There are practical cars, and then there are the others. By 'others', we mean cars that have a funky edge to them. Let me put things into perspective by illustrating an example instead of just going on and on about this.
There are two categories of singers; those that follow the Celine Dion school and hence are practical, sing only to good lyrics and music, and make a name for themselves by passing through the right channels. Then there are the Lady Gaga kinds, who come out of nowhere but have a style of their own and are so versatile that there is no questioning their talents.
There is a similar analogy to the way cars are designed; some are practical, destined to serve a purpose, while some are born out of the will to do something different. This piece lists and talks about the latter.
Hatchbacks form an important part of the Indian automotive industry and even though there more than two dozen of them out there, we take a look at the lot that is funkier than the rest. The hipsters, so to say, in the town of the purists.
1) Hyundai Grand i10: The Hyundai Grand i10 was born out of a need to give the Indian customer a bit more than what was offered in the i10. Hyundai had already used its fluidic design language on the Verna and the Grand i10 benefited heavily due to this.
It was slotted right between the i10 and the i20, making it a lip-smacking choice for a city car. The head-lamps are sharper, the fog-lamps ooze style, and the overall design of the car makes it a perfect next-gen car. Available in the petrol, diesel, and now even an LPG option, the Grand i10 is all about keeping things simple, and yet interesting.
2) Honda Brio: Honda didn't have many options after they failed to give its Indian customers a new car for a very long time. They needed to look beyond just a sedan, and an SUV and that's when they decided to enter the hatchback segment.
The result was the Brio, a car that is as hep as it gets. The cute (I don't usually use that term, but the Brio makes me say it) front end, with the chubby cheeks in the form of the wheel arches give it a modern look, and then there is that huge glass area at the rear, a feature exclusive to the Brio. It has young-blood written all over it and even though Honda hasn't given it a diesel engine, the Brio has comfortably found a place in people's hearts.
3) Volkswagen Polo: Volkswagen unveiled the new face of the Polo yesterday, and I must say that it looks even prettier now. The clean design with the new age head-lamps, front bumper and the chrome accents give it that extra oomph!
When it first came to India, it was 'the' best looking thing out there; those lines on the sides and the curvaceous body had people drooling all over it. The new one also evokes the same emotions. Though we still miss the 1.6-litre petrol engine in the Polo, the 1.2-litre MPI has been tuned just enough to match the power generated by the 1.6 and it's still as good. To make things even more interesting, VW launched the go-faster versions of the Polo - the GT TSI and GT TDI - thus giving enthusiasts something to cheer about.
Also Read: Upcoming Cars in India: New Hatchbacks Under 4 Lakh
4) MINI: The cars from this stable have a rich history to their name, it is an iconic British car after all. It took quite some time for the MINI to reach India, which is probably why we are fascinated with this car. It is a hatchback for all practical purposes, but the sheer space that it offers, not to forget the features, makes the MINI a power-packed package of awesomeness.
If you've bought one, there is absolutely no way that you'll give the keys of the car to anyone else, let alone a valet. Insid,e it's all space age and more of a cockpit than a dashboard. The toggle switches make you want to say things like "Alpha to Neo 3, are we cleared for take-off?". If you do actually say that, people might think you're a bit off in your head, but who cares? You're driving a MINI. It looks good, feels good and is just a grown up go-kart. What else could one ask for?
5) Volvo V40: I have to say at the outset that this car is a rare sight here, since the sales of the Volvo V40 Cross Country haven't really taken off. And even though Volvo knew this would happen, it still brought a winner to the table.
Like I said earlier, it is a rare sight, but when you do get to see one, it makes you go weak in the knees. It sports aggressive head-lamps, a handsomely long, protruding bonnet, and a steeply-raked windscreen. It is an effortless attention seeker; well, any curvaceous Swedish would be if she decided to take a stroll down the street. If you happen to drive one of these, you are not going to get much attention because the V40 hogs it all.
For the latest automotive news and reviews, follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
