The Indian automobile market has seen some pretty incredible products in the last couple of decades which garnered admiration from car enthusiasts
In this post, we take a look at the top 7 cars which we would love to see on the Indian roads again. The Indian automobile industry has been thriving for a long time now. In fact, at present, we have become the 3rd largest automobile market globally. That is a commendable achievement. Obviously, in this journey, the market experienced tons of products which stood out from the crowd. Unfortunately, for some reason or other, they are no longer on sale. Either the model has been discontinued or the carmaker quit operations in India. Here is our list of the top 7 such cars which should come back to India.
Top 7 Cars Which Should Come Back To India
Hyundai Elantra
Let us commence with the Hyundai Elantra. It remained in production in the Indian market from 2004 to 2021. It was a premium mid-size sedan which sat above the existing Hyundai Verna. In its lifecycle, the 2012 Elantra with the fluidic design was arguably the most famous iteration. It had an indelible impact on the Indian customers. In essence, it was a perfect car to justify the tag of ‘affordable luxury’. At the time, it rivalled the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla in our market.
In 2016, there was yet another update which ensured that the owners get to experience the utmost comfort and convenience amenities. Hence, the interior cabin was made up of premium materials along with the latest tech and gadgets. Unfortunately, in the last 5-6 years, the demand for SUVs has gone through the roof, not just in India, but across the globe. Hence, there were not many buyers for the Elantra. As a result, it was taken off the showroom floors. We would love for it to come back in the avatar which currently sells in international markets.
Mitsubishi Pajero
The only SUV on this list is the Mitsubishi Pajero. It was an imposing SUV with colossal dimensions and incredible off-roading capabilities. With a powerful 2.8-litre intercooled turbo diesel engine, the Pajero was the dream SUV for many Indians. On the inside, it had acres of space for the passengers and luggage. It remained in production between 2002 and 2012. The popularity of the SUV was so high that even Bollywood personalities and other top stars possessed it.
In 2010, it received a thorough update in the form of Pajero Sport. It had a modern appearance with slightly more curves than the original Pajero. Note that Pajero won the Dakar Rally a whopping 12 times. That is a testament to its reliability and ruggedness. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi is no longer operational in India.
Mitsubishi Lancer
Next up, we have yet another Mitsubishi on this list called the Cedia, which was basically the 7th generation of the Lancer. The Lancer was on sale in India from 1998 to 2013. In fact, many driving enthusiasts still have immense love for that powerful sedan. In the aftermarket car modification market, it was among the most popular vehicles to tune. Hence, it still remains in the hearts of automobile lovers. However, due to high maintenance costs and limited sales and service network, it never caught on among the masses. Still, as driving aficionados, we would love to have it on our roads once again.
VW Polo
Arguably the most popular vehicle on this list is the VW Polo. It has been an iconic product for the German carmaker not just in India, but in many international markets over the years. In India, the premium hatchback remained on sale from 2010 to 2022. In essence, it redefined this segment with unmatchable performance and driving dynamics. In fact, it was revered by driving enthusiasts and petrolheads. The fact that VW couldn’t bring the new-gen model to our shores was disheartening for many.
Still, its peppy TSI turbo petrol and powerful TDI turbo diesel engines set a benchmark which was just impossible for the rivals to beat. Unfortunately, the competition in this segment has increased over the years tremendously. Hence, people got vehicles with better features and modern cabin. Hence, the VW Polo had to be discontinued. Still, people take it to the aftermarket for hardcore performance modifications and tuning.
Chevrolet Cruze
Next up, we have the Chevrolet Cruze. It was among the best-looking vehicles in the segment a decade ago. The craze for this premium sedan was unparalleled. The biggest attraction, apart from its imposing looks, was the powerful engine. Its 2.0-litre diesel engine generated a whopping 166 hp and 380 Nm of peak power and torque. That is higher than even the most potent engines on sale in this segment even today. Hence, the claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time was a brisk 9.6 seconds. In the mid-2010s, a sub-10-second 0-100 km/h time was beyond the capabilities of any mass-market car. That is what led to extensive applause by the Cruze lovers.
Some people even took the aftermarket car modification route to access over 200 hp of maximum power from the same engine. That hints at the potential this engine had. Due to high maintenance and service costs, however, people refrained from buying it. Finally, Chevrolet left India in 2017. Hence, we stopped seeing this monster on our roads.
Maruti Kizashi
I must admit that the Maruti Kizashi was the biggest surprise in the Indian automobile market in the 2010-2020 decade. Maruti Suzuki is the biggest carmaker in India. It has held that position in our market since its inception. However, its biggest attraction is its low-cost mass-market cars with high mileage and low running and maintenance costs. While that is the brand’s strength, it decided to suddenly sell a relatively affordable sports car in 2009. That is something no one was expecting. As a result, people never believed that Maruti Suzuki could sell a sports car.
This is a prime example of brand identity and image. It possessed a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine which generated a whopping 177 PS and 230 Nm of peak power and torque. This engine was mated to an automatic transmission for a scintillating performance for a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 8.8 seconds. With a starting price of Rs 17 lakh, ex-showroom, it sadly didn’t find many buyers. This was due to the fact that it was imported which attracted over 100% taxes, essentially, doubling its original price. Hence, the project was scrapped altogether.
Honda Civic
Completing this list is the Honda Civic. It has been a ridiculously successful moniker for the Japanese car marque across the globe. This is particularly true for North America outside its home market of Japan. Even in India, it gained fairly decent traction when it was on sale between 2006 to 2020. It was a premium mid-size sedan which rivalled the aforementioned Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla. Interestingly, we had the same model from 2006 to 2013. That is when it was discontinued. Then we received the Civic in 2019 with all the modern bells and whistles along with powerful engine options.
However, it was discontinued only 1 year after the launch in 2020. There is a strange story behind this discontinuation. In 2020, Honda shifted its production facility from Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh to Tapukara, Rajasthan to increase manufacturing efficiency. However, the assembly line in Tapukara was not designed for a vehicle of Civic’s dimensions. Due to this piddly reason, the company had to stop selling it. That represents mismanagement on the part of the car marque. In any case, these are the top 7 cars we wish we could see in India again.
Also Read: New Maruti Suzuki Dzire Test Drive Review – Amazingly More Desirable?
