Carmakers started realizing the potential of diesel soon after the petrol prices sky-rocketed in India. Going extreme is just a case, and Indians loves those who go far the most. The things that matters at the bottom of car sale under the pretext of Rs 15 lakh are fuel-economy, maintenance cost, and drive quality – the last feat buyer looks at. Here, we have mentioned the best five diesel automatic cars, which are obviously hassle-free to drive, and do pinch the pockets not harder than 1.5 million INR, which translates they are the names to go by if not wished to hire a chauffeur (preferred self-driven) in the given budget.
- Volkswagen Vento DSG
The baby sedan of VW India, which also sounds as Polo hatchback in some countries, went livelier when it received the 7-speed DSG gearbox with a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine of 103bhp. On the top, a facelift has worked wonders, which it was deprived for days. The drive experience with three-spoke steering wheel after the revamp adds a fair amount of character to the car.
- Skoda Rapid DSG
The most sold Skoda in India, Rapid, too fared in the league of diesel automatics. After all, it comes under the parental control of VW Group. So, this move was just expected once the Vento DSG made to its sales floor. Too powered by the same engine of the German sibling, it holds a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder diesel machine worth of producing 103bhp after mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Though, the black package for buyers from optional list adds a youthful character, which the Vento lacks sternly.
- Hyundai Verna 4S
The biggest of them in terms of dimensions and engine displacement, it is a one example of its league. Selling the diesel automatics literally years back, this had given ‘Hyundai Verna’ an upper hand to take on the rivals. The refreshed (facelift) trim called as Verna 4S holds a 1.6-litre diesel motor of 4-cylinder under its bonnet producing 126bhp after mated to a 4-seed auto gearbox, where the ARAI claimed fuel-economy of 23.9kmpl doesn’t disappoint either for this big car. And icing on the cake is a bundle of features from Hyundai.
- Tata Zest
The show stopper has arrived – Tata Zest is the cheapest diesel automatic car in the country. Worked on the marketing tactic at the first point, Tata Motors countered huge amount of competition from the vicinity, which ultimately made Zest to stand on the juncture that to an extent also includes paltry buyers from hatchback markets looking out for an automatic option in the diesel trim. The thrills and chills are sent by a 1.3-litre unit of 4-cylidner consisted with a 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT), which even allows users to shuttle between the Sport and Auto modes to suit driving needs and extract much torque off the machine depending upon the condition.
Hence, none of the cars beat Tata Zest, for the price it is offered for. And value proportion is also high either.