In India, hatchbacks are used mostly as family cars. They are easy to drive and park, fuel efficient and offer a decent sized boot for weekend getaways. The engines of these cars are usually restricted to a certain displacement and where very few offer dynamic performance, most of the hatchbacks are tuned more towards being efficient in nature. For the average buyer, such performance is adequate enough but what about the ones who are looking for some fun while not missing out on the practicality of a hatchback? Fasten your seat belts as we bring to you a list of the most powerful budget hatchbacks on sale in the country today.
This 145 BHP pocket rocket will send you to the tonne in approximately 8.8 seconds. This is India’s first proper hot hatch and is badged exclusively as an Abarth (Performance division of Fiat). The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine is mated only to a 5-speed manual gearbox and comes with a suspension set lower than the regular Punto. This Abarth was launched late last year at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 9.95 lakhs. Also impressive is its fuel efficiency which is claimed to be 16.3 kmpl under standard testing conditions.
This is a pleasant surprise on this list and not many people are aware of this particular variant of the new Ford Figo hatchback. The company offers a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol motor that develops 110 BHP and 136 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a high tech 6-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox that helps it attain an impressive fuel economy of 17 kmpl. Priced at Rs. 7.20 lakhs ex-showroom, Goa this is the most power you can get per Rupee in India currently, in the hatchback space. The Figo also gets a 99 BHP diesel motor making it one of the most powerful engine line ups in the country.
This is probably the car that is responsible for the existence of the Fiat Abarth Punto and the 110 BHP Ford Figo in India. The Polo GT was launched way back in 2013 and is available with a turbocharged 1.2-litre TSI petrol and a 1.5-litre TDI diesel engine. Both develop 103 BHP but while the diesel gets a 5-speed stick shift, the petrol engine is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Both engines are rated to reach 100 kmph in around 11 seconds and boast a fuel efficiency figure of 17.21 kmpl for the petrol and 19.91 kmpl for the diesel. The Polo GT TSI is priced at Rs. 8.97 lakhs, while the Polo GT TDI sells at 9.08 lakhs ex-showroom, Goa.
Honda’s premium hatchback in diesel avatar makes it to this list of most powerful hatchbacks in India. The Honda Jazz in its previous generation was only powered by a petrol motor and together with premium pricing took toll on its sales despite being a brilliant product. In its current avatar, the Jazz gets a diesel engine from the bigger City sedan which means it is a 1.5-litre unit that develops 99 BHP and 200 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and claims 27.3 kmpl which makes it one of the most efficient diesels in the country. Prices for the Honda Jazz diesel range from Rs. 6.65 lakhs to Rs. 9.01 lakhs ex-showroom, Goa.
The second Fiat on this list is the 90 BHP version of the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine that does duty on the Punto Evo hatchback (not to be confused with Abarth Punto). It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and delivers a fuel efficiency of 20.5 kmpl. This is the range topping variant of the Fiat Punto Evo and sells at Rs. 7.89 lakhs ex-showroom, Goa.
