What's the Best Diesel Car for India?

Toyota diesel (saddly missing from the North American market)

European small diesel engines for cars are quite reliable and bring good performances. It is difficult to make a big difference between brands but one of the most involved in diesel engines are the French producers due to the big price difference between gas and gas oil at the pump, in France most of cars are powered with diesel engines.

Thus have a look at Peugeot/Citroen/ Renault/VW/Opel

Mercedes 300D -- no SD you don't need turbo problems.

If for short runs I would get a 3 cylinder desiel from a Kubato lawn tractor an adapt it to a small truck. They are solid engines and last a long time. But not for high speed travel.

you wont like my answer, and you probably cant find one and they are not new. the 1980-1981 model datsun diesel pickup truck is bombproof, you can run anything close to diesel fuel, even vegetable oil in it with no mods. the trucks last forever,300-500,000 miles or more and are easy to work on, and, from the factory got over 40 mpg, able to get 50mpg plus with slight injector pump adjustment, has a 4speed tranny thats pretty decent,too.and are built tough from heavy steel.I used to jokingly call it my tructor, plowed through 5ft tall weeds and small trees without missing a beat or damaging a thing. 2nd best probably the 70's model ford courier pickup, diesel if you could find one,third, the old toyota diesel small pickups.

My old 1954 Massey tractor has a Perkin Diseil in it. I only change the oil once a year and the oil filter twice a year. The head has never been off the motor. Only engine problems was the freeze plug rusted out once and the injector pump had to be rebuilt once. Has to replace the hydralic pump once and the output PTO dirve gears.

54 years that tractor has been going working almost every day.

I lived in India for four years, Bangalore and Mangalore. I realize the conditions of the roads and driving conditions. If it were me I would buy a VW Jetta, sedan or wagon, diesel from Europe, mileage is excellent, comfort is good and fit for a large family, etc. Also, parts are more readily available than Japaneese vehicles and cheaper.

I can't offer a specific chassis, however as a manufacturer Daimler Benz has greater presence in the world wide diesel market than any other company in the business.

It's been that way for over 40 years through out Asia, Latin America and Western Europe. This is important from the perspective of repair facilities, spare parts and technical familiarity.

And you find their smaller diesel engines like the 220/240 being used on everything from pumping stations, electrical power generators and for reefers. Even in the US, there was a time when most every refrigerated tractor trailer being pulled down the highways had refrigeration equipment powered by a Mercedes Benz engine.

I can't say that this is still the case here but in my frequent trips out of this country the Three Pointed star still dominates, especially in Latin America. (Buses and trucks as well as cars)

L.J.

Oh for the love of god, we all know that the only REAL answer is a Toyota 4x4, Diesel - Hilux... Perfect......

Agree - just wish they would come with a kidney belt. Hard to kill these things - even in Africa.

You did not specify how many family members will need to fit in, whether or not you need to pull a trailer occasionally or not!!

I can recommend any cars using the TDI motors, the 2.0 Liter more than the 1.9 liter.....Mitsubish have it also in several of their models.....its called a DI-D in Mitsubishi "speak"!

Greetings Brother,

thank you for the reply, I would say the purpose of the vehicle would be purely limited to family use, for 4 - 6 members. Journey would be specifically around 2000km per month. More or less ON - ROAD and little or nill of OFF - ROAD, drives. It should be any where around 7.0 lakhs and with comfort and appreciable mileage.

Thanks again,

I have worked in India for 3 years and had TATA Chevy, Mahindra etc but by far the best is the Toyota Innova it is comfotable, reliable pretty economical and durable for running into motor bikes, 3 wheelers and other impatient car drivers, maybe you should add a louder horn!

May I recommend any of the large Mitsubishi cars with a DI-D motor (its no secret its the 2.0 TDI from VW.

The pickups have the old 2.3 Turbo Diesel from Mitsubishi, a good stable simple motor, but not modern, nor is it as good with regard to Mileage as the TDIs are.....

I have driven both engines and can recommend either......in any of their cars, as long as it has enough seats to fit the whole family. The Grandis is my personal recommendation either 6 (all leather, better headlights and 2 x Sunroof) or 7 seats (Standard model) depending upon the model you buy, mine has over 100,000 Kms and still runs like new with next to no oil usage. (this takes about 30,000 Kms to achieve, but is at its best once you have over 80,000 Kms, thats typical VW TDI. I have had 5 TDI motors over the last 12 years, all took a long time to completely run in).

For ANY Diesel with Turbo, do not use the car pulling heavy loads until you have at least 5,000 Kms on the clock, 10,000 is even better. Otherwise you may experience heavy oil usage for the rest of the life of the engine.....

On any car, do not skimp on oil quality, or oil changes. The TDIs for example need Long Life 3 oil, but can run to 30,000 per oil change......thats why its called Long Life!!

Hi rajiv,

I would endorse the 'French Connection' and depending on the level of back-up available I would also suggest an 'oldie '. The Peugeot 205 series from the 80s and early 90s are absolutely bomb proof with a suspension that is legendary in terms of ability to soak up rough going. I've run one for 15 years and it now has 216k miles on the clock with original everything in the 'lump' and still does not burn oil.

They are simple brutes (a worthy successor to the Morris Minor?) with no electronic gizmos so can be kept going without tears.

Happy motoring,

Massey.

Hi Rajiv,

My son bought Ford "Fiesta" around 3 years back. It is diesel version. He has driven it mostly in Mumbai except a trip to Goa. He very happy with its performance. If you need any more feed back you can ask by mail through my mail box.

Suresh Sharma.

Dear Sir,

I am grate full for your "to the point" reply. I would sincerely appreciate for your feed back on the vehicle in question. As if your son could post his feed back to me on rajagencies@dataone.in

Anticipating your support. I was going for VERNA, {diesel} how about that sir?

thank you sincerely again.

RAJIV

Dear Sir,

Verna is a very good option. I purchased a Verna CrDi Sx 10 months back...its an excellent car with good mileage and a good pick up. The engine is not as silent as its parent - Hyundai CrDi. And also its fit for 5 people..6 would be difficult..

Regards,

Sahil

Depends on how much you want to pay Rajiv.

On the lower end, you start from Indica from TATA (I've driven it for 2.00.000Kms between 2003-05). A nice car meant for Indian roads very good for city & hi-ways.

In the mid segment, you have Indigo CS and ofcourse, a little more money can get you Toyota Innova.

All these give good mileage too.

Hello rajiv,

At a guess I would say a Tank! LOL

You have to bear in mind perhaps how easy it is to replace a single body panel? I have no idea of your finances of course, but I would go for a car which is not too fancy.

Have you done any searches or, know what you have in mind yet?

Take care

Hello there.

I once had a Peugeot 205 Diesel. The best car I ever had.

Peugeot, you will not regret it