Top 10 Sedans In India For All Budgets

Segment: Sub-compact

Price: Rs 5.89 lakh to Rs 8.81 lakh

The Dzire has been the segment leader in the sub-4m sedan space for a long time. It is now a petrol-only offering with its 1.2-litre petrol engine that makes 90PS and 113Nm. Maruti offers it with a choice of a 5-speed manual and AMT, claiming a mileage of 23.26kmpl and 24.12kmpl respectively. In its updated avatar, the Dzire gets features like cruise control and ESP along with comforts like a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, auto AC with rear vents and idle stop start.

Segment: Sub-compact

Price: Rs 5.80 lakh to Rs 9.23 lakh

While Hyundai has been part of the sub-4m sedan club for some time now, the Aura is the most recent addition to it. It is based on the new Grand i10 Nios and features a distinct rear-end design. From the side profile, it looks sportier than its segment rivals. The Aura is available with three engines - 1.2-litre petrol (83PS/114Nm) and diesel (75PS/190Nm) units, and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol (100PS/172Nm). All three are mated to a 5-speed manual but only the 1.2-litre petrol and diesel engines get the option of an AMT. It also gets a CNG option with the 1.2-litre petrol unit mated to the 5-speed manual, which makes 69PS and 95Nm. 

In terms of features, the Hyundai sub-compact sedan is equipped with a wireless phone charger, cruise control, 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, semi-digital instrument cluster and choice of all-black interiors. The Aura is not the most spacious offering as a 5-seater, but it is a comfy 4-seater with a premium feel to its interiors.

Segment: Sub-compact

Price: Rs 6.10 lakh to Rs 9.96 lakh

The Honda Amaze does not drive volume sales like the Dzire but it has enjoyed significant popularity within the segment and has been the second-best selling sub-4m sedan for some time now. It is available with 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines that are offered with a choice of a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic. The petrol engine makes 90PS and 110Nm, the diesel-MT makes 100PS and 200Nm, and the diesel-CVT has an output of 80PS and 160Nm.

In terms of features, it gets comforts like cruise control, auto AC, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and push-button engine start. The Amaze offers a spacious cabin and boot with the convenience of 1-litre bottle holders in all doors.

Segment: Compact

Price: Rs 9.31 lakh to Rs 15.10 lakh

Moving up from sub-4m sedans to compact sedans, the Hyundai Verna is an icon of the segment. In its new BS6-compliant and facelifted avatar, the Verna has lost its punchy 1.6-lire engines. Hyundai now offers it with 1.5-litre petrol (115PS/144Nm) and diesel (115PS/250Nm) engines, and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol (120PS/172Nm) engine. The 1.5-litre engines are mated to a 6-speed manual while the turbocharged petrol engine is only offered with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters. The naturally-aspirated petrol gets the option of a CVT auto while the diesel can be had with a 6-speed automatic.

The 2020 Verna continues to offer features like ventilated front seats, wireless charging, a sunroof, cruise control and a premium interior. It also comes equipped with Hyundai’s connected car technology, LED headlamps, a tyre pressure monitoring system, upto 6 airbags and leatherette upholstery. The Verna continues to be the sporty looking offering in this segment.

Segment: Compact

Price: Rs 9.91 lakh to Rs 14.31 lakh

If the Verna is an icon, then the Honda City is a legend in the compact sedan market. It is highlighted by its build quality and the premium feel of the cabin. The City is currently available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine (119PS/145Nm) only as the BS6 diesel is expected to be offered later on. The petrol unit is offered with the choice of a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic. 

The Honda City gets features like leather upholstery, upto 6 airbags, touch controls for the auto AC, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and cruise control. Given its higher prices, the City doesn’t enjoy similar volumes as some of its rivals but it is often the executive’s choice. The new-gen Honda City looks sportier with an updated cabin layout and is due to be launched in the first half of 2020.

Segment: Compact

Price: Rs 8.32 lakh to Rs 11.10 lakh

The Maruti Ciaz is the best value-for-money compact sedan today. It is available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine (105PS/138Nm) with mild-hybrid tech that is mated to a 5-speed manual with the choice of a 4-speed AT. It is adequately equipped and comes with features like auto LED projector headlamps, cruise control, auto AC with rear vents, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and leatherette upholstery. For its price, the Ciaz is hard to fault.

Segment: Compact

Price: Rs 8.86 lakh to Rs 13.29 lakh

The Vento is the sedan version of the Polo hatchback. Volkswagen now offers it with a single petrol engine option, a 1.0-litre turbocharged unit that produces 110PS and 175Nm. It is available with the choice of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. The Vento has fallen a bit behind its rivals in terms of features but that’s not to say the equipment list is insufficient. It still comes with comforts like auto AC, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, upto four airbags and full LED headlamps.

The Vento may not be the punchiest car in the segment but both it and its cousin, the Skoda Rapid, are often considered the choice for the driving enthusiast.

Segment: Compact

Price: Rs 8.76 lakh to Rs 14.18 lakh

The Toyota Yaris compact sedan has enjoyed a mixed response since its launch in 2018. At first, it was quite expensive and the polarising looks didn’t help matters. However, Toyota reshuffled the variant list in September 2019 to lower its entry prices and updated some features too. The Yaris has been a petrol-only option since launch, powered by a 1.5-litre engine making 107PS and 140Nm. It is offered with a choice of a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed CVT automatic.

The Yaris’ distinguishing feature is its safety package that offers a minimum three airbags and upto seven airbags across all trim levels. It is also equipped with front parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring system and hill start assist. Toyota also offers the Yaris with plenty of comforts such as rain-sensing wipers, roof mounted air vent, leather upholstery, rear sunshade, cruise control and 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with gesture control.

Segment: Mid-size

Price: Rs 17.94 lakh to Rs 21.25 lakh

Moving up one more step in the sedan market, we have the Honda Civic. This Japanese icon returned to India in its tenth generation avatar in early 2019. Currently, it is only offered with its 1.8-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT automatic, producing 141PS of power and 174Nm of torque. The 1.6-litre diesel-manual option is expected to return in its BS6 compliant form later in 2020. It may be a tad underpowered for its sporty coupe looks but it is still a good driving package that has been tuned for Indian driving conditions.

It gets four airbags, handling assist, disc brakes on all four wheels and an electronic parking brake as standard. In its top-spec, the Honda Civic comes equipped with features like a lane watch camera, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dual zone climate control, remote engine start, rain-sensing wipers and ambient lighting in the cabin.

It is the only mid-size sedan in our list. If you’re a Skoda fan, you’d know that BS6 Octavia is yet to arrive in India so it was not taken into consideration.

Segment: Premium

Price: Rs 37.88 lakh

The most premium offering in this list is the Toyota Camry hybrid. It offers a truly premium cabin experience with soft-touch materials and features like power reclining rear seats, powered rear sunshade, 10-way power adjustable ventilated front seats and a tilt and slide moonroof. The tenth-gen Camry is also equipped with nine airbags, three zone climate control, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless charging, 10-inch head-up display and a touch-capacitive screen in the rear centre armrest for various controls.

The Camry offers an impressive self-charging hybrid powertrain that produces a combined output of 218PS and 221Nm with an e-CVT automatic transmission. Its 2.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor work in tandem to achieve max efficiency. The petrol engine on its own produces 178PS and 221Nm while the electric motor has an output of 120PS and 202Nm.

Even though it is not a plug-in hybrid, the Camry can be driven in pure EV mode as well at city speeds for short distances. Toyota claims a fuel efficiency figure of 23.27kmpl for the Camry’s hybrid setup. Its rivals, the Honda Accord Hybrid and Skoda Superb are currently not on sale but are expected to be reintroduced with BS6 engines soon.