laura was loved for (except perhaps that ultimate feeling of solidity) and is bang up to date to take on the best in the executive segment.
Ashok Leyland Stile
You may have only seen the Ashok Leyland badge on trucks and buses until now, but now the company is foraying into the passenger car segment, and its first offering is the Stile. It’s a badge-engineered Nissan Evalia, yes, but AL has used a few simple tweaks to make it more affordable, and therefore a more exciting value proposition.
Nissan Terrano
The latest in Renault-Nissan’s badge engineering endeavours, the Terrano, is a bit different. The changes made to its donor car, the Duster, are more significant than usual, and for once, the Nissan model is more expensive than its Renault counterpart. It’s arguably more attractive too, but could this higher positioning push it a segment too high?