How we did it?
Below is the detailed list of pointers that we have taken into consideration. Each car is rated individually on a scale of 10, with the winner getting maximum points and then the rest in descending order. The car with the highest score wins.
Price: We have considered the top-of-the-line versions of each of the car and the most affordable one gets maximum points and vice versa.
Efficiency: The most efficient car gets maximum points followed by the second, third and so on; these are purely based on the ARAI claimed figures.
Power: The car with higher power rating wins, in case two cars have similar power rating, then the car with higher torque figure gets more points.
Utility: We cannot quantify cabin space that easily, but boot space, cup holders, bottle holders and other storage place can be listed on paper. The more the boot space, more the points, these are then added together with the points on ergonomics. Every additional cup holder, bottle holder and storage place over the front door pockets gets counted in the total score.
Convenience: Every feature that is worth mentioning gets one point. So a basic music system will lose out to one with Bluetooth telephony, while a touch-screen system with navigation scores over most others. Projector headlamps, rear AC vents, parking sensors and all other features will get counted here.
Warranty: Higher the number of years, more the points. If the number of years is the same, then weightage would automatically shift to kilometres. Unlimited is better than 1,00,000km, which is then preferred over 50,000km and so on.
Safety: Basic safety like the front airbags, ABS-EBD are a must, anything less and the car loses points. If we have more safety features here, it will certainly boost the score.
Top 3 D-Segment sedans
India being a price sensitive market, B-segment sedans have always been a major contributor to car manufacturers overall sales figures. As for those who craved for more space, power and features, there was always the D-segment sedans that addressed every need. The segment is primarily ruled by three key players – Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla Altis and the Skoda Octavia. Here below, we have compared the top-spec diesel variants of each of these models which are sold in India. Read on to find which one emerges as a good choice and which one is bit heavy on the pocket.
1.Hyundai Elantra (64/70):
Amongst the three, the Hyundai Elantra SX (O) AT emerges as a good choice even though it shares the top spot with the Skoda Octavia. The top spec Elantra is powered by 1.6-litre four cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that generates 126bhp of power and 260Nm of torque. The variant is offered with a six-speed automatic transmission. Although it loses some points on power in comparison to the Octavia, it scores well in terms of fuel efficiency figures of 21.54kmpl. The Elantra also impresses us with features as it gets eight-inch AVN, climate control, ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, push-button start and more. The vehicle offers the best in class 3 year/unlimited kilometer warranty. However, it loses some points on having the smallest boot space of the lot at only 420-litres capacity with six airbags with ABS and EBD. The top spec Elantra is priced at Rs 18.47 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi)
2.Skoda Octavia (64/70):
Skoda Octavia CR Style Plus stands at par with the Elantra. The Octavia could have won the game but it primarily loses out on three aspects - price, warranty and fuel efficiency figures. Priced at Rs 22.9 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Octavia is expensive by over 4 lakhs in comparison to the Elantra. The vehicle also has the lowest fuel efficiency figure of 19.5kmpl and offers 2 years/ unlimited warranty unlike the other two which offer three year warranty. However, the sedan fairs the best in all parameters as it gets a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine mated to seven-speed automatic that generates 141bhp of power at 3500rpm and 320Nm of torque at 1750rpm. It offers the biggest boot space of 590-litres and is also the safest as it gets eight airbags with ABS and EBD. As for features, the Octavia gets eight-inch AVN, climate control, auto-park, panoramic sunroof and more.
3.Toyota Corolla Altis (60/70):
Toyota Corolla Altis GL diesel scores the lowest points in comparison to the other two. To begin with, the top-spec diesel is limited to six-speed manual transmission. The 1.4-litre engine produces 87bhp of power at 3800rpm and 205Nm of torque at 1800rpm. The Corolla Altis is the most affordable one in the lot as it is priced at 18.27 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The vehicle gets the second to best boot space of 470-litres and returns a decent fuel economy of 21.3kmpl. Toyota offers three years/ one lakh kilometers warranty on the Corolla Altis. However, in terms of safety and features, the vehicle scores the lowest as it offers three airbags and ABS with EBD, a smaller seven-inch infotainment, climate control and fairly average interior in its segment.
