my fave picks of 2017

Best Small/Entry-Level Car

This essentially comes down between two products from Maruti-Suzuki, the third-generation Dzire and the new Ignis. Now, make no mistake, I really like the new Dzire and it will be a huge best-seller, no other compact sedan has been so successful among both private and commercial buyers, yet I think the Ignis is a breath of fresh air in the small car segment. The Ignis looks so different, it has none of the standard flowing lines but tips its hat to the past with great looking angular features, and while it is a bit ‘boxy’ it is very good-looking... The Ignis is smaller inside although the top specification models on both cars come with similar levels of kit, heck the top models both have projection headlights. Both cars have the same engines and both are fabulously economical, while I’m not a great fan of Maruti’s Auto Gear Shift integration on the diesel engine, the AGS in the petrol isn’t bad at all. But the Ignis by virtue of being a smaller car is much more of a hoot to drive and throw around corners. Which is why I’d have to give it to the Ignis.

Winner: Maruti-Suzuki Ignis

Best mid-size sedan/compact SUV

The mid-size sedan segment in India has been a very quiet one because of the shift towards small SUVs. Even then there were not so many launches this year, the Ford EcoSport is a facelift, a very thorough one though one is left primarily with the Hyundai Verna, Honda WRV and Tata Nexon. I really liked the first two cars, but the Verna is possibly the best Hyundai sedan I have ever driven. The family had an old Accent for years and you realise that Hyundais are not exactly what you would describe as smart handling cars. The new Verna changes all that. And those ventilated seats that have made it over from the Elantra. Bloody hell, I love those and you would too in a hot Indian summer.

Winner: Hyundai Verna

Large sedan/SUV

2017 saw a whole host of new products from Tata Motors, but the one I was most impressed by was the Tata Hexa. Sure, there is a branding overkill but the six-speed automatic variant is really not a bad car at all. But the fact is that this segment can only have one winner this year, one of the best cars that has been put together in India. That would be the Jeep Compass. Now, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has some issues their dealers and some other aspects, but what a well-engineered car. Sure, the sticker price on the entry level Compass is misleading since the the top-end ‘Limited’ variant is the one you want but you cannot get such a comfortable 4x4 I’m the market even at that price. And make no mistake, this is a truly capable 4x4 — this is not a ‘naam ke vaaste’ SUV, this can actually do what it says on the label.

Winner: Jeep Compass

Favourite Luxury Car

There are so many contenders here, but I would have to bring it down to just three cars. That would be the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the new BMW 5-series and the new Volvo V90 Cross Country. Now, all three are very fine cars. They are great to drive and supremely comfortable and loaded with features that will only make it onto a small car in a decade. But between these three cars I did find the Volvo V90 Cross Country the most fun to drive. Volvo has somehow managed to draw an absolutely amazing 235 horsepower from a two-litre diesel which is frankly remarkable, because if you told me that when I started reviewing cars in 2000 I would have laughed it off as the rantings of a crazy person. But the V90 is also the first luxury estate in the market in a long time, it is luxurious, powerful, off-road capable and for now unique. Which is why it gets my vote.

Winner: Volvo V90 Cross Country

Best Performance Car

At the end of the day a car is something that gets you from Point A to Point B, hopefully in a degree of comfort. But sometimes you want a car to put a smile on your face or just show you what a car can physically do and often that is amazing as I discovered with the new BMW M5 a few weeks ago. But the BMW isn’t in consideration here because it still hasn’t been launched in India which is a primary consideration of mine. It would win hands down in this category if it had been but this year the contest is between the Audi S5 and it’s younger cousin sister the Skoda vRS. They are both phenomenal vehicles, I even got a speeding challan on the S5 outside Jaipur. It sounds awesome and is an insane car to drive as anything with 350 horses would be in India. But the Skoda with a 120 less horsepower is what I’d go for, it might have less power but it is a third of the price and while it is a front-wheel drive car it is fabulously great fun. Both the S5 and the vRS have the sportback shape but when you look at cars you have to look at the price-value proposition and the Skoda is extremely good value in my opinion.

Winner: Skoda Octavia vRS

I don’t know if you would agree with me, but do get in touch if you have any comments or car related queries on email or social media.