Nissan Cars in India – Offering Luxurious and Comfortable Passenger Cars

Nissan Motor Company Ltd is one of the leading automakers in the world. The Japanese multinational has spread its operations to many parts of the world, including India. In India, their operations are carried out by a wholly owned subsidiary, Nissan Motor India Private Limited. The company started its operations in India in the year 2005 and ever since, it has been a significant player in the Indian car industry. 

The carmaker commenced its Indian operations by launching the muscular, but compact crossover, the Nissan X-Trail. The car was imported as Completely Built Units (CBU) in India. After the X-Trail, Nissan brought cars like the mid size luxury car Teana and the sports car Nissan 370Z, to India. All of these cars were brought to India through the CBU route and it was some time before Nissan decided to set up factories here and start manufacturing cars in India.

The Nissan cars, which are manufactured in India, include the popular cars like Nissan Micra, Nissan Sunny and Nissan Evalia. As these cars are manufactured locally, they cater to the needs and tastes of the Indian car buyers more effectively. Localization of the products according to the tastes of Indian consumers can be easily achieved in such cases. 

The Nissan cars in India are manufactured in two localities – one in Chennai and another one in Oragadam near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The Chennai plant has a capacity to produce four lakh vehicles per annum and Nissan shares half of these resources with Renault India Private Limited, the Indian arm of Renault. On the other hand, the Oragadam plant is predominantly utilized to manufacture Nissan Micra for the Indian and European market. 

Popular Nissan Cars in India

The hatchback, Micra is the most popular car from Nissan, to hit the Indian market. It is stylish and classy, which makes it stand apart from the crowd. Micra also offered many first in segment features like push button start and keyless entry in India, which endeared it to the buyers. 

The elegant and roomy sedan, Sunny has carved a space for itself in the crowded Indian sedan segment. Nissan has positioned it as a premium car and has garnered a lot of popularity among Indian car buyers.

Nissan Evalia, the formidable MPV, despite being a great vehicle has not been able to garner sales to match its abilities. The greatest setback in its case is the uninspiring looks. However, if one goes deeper it is a great car under that seemingly boring look. 

Nissan Terrano has been able to make a name for itself in the premium SUV segment.

The upcoming SUV, Nissan Qashqai, is also eagerly awaited. 

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Chevrolet Beat – A stylish little Hatchback on the Indian roads

Chevrolet cars are popular all over the world because they adapt themselves to the varying needs of the different markets they operate. The success of Chevrolet cars in India can be attributed to this fact. The carmaker has had a reasonably good outing at the Indian car market until now, as all its cars have made their distinctive mark in the Indian car industry. 

One of the major contributors to the success of Chevy in India is the Beat. This funky little car has managed to capture the attention and interest of the car lovers in India by offering great quality and better performance than its rivals offer. 

The Beat was introduced in India in the year 2009 and ever since, it has been able to do well. This hatchback is different from others in its styling and visual appeal. Offered in four trims, the Beat is priced at a range of 4.5 to six lakh rupees. It comes in petrol, diesel and LPG versions. The Chevrolet Beat is powered by a 1.02-litre petrol and a 1.0-litre diesel engine. The car returns an ARAI certified mileage of 19 kmpl and 25 kmpl for petrol and diesel variants respectively. It is mated to a five-speed manual transmission gearbox. 

 

The Beat has been made safer by incorporating safety features like ABS, Dual SRS airbags, impact proof bumpers, front fog lamps, and the like as standard across all variants. The car, in spite of its miniscule appearance, is quite spacious on the inside. As such, the Beat offers ample legroom, headroom and shoulder space to the passengers.  The Beat can accommodate four passengers very comfortably. It offers a decent boot space of 170 liters, which is enough to carry the baggage of a small family.

The comfort features included in the Beat are dashboard with super bike style meters, tilt adjustable three spoke power steering wheel, a simply designed dashboard that can accommodate handbag, wallet, and mobile, door pockets, bottle holder, cup holders, mobile holder, rear wiper with washer, an integrated stereo with 4 speakers, central locking, power windows, and so on. Besides, it also offers some other features like a digital tachometer, door ajar warning, low fuel warning and a well-designed instrument panel, to list a few.

The Chevrolet Beat faces stiff competition from rivals like Hyundai i10, Mahindra Reva, Datsun Go and Maruti Suzuki Ritz in the Indian car market. However, the Beat has managed to ward off the competition, thanks to its superior style, fuel economy and ease of handling. The Chevrolet Beat can be adjudged as one of the best city cars around, which can easily navigate through the busy city traffic.

The other hot selling car in the Indian market is Toyota Etios Cross at price 5.7 lakh onwards.

 

SUV cars between 5 to 10 lakh

The SUV segment is very popular among the Indian customers and shows an upward trend in growth. The segment saw a dry spell around 2-3 years back but it is now again back in it is where most of the action really is. SUVs like Ford EcoSport, Renualt Duster, and Nissan Terrano has made the SUV market even more appealing to the buyers due to their aggressive styling and superb performance. Here is a list of some of these striking SUV cars between 5 to 10 lakh :

Renault Duster

Duster can be said to be the pioneer of compact SUVs in India. The car has already tasted huge success in India and is going very strong. The petrol version of this SUV is powered by a 4 cylinder, 1.6-litre in-line engine that offers 102.6bhp of power and 145Nm of torque. The diesel mill is the K9K motor that produces two power outputs: 83.8bhp and 108.5bhp.

The car is noteworthy for its impressive mileage of 19kmpl from the petrol version and 21kmpl from the diesel version. It is priced between Rs. 8.0lakh to Rs. 13.3lakh. It offers a wonderful mix of decent space, comfortable inferiors, efficient diesel engine and all-wheel-drive option (on select variants).

Ford EcoSport

The price range of Ford EcoSport stretches from Rs. 7.8lakh to Rs. 10.2lakh. It is available in six petrol and four diesel variants. It is one of the most desirable cars among SUV cars between 5 to 10 lakh. Ever since Ford launched this compact SUV, it has been selling like hot cakes in the Indian market. The car carries excellent safety and comfort features. It has a very sporty design along with comfortable and trendy interiors. It is being offered in two petrol engine options-namely 110bhp, 1.5-litre engine and 90bhp, 1.5-litre turbocharged engine for diesel variants.  It is also available with the powerful 1.-0-litre EcoBoost engine. EcoSport is one of the most awarded product from the company and has recently crossed the 100,000 sales mark. Smart pricing, superb looks, good mileage and the fact that this car comes under 4-meter genre make it stand above the competition.

Mahindra Scorpio

Scorpio is an enticing SUV that is known for its power and high mileage. It comes within a price range of Rs. 7.9-13.5lakh. It can be said to be most loved SUV in India and is available in as many as 16 variants. This SUV recently received a facelift with a whole lot of cosmetic and mechanical changes.  It is offered only in diesel variants and contains a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine that produces 120bhp of power and 280Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to 5-speed manual gearbox. It is also offered in 4 wheel drive enabled versions that can move between 2WD and 4WD on the fly by the help of a knob on the centre console.

Tata Sumo, Force Gurkha, Mahindra Bolero, Mahindra Quanto , Tata Safari etc. are other SUV cars between 5 to 10 lakh apart from these. Also Check out CNG cars in india at autoportal.com

Small SUVs in Indian market

In India the demand for small SUVs are on the rise because of their lesser initial cost and decent fuel efficiencies. A compact SUV can be used for daily commuting through the congested city roads and also for long travels as these vehicles have good ground clearances and cargo capacities. There are many compact utility vehicles available in India produced by different auto makers.

Premier Rio is the cheapest SUV available in the Indian market. Launched in 2009 the Rio is available in 5 diesel and 3 petrol versions. They are priced between Rupees 4.71 lakh and 6.70 lakh. The features of the Rio include body coloured bumpers, internally adjustable ORVMs, tinted glasses, a pair of fog lamps, a manual AC, ABS and EBD. The 1173 cc volume, 75 bhp petrol engines give mileages of16 kmpl and the 1248 cc, 72 bhp diesel engines 23.75 kmpl. The 3970 mm long Rio has a ground clearance of 200 mm.

The Ford EcoSport launched in 2013 is available in 6 petrol and 4 diesel variants priced Rupees 5.69 to 9.16 lakh. The petrol versions use 1000 cc, 118 bhp or 1500 cc, 108 bhp engines with 15.8 to18.9 kmpl. The diesel ones use 1500 cc, 90 bhp engines with 22.7 kmpl. The features of the EcoSport include body coloured bumpers with sharp fog lights, ORVMs fitted with turn indicators, a rear spoiler giving a sporty look and a pair of rear reflectors. The cabin has a powerful music system with CD player, FM radio, USB port and blue tooth connectivity, an automatic climate control system, a new feature SYNC system with an LCD screen and controls which alerts in case of emergencies, ABS, EBD, six air bags and rear parking sensors among others.

The Renault Duster is another popular SUV priced from Rupees 7.86 to 12.99 lakh. The 12 diesel variants use 1461 cc, 108 bhp engines giving mileages of 19.01 to 20.45 kmpl. The 2 petrol variants use 1598 cc engines with mileages of 13.24 kmpl. The 4315 mm long Duster has a ground clearance of 210 mm and a big boot of 475 litres. The features of the Duster include a 2 Din music system with AM/FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity for audio controls and telephony, an auto AC, ABS, EBD and two airbags for front passengers.

The Mahindra Scorpio priced from Rupees 7.86 to 12.99 lakh, the Skoda Yeti priced around 20 lakh and the Nissan Terrano priced from Rupees 9.63 to 12.56 lakh are slightly longer SUVs with 17 to 20 kmpl mileages.  Few more small SUVs like the Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha, Honda Vezel, Volkswagen Taigun and the Toyota Avanza are expected to be launched in 2014-15.

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Best SUVs for Under Rs. 30 Lakhs

SUVs are capable of tackling different kind of terrain and conditions, which makes this class ideal for the market. The SUV segment has taken the place of sedans, owing to the reduced rates, mileage, fuel efficiency, spacious interiors, butch looks and road presence.

Let’s take a look at the most sought-after SUVs in the under Rs. 30 lakh bracket in India.

With a price tag of Rs. 19.83 to 23 lakhs, the Ford Endeavour is a large SUV that offers the convenience of an automatic gearbox and diesel power. The pricier and more powerful 4X4, 3 L turbo diesel engine churns out 154 bhp of peak power and 380 Nm of peak torque and is mated to a five speed automatic gearbox. The 4X2, 2.5 L engine generates 140 bhp and is mated to manual transmission.

The Fortuner, the supreme SUV from the Japanese auto giant, Toyota, is acknowledged as one of the best off-roading vehicles. Under the hood, it carries a powerful 3.0 L diesel D-4D turbo engine that outputs 169 bhp @ 360 Nm torque and which is available both with manual and automatic transmissions as well as in 2-wheel and 4-wheel drives. And with a price tag of Rs. 22.25 to Rs. 23.88 lakh, the Fortuner is definitely one of the sought after SUVs in India.

Which SUV allows you to shift from a two-wheel drive to a four-wheel drive, even when at speeds as high as 100 kph? It’s the Mitsubishi Pajero which comes with a ‘Super Select’ transfer technique. Considered as one of the best SUVs globally, the Pajero has a 2.5 L diesel engine with maximum power output of 176 bhp and a peak torque performance of 400 Nm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and has a price tag of Rs. 23.5 lakh.

The South Korean auto giant, SsangYong, and Indian motor brand, Mahindra, got together, to create a SUV which features a powerful 2.7 L diesel engine that pumps out 184 bhp @ 402 Nm.  The automatic gearbox is a 5 speed unit that drives all four wheels by means of an all wheel drive system. The Rexton can be purchased within the price bracket of Rs. 18.87 to 21.11 lakh.

Audi Q3S is the entry point to the Q range premium offering of the German automobile manufacturer. Engine options include both a 2 L diesel and petrol engine and both get 7-speed dual clutch transmission. The diesel engine has a six-speed manual gearbox.  The pricy budget of Rs. 25.35 to 30.15 lakh has not stopped buyers to go for this SUV.

The high price range of some of these SUVs has not stopped consumers to opt for them in India.

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Top selling SUV in India – On the Podium

In the Indian automobile market utility vehicles are having a special place as the preferences of the customers are shifting to family cars. The compact SUVs can be used for daily commuting as well as for long trips. So SUVs are there in the portfolio of most of the manufacturers.

As per the sales figure for the month of June 2014 the Ford EcoSport tops the list of best selling SUVs with a recorded sale of 5176 units. The next best in the list is Mahindra Scorpio with a sales figure of 3849 units, The leaders are followed by the Renault Duster, the Mahindra XUV 500, the Nissan Terrano and the Toyota Fortuner in that order.

The EcoSport based on the B2E platform of the Ford Fiesta has been unveiled in 2012 and launched in 2013. At the front the EcoSport has a body colored bumper with fog lights, an octagonal grille with a thick chrome strip and a broad air dam. Side profile is smooth with body coloured door handles and rear view mirrors fitted with turn indicators. At the rear there are bright tail lamp clusters, a rear spoiler, high mounted stop lamps and a pair of reflectors.

The cabin is spacious with plush seats, a silver and black dash and a leather wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio controls. A powerful music system with CD player, Bluetooth connectivity and an automatic AC are some of the other features of the EcoSport. A SYNC system with an LCD screen and controls alerts in case of emergencies. Other safety features include an ABS, an electronic stability programme, the power assisted steering, six air bags, power windows and the rear parking sensors.

There are ten variants of the EcoSport, six in petrol using 1000 or 1500 cc engines and four in diesel using 1500 cc engines. The standard mileages and maximum speeds will be 18.9 kmpl & 196 kmph, 15.8 kmpl & 165 kmph and 22.7 kmpl & 175 kmph for 1000 cc petrol, 1500 cc petrol and 1500 cc diesel versions, respectively.

The physical dimensions of the Ford EcoSport are 3999 mm length, 1765 mm width and 1708 mm height with a ground clearance of 200 mm. The Ford EcoSport is priced from Rupees 6.3 lakh to 9.7 lakh.

After the most successful launch in 2013 it is consistently getting good sale figures. The main advantage is that it is a sub-4 metre vehicle and hence parking inside the city is not a problem. The petrol versions can be used if the purpose is daily commuting and the diesel variants if the car is to be used for long trips.

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