Only a few would be unaware of the fact that hatchbacks account for a major share in the Indian car market. The demand of hatchbacks has been such that every car maker maintains its presence in the fabled segment. However, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai have always been the stalwarts of the respective segment as their cars are preferred more by Indian customers. At present, there is no dearth of petrol hatchbacks in India which have been present in domestic market for quite a while now. To mention some of the best petrol hatchbacks in the country, an assessment of the same is made below.
While talking about the best hatchbacks in the country, Hyundai i20 clearly props up in the minds of many. Since its inception in the Indian car market, the car has fared quite well considering the level of competition given by Maruti Suzuki cars. Over the years, i20 has built upon a reputation of being the best premium hatchback in the country that is offered with loads of features and equipment. Based on the Fluidic Design Scripture, the car of Hyundai clearly ranks high among the best looking cars in India till date. i20 has got a crisp and elegant body structure, which goes in hand with its exquisitely designed interiors. Also to mention, the cabin of the car is more attractive than exteriors as it has got dual-tone dashboard.
Coming to the technical specification of i20, the petrol version is offered in two engine options, which are 1.2-litre Kappa and 1.4-litre Gamma. In the former, Hyundai has given 83 worth of power alongside the 113 Nm of torque. On the other, the high-specification, 1.4-litre Gamma powertrain generates a power output of 98 bhp along with 136 Nm of torque. At present, the premium hatchback of Hyundai is available at an introductory price of Rs. 4.92 lakh.
Since commencing its operations in India, Maruti Suzuki has always manufactured the best-selling hatchbacks. The latest entrant in most iconic car models ever manufactured by Maruti Suzuki would be Swift. The car which shares its roots in India since 2005 has been one of the best sellers for the company as it still holds a tremendous demand. Maruti Suzuki Swift has gone through a lot of updates in the recent past. The current version boasts of a powerful engine that renders a best-in-class fuel efficiency. Coming to engine configurations of Swift, the petrol version gets a 1.2-litre K-Series unit that generates a power of 86 bhp besides the 114 Nm of torque. The petrol engine powered Swift carries an ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 4.58 lakh for the base variant.
While mentioning the top petrol hatchbacks that come full circle in all departments, Ford Figo comes an as automatic entry to the list. The car has been performing well in the Indian car market keeping in mind about the segment in which it operates. The petrol version of Figo is powered by a 1.2-litre Duratec engine which is capable of producing a peak output of 70 bhp while attaining a maximum torque of 102 Nm. As claimed by the company, petrol Ford Figo gives away an average of 15.6 kmpl as per ARAI standards. Furthermore, the aggressive price tag of Figo has helped to eke out a considerable demand. The base petrol variant carries an ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 3.98 lakh.
