If you are looking to buy a new car and you are willing to spend about 8 to 12 lakh Indian Rupees, then use this excel sheet Which car should I buy? and apply the appropriate filters to get the best fit for you. The prices are as of July 2015 and on-road in Tamil Nadu, India. If you are not willing to spend >6 lakh or if you budget is >12 lakh INR, please read no further.
This list was prepared keeping in mind the young professional who is willing to spend a substantial amount of money to have a rich driving experience, make a statement at the workplace and at the same time prevent oneself from spending irrationally and weeping later on. Also, this review helps those who don't know much about cars and who are terrified about the too many factors that conventional car reviews discuss. If you are confused by the use of terms like sedan, compact sedan or hatchback etc. etc., you have come to the right site. Read on.
This review is unique in that it compares a lot of options in one place, which you may not find elsewhere. The cars discussed here are top of the line models and are designed give you a luxurious feel. However if you have zeroed in on a car but cannot shell out that much money you can enquire the dealer for toned down variants of the same car which will feel 1-1.5 lakhs lighter on your pocket and you will have to compromise on features like reduced dashboard features, camera parking sensors, rear window wipers and some other luxuries. I have not prepared a separate mileage column here because nowadays almost all petrol cars give a range of 15 to 18 kmpl and all diesel cars give a range of 18 to 22 kmpl, except for the SUV models which have low mileage scores and also because the figures quoted by manufacturers never hold water.
If you are split between buying a petrol or diesel car, use this simple thumb rule: If you are an average commuter moving <30 km per day and occasional long distance travels go for petrol, if you cover >30 kms per day and make frequent long distant journeys go for diesel. To help you make a decision use this Diesel or Petrol? guide and you can change values in the orange cells like price of fuel, mileage, cost difference to suite your needs and make the right decision.
I have only included those brands and model which have stood the test of time and are reliable; and so this is not meant for people who have the money to be risk takers and experimentalists. Also, if you have unlimited money and don't give a sh** about post sales expenditure you can look to other brands.
After all this research which I conducted for a personal use, I thought it would be worthwhile to share the findings for the benefit of others like me. Please leave a comment.
Thanks.
Disclaimer: This is an independent assessment. I declare no conflict of interest and this is a non-sponsored blog.
