You Drive Me Crazy – Top 4 Luxury Small Cars That Have Recently Come To India

More than two decades ago, the Maruti 800 was the best small car in India that money could buy. But today, the market has just exploded with a number of brands stepping into the country and bringing their versions of the small car. This year, we have seen some new additions by luxury car makers such as BMW, MINI and Mercedes. These, of course, cater to the luxury segment, but nevertheless, are aimed at people who want to drive small cars.

Driving a small car in Indian cities makes a lot of sense as the traffic keeps increasing and lakhs of new vehicles come out on the roads every year. Here is a list of top 4 (in random order) luxury small cars and hatchbacks present in India and what they offer. They are the most popular four-wheelers in the luxury small car segment and will be just perfect to drive on the busy Indian roads.

1)Mercedes A-Class A180 CDI (Rs 23.39 lakh upwards)
This is a car built for any type of excursion. If you want to go out for a spin in the city or travel to a nearby vacation destination, this is the car for you. The looks of this hatchback are very modern and sporty. You also get a decent-sized cabin to seat a family of 4. It has all the modern amenities inside as far as entertainment and safety are concerned. There are front airbags, brake assist, electronic stability and tyre pressure warning systems in this car. The driver gets an electronically managed seat, but not the front passenger.

For entertainment, the A-Class has a CD changer with speakers all over the cabin. Navigation is also available. Everything is placed conveniently inside the cabin. As for the engine, this one has a 2.2 litre diesel engine and a 7-speed automatic transmission system. The company claims that it gives an average of 20.39 KMPL but in real-time driving on city roads, it should give you around 17 KMPL.

2)BMW 1 Series 118d Sports Plus (Rs 29.9 lakh upwards)
This is the latest hatchback entrant from the international luxury car maker. The car seems to have been manufactured with an Indian driver in mind as everything it has to offer is pretty good for the Indian roads, except the ride height. Riding the traditional BMW looks and kidney grille outside, the 1 Series is excellent to look at, has exceptional road presence and simply screams for attention. The boot is large to accommodate weekend getaway luggage and the front seats are big enough for tall people. However, the legroom at the rear is a bit less.

BMW has taken special care when it comes to safety. You get airbags all over the cabin. Various drive assists such as ABS and cornering brake assist are also present in this model. For entertainment, the cockpit has the latest sparkle. You get the proprietary BMW iDrive system and everything from the CD player to the volume knob is within the reach of the driver. Steering keys are present, but one usually ends up using the iDrive knob next to the middle hand rest. The drive is super zippy. The 2.0 litre, 8-Speed automatic diesel engine just lights up as soon as you press the throttle. Four drive modes, including the comfort and the sports mode, are present in the 1 Series and drivers can shift between them on the fly.

3)Mercedes B-Class B180 CDI (Rs 25.24 lakh)
We call this car the soccer mom’s car. It’s just perfect for ladies who want to drive around the town or take their kids to soccer (or cricket) practice. This is spacious enough for a family of 5. The large boot enables one to put the weekend shopping and goods at the back. The ride is comfortable and the suspension absorbs most bumps on the roads with ease. The design of the car is very van-like, which is a good thing as you get more headroom inside the cabin.

For safety, one gets the usual front air bags, brake assists and ABS. B-Class also has the eco-mode and when enabled, it stops the engine as soon as you stop at a traffic light and turns it on when you let go of the break paddle. The 2,143 CC diesel engine produces 250 Nm of torque and has city mileage of about 13.5 KMPL.

4)Mini Cooper Convertible (Rs 32.5 lakh)
Now here is a car that is small, easy to slide through on the busiest of streets and can get you a lot of attention as well. Although it has rear seats, the car is best suited for two people. The rear seats can only accommodate shorter people or kids. The best feature of this small car is the soft rooftop, which comes down at a press of a button and will get you more eyeballs than Miley Cyrus’ crimp movements.

The design is typically MINI and just breathtaking. The car is quick, but the steering is a bit heavy and one needs to put extra effort while turning. The interiors are excellent and you get premium leather upholstery – right from the steering wheel to the seats. The interiors are very retro and all the buttons have an 80’s feel to it. MINI has put Harman Kardon speakers all around the cabin, which are great for music. This car does provide you with most luxury features in a small cockpit, but be ready for manual seat adjustment.