Top 5 Diesel Automatic Sedans Worthy Of Your Money

by IndianAuto Team | 19/12/2018
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Some may say that diesel cars have been falling behind lately, but diesel cars are still many people’s cups of tea. If you are thinking about owning a diesel automatic sedan, this list may help you tremendously.

Diesel cars are undoubtedly are still not as widely used as petrol cars, and the same goes with automatic transmission versus manual transmission.

Though traditional petrol engines have their own charm, it is undeniable that diesel engines are often superior in terms of comfort, power, fuel efficiency, and longevity. Diesel engines have higher torque and the concentration of torque is on the lower end, so most diesel engines operate the best when the speed is equal to or below 65 mph (approximately 104.6 kmph). If you want to be real here, daily urban driving hardly ever gets past 65 mph, thus diesel engines are a more ideal choice for city drivers. As a cherry on top, the price of diesel is currently cheaper than that of petrol, so you may save some bucks in the long run if you decide to own a diesel car.

In terms of automatic transmissions, they are gaining popularity and affinity among car buyers and there are obvious reasons why. Automatic gearboxes provide more relaxing and easy-going progress and added smoothness during gear change. Some high-quality automatic transmissions even offer an almost unnoticeable gear change experience. If you are someone who has to deal with traffic jam often, you will appreciate this type of transmission as you can have a better chance to rest your feet from the clutch pedal and relax your mind while the automatic gearbox takes over.

Though the combination of diesel engine and automatic gearbox may scream “EXPENSIVE” in capital letters and flashing LED to you, you can own a really decent diesel automatic sedan without breaking the bank. Below are top 5 diesel automatic sedans currently on the market.

1. Tata Zest

Tata Zest was the first one ever in the B segment to have a diesel engine mated to an automatic transmission. The design of Tata Zest is quite different from other cars from the same company, and it ensures a head turn when people have a sudden realisation that a Tata is parking on the street. Features wise, the car is equipped with a touchscreen infotainment system and 8 speakers, so you can enjoy some great music while driving the car

Tata Zest offers 2 diesel automatic variants:

  • Tata Zest XMA Diesel (Rs. 8.15 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Tata Zest XTA Quadrajet 90PS Diesel (Rs. 8.87 lakhs ex-showroom)

Both variants come with a 1.3-litre Quadrajet Engine that produces 88.7 bhp at 4000 rpm and 200 Nm at 1750-3000 rpm.

tata zest blue colour front three quarters right side

Tata Zest was the first sedan to have a diesel automatic variant

2. Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Dzire is the best-selling sedans in India in 2018. The Dzire got an exterior makeover with a new sleek design that gives off a premium feel. The car has great cabin space and loads of amazing features, some of which include reversing camera, Apple CarPlay, LED headlamps, etc. To keep the passengers safe, the car comes equipped with two airbags for the front seats, Anti-Lock Braking System, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. Maruti Suzuki Dzire has 3 diesel automatic variants:

  • Maruti Suzuki Dzire VDI AGS (Rs. 8.91 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZDI AGS (Rs. 9.6 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Maruti Suzuki Dzire Zdi Plus AGS (Rs. 10.61 lakhs ex-showroom)

All of them are powered by a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine that creates 74 bhp at 4000 rpm and 190 Nm at 2000 rpm. The diesel automatic variants also have an ARAI-certified mileage of 28.4 Kmpl, which makes Dzire the most fuel-efficient car in the market.

Maruti Dzire blue front angle

The diesel automatic variants of Maruti Suzuki Dzire have the best mileage in the Indian auto market

3. Volkswagen Ameo

Volkswagen Ameo is the only compact sedan in the country that has the seven-speed direct-shift gearbox. There are 2 diesel automatic variants of Ameo, both of which draw power from a 1.5-litre engine:

  • Volkswagen Ameo 1.5-Litre TDI Diesel Comfortline AT (Rs. 10.45 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Volkswagen Ameo 1.5-Litre TDI Diesel Highline Plus AT (Rs. 11.73 lakhs ex-showroom)

The design of the Ameo has a soft look with rounded corners, which is quite common for Volkswagen cars. The sedan has a lot of comfort features such as a touchscreen infotainment system that has Apple Carplay or Android Auto, air-conditioning vents for rear seats, Mirrorlink, and rain sensing wipers. Some of the safety features are dual airbags for the front seats, reverse parking camera, and Anti-Lock Braking System.

Volkswagen Ameo blue colour front angle

Volkswagen Ameo is one the few cars in the world that are equipped with a seven-speed direct-shift gearbox

4. Volkswagen Vento

Volkswagen Vento is another Volkswagen sedan that is on the top of the market. While the car’s durability and quality are phenomenal, it is not very well-loved by Indian car owners because the design is typical of a European car (translation: boring) and the features are not as loaded as other options on the market. However, Vento still comes with some interesting features like keyless entry with security alarm and immobiliser, rear air-conditioner, Anti-Lock Braking System, and dual airbags. Volkswagen Vento is pretty great when it comes to fuel efficiency, though it is not as good in mileage as other Asian sedans. The diesel automatic variants of Vento has an ARAI-certified mileage of 22.15 kmpl. There are 3 diesel automatic variants of Vento on the market:

  • Volkswagen Vento 1.5 L TDI Confortline Diesel AT (Rs. 13.99 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Volkswagen Vento 1.5 L TDI Highline Diesel AT (Rs. 15.08 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Volkswagen Vento 1.5 L TDI Highline Plus Diesel AT (Rs. 16.14 lakhs ex-showroom)

Volkswagen Vento red colour front three quarters left side

Volkswagen Vento is a car of great reliability but it does not look very appealing

5. Skoda Rapid

Skoda Rapid is one of the cars that have the best-built quality. Besides having the great reliability of a European car, Skoda Rapid got a redesign in 2016 that makes the car look more sleek and modern than ever. The quality of the upholstery and overall interior is top-notch and can be compared to that of more luxurious cars. The stability is also comparable to that of cars from a segment or two above. Because of these reasons, even though Skoda Rapid’s diesel automatic variants are more expensive than other candidates in this list, the sedan is a good deal. 4 diesel automatic variants are:

  • Skoda Rapid 1.5 TDI CR Ambition AT (Rs. 14.06 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Skoda Rapid 1.5 TDI Onyx AT (Rs. 14.89 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Skoda Rapid 1.5 TDI CR Style AT (Rs. 15.95 lakhs ex-showroom)

  • Skoda Rapid 1.5 TDI Edition AT (Rs. 16.29 lakhs ex-showroom)

Skoda Rapid red colour side angle

Skoda Rapid is a European car that has both great quality and good design

Read more interesting car stories from IndianAuto

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