Amit Saraswat 
In the sea of new cars, which are tilting towards comfort and convenience, it has become hard for us enthusiasts to find unadulterated driver’s cars, which promise to put our hearts to racing. While cars of today’s day and age couldn’t come close to the engagement of cars from yesteryears, we jot down a list of the top 6 driver’s cars under a crore in the Indian automotive landscape. We have tried to pick cars across body styles and price segments for a fair judgement to the audience across the market.
Hyundai i20 N Line
The Hyundai i20 N Line is currently the last resort for someone looking for an affordable fun-to-drive hatchback. Hyundai recently updated the i20 N Line with a facelift, bringing a much sought-after addition, a manual transmission. That’s right, gone is the boring and non-engaging iMT, and comes in a 6-speed stick shift. The transmission is mated to a 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine, which puts out 120PS of power and 172Nm of torque.
The i20 N Line runs on stiffer springs and sings its engine note via a dual-muffler exhaust system. The interior is finished in black with a couple of red elements thrown around for added sporty appeal. The highlight of the i20 N Line is its steering, which delivers a great feel and feedback. The prices of the i20 N Line start from INR 9.99 lakh and go up to INR 12.47 lakh ex-showroom.
Volkswagen Virtus GT
The Volkswagen Virtus GT is one of the most fun-to-drive sedans one can buy under INR 20 lakh. It rubs its shoulders against the newly-launched Hyundai Verna, which gives it tough competition thanks to its more powerful turbo petrol engine. However, as our in-depth comparison also found, the Virtus GT trumps ahead with its sheer dynamics.
The 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine found in the Virtus GT puts out 150PS of power and 250Nm of torque. This engine comes mated to a slick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which was recently joined with a new 6-speed manual transmission option as well. The Volkswagen Virtus GT retails between INR 16.21 lakh and 18.89 lakh ex-showroom.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx
For someone who is looking for a fun-to-drive crossover, the Fronx turbo comes around as a sensible option. The speciality of the Fronx is its hatchback-like dynamics mated to the SUV-like ground clearance. The Fronx shares its underpinnings with the Baleno and adds turbo petrol performance, making it more fun to drive than the Baleno. However, on paper, its 1.0L turbo petrol engine with 100PS of power and 148Nm of torque doesn’t sound very exciting.
The Fronx also features one of the nicest steering of any current Maruti Suzuki offering. It is quick with its operation and also offers decent feedback. The Fronx also handles well thanks to its stiffly sprung suspension, making it a sensible choice for enthusiasts. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx turbo retails between INR 9.72 lakh and 13.13 lakh ex-showroom.
Mercedes-AMG A45 S
Manufacturers like Fiat and Volkswagen have tried their luck with the hot hatchback segment in India but didn’t find success. However, that didn’t stop Mercedes-AMG from launching one of the most expensive hot hatches across the globe in India — the A45 S. Packing a potent 418PS 2.0L turbocharged petrol engine and rear-biased all-wheel-drive, the A45 S pushes the envelope of hot hatches to a different dimension.
The A45 S comes to India as a direct import and doesn’t have any rivals to deal with. Thanks to its hatchback body style, it caters to a small segment of the performance market. The Mercedes-AMG A45 S is the pinnacle of hatchbacks, not just in India but globally as well, which will excite you both on the track and the roads. The A45 S retails at INR 87.50 lakh, living near the BMW M2 and its sedan sibling, the C 43 AMG.
BMW M340i, i4 eDrive 40
The BMW M340i xDrive is renowned for offering sportscar-like performance at a relatively affordable price in the Indian market. It packs the 3.0L in-line turbo petrol engine, a derivative of the M3’s engine, pumping out 374PS of power. Thanks to xDrive, the M340i can sprint from a standstill to 100kmph in 4.4 seconds. At INR 71.50 lakh, the M340i is a bargain over the likes of the more expensive yet less exciting Audi S5 and Mercedes-AMG C43.
However, if you want to have fun without burning fossil fuels, BMW will happily sell you the i4 eDrive40, which is the electric derivative of the M340i, barring the xDrive. The i4 eDrive40 packs an 83.9kWh battery pack, which channels power to a 340PS rear electric motor. The i4 eDrive 40 offers the signature BMW dynamics while also managing a claimed range of up to 590km on a single charge.
BMW M2
If you want to splurge your 1 crore on the best driver’s car, go ahead and get the BMW M2. In its latest avatar, the BMW M2 goes closer to the larger M3 sedan and M4 coupe while sticking to its relatively attainable price tag. It packs a 3.0L twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine, which puts out 460PS of power.
The biggest highlight of the new M2 is the option of a 6-speed manual transmission, which was not offered with the earlier generation of the M2 in India. Even though the manual transmission carries a slight premium and doesn’t offer the best feel or feedback, it is one of the last-standing examples of manual sportscars.
