Most Popular Hatchbacks To Buy This Festive Season

The festive season is here and most of you will be looking to get a new set of wheels home. With offers, discounts and new launches on a roll, buying a car is as auspicious as it gets. Being hatchback loving market that we are, the compact cars are always a good buy. But the Indian auto market is flooded with hatchbacks with offerings available across different segments and even sub-segments. So, which would be a smart purchase to go for this festive season? Well, we've had the same conundrum as you, and decided to ease things for you by listing down the top five hatchbacks that you can buy this festive season.

Renault Kwid

The Renault Kwid Climber comes with the 1-litre engine

Renault India's game changer, the Kwid is one of the most sought after hatchbacks you can buy in the entry-level space after the Maruti Suzuki Alto. However, the Kwid has managed to differentiate itself, more prominently too, with its unique crossover styling, spacious interior and segment first features. It's the only entry-level hatchback to offer a touchscreen infotainment system while the conventional instrument cluster has been replaced by a digital screen. While the Kwid wasn't exactly underpowered with its 800 cc petrol engine, Renault managed to improve performance from a new 1-litre petrol motor that is offered with a manual transmission, as well as an AMT option. Already a trendy choice in the segment, Renault also introduced the Climber edition, adding more aesthetic appeal to the car, and adds a metallic paint option, contrast finished ORVMs, faux skid plates and much more.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis offers a host of personalisation options

Making its way to the Indian market earlier this year, Maruti Suzuki has managed to pull off quite the unconventional with the Ignis hatchback that has been targeted towards millennials (in Maruti speak). The car made it to the NEXA showrooms commanding a slightly premium price tag for its size but has managed to find a strong appreciation for its different design language, an extensive list of features and a plethora of customisation options. The styling makes it a stand out model over anything we've seen on Indian roads while the U-shaped LED DRLs makes it identifiable from a distance. The oddball styling of the rear with the rakish windscreen also tends to grow on you with time. The boxy styling looks nice also liberating lots of cabin space, and the addition of the touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink is much appreciated. Maruti offers a host of customisation options on the Ignis that add more colour and a personal touch to the hatchback, keeping up with the young theme of the model. For the new age buyers this festive season, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis in both petrol and diesel should be on your options list.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

The performance-oriented Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS is powered by a 1-litre BoosterJet engine

One of the most successful cars to come from Maruti Suzuki's stable in recent times, the Baleno is high on the sales chart thanks to its brilliant packaging. Taking in on the likes of the Hyundai i20 and Honda Jazz in the segment, the premium hatchback has been appreciated for its extremely spacious cabin and abundant set of features including projector headlamps, LED DRLs, auto climate control as well as the SmartPlay infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay. Moreover, Maruti has used the tried and tested 1.2-litre K-Series petrol and 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engines under the hood of the Baleno that are not only fuel efficient, but fun to drive as well. Earlier this year, the automaker introduced the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS version adding some fire-cracking performance to the model. Powered by a 1-litre three-cylinder turbocharged BoosterJet petrol motor, the Baleno RS is one of the few sporty hatchbacks on sale in the sub Rs. 10 lakh space and makes a healthy 101 bhp of power. Offering a plethora of options, the Baleno remains one of the most likeable cars from Maruti with an extremely competitive price tag and will be a good choice to look out for this festive season.

Hyundai Grand i10

The face of the new Hyundai Grand i10 comes with the signature cascade grille design 

Hyundai hit the sweet spot with the Grand i10 in 2013 and it continues to be one of the most favoured mid-size hatchbacks on sale today. The Hyundai Grand i10 is loaded with features and can accommodate a family in comfort. Having been on sale for a while now, the Grand i10 facelift arrived earlier this year with comprehensive upgrades introducing a new grille, revised bumpers and updated cabin. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were also introduced on the model this year with a larger 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. More prominently, Hyundai introduced the more powerful 1.2-litre diesel engine, up-sized from the 1.1-litre CRDi version on the Grand i10 facelift, which makes more power and a much better performer as well. The hatchback continues to remain one of the more smart purchases in the mid-size hatchback segment and will continue to be favoured during this festive season as well.

MINI Cooper

 MINI Cooper makes about 190 bhp of power and is offered in both petrol and diesel options

If the more common hatchbacks do not cut it for you and you do have some extra moolah to spare, the MINI Cooper is the ultimate hatchback you can get your hands on. Available as a two-door and five-door options, the MINI Cooper makes about 190 bhp of power and is offered in both petrol and diesel options. There is also the more power JCW (John Cooper Works) edition that makes in excess of 200 bhp, all of which are sent to the front wheels. The styling remains retro and extremely desirable on the MINI Cooper, which remains one of the highlights on the car. There is no way you can go unnoticed behind the wheel of one of these. Inside, the cabin boasts of the best materials available, while the toggle switches and circular display in the centre keep the retro styling on point.