To get a hatchback in Feb'10 or wait till May'10

My colleague is thinking of buying a new car in Feb'2010. What I have suggested is to wait till May since lot of new hatchback's are coming from companies like Nissan, Hyundai, Mitubishi and also that the current gen hatchbaks in India are being sold since 2006/2007.

what do you guys suggest for price point fo 5-6L

well your friend can certainly wait for three more months (i.e until May) which will give him more options to choose from! 5-6 lacs is quite a budget for hatchbacks which may buy your friend a VW polo, a Ford Figo or a Chevy Beat across the price range! These are some of the cars lined up for release first quarter of next year.

Season's greeting, Ride safe!

Fiat Punto Grande!

^^+1 to punto

also do consider the VW Polo

he thought of Punto but TATA's disgusting service quality is pulling him away.

his options are:

Maruti/Suzuki
Hyundai
Chevy

I too recommended him to wait till Mid 2010 and to incline towards Polo

Thanks guys for your suggestions. how do I add rep to you?

I think its wise to wait till mid 2010 as a lot of new models are being launched. Your colleague will have a lot more choices then.

Someone posted this list at Car & Bike Show's facebook page. I don't know how authentic it is.

These are the all Cars which are upcoming to Indian Market in 2010 | Facebook

I think if you can wait, VW Polo must be the 1st option. And I hear chevy also bringing a better model than UVA. Better drop ford and hyundai. those brands are not worth wait and buy.
If u get Nissan or toyota from japanese origins, that would be better.
I guess Polo will start on road 6. If it has enough rear space like fabia, then you can blindly go for it. Its booking already started. Can get first lot in April 2010.
There is a hatch model for Opel corsa available in Europe. Not sure, whether it is coming to india or not
all the best.

I have driven it and its driving quality very narrowly better than fabia 1.2. Really could feel 66 BHP.
the steering is superb. Love to hold it. And interior plastics are the worst. the lower end front console area without music system, is pathetically looking if you have no audio fitted. And the salesperson opened the bonnet, , the engine finish (exterior) was not at all good. (I think TATA assembled it in their factory...not sure. I cant imagine FIAT will do this kind of finish)
But engine was very silent and smooth.
Gear shift was very good.
And offcourse the outside look of the car is one of the best. (Italians). I heard some issues with turning radius. If that case you need to be careful otherwise will endup scratching the italian nose...(berlusconi's)

Regarding the TATA ,
I think their bad reputation is due to the bad quality of TATA cars. Not the service. It was notorious, all the tatacars, estate , sumo, indica, sierra...all having worst suspension and alignment issues.....
so the service personnel cant do anything...
Still the finish of the tata cars (including Manza) is not appealing like a foreign car.

don go for swift or somthing ritz and punto are nice but ritz has nice suspension

chevrolet beet (or beat, whatever) launches in jan, but i think that one aims at the 3.5-4lakh price point.

you sir, have been misinformed. Tata makes perfectly competent cars which do the job they're designed for. Their service is what ruins it. I'm speaking from experience

Among the currently available models, I guess you'd be considering the i20 and Punto for your budget. From whatever time I've spent with my friends cars, I'd rate the i20 above Punto mostly cause of the better build quality, though I didn't get to thrash them around both the engine's seem to be sufficiently powered for most tasks (both were the petrol versions)

and yeah the fiats turning radius is a pain, specially in parking ramps with spiral exits like I found out

The VW polo could be a good choice if positioned correctly, which I doubt

If the car is for long drives and the buyer need better driving quality, then Punto over i20 which I felt a perfect boat on road rather than a car. i20 is just a show machine in city. thats all... their old santro is much better drive quality.
Off course, i20 finish is much better..but if you ever driven a European machine, then i20 is a nightmare..rather u drive the car, the car drives you...I think u got it.

I just guessed here... New cars, I think things got improved.

Polo's price will be insanely high like that of bettle

Dude it's confirmed price range is Rs. 4,75,000-5,25,000!!!