Team-BHP - Indian cars with good & weak air-conditioners

Citroen C5 Aircross, been 10 months since I brought it, AC is great, even when parked in hot sun and 40 degrees plus, the AC cools the cabin immediately. The central storage also is cooled and helps in cooling water bottles on long drives. Love this feature.

My first gen i20 was a disaster when it came to AC.

Maruti 800 AC 1986: It had a fantastic air conditioning system for the times.

Maruti Esteem: This car also had a very decent air conditioning system

Hyundai accent 2005 petrol GLE: Beautiful air conditioning system which works very well to this day.

Mahindra Thar 1.5 diesel HT: Very powerful air conditioning system, very effective even in 109 °F temperatures. Only downside is a noisy blower.

Being a joint family, my dad and uncle have purchased many cars across segments from different brands since 1986. 2 cars i have owned have Excellent AC.

Cars that Had Excellent AC

1. Maruti Baleno Sedan (2003-2008)
2. Maruti 800 (1991-1994)
3. Tata Indica (1997-2001)
4. Tata Punch (My 2nd car) (Currently in use)
5. Tata Tiago (My 1st car) (Sold Diesel and replaced it with EV)
6. Ford Ecosport (2013-2017)
7. Ford Figo (2010-2014)

Cars with Good AC

1. Mahindra Xylo (2009-2014)
2. Hyundai i20 (2014-2021)
3. Volkswagen Jetta (Currently in use)
4. Maruti Swift 1st Gen (2007-2013)
5. Honda City (Currently in use)
6. Maruti Ritz (2009-2016)
7. Hyundai Verna (2008-2013)

Cars with Average AC

1. Skoda Rapid (2013-2015)
2. Volkswagen Taigun (Currently in Use)
3. Honda Brio (Currently in use)
4. Honda Jazz (2015-2019)

This is purely based on my experience since I live in a tropical climate where temperature and humidity is not constant hence AC is used all the time.

Also, i make sure that i Test drive the car when it's very hot outside.

Force Gurkha BS6: Bone chilling and sometimes gets a bit uncomfortable. Was running on blower speed 1 even at 40 degC. Sometimes my wife shuts the vents at her side. Have installed sun shades at the rear glass, which I guess aids quick cooling.

Alto k10: The best AC I feel in small car segment, cools down the cab pretty quickly even at 45degC ambient temperatures.

I feel, cars made by Indian and the Japanese manufacturers rule the roost when it comes to Air Conditioning.

The new Thar has a bone chiller of an AC. Recently I drove to Chennai in this sweltering heat and it performed superbly. Only gripe is the blower noise even at speed 2. But then, it's a jeep and it's already a sophisticated one ;)

Among the other cars i've, Santro Xing 's ac is brilliant too. It freezes your hands on the steering wheel. Have to move the right most blower away more often.

The AC in my Skoda Laura is just adequate and takes a while to cool the cabin in peak summer. After 5-10 minutes, it gets comfortable and one can dial down the blower speed.

Among other cars i've owned before, Ford Fiesta & Seltos have very efficient aircons.

I've also observed the AC's in Tatas and Marutis are generally very good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesilentone (Post 5533410)

With summer starting to make us sweat, it would be wonderful if the segment wise best airconditioning is updated with all the current models to help prospective buyers. To consumers in hot locations, this should be among the top parameters while choosing a car.

Hi,

A really important thread considering the current heat levels. I can’t speak for all cars but from what I have seen the large Toyota’s have brilliant AC’s. In Fortuner’s and Innova’s, well maintained cars chills the cabin in no time. I have never seen anything other makes offer such AC performance.

Maruti 800 1997 - Good AC. never faced issue.
Maruti Suzuki Brezza 2021 - very good AC. People in second row also feel the cool breeze pretty fast.
Hundai i10 2010 - Pathetic. It was OK for first year or so. Then worsened and despite multiple complaints, tests, filter changes and refills it never recovered. In the last couple of years of usage, it hardly worked.

Celerio (2017) : Mediocre AC

Amaze(2019): Chiller AC , even in worst of Delhi Summers.
When I was purchasing the car, I asked the salesman why doesn't it have rear AC vents. He replied that Amaze has got bigger compressor ac of City, so rear passengers won't face any issue. And he was right.

Tata Nano : Even after 12 years, AC works like a charm. Unless you are going out around 12pm, we never need to keep the blower speed above 1.
Mind you this is without front windscreen sun protection film.

AC compressor conked off once within warranty and was replaced by Tata, apart from that cooling coil was replaced once.

Baleno : UV cut glass and a small glass area ensures AC is a chiller.

2005 Baleno 1.6 : Outstanding AC. Some auto magazine did AC test long ago and Baleno 1.6 had grill temperature of around 3 deg C. IIRC. One of the best AC.

2010 Wagon R 1.0 CNG : Very good AC. Large cabin and small vents plus noisy blower. But it worked well. No discomfort for passengers.

2012 Innova : Works like a charm, and even today works like a charm in tough Gujarat summers.

2014 Grand i10 diesel : Very good AC. Didnt keep this car for long.

2015 Swift Petrol : Excellent AC. Only thing is whenever AC was switched on, it would initially make a hissing sound.

2014 City Petrol : Needed gas refill once, but works very well.

Wagon R's AC vents were badly placed. Left hand of driver would be chilled due to position of vent.

Wagon R (previous generation): OK-to-good
Brio: Weak
Polo 1.0 TSI MT: Reasonably good. It has a tendency to cool slowly so that it may feel weak at first, but it's not
Tiago: Strong. My brother wears a mask when in the car, otherwise he gets a sore throat. A temperature of 25C or lower feels a little too cold and 26C or above causes sweating.

2000 Fiat Palio : Bone Chilling AC, no reliability issues ever till being sold off in 2017

2010 Fiat Linea : Moderate chilling, felt the need for more cooling during peak summers, conked off once in 7 years.

2017 Tata Nexon : Very good AC, works in Econ mode throughout the year at about 23 degrees and chills the cabin very well. Never had to go down below 20 even in peak summer.

2010 Ford Figo : Chiller AC, cools the cabin instantly. Conked off once in 12 years.