Cars with paddle shifters in India: Price, mileage and specs

Modern cars are not just a means of transportation; they offer performance, luxury, and creature comfort features. One such convenient feature is the paddle shift in cars. This feature provides a sporty feel to the driving experience as you can manually shift the gears in an automatic car. So, shift to the top gear and read on as we bring you the list of cars with paddle shifters in India.

10 best cars with paddle shifters in India

Here’s the list of best automatic cars in India with paddle shifters based on the price, performance and mileage as of April 2022.

What is a paddle shifter in cars?

A paddle shifter in a car is a hand-operated paddle to shift the gears manually. It’s an alternative to the main gear shifter on the centre console. Generally, they are used in automatic transmission cars and located behind the steering wheel or on the steering column. Initially, paddle shifters were used in race cars, and the automotive industry adopted the technology in road cars. Paddle shifters are made out of plastic or metal, depending on the make/model.

How do paddle shifters work?

Typically, in an automatic car, the gears shift automatically without you having to make any input. However, automatic transmission also has a manual mode for a more engaging driving experience. That’s how you can shift gears manually, even on an automatic car, via paddle shifters.

The paddle shifters connect to the transmission via mechanical or electronic devices and shift the gears as per your inputs on the paddle shifters. The response is instant, and you get a sporty driving experience. All you have to do is push or press the paddle to use the paddle shifters. The right side paddle (+) is for upshifting, and the left side paddle (-) is for downshifting. The most significant advantage is that you can shift gears without taking your hands off the steering wheel.

Let’s look at more details of the cars with paddle shifters in India.

1. Honda Amaze

Price: Rs. 6.43 lakhs to Rs. 11.26 lakhs

Key specifications

Below are the technical specifications of the Honda Amaze.

Why should you buy a Honda Amaze?

• The Honda Amaze is an affordable compact sedan.

• It features a premium exterior design with elements such as a chrome front grille.

• The spacious and premium interior and creature comfort features complement the exterior design.

• The Amaze is available with paddle shifters on the top-spec CVT trims.

• You can have the Amaze with a petrol or diesel engine.

2. Honda Jazz

Price: Rs. 7.77 lakhs to Rs. 10.08 lakhs

Key specifications

Here are the key specs of the Honda Jazz.

Why should you buy a Honda Jazz?

• The Honda Jazz is a premium hatchback from the stable of Honda.

• The car sports a typical Honda design with a chrome grille up front and a sloping bonnet.

• The interior layout is neat and clean, with all the essential features.

• All the automatic variants of the Jazz are available with paddle shifters.

• You can have the Jazz with a petrol engine mated to a CVT gearbox.

3. Kia Carens

Price: Rs. 9.59 lakhs to Rs. 17.69 lakhs

Key specifications

Refer to the table below for the technical details of the Kia Carens.

Why should you buy a Kia Carens

• The Kia Carens is the latest entrant to the popular 7-seater SUV segment.

• It features a stylish and elegant exterior design with a sleek front end and butch rear profile.

• The spacious cabin combined with a plethora of creature comfort features makes it a perfect family car.

• The Kia Carens is available with paddle shifters on the top-spec variant.

• The SUV is available with an option of petrol or diesel engine along with a manual, automatic or DCT gearbox.

4. Hyundai Verna

Price: Rs. 9.32 lakhs to Rs. 15.36 lakhs

Key specifications

Glance through the table below for the key specs of the Hyundai Verna.

Why should you buy a Hyundai Verna?

• The Hyundai Verna is a premium mid-size sedan.

• The car's exterior features the signature Hyundai fluidic design language with the prominent cascading grille at the front.

• The cabin comes loaded with features such as ventilated front seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, etc.

• The top-spec variant of the car is available with paddle shifters for a sporty drive.

• The Verna is available with petrol and diesel engine options.

5. Hyundai Creta

Price: Rs. 10.28 lakhs to Rs. 18.01 lakhs

Key specifications

Below are the specifications of the Hyundai Creta.

Why should you buy a Hyundai Creta?

• The Hyundai Creta is one of the popular SUVs in the Indian market.

• The updated Creta features a new design that looks upmarket compared to the outgoing model.

• The spacious and upmarket interior with premium creature comfort features elevates the overall driving experience.

• You get paddle shifters on all automatic variants of the Creta.

• The Hyundai Creta is available with a choice of petrol and diesel engine.

6. Honda City

Price: Rs. 11.28 lakhs to Rs. 15.23 lakhs

Key specifications

Here are the technical details of the Honda City.

Why should you buy a Honda City?

• The Honda City is a premium mid-size sedan, and it’s been a benchmark in its segment.

• The sporty exterior design and a commanding road presence make it an appealing sedan.

• The cabin is equally pleasing as the exterior, with a host of premium features on offer.

• You get paddle shifters on all the automatic variants of the sedan.

• The City is available with a petrol and diesel engine option.

7. Skoda Slavia

Price: Rs. 10.69 lakhs to Rs. 17.79 lakhs

Key specifications

The table below denotes the technical specifications of the Skoda Slavia.

Why should you buy a Skoda Slavia?

• The Slavia is a premium mid-size sedan from the stable of the Czech automaker.

• The sedan features Skoda’s new design language with an updated butterfly front grille.

• The interior is premium and upmarket and comes loaded with features.

• You get paddle shifters on all automatic variants of the sedan.

• The Slavia gets two powerful turbocharged petrol engine options.

8. Skoda Kushaq

Price: Rs. 10.99 lakhs to Rs. 18.19 lakhs

Key specifications

Here are the key specs of the Skoda Kushaq.

Why should you buy a Skoda Kushaq?

• The Kushaq is Skoda’s take on the popular 5-seater mid-size SUV segment.

• The SUV features signature Skoda design elements such as the butterfly grille, roof rails, split headlamps, etc.

• The interior gets Skoda’s premium touches with several creature comfort features, including a sunroof.

• Similar to the Skoda Slavia, you get paddle shifters on all automatic variants of the SUV.

• The powerful petrol engines offer an engaging driving experience.

9. Volkswagen Taigun

Price: Rs. 10.99 lakhs to Rs. 17.99 lakhs

Key specifications

Refer to the table below for the technical details of the Volkswagen Taigun.

Why should you buy a Volkswagen Taigun?

• The Volkswagen Taigun is a compact SUV from the German automaker.

• The exterior features a typical Volkswagen design with a chrome grille, faux skid plates, roof rails, etc.

• The Taigun gets an elegant interior layout with a premium dashboard design and spacious rear seats.

• You can have paddle shifters with all the automatic variants of the SUV.

• The Taigun shares its engines with the Skoda cars and gets the same petrol engines.

10. Skoda Octavia

Price:Rs. 26.29 lakhs to Rs. 29.29 lakhs

Key specifications

Glance through the table below for the technical details of the Skoda Octavia.

Why should you buy a Skoda Octavia?

• The Skoda Octavia is a full-size premium sedan that comes at a ‘premium’ price tag.

• The car features a sporty exterior design with elements such as the prominent front grille, alloy wheels, etc.

• The luxurious interior comes with bells and whistles such as ambient lighting, a premium audio system, leather seats, etc.

• Both the variants of the Skoda Octavia come with paddle shifters.

• The sedan is available with a powerful petrol engine mated to a 7-speed automatic gearbox.

SUVs with paddle shifters in India

Here’s the list of SUVs available in India with paddle shifters.

• Hyundai Creta

• Kia Carens

• Skoda Kushaq

• Volkswagen Taigun

Sedan cars with paddle shifters

Below are the sedan cars with paddle shifters in India.

• Honda Amaze

• Hyundai Verna

• Honda City

• Skoda Slavia

• Skoda Octavia

Hatchback cars with paddle-shift

Typically, hatchbacks are compact and carry an equally ‘compact’ price tag. It’s a segment targeted toward the mass market, so you cannot find many hatchbacks with paddle shifters. Currently, Honda Jazz is the only mass-market hatchback that is available with paddle shifters for spirited driving.

What are the advantages of paddle shifters?

Here are the advantages of having paddle shifters in a car.

• Paddle shifters allow you to have more control over the vehicle as you can react to certain situations by manually shifting the gears.

• Paddle shifters are beneficial when you drive on curvy roads as a manual gear downshift results in more torque and speed.

• You can also use the paddle shifters to shift down when driving downhill to make use of engine braking.

• Similarly, paddle shifters also come in handy when driving uphill.

• Lastly, paddle shifters allow you to explore the world of spirited driving. You can shift to your desired gear and enjoy the sporty driving experience.

What is the use of paddle shifters in automatic cars?

The primary use of the paddle shifters in automatic cars is to shift gears manually. It gives you more control over the vehicle, and you can change gears as per your requirement. Generally, automatic transmission relies on sensors to identify when to shift gears. It may not deliver a sporty driving experience. So, you have the paddle shifters to add a bit of spice to the automatic transmission.

Do we really need paddle shifters in regular cars?

The answer to this question will be a 'No' if you look at it from the mass-market perspective. Regular cars or entry-level cars do not need paddle shifters as the probability of pushing them to the limit is significantly less. Hence, you are better off with a manual/automatic transmission. Eliminating the paddle shifters saves a lot of money, and affordability is one of the main pillars of the mass-market segment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s look at some of the most commonly asked questions about paddle shifters in cars.

Is paddle shifting faster than manual gear shifting?

Yes, paddle shifting is faster than manual gear shifting. All it takes is a press of the paddle to change gears which is much quicker than shifting the gear through a conventional gear knob or gear selector.

Do I need to use the clutch while using paddle shifters?

You need not use the clutch in automatic cars while shifting gears via paddle shifters. However, in a manual sequential transmission, you have to use the clutch while driving the vehicle from a stationary position.

Do paddle shifters affect the fuel economy?

No. Paddle shifters do not affect fuel efficiency. It’s your driving style that will impact the fuel economy. For instance, if you drive aggressively with paddle shifters, the fuel efficiency will naturally drop. Hence, it's more to do with your driving than the paddle shifters themselves.

Note:

• All prices mentioned in this article are ex-showroom Delhi.

• All fuel efficiency figures are as of ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) rating.

Disclaimer: The above content is for informational purposes only. It is recommended to take the help of an expert before making a decision. ACKO Drive is not responsible for any action taken based on the information mentioned here.

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