Indian economy took a nosedive in 2020 following the COVID-19 outbreak. The Coronavirus pandemic brought several industries to a near standstill as the country witnessed a nationwide lockdown and people stayed at home. Every business had to endure a tough time last year but one industry bucked the trend somehow. Talking about the used car market segment, it witnessed splendid growth. Going by the report, a 300 percent increase has been witnessed in the digital adoption of automobiles.
The reason behind the titanic jump in growth for second-hand cars is the people's preference shifting towards personal vehicle use. In the new COVID-19 world, buyers are more inclined to use personal vehicles rather than ride-hailing services and public transport. Another insight is the rising preference for diesel cars on Droom’s platform. Diesel models accounted for 65 percent of pre-owned car sales on the Droom platform in the year 2020. As we enter the new financial year next month, we bring to you the top 5 used cars on Droom’s platform.
Maruti Suzuki Dzire is a popular choice in the used car market in India. The subcompact sedan is a raging hit due to its reliability and low maintenance costs. The Dzire resale value is one of the best and is the most searched on Droom’s platform. One of the cheapest sedans on sale in the domestic market, it was launched in 2008. The first-gen Dzire was powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine and a Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel engine. With the move to BS3 emission norms in 2010, Maruti introduced a new 1.2-litre petrol engine. The second-generation Swift Dzire came with a 1.2-litre K-series motor and a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine. A four-speed automatic transmission option came only in the VXi trim. The 2015 revised Maruti Suzuki Swift became the most fuel-efficient diesel car in India at that time. Currently, Swift VDI and VXI trims remain in high demand on the e-commerce platform.
Maruti Swift has been in the Indian market for over 15 years now. The hatchback is one of the top-selling units in both the new and used car market. Maruti's hegemony in the domestic market is based on the success of the Swift hatchback. On Droom, it continues to be a popular choice among the buyers. Maruti Suzuki sold over 2.2 million (22 Lakh) units of the Swift in the domestic market. The 2021 Maruti Swift is powered by a BS6-compliant 1.2-liter K-Series Dual Jet Dual VVT petrol engine. The hatch delivers 89 bhp of power output and 113Nm of peak torque. It gives a fuel economy of 23.20km/l with a 5-speed manual gearbox and 23.76km/l when mated to a 5-speed AMT unit.
Toyota Fortuner facelift arrived this year but the older model sells in good numbers in the domestic market. The imposing SUV is appreciated for the distinctive silhouette, spacious interior and powerful engine. The Toyota vehicles are well known for their low maintenance costs which make them quite appealing to the Indian buyers. Toyota Fortuner is powered by a 2.7-litre petrol engine and 2.8-litre turbo diesel. The former delivers a maximum power of 166 bhp and a peak torque of 245Nm while the diesel engine churns out 201 bhp power and 500Nm torque. Transmission options available are a six-speed manual unit and a six-speed automatic unit.
The Honda City, since its launch in 1998, has enjoyed widespread popularity like no other mid-sized sedan in the Indian market. Honda name, good price, features and smooth engine has given the sedan a foothold in the lucrative new car and used car segment. In July 2020, the new-gen Honda City was launched to further bolster the Japanese automaker’s presence in the country. It is now in the fifth generation illustrating the sedan’s unrivalled success. When we mention Japanese cars, they have developed a reputation for being extremely reliable in comparison to German cars. New Honda City comes with two engine options: a naturally aspirated 1.5L 4-cylinder petrol and 1.5-litre diesel mill. The petrol delivers 121bhp and 145Nm while the engine is mated to a 6-speed manual and CVT gearbox. The diesel delivers 100bhp and comes with only 6-speed manual transmission.
With spacious interiors and reliable engines, Toyota Innova Crysta's sight on the Indian roads has become a common practice. For the last 15 years, the Toyota Innova has become a leader on its own in the highly competitive MPV segment. The flexible seating arrangement with options to accommodate 8 passengers was the icing on the cake. Apart from the spacious interiors, the large boot space appealed to the buyers who love to travel long distances. Performance-wise, the Toyota Innova Crysta facelift gets two engine options. IPowered by a 2.4-litre diesel engine, it churns out 148 bhp power at 3400 rpm. The engine develops 343 Nm torque between 1400-2800 rpm while being linked to a 5-speed manual gearbox while it produces 360 Nm of torque at 1400-2600 rpm with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The MPV also gets a 2.7-litre petrol unit that generates 164 bhp of power output at 5200 rpm and 245 Nm torque at 4000 rpm.
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