12 Noteworthy cars from 2012

We take a look at the 12 top cars that made a dramatic debut in the Indian market this year. 

The last day of the year 2012 is here. And before we all sign off for the evening followed with an all-night long party bash, soaking in cocktails, meat and veggies to welcome the new year, we at OnCars take a look at the cars that made it's debut in India in 2012 and created a significant effect in the market, while doing so.

Renault Duster SUV 

The French automaker who started it's Indian chapter back in 2011 saw success eye to eye only this July. That was when the highly acclaimed Renault Duster SUV arrived on the Indian shores, carving a whole new segment in the country called 'Compact Crossovers.' Renault India who had promised to introduce five new models in the country before the year 2012 ends, lived up to it's word and did so, in style. 

With the Indian market's affinity to every vehicle that even remotely looks like an SUV, the Renault Duster swiftly struck a cord with it's customers. Even before the SUV made it's debut in the market, the Duster had over 1,000 bookings to it's name. And once the model arrived in showrooms, the numbers only moved up to newer levels. 

 

The French automaker who faced a multitude of roadblocks and waited nearly six long years to storm the Indian market finally came face to face with success with the Renault Duster SUV.

Mini Cooper

Anyone with the slightest bit of interest in car culture would know that it was Mini who challenged the concept of small meaning “cheap” by delivering a premium vehicle experience in a compact yet uberly stylish package. 

 

The iconic British carmaker (acknowledged in many Hollywood biggies including The Italian Job and The Bourne Identity) made its debut in the Indian car market back in January this year, and since then, it has amassed quite a fan following and is cherished by many enthusiasts. Mini began its Indian innings with the launch of four models – the standard Cooper, the high-performance Cooper S, the Cooper Convertible and the SUV-ish Countryman. 

The Cooper hatchback (the most basic Mini of the lot) has been designed on the similar lines that date back to the original Mini from the 1960s, a car that carried a really tiny footprint. Although the modern-day Mini is quite huge, it carries the same retro DNA in its design.

 

Powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine that pumps out about 120PS of power, this base-spec model, sadly, doesn’t offer much in terms of outright performance. The Cooper S, on the other hand, offers truckload of it. The S gets the same engine but, the similarities end there; the engine here is blessed with turbocharged goodness which means the power output is bumped up to over 180PS. The Cooper S also looks the part with big, fat alloys and a chunky rear end that features centrally mounted tail pipes beneath the rear diffuser.   

 

Next up is the Cooper convertible. As the name suggests, it gets a foldable fabric roof which allows for an open-top motoring experience. With the roof down, the Cooper Convertible is guaranteed to turn heads and embarrass cars costing twice as much when it comes to street presence. 

 

Mini India’s lineup ends with the Countryman, a genuine 4-seater family car. It stands out from the whole range primarily because it comes with four doors (unlike any other Mini) and features adequate comfort and space for four adults. With its chunky stance and high ground clearance, the Countryman also makes for a good, sensible choice for our roads. Under the hood sits a turbo-charged 1.6-litre petrol engine that is good for 185PS of power. 

 

However, good looks and quality do not come cheap. With prices starting at Rs 26 lakh for the standard Cooper, going all the way to Rs 34 lakh for the four-door Countryman, the Mini range by no means is cheap. But as a premium lifestyle product, we believe the Mini is hard to fault.   

 

Love it or hate it, Mini is here to stay. 

Toyota Innova

By the time it received its first major update, the Toyota Innova was already leading its class by a long way. It probably explains why the 2012 model looks nearly the same as the original Innova which splendidly carried out the job of ferrying occupants in comfort and a fair bit of luxury.

 

With the 2012 model, Toyota chose to go with a decidedly modern-day design for the front-end to give the Innova a more car-like appearance instead of a utilitarian look that is typical of an MPV. However, we are not sure if Toyota’s attempt to rejuvenate its ‘people-carrier’ offering has worked because apart from a slightly modern front-end, the rest of the Innova’s design largely remains the same.

Its only when you step inside (unlike most of the MPVs where you would have to climb) you will find that the cabin looks and feels more premium than the one found in the older model. The combination of light and dark shades of beige makes the cabin feel roomier. To make the insides a better place to be in, Toyota also added a few more features such as touch-screen infotainment system and a rear view camera. 

 

Underneath the mildly updated exteriors, the 2012 Innova rides on the same-old mechanicals however by no means it’s a bad thing. The 2012 model, in fact, still remains one of the most comfortable and safest cars in its class. It is powered by the familiar 2.5-litre, four cylinder, D-4D diesel engine that puts out 102PS of power and 200Nm of torque. Although such figures don’t sound much considering the fact that the Mahindra Xylo boasts of much higher figures, the engine’s strong mid-range and a relatively shorter-gearing mean the Innova never feels out of breath when it comes to performing urban duties. It’s only out on the highway where the Innova seems it could do with a few more horses, especially when under full load.

 

Overall, the 2012 Toyota Innova is a very capable MPV and stands apart from all its competition. Although it does have a few negatives, the Innova remains a spacious, solidly-built MPV for those typical Indian families where comfort and safety sit side by side. 

Tata Safari Storme

We knew for a long time that an upgrade to the Tata Safari SUV was overdue. Nearly, three years after the test mules of the upgrade in question was spotted doing test rounds across India, we got to see the final product with a new tag in the form of Tata Safari Storme at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. 

 

It took Tata Motors nearly 15 years to roll out the all-new Safari Storme, since it was first incepted into the country. There is no doubt that the Indian automaker took its own sweet time to play with it's favorite SUV – nearly 15 years since the model was first incepted in the Indian market – to make way for a better vehicle overall.

In fact, the company has so much faith in the new product that the Storme comes with a three-year warranty. Design wise, the Storme may not have taken a huge leap. But we reckon, it is a point that Tata Motors is trying to drive home. The Indian company is trying to filter down the Land Rover school of thought into its cult SUV. What seems like a mild redesign is in fact a very evolved product – but just the way the Range Rover or the Discovery stuck to their basic designs and shapes all these years, the Safari aims to replicate the philosophy with the new Storme – and that is most likely going to work for Tata.

 

Under the hood of the Safari Storme is an evolved version of the 2.2-litre DICOR engine. This one is called 'VARiCOR' though and borrows all the upgraded goodies from the Aria. It puts out 142PS of power and 320Nm of torque and is mated to a five-speed transmission and an improved 4×4 system.

BMW 3-Series

It’s the sixth and the current generation model that brings the 3-Series more in line with its big brothers. The latest-gen F30 3-Series adopts a lot more than just the basics of design cues from the bigger 5-Series and the 7-series. Look at it from just about any angle and it’s obvious that the new 3 follows BMW’s latest and sportier design language, since the E90 was broadly criticized for being too bland.  

 

The 2012 3-Series attracted a lot of buzz when news first cropped up that BMW India would bring it here soon after its international debut. The 3-Series in fact marked its entry into the Indian market during the latter half of July and since then; it has earned several accolades chiefly for its “All-the-car-you’ll-ever-need” cult status.

Available with a range of petrol and diesel engines, the 2012 3-Series comes with a single and four trim levels for the petrol and diesel model respectively: there’s the 328i Sport with a 240PS, 2-litre turbocharged engine that helps the 3-Series deliver near-sports car levels of performance. With a 0-100 kmph time of 6 seconds and a top speed of 250 kmph, the 328i is one quick family saloon.   

 

As for the diesel model, the 2-litre oil burner under the hood of the 320d is equally impressive when it comes to maintaining perfect balance between performance and fuel economy. While the performance figures aren’t up there with those of the 328i, the diesel feels almost as quick out in the real world. And since the 2012 3-Series also comes with BMW’s EfficientDynamics package, both the petrol and diesel models are quite fuel economical too!  

 

The 2012 F30 3-series is a far more superior car than what it replaces. Speaking of which; unlike the previous model, the 2012 3-Series offers up a much more desirable package that appeals especially to a younger audience. And since it carries all the good bits of the electronic wizardry found in bigger, more expensive BMWs, you will be hard-pressed find such a comprehensive package as the new 3-Series.

Audi Q3

2012 indeed has been the year of the compact SUVs so far, and for good reasons! They are as practical as full-size hatchbacks, provide a commanding view of the road and on top of all, offer car-like driving dynamics and fuel economy. Their popularity amongst the buyers is only growing by the day and it will not be long before majority of carmakers have a compact SUV on offer in its range. Compact SUVs are the real up and comers, not only for mainstream carmakers like Renault and Ford, but also for premium brands that include Audi. 

 

So when Audi launched its compact SUV offering, the Q3 here in India, it became an instant hit with us lot. So much, in fact, that all of the 500 units that were allotted in the first round of bookings were sold out in just five days!

With prices starting at about Rs 27 lakh for the base-spec model, the Q3 is the cheapest Audi one can buy in India. Powered by a capable 2-litre TDI diesel engine, which delivers 177PS of power and 380Nm of torque, the Q3 promises more than enough performance for your everyday commute and those timely weekend excursions.

 

Interestingly, the Audi Q3 competes with the ultra-expensive Range Rover Evoque in size, but costs slightly more than BMW’s cheapest car for India, the X1. However, Audi India recently announced a price hike across its entire range of models including the Q3 but the company has also confirmed that the CKD operation for the Q3 will begin from the Aurangabad facility soon, which might bring down the prices a bit.  

Ssangyong Rexton

Mahindra, one of the very few car makers who have managed to understand the Indian market thoroughly, didn't have anything to offer in the premium segment. And what could have been better than bringing something from M&M's Korean subsidiary, Ssangyong.

 

Brought to India in two variants, RX5 and RX7, the Rexton SUV is powered by a 2.7-litre engine (in different state of tunes). It's a big SUV and looks like it costs around Rs 20 lakhs , because it does. The RX5 is available for Rs 17.67 lakh and the RX7 for Rs 19.67 lakh. Both the prices are ex-showroom Mumbai. Since this is an SUV, you might feel like testing the vehicles off-road skills too. In case you do, you'll have assists like Hill Descent helping you out. Rexton's sales and service will be handled by Mahindra dealers only, which means in case of a sudden urge to buy the SUV or a sudden need of a workshop, you won't have to scout for Rexton-specific dealerships.

Since the time Mahindra bought stakes in Ssangyong, there always have been speculations about one of the products coming to India. Now with the Rexton, Mahindra brings the Korean brand to India and thus making an entry to the premium segment. With new competitors, slightly different prospective customer base and surely an efficient product in their hands, lets see how Mahindra performs here. 2013 is almost here and along with snatching sales from Toyota Fortuner, the Rexton will have to deal with the new launches too.

Mercedes Benz M-Class

The all-new 2012 Mercedes Benz M-Class after being showcased in the European market at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show back in June 2011, finally made it's public debut in India at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. The third generation M-Class not only came with plenty of key improvements – notably in performance, fuel efficiency and in design – but also in terms of price.  Thanks to the German carmaker's decision to assemble the M-Class locally, alongside the C-, E-, and the S-Class and also the new GL-Class, the recently launched B-Class and the upcoming A-Class.

The move has enabled the German auto giant to price their models aggressively in the Indian market, while reaping maximum profits and leading to re-acquirement of lost market share – primarily to Audi and BMW. 

 

This is the first time the M-Class is being assembled outside the SUV parent plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in the United States. And rightly as Mercedes Benz predicted, the M-Class did really, really well in the Indian market when the model was officially launched in May 2012 at a starting price of Rs 56.9 lakh. So well infact, that all the 100 units in the first batch were sold out in just one week! 

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

There was a time when people used to refer Maruti 800 as “Maruti”. The car was as ubiquitous as the Alto was a few years back. But after reigning as the king of small cars (in terms of sales figures, at least!), the Alto started to look less interesting. Customers fled elsewhere and Maruti started losing numbers.

 

While the world hasn't changed into a better place after Maruti launched the new Alto 800, the car has surely helped Maruti find the pace and probably the direction too. With over 50,000 bookings made (early December 2012 figure), the Alto 800 has proven the tried and tested Alto formula right. The car isn't a big change from the earlier Alto. People just needed a fresher looking car and Maruti obliged.

In our opinion the Alto K10 looks the best of the three, with the Alto a bit old and the new Alto 800 a bit odd, the K10 still looks good. The Alto 800 on the other hand is more like a mix and match job by the designers, which might give it a newer look but a distinct design, NO! The engine's a 796cc petrol engine, which produces a maximum of 48PS of power and 69Nm of torque. And if you want to make use of CNG instead of fossil fuels, Maruti's offering a CNG variant too. The car's not the best tool for spirited driving but yes it's small and nimble. On the inside, things are obviously not as pleasing as the EON, but a change from the boring dashboard of the earlier Alto is always welcomed. You get a driver side airbag available as an option on the LXI trim.

 

So if you're in for a rather basic but reliable means of transport from Maruti (the base variant is available for a humble Rs 2,60,000 ex-showroom), then the Alto 800 has to be your choice. And much like the car it replaces, the Alto 800 is finding new homes at a very decent pace. Lets see how the competition shapes up in 2013.

Mahindra Quanto

One of the most eagerly awaited product from Mahindra, the Quanto finally came out in 2012, marking the manufacturer's entry in the sub 4-meter segment. And if you think that it was just a shortened Xylo, then you're right, but not completely. Mahindra was spotted testing the “mini-Xylo” quite a few times, so the anticipation for the vehicle was quite high already and now that it's plying on the roads, it doesn't get glanced over by the crowd much because Quanto's not the kind of car you'll turn back to have another look at.

 

It's spacious, it can accommodate five adults easily (lets forget about the jump seats at the rear, please). It's easy to get in and out of, the seats are comfortable and the cabin is quite airy.

 

On the driving front, the car scores high on performance, all thanks to the mCR100 engine that powers the car. Figures aren't mind numbing (100 PS of power and 240 Nm of torque) but the engine does its job quite well in the Quanto. What lets the car terribly down is the dynamics. OK, we understand that this is not supposed to go around corners like a track day car (or car for that matter) but since Mahindra knew that this is going to be more of a lifestyle product, why didn't they bother putting a sorted suspension setup. It takes a bit getting used to. The vehicle scores decent on fuel economy. The company claims around 17kmpl and the Quanto delivers. It also benefits from the stop-start system and obviously the turbocharger.

If we talk about capturing the market, Renault nailed it with the Duster first but Quanto is now climbing up the sales charts steadily. Also, we firmly believe that its positioning in the compact SUV market required some more effort. Quanto's UV connections are quite visible in the way it handles and its not easy to understand why would someone buy a vehicle that doesn't inspire confidence while driving over a similarly priced sedan.

 

Though 2012 brought out the two major contenders for the compact SUV segment, it's the year 2013 that will shape things further. With the Duster and the soon to be launched Ecosport around, it's going to be the real test for the Quanto. It's a good effort by Mahindra but there still is a vast scope for improvement, especially when the competition is strong.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Mitsubishi has always had good products. Be it the first generation Lancer or the now reportedly discontinued Lancer Cedia, the Japanese manufacturer never disappointed us with its creations. But everything else associated with the product has been bad, right from the marketing strategies to sales figures.

And it wasn't surprising to see the brand Mitsubishi drop places on the sales charts. But like we mentioned Mitsubishi has always had good products in their line up and here's another, the new Pajero Sport. Launched in 2012, the latest addition to the iconic range of SUVs is indeed a capable product. It's powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine, which makes a maximum 178PS of power and 400Nm of torque. And in the proper Mitsubishi fashion, you do get a 4WD system on this body on frame SUV.

 

While the segment is growing with new additions like Ssangyong Rexton and Santa Fe, products like the Pajero Sport still tell us about what Mitsubishi is capable of. It's a good old school SUV (the kind which goes off-road without scraping the underbody!) capable to take on the modern world. 2013 awaits.