10 Popular cars that complete one decade on Indian roads

Ten iconic cars: India’s auto sector has seen some legendary vehicles that helped in the shaping of the automotive sector. Japanese car manufacturer Suzuki forayed in the Indian market with Maruti Udyog Limited in 1983, and Hyundai also entered the race, Tata Indica was the first indigenously developed car and was launched in 1998. The auto industry has seen some drastic shifts in trends but some cars in the market have been on offer for more than 10 years. Let’s have a look at the cars that are on sale till date:

Maruti Suzuki Gypsy/Jimny (1985-2024)

The first on our list is the Maruti Gypsy. It is an iconic product that served not only retail consumers but also the armed forces. It used to come with a 1.3 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine which was extremely reliable. In 2019, Maruti Suzuki decided to discontinue the Gypsy. Four years later, at the Auto Expo 2023, the manufacturer showcased the second generation of the Gypsy which is the Jimny in a five-door variant. It consists of all-new “All Grip” Technology, which is the full-time 4x4 and is priced aggressively in the competition. Though it is compact, it serves complete practicality, offering decent comfort and great off-road capabilities.

Honda City (1998-2024)

Honda City has always been the top choice when it comes to the sedan segment. It is a complete package, offering a well-balanced proportion of ride and handling. The 1.5 litre naturally aspirated I-VTEC petrol engine has been a prized possession to drive. The current Honda City offers the same level of joy of driving having decent sales every month. It even offers a hybrid option as well for fuel efficiency-conscious buyers.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R (1999-2024)

The Maruti Wagon R launched in the market to rival the Hyundai Santro, which was based on the tall-boy design language. Wagon R offered good space, had decent features, and eventually captured the commercial space for taxi operators. In 2011 it received a facelift and the feature list was updated. To date, the Wagon R has been on the top sales chart every month and is one of the most liked hatchbacks in the country.

Tata Safari (1998-2024)

Launched in 1998, the Tata Safari was one of those SUVs that used to offer a play-station - II and had the charm of a true off-roader. It underwent various updates and facelifts and the Safari Storm was the last ladder-on-frame SUV which was offered in the market. The Safari Storm was even added to India’s armed forces fleet as GS800, which was modified according to their needs. Present day, Safari is based on a monocoque platform and it is a front-wheel drive SUV offering a slew of tech features for safety like advanced driver assistant system (ADAS), airbags, driving modes, etc. The modern-day Safari is powered by a 2.0 litre Kryotec engine, as seen in its competition vehicles.

Maruti Suzuki Alto (2000-2024)

The Maruti Suzuki Alto is one of the best compact hatchbacks after the Maruti 800. It received updates occasionally and was launched with a 1.0-litre petrol engine in 2010. It was an instant hit and was discontinued in 2020. In 2022, the new generation of the Alto K10 was launched with an updated design and features and it is one of the most loved vehicles in the mountainous terrains. The car is even dubbed as “Lord Alto” by the people living in hilly areas due to its reliability and capabilities.

Mahindra Scorpio (2002-2024)

Seeing the success of Tata Safari, Mahindra launched the first generation of the Scorpio with a bold design and frugal engine. It was a direct competition to the Safari but somehow managed to gain more popularity. It received small updates occasionally and maintained to rule in the segment. In 2022, the Scorpio N was launched in India with a more powerful petrol and diesel engine and a 4x4 option as well.  Mahindra did not discontinue the old Scorpio. They rebranded it to Scorpio Classic for the old shape, and to date, it has high demand among consumers and has good waiting periods.

Skoda Superb (2004-2024)

Skoda Superb was launched as a D-segment executive sedan in 2004 and at that time, the German manufacturers were not adopted by the consumers. It was powered by a 1.8 litre Tsi petrol engine and this vehicle was adaptable to every engine modification. Skoda updated the Superb from time to time and it became more of a luxury segment sedan offering premium features. Since the segment was taken over by the SUVs, sales of the Superb eventually fell and even got discontinued for some time. Recently, Skoda re-launched the Superb at a price of more than Rs. 50 lakh (ex-showroom).

Toyota Innova (2006-2024)

Toyota launched the Innova as the replacement for their MPV Qualis. It immediately gained popularity in the country and is one of the most reliable MPVs, where consumers have logged more than 10 lakh kilometers on odometer. It received timely updates and in 2016, it received a new name, Innova Crysta, equipped with two diesel engine options and a petrol engine. The demand for the Crysta never faded and in 2023, all the shortcomings of the Crysta were filled by the launch of Innova Hycross which is a petrol hybrid MPV, offering a sunroof, fuel efficiency, and improved cabin experience. Both the Crysta and Innova Hycross are on sale today and have quite a high demand among consumers.

Hyundai Verna (2006-2024)

Hyundai Verna is one of the biggest competitors to the Honda City. It was launched back in 2006 with a decent feature list, a frugal petrol engine, and used to offer decent comfort. It received a major facelift in 2011 with the introduction of the Fluidic Verna, having a new petrol and diesel engine. With time the demand for the sedans declined and the diesel engine was replaced by the turbo petrol engine. In 2023, it again received a facelift with an updated design, powertrains, and safety features overcoming the shortcomings of the previous generations.

Mahindra Thar (2010-2024)

Mahindra Thar was first introduced in 2010, with a CRDe engine and had very boxy proportions. It was a decent product back then with good off-road capabilities. In 2020, it received a facelift wherein it got a whole new design, the features got updated, and got equipped with new powertrain options. It became an instant hit and even used to have waiting periods for more than a year. Since it is available in a three-door version, it is expected to launch the five-door version in 2024 as per the media.