With the year 2018 drawing to a close, it has become apparent that we pick our list of the top 10 car launches. This year we saw a whole array of automobile manufacturers launching several new products as well as full-model upgrades of the existing line-up.
From hatchbacks to luxury soft-roaders, from Maruti Suzuki to Volvo, the list includes it all. In this detailed article, we have compiled a lift of India’s top 10 car launches for the year 2018.
We tell you about their prices, their engine specifications, what features they have and in which segment they are going to compete and with what competition. Read along!
The first car on our list of top 10 car launches of 2018 is the new Maruti Suzuki Swift
The third generation iteration of the Maruti Swift made its debut in India during the month of February this year. In its current iteration it comes with a major overhaul across its various parameters as it comes with a new exterior and interior design, more features and better safety equipment.
The only thing which remains the same as before
The second most important launch of the year 2018 was the comeback of the Hyundai Santro
The new generation Hyundai Santro is surely amongst our top picks for the top 10 car launches for 2018. Launched in October, the third generation iteration of the Santro makes its comeback after a gap of almost 5
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Hyundai has completely revamped the characteristics of the Santro with the launch of this new iteration. It still somewhat maintains its tall-boy stance and continues to offer better features and premium feel than the rest of the competition. Interestingly, it gets the same engine specifications as the older generation of this vehicle. The prices of the new Santro falls in the range of INR 3.9 lakh to INR 5.65 lakh (ex=showroom).
The next car to make it to the list of top 10 car launches for 2018 is the New Honda Amaze
In order to compete with the likes of the Maruti Dzire, Honda introduced the second generation iteration of its sub-compact sedan, the Amaze in the Indian market this year. With a bolder exterior design and a plush cabin in addition to segment comparable features and creature comforts, the Amaze is, so far, performing quite well for the Japanese automaker in India.
The new Honda Amaze, carrier forward the same engine specifications as before, however, it now offers the option of an automatic gearbox in both petrol as well as diesel engine options. And this too not an AMT, but a segment first CVT unit. Prices for the new Amaze falls in-between the range of INR 5.81 lakh to 9.11 lakh (ex-showroom).
The top 10 car launches for 2018 is incomplete if we do not mention the all-new Toyota Yaris
Showcased for the first time in India at the 2018 Auto Expo, the Toyota Yaris comes quite late to the party of C-segment sedans in India. It competes with the likes of well-established players like the Maruti Ciaz and the Honda City. With the Yaris, Toyota is banking on safety, premium features and creature comforts.
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Interestingly, the Japanese automaker has launched the Yaris in India with just a petrol derivative. And it does not have any plans to introduce a diesel derivative in the near future. The prices for the Toyota Yaris are slightly premium than the competition. It falls in-between the range of INR 9.29 lakh to INR 14.07 lakh (ex-showroom).
The fifth car in the list of top 10 car launches of 2018 is the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
Just like the Swift, one of the other major launches for Maruti Suzuki in India for the year 2018 was the debut of the all-new Ertiga MPV. In this second generation iteration, the Ertiga looses its similarities with the Swift clan and boasts of its own unique identity. That said, it shares the same lightweight HEARTEC platform as the rest of the Maruti Suzuki family.
What it also shares with its siblings is its long list of features and a practical cabin. The new Ertiga feels solidly built however it lacks the premium feel inside the cabin. That said, the ride quality is quite good and the introduction of a new petrol engine with SHVS tech helps in reducing its driving cost to a decent extent. Prices for the new Ertiga fall in-between the range of INR 7.44 to INR 10.90 lakh (ex-showroom).
Another MPV which makes it to the list of top 10 car launches in 2018 is the Mahindra Marazzo
With the launch of the Marazzo, Mahindra is trying to tell that they can make premium and good-looking vehicle which the current crop of buyers in India want. The Marazzo, designed and developed by Mahindra teams in India and abroad bring the best seen for the homegrown automaker by far.
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It is based on a ladder frame chassis but mounts the engine transversely. The engine, is a newly developed 1.5-litre oil-burner which which will soon get BS-VI compliance along with a petrol counter part and an automatic gearbox. The Marazzo comes with several fatures and with prices falling in-between the range of INR 9.99 lakh to 13.95 lakh (ex-showroom), it fall perfectly in-between the likes of Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova Crysta.
Another Mahindra vehicle making to the list of top 10 car launches in 2018 is the Alturas G4
Sold in India as the rebadged version of the next-generation SsangYong Rexton, the Alturas G4 helps Mahindra takes the fight to the likes of Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour. Helping the Alturas in competing with these segment stalwarts is its expansive list of features and creature comforts.
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In India, Mahindra has launched the Alturas with just a diesel engine under its hood. And it comes with an automatic gearbox as standard, for both the 2WD and the 4WD iteration. The prices of the Mahindra Alturas falls in-between the range of INR 26.95 lakh to INR 29.95 lakh (ex-showroom).
The all-new Honda CR-V is the second premium full-sized SUV which was amongst the top 10 car launches this year
Honda, with the launch of the next-generation CR-V in the Indian market, marks its commitment as the manufacturer of premium vehicles after its plans to take on the budget segment did not bring fruit. The new CR-V, though competing with the likes of Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner, remains a premium soft-roader and lacks the off-roading skills its competition flaunts.
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However, where it lacks in terms of its off-the-road credentials, it makes up in terms of on board creature comforts. The CR-V is available in both petrol as well as diesel powertrain options and only with automatic gearboxes. prices for the CR-V fall in-between the range of INR 28.15 lakh to 30.65 lakh (ex-showroom).
The pocket rockets, Tata Tiago JTP and the Tigor JTP are the next on our list of top 10 car launches for 2018
Chartering unknown waters, Tata Motors recently introduced the Tiagoa and the Tigor JTP, or the Jayem Tata Performance vehicles in the Indian market. With specially tuned suspension and all-new, turbocharged petrol engines, the JTP twins marks the beginning of a new chapter for the homegrown automaker in India.
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As such, both these cars do not get a competitor but the Tiago JTP might soon find one in the form of the Swift RS which is set to launch in India sometime during the first half of 2019. The Tata Tiago JTP costs INR 6.39 lakh while the Tigor JTP costs INR 7.49 lakh.
The last and final model to make it to our list of top 10 car launches for 2018 is the Volvo XC40
The Volvo XC40 adds a sense of
