Check out India's top 9 hatchbacks

With petrol prices in India going through the roof, most car buyers are now turning towards diesel cars. Even though the initial price is slightly higher, in the long run these cars are easier on the purse.

From Fiat to Ford and Maruti to Hyundai, almost all carmakers are now opting to introduce a diesel car, specially in the hatchback segment, to woo Indian buyers.

With Chevrolet all set to launch the Beat diesel on July 25, competition is heating up in this segment.

So before booking your car, read this carefully and make the correct choice.

about the nine great hatchbacks...

Chevrolet Beat Diesel

General Motors India would launch the diesel variant of its Chevrolet Beat in the Indian market on July 25, a top company official said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

"With fluctuation in fuel prices in India from time to time, the new diesel Beat, the prices of which will be announced at the launch will revolutionise the small car segment, with its engine capacity and fuel economy," Karl Slym president and managing director General Motors India told reporters on Wednesday.

The company, which sold about 1.1 lakh cars last year in India, was doubling its growth rate in India as compared to industry average and expected to sell about 1.4 lakh vehicles in all variants this year,up by more than 30 per cent, he said.

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Currently available in 1.2liter Petrol and a LPG version, the Chevrolet Beat has almost completed two years in India. It will be produced at the newly set up plant at Talegaon.

A 936cc XSDE SMARTECH 3 cylinder diesel engine powers the new Beat.

It has a power of 62.5 PS.

The Multi Jet (MJI) diesel engine has been co-developed by GM and Fiat.

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In order to keep the corrosion-free engine light in weight, many lightweight components have been used besides measures like electrically controlled throttle body in order to keep vibrations and engine shakes low.

The interior and exterior make up of the Beat diesel is same as that of its petrol version.

But before you decide to buy the Beat diesel check out how it fares against a few other diesel hatchbacks in India.

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Chevrolet Beat diesel vs Tata Indica Vista diesel

Tata Indica is available in 1.3 and 1.4L engines in diesel while Beat diesel has 1L engine.

The entry level diesel variant of Tata Indica Vista is priced at Rs 428,488 ex showroom while Beat is expected to be priced slightly higher.

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The Beat diesel is expected to deliver a mileage of 17 kmpl in the city and 23 kmpl on the highways while Tata Vista diesel returns a mileage of 14.2 kmpl in city and 18.4 kmpl in the long run.

Both have a strong brand backup and Tata Vista has been around for quite some time and has performed well compared to the old Indica.

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Chevrolet Beat diesel vs Ford Figo diesel

The entry level trim Ford Figo LXI Diesel's price starts at Rs 458,500 ex showroom in New Delhi which is somewhat the same as the expected price of Beat diesel.

The Figo diesel has 1.4L (69PS) Single Over Head Camshaft (SOHC) engine while Beat diesel has a more powerful and refined Double Over Head Cam (DOHC).

However, mileage wise Beat Diesel beats Figo and both have the same standard features such as power steering, and power windows.

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Figo diesel also has an adjustable steering.

Both have 5-speed gearbox.

Dimension wise, Figo is longer, wider but shorter than Beat and has 3mm more ground clearance than Beat.

Both have big brand backup and good brand image.

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Chevrolet Beat diesel vs Volkswagen Polo

If we compare the entry level diesel trim by Volkswagen i.e. the Polo Diesel Trendline 1.2L with the upcoming Beat diesel we will find that the price difference is approximately Rs 90,000.

The Polo is costlier than Beat diesel.

Polo Diesel Trendline has a 1.2L 75bhp 3-cylinder CRDi engine which is more powerful than the 1L engine in Beat Diesel.

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In terms of mileage, Beat Diesel leads in the city and on the highways as well but both have the same standard features.

Both, however, lack anti-lock braking system and have central locking and anti-theft alarm as part of the security features.

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Chevrolet Beat diesel vs Maruti Ritz

Maruti Ritz Diesel looks quite similar to the Beat and the entry level Ritz LDi has a price tag of Rs 484,559, a little more than the expected price of Beat diesel.

Ritz diesel has somewhat more mileage in the city while Beat leads on the highways.

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Both have AC, power windows and power steering as standard.

You get central locking as standard on Beat while Ritz comes with iCATS engine immobilizer as standard on the LDi.

Both have five-speed gearbox. The Ritz is longer, wider, taller and has more ground clearance than Beat.

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Chevrolet Beat diesel vs Skoda Fabia

If we compare the entry level diesel trim Skoda Fabia 1.2L Diesel Classic with Beat Diesel, first of all, Fabia costs around Rs 90,000 more than Beat.

Both have strong brand value and are known for stability, comfort and performance.

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Beat rules in terms of mileage.

Both are Bharat Stage IV compliant.

Fabia is longer, wider and is almost of the same height as Beat but has less ground clearance.

Fabia has airbags for the driver as part of standard equipment.

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Chevrolet Beat Diesel vs Maruti Swift

Compared to Beat Diesel the entry level Maruti Swift Ldi BSIII is priced at Rs 483,324  and has a more powerful 1.3L, 85bhp DDiS engine car that has Common Rail multi injection technology in place.

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The Swift Diesel returns around 18 kmpl in City and 22 kmpl on highways.

New Swift is in the making and is expected to be launched somewhere around August 17.

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Chevrolet Beat diesel vs Fiat Punto

Fiat Grande Punto Active (diesel) starts at Rs 517,000 and goes up to Rs 684,763 for the Fiat Grande Punto 1.3 Emotion Pack 90HP (diesel).

Punto Diesel has a 1.3L, 76bhp engine which is more powerful than Beat.

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Punto has a four-cylinder engine while Beat's is three-cylinder.

Both have five-speed manual transmission but Beat rules over Punto in terms of mileage.

Punto's Blue&Me technology (is an infotainment system for Fiat Group cars based on Microsoft Auto), however, is missing in Beat.

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Chevrolet Beat diesel vs Hyundai i20

The cheapest diesel offering in i20 series is the Hyundai i20 Era Diesel which has a 1.4L engine that returns a better mileage than the expected mileage of Beat diesel.

Both the diesel trims have air conditioner, power steering, power windows and central locking as part of the standard equipment.

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i20 Era Diesel is around Rs 100,000 more than the expected price of Beat diesel.

Both Ford and Hyundai are well established brands in India and both have good after sales and spares network.