8 great 2016 cars for Bangladesh...that we don't get
But we can if we want
The car buying crowd in Bangladesh has a peculiar habit of opting for the largest, newest car their money can afford. The cons against that trend are just too damning. Bangladesh's cities are getting more crowded. Roads are disappearing. We don't need massive, boring sedans and vans to transport less than 2 people at a time. And CNG really does a number on modenr cars, ruining them for good.
How about these 8 cars? They are made for smart people that want the whole package: uniqueness, fun, efficiency and practicality. If only they were more readily available here.
1: Ford Ecosport Ecoboost 1.0 3 Cyl Turbo
AG Motors imports the Ford Ecosport min-SUV in 1.5 litre petrol/diesel variants. The 1.0 Ecoboost turbo motor isn't imported because apparently a 1000cc's is not enough for Dhaka - most people would rather buy the 1.5 and convert to CNG to save money on fuel costs. Doesn't that seem a bit redundant to you, especially when the 1.0 Ecoboost turbo 3-cylinder is a more efficient and powerful engine than the 1.5?
2: Toyota Aygo 1.0 3 Cyl
Brilliant exercise in packaging means the Aygo can fit in all your shopping, zip around town taking your kids to school and never have to worry too much about parking spaces. The tiny motor still puts out 66 HP and 67 lb-ft torque, but since there's no weight to lug around, it's highly efficient. It comes with Stability Control and six airbags, so this tiny car will keep you safe as well.
3: Nissan Pulsar 1.2 4 Cyl
The 1.2 Pulsar produces 113 BHP and is part of Nissan's push into the European hatchback market following the withdrawal of the Tida. In Euro spec, the Pulsar comes with its fair share of equipment and has all the amenities that a city dweller would need. The only access to Nissan hatchbacks in our part of the world is the horrendous Datsun range sold in India. We don't even get those.
4: Volvo V40 1.5 4 Cyl Turbo
AG Motors brings in brand new Volvo's into the country, however, they focus on the luxury end of the spectrum with big, thirsty SUVs. The smaller range of Volvo's are brilliant cars, the V40 being a great mix of style, driving pleasure, standard equipment and overarching safety features. It's also one of the best looking hatchbacks ever made.
5: KIA Rio 1.2 4 Cyl
The Rio is the hip, modern, handsome younger brother of the Optima, and a darn better car than the Sportage, the most popular KIA model sold here. The Rio was actually sold in Bangladesh as a sub-compact sedan, with only one or two of the hatchbacks brought in by Meghna Automobiles. However, as expected, this sprightly and well-made hatch obviously did not catch the attention of buyers.
6: Honda Civic 1.0 4 Cyl Turbo
We at Shift love the 10th gen Civic Turbo. DHS Motors only brings in the 1.5 Turbo VTEC variant though, and the aversion to small displacement motors in Bangladesh means no one will want to buy the Euro spec 1.0 Turbo, which has an even better horsepower per litre figure than the 1.5. The 1.0 would be cheaper to run and would sip less fuel, but no one cares.
7: Mazda 2 1.5 4 Cyl
The baby Mazda has done well in Thailand and Malaysia, where people don't always equate the size of their cars to their egos. The 2 has a long list of equipment and has the traditional Mazda driving characteristics of zippyness, and if there's one thing that'll serve you well on Dhaka's chaotic roads, its manoeuverability
8: Toyota Prius C 1.5 4 Cyl
Efficient hybrid powertrain in a funky hatchback form that has loads of interior space and sips as little fuel as possible. The Prius C makes more sense for a Bangladeshi market than a hybrid executive sedan like the Camry as it's smaller and easier to own and drive. Also, unlike the regular Prius, the C actually has a face that isn't twisted and deformed for the sake of aerodynamic efficiency.