Small turbo-petrol hatchbacks with manual gearboxes are a recipe for fun. And the two cars we have here have clocked sub-10sec 0-100kph timings. But the way these put down their performance is a lot different, as demonstrated during these races. The
Polo TSI puts down its power a lot more cleanly and performs best when launched around 2,500rpm with controlled wheelspin. And once its turbo starts singing, it pulls forward in an energetic manner. The
Nios requires a lot more skill to extract the best out of it, due to a rather sticky clutch, which causes a bit of a delay between shifts, and its skinny 175mm tyres that struggle for grip, thus losing precious time in the drag race. At the end, the 110hp Polo was victorious, with its best run being 16.367sec for the quarter-mile, while the 100hp Nios Turbo’s best was 17.1sec after multiple attempts.
BS4 model With the new DualJet engine the Swift gets a 7hp increase in power, a healthier torque curve (though no increase) and improved fuel economy. The Swift was already the most frugal car in its class and that figure has improved by about 2kpl to 23.2kpl when equipped with the manual gearbox, and about 2.6kpl to 23.76kpl with the AMT. This can be partially attributed to the idle start/stop system available with the Maruti hatchback. The Figo’s 18.5kpl figure is the lowest here while all three petrol engine and gearbox options available with the Grand i10 Nios are rated just above 20kpl.
0 Comments If you are looking for a car that’ll elevate your daily drive with a bit of performance, it’s likely you’re on the lookout for the quickest car on a budget. Here are the five quickest cars in the 0-100kph sprint – as tested by Autocar India – under Rs 10 lakh.
1. Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Turbo 9.82s Hyundai’s smallest turbo-petrol model is also its quickest. With a 9.82s time to 100kph – thanks to the 1.0 turbo-petrol unit making 100hp and 172Nm – the
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Turbo is the quickest car in India under Rs 10 lakh. Other highlights of this sporty hatchback include a roomy interior, plush ride and modern kit. Do note that that Nios Turbo is available in the higher-spec Sportz variant and misses out on some features such as a rear wiper and keyless entry and a push-button start available on the top-spec Asta.