Top cars and SUVs we drove in 2024: Our best picks

The year 2024 was a remarkable one for the Indian automotive industry. Many manufacturers brought an exciting lineup of cars and SUVs, showcasing innovation, performance, and cutting-edge technology. From sleek sedans to rugged SUVs, automakers pushed the boundaries to deliver vehicles that cater to every type of driver. Over the course of the year, we had the opportunity to drive some of the finest vehicles on offer. In this article, we’ve rounded up our best picks—models that stood out for their features, driving dynamics, and overall appeal. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or in the market for your next ride, these models are sure to impress.
Hyundai Creta facelift and Creta N Line
The first set of cars on the list are the Hyundai Creta facelift and the Hyundai Creta N-line. The Creta facelift is not just a minor update; Hyundai has overhauled both the front and rear designs. The front features a more prominent grille with parametric details, as Hyundai refers to it, along with a refreshed lighting arrangement. The split headlamps include LED Daytime Running Lamps, sequential turn signals, and a light bar above the grille, while the main quad-LED headlights are positioned lower on the bumper. Additionally, new scuff plates help to make the front end appear less divisive compared to the pre-facelift version. The SUV also features a new interior with lots of appealing features such as twin 10.25-inch screens, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, a Bose sound system and a lot more.

Within 2 months after the 2024 Hyundai Creta facelift's launch. Hyundai India also launched the sportier Creta N Line. The Creta N line features a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with 160 hp of power and comes paired with a 7-speed DCT or a manual gearbox. The Creta N Line also features an upgraded suspension system, bigger 18-inch alloy wheels and revised steering dynamics to enhance its sporty driving experience, along with a more aggressive-sounding exhaust note.
New Maruti Suzuki Swift
The second car on the list is the new Maruti Suzuki Swift which has an all-new petrol engine, refreshed interiors, modern features and improved safety features. The new Swift in its fourth generation is essentially a heavily updated version of the third-gen platform with a new design, new engine, improved dynamics and an updated interior layout with new features and safety.

The new Maruti Swift features a re-designed front bumper and a new grille with chunky black surrounds and it also features re-designed smoked LED headlamps with DRLs. Below it gets the revised fog lamp housing with a splitter. The clamshell bonnet of the new Swift is a lot shallower and at the sides, the door handles for the rear doors are back to their conventional location, instead of on the C-pillar, the hatch also gets newly designed 15-inch alloy wheels. It also features prominent character lines running across the door panels.
At the rear, it gets a re-designed tailgate and a new bumper with a skid plate below. Other highlights include an integrated rear spoiler with a stop lamp, LED taillights with C-shaped DRLs and reflectors below. Other highlights include blacked-out ORVMs, roofs and pillars. The biggest change on the new Swift is on the powertrain front. The new Swift is powered by an all-new Z-Series, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine. The new engine puts out 82 hp of power and 112 nm of torque. In comparison, the previous model produced 90 hp and 113 nm, a drop of 8 hp and 1 Nm.
Mahindra Thar Roxx
Next is the new Mahindra Thar Roxx. The Roxx is essentially the 5-door version of the standard Thar. It gets updated design, new features, bigger dimensions and more. In terms of design, it has newly designed a double-stacked six-slot grille and the circular headlamps now feature LED projectors and C-shaped DRLs. While the fog lights and turn indicators retain their positions, they now have a sleeker appearance. Moving on to the sides, it gets ‘Thar Roxx’ badging on the front side panel with door-mounted dual-tone ORVMs, and radio antenna mounted on the front fender. Moreover, the elongated wheelbase is visible to accommodate the two extra doors and also rear door handle is housed in the C-pillar.

Moving inside, the interior is the same as the standard Thar but it gets a few changes such as premium elements like soft-touch materials on the dashboard and it also gets a new steering wheel with mounted controls. Other features include a panoramic sunroof, fully digital instrument cluster, touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, white leatherette seats with ventilation, soft-touch finish on the dashboard with contrasting stitching, ADAS and a Harman Kardon music system.
Porsche 718 GT4 RS
Next is the Porsche 718 GT4 RS which is more powerful than the regular GT4 model. It gets a 4.0-litre, six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine churning out a peak power of 493 bhp and a max torque of 450 Nm. This engine comes paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that enables the premium coupe to sprint from 0-100 kmph in just 3.4 seconds. Porsche claims that the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is capable of a top speed of above 315kmph.

BMW XM
Next is the BMW XM SUV, which is the most powerful M-performance luxury SUV. This massive SUV draws its power from a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine with 489hp and 650Nm torque, it’s paired with a 197hp electric motor integrated into the 8-speed automatic gearbox. The combined system output is 653hp and 800Nm. It has a 25.7 kWh lithium-ion battery and delivers an electric-only range of about 60 km. The BMW XM’s design is a bold departure from traditional BMW styling. It showcases a mix of luxury, aggression, and futuristic elements. At front it features BMW’s signature kidney grille, but in a larger, more imposing format. The grille is illuminated, which adds a modern and striking touch, especially at night. At the sides, it has a muscular and sculpted side profile, with bold creases and a prominent shoulder line. The large alloy wheels and flared wheel arches give it a rugged and athletic stance. The rear showcases a distinctive look with thin, elongated taillights that extend across the width of the car.

MG Windsor
Next is the MG Windsor, which emerged as the best selling EV in the country within just a few days from launch. The Windsor is the first electric car to come with 'battery as a service' (BAAS) model. This model allows buyers to purchase the vehicle without the battery, which is typically a significant portion of an electric vehicle’s cost. As a result, customers avoid the high upfront price and can instead opt for manageable monthly payments. MG has set a rate of ₹3.5 per kilometer as the basis for these installments, making the transition to electric vehicles more accessible.
The Windsor EV is offered in three variants - Excite, Exclusive and Essence. All three variants come with a front-mounted electric motor producing 136hp of power and 200Nm of peak torque. The e-motor is powered by a 38kWh battery pack with a claimed range of 331km on a single charge.

Mahindra BE6 and XEV 9e
Mahindra and Mahindra took a major step into the EV era with the launch of its much-anticipated ‘Born Electric’ SUVs, the XEV 9e and BE 6. These SUVs are built on Mahindra’s in-house INGLO platform, a modular skateboard architecture designed exclusively for electric vehicles. The pricing for the BE 6e Pack One starts at Rs 18.90 lakh ex-showroom, while the XEV 9e Pack One will set you back by Rs 21.90, ex-showroom. Both models are set to hit the market in January 2025. Deliveries will commence from February 2025.

The XEV 9e features a sleek, aerodynamic coupe-SUV design, with aggressive cuts and a sloping roofline. A bold triangular headlamp setup, flared wheel arches, and a full-width LED light bar give it a futuristic look. The BE 6e leans towards a more sculpted style. Its minimalist front end, integrated inverted L-shaped DRLs, and sharp contours lend a modern and aggressive design language.
The XEV 9e features 59kWh and 79kWh LFP battery options, offering a claimed range of 656km (MIDC) or 533km (WLTP) and over 500km in real-world tests. Its powertrain delivers 286hp and 380Nm with the larger battery, achieving 0-100 kmph in 6.7 seconds, while the 59kWh version offers 231hp. Similarly, the BE 6e offers 59kWh and 79kWh battery packs, with the latter delivering a WLTP range of 550km—higher than the XEV 9e. It boasts 288bhp, 380Nm, 0-100 kmph in 6.7 seconds performance figures.

Mercedes-AMG G63
Next is the updated Mercedes-AMG G63. The performance SUV features redesigned bumper with three vertical slats in front of the air inlets, a new AMG logo on the hood and more. At the heart of the all-new AMG G 63 is a 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo engine, supported by 48V mild hybrid technology. This powerhouse produces 576 hp and 850 Nm of torque, with an additional 20 hp boost available during acceleration. The SUV also features the new "Race Start" function, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in a swift 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 240 kmph. Interestingly, the G63, for the first time ever, gets the launch control feature.

Inside, it gets Nappa leather upholstery, customizable ambient lighting, and infotainment. The latest MBUX NTG7 system takes center stage featuring smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, augmented reality navigation, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen along with a driver's display of similar size. There’s also a redesigned off-road cockpit that provides access to off-road functions. It also gets keyless entry - this too for the first time.
New Toyota Camry
Next is the new Toyota Camry which we recently drove. The new Camry features an all-new design, new interior layout, additional features, and added safety. It also has more fuel efficiency than the previous model, thanks to the next-generation hybrid system. The new Toyota Camry in its 9th generation is based on the same TNGA-K platform and is powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with Toyota's fifth-generation Hybrid System dubbed THS 5. The new model puts out 230hp of power and has claimed fuel efficiency of 25 kmpl. The engine comes paired with an e-CVT gearbox.

In terms of design, the Camry is based on Toyota’s global design language and is an evolution of the outgoing model. At the front, it gets a new headlamp design integrated with a black element that spans the front of the vehicle. The sedan also features a honeycomb-patterned grille, painted to match the body colour, extending toward the lower section of the car. While the overall silhouette remains similar to the previous model, the roofline appears more sloped, and the rear quarter glass is larger and more angled. At the rear, the changes are minimal with redesigned tail lamps and rear bumper.
BMW i5 M60
Another BMW is the new BMW i5 M60. The BMW i5 gets a 83.9kWh battery pack (81.2kWh usable), delivering a WLTP-certified range of 516km on a single charge. This battery powers dual electric motors, one on each axle, producing a combined output of 601hp and 795Nm of torque. According to BMW, the i5 can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in just 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 230kph. Included with the sedan is an 11kW wall charger, while a 22kW AC charger is available as an optional upgrade. The i5 supports 205kW DC fast charging, allowing the battery to go from 10 to 80 percent in under 30 minutes.

BMW M2
Next is the updated BMW M2. In terms of design, the new M2 remains largely unchanged with very minimal changes. It’s now offered in four new colours - Portimao Blue, Fire Red, Sao Paulo Yellow, and Skyscraper Grey. The car features a frameless kidney grille with horizontal bars, a three-section lower air intake, a racecar-style diffuser, and standard black exhaust tips. Buyers can choose between a sunroof or a carbon roof and also optional tint for the headlamps. The vehicle is equipped with M light-alloy wheels, with 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear, along with M Sport brake callipers.

The 2024 BMW M2 continues to be powered by an updated twin-turbo 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder engine that produces 473 bhp of power and 600 of torque. The updated engine sees a bump of 20 hp and 50 nm. It comes paired with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The new M2 comes with Adaptive M-Specific Suspension, M Sport Differential, and M high-performance compound brakes. BMW claims the new M2 can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds in AT gearbox and 4.2 seconds with the 6-speed MT and has a top speed of 250 kph. This can be increased to 285 km/h with the optional M Driver’s Package at an additional extra.
Audi Q8 facelift
Next is the Audi Q8 facelift. The updated Q8 remains the same mechanically but gets cosmetic tweaks with new features. It gets a re-designed front with a new bumper with large intakes, a new grille design and also HD Matrix LED headlights with laser high beam. It also gets customisable DRLs with multiple light signatures. Moving rear, it gets digital OLED taillights, with selectable designs. Other highlights include new front and rear aprons, multi-spoke alloy wheels, integrated spoiler and much more. The rear remains largely the same but it gets new digital OLED rear lights with four selectable light designs.

The new Q8 is offered in a single engine option - a 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged petrol engine with 340 hp of power and 500 nm of torque. It also gets a 48V mild hybrid system and the engine comes paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox which sends power to all four wheels via Quattro AWD system. Audi claims that the new Q8 can sprint from 0-100 kph in 5.6 seconds and has top speed of 250 kph.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class LWB
Last but not the least, it’s the Mercedes-Benz E-Class LWB sedan. The updated luxury sedan brings a host of design tweaks and tech enhancements. It will be produced locally at the company’s Pune manufacturing facility. It’s also worth noting that India remains the sole market globally where the RHD version of the LWB E-Class is built. The luxury sedan gets Mercedes' Superscreen layout – consisting of a 14.4-inch central screen and a 12.3-inch passenger screen along with a 12.3-inch instrument panel, rear seats that recline up to 36 degrees, 730W, 17-speaker and 4-exciter 4D surround sound system by Burmester, 64 colours customisable ambient lighting, four-zone climate control, wireless charger, multiple Type-C charging ports, auto-dimming IRVM, dashboard-mounted cabin-facing camera, rear AC vents, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree surround camera, powered front and rear seats and much more.

The E-Class LWB gets three engine options - E 450 with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol which puts out 381hp of power and 500Nm torque. E200 gets a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol which puts out 204hp turbo-petrol. E220d with a 2.0-litre turbo diesel with 197hp power. All three engines get a 48V mild-hybrid system that provides an additional 23hp and 205Nm. All three engines comes paired eight a 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.