Paddle shifters are synonymous with fast, sporty cars, featuring in almost all of the cars we have dreamed of as kids. While first only seen in sports and luxury cars, paddle shifters have trickled into almost every segment of cars sold in India. While it’s not only exhilarating to use paddle shifters while driving, they are also quite convenient to shift gears, this implying that the target audience is not only thrill seeking drivers, but comfort seeking ones too. They are the ultimate addition for every driving enthusiast providing the power of gear shifting at our fingertips. Let’s have a look at best cars with paddle shifters in India.
| Car Name | Price range (in rupees) |
| Kia Sonet | Rs 7.79 lakh to Rs 14.89 lakh |
| Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder | Rs 10.73 lakh to Rs 19.74 lakh |
| Kia Seltos | Rs 10.89 lakh to Rs 19.65 lakh |
| Hyundai Verna | Rs 10.90 lakh to Rs 17.38 lakh |
| Volkswagen Virtus | Rs 11.47 lakh to Rs 18.57 lakh |
| Skoda Kushaq | Rs 11.59 lakh to Rs 19.69 lakh |
| Mahindra Scorpio N | Rs 13.05 lakh to Rs 24.51 lakh |
| Toyota Innova Hycross | Rs 18.55 lakh to Rs 29.99 lakh |
| Toyota Fortuner | Rs 32.59 lakh to Rs 50.34 lakh |
Kia Sonet
The Kia Sonet offers an advanced and versatile driving experience partly thanks to its paddle shifters. These shifters provide a driver with a better sense of control and engagement which is tailored to the driver’s preferences. Changing the gears with a simple flick of the finger makes even the most tedious traffic driving feel like a breeze. Positioned ergonomically, these paddle shifters allow for a comfortable driving experience, allowing the driver to have control of the vehicle at all times. Whether it is a joyride on the highway, or conquering steep slopes, the shifters provide precise control which matches the individual driving style.
Kia Sonet specifications:
- Engine: 1L petrol, 1.2L petrol
- Transmission: Manual, Automatic
- Power: up to 120 hp
- Torque: up to 250 Nm
- Mileage: 18.2 kmpl
- Fuel type: Petrol
- Seating capacity: 5
Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
Toyota’s stylish SUV, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder also features paddle shifters. Allowing drivers to manually shift gears without the need of a traditional gear lever, it provides them with a sporty touch to their driving experience. The shifters allow for smooth and quick gear shifts, allowing the driver to extract the most out of the engine’s power and efficiency, all the while allowing them to maintain a comfortable grip on the steering wheel. These paddle shifters offer the drivers an extra level of control and engagement.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder specifications:
- Engine: 1.5L petrol, 1.5L strong-hybrid, 1.5L CNG
- Power: up to 103 hp
- Torque: up to 178 Nm
- Transmission: Manual, Automatic
- Fuel economy: up to 27.97 kmpl
- Seating capacity: 5
Kia Seltos
Another SUV from the house of Kia, the Seltos combines advanced features and striking design to provide an immaculate driving experience. Among its impressive features, the car comes with paddle shifters. Designed for ease of use, these shifters enhance the driving experience and allow the driver to optimize the SUVs performance based on their driving preferences and road conditions. These shifters allow for a touch of flexibility, whether you are driving in the city or cruising on the highway.
Kia Seltos specifications:
- Engine: 1.5L petrol, 1.5L turbocharged diesel, 1.4L turbocharged petrol
- Power: up to 140 hp
- Torque: up to 250 Nm
- Transmission: Manual, Automatic
- Fuel economy: up to 20.8 kmpl
- Seating capacity: 5
Hyundai Verna
The Hyundai Verna is already a sporty sedan where the paddle shifters, offered in the 1.5-litre turbo engine, only elevates the driving experience. Navigating through bustling streets or cruising through the highway won’t pose an issue due to the effortless gear shifting allowed by the paddle shifters. It doesn’t matter if you want to focus on fuel efficiency or dump the accelerator, the shifters allow for a much more dynamic driving style. They allow for effortless upshifting and downshifting, which complements the track ready 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine.
Hyundai Verna specifications:
- Engine: 1.5L Petrol, 1.5L Turbocharged Petrol
- Transmission: Manual, Automatic
- Power: 113 hp, 156 hp
- Torque: 144 Nm, 253 Nm
- Mileage: 17.7 kmpl, 20.6 kmpl
- Fuel type: Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 5
Volkswagen Virtus
This powerful sedan from Volkswagen already feels sporty enough without the provided paddle shifters. The shifters feel very solid and are almost invisible unless you actually drive it. The already fast VW Virtus feels more exhilarating to drive thanks to the paddle shifters. These shifters allow you to fine tune your driving experience whether you want a sportier ride or one with optimum performance. All in all, the Volkswagen Virtus feels,drives, and looks like a refined sedan and offers an engaging and dynamic driving experience thanks to paddle shifters.
Volkswagen Virtus specifications:
- Engine: 1.0L TSI petrol , 1.6L MPI petrol, 1.4L TSI petrol
- Power: up to 128 hp
- Torque:up to 250 Nm
- Transmission: Manual, Automatic
- Fuel economy: up to 15 kmpl
- Seating capacity: 5
Skoda Kushaq
Skoda’s very own compact SUV, the Kushaq also features the convenience of paddle shifters, adding a sporty element to the driving experience. It embodies the company’s signature blend of performance and style combined. These paddle shifters are within easy reach, allowing for intuitive access while keeping the driver’s hands secured to the steering wheel, ensuring a seamless driving experience to the driver. The paddle shifters cater to both the performance conscious and the thrill seekers.
Skoda Kushaq specifications:
- Engine: 1.0L TSI petrol engine, 1.5L TSI petrol engine
- Power: up to 150 hp
- Torque: up to 250 Nm
- Transmission: Manual, Automatic
- Fuel economy: up to 19.76 kmpl
- Seating capacity: 5
Mahindra Scorpio N
Being the ‘Big Daddy of all SUVs’ it is obvious that Mahindra won’t shy away from providing all amenities possible, which also includes paddle shifters in the Scorpio N. The Scorpio N’s paddle shifters provide a seamless transition between the gears, located conveniently at the driver’s fingertips, allowing them to conquer challenging terrains or cruising highways effortlessly. These paddles shifters ensure that the driver always has their hands on the steering wheel which allows for optimum performance and responsiveness.
Mahindra Scorpio N specifications:
- Engine: 2.2L turbocharged diesel, 2L turbocharged petrol.
- Transmission: Manual, Automatic
- Power: 172hp, 200hp
- Torque: 300 Nm, 370Nm
- Mileage: 16.46kmpl,12 kmpl
- Fuel type: Petrol, Diesel
- Seating capacity: up to 7
Toyota Innova Hycross
The Innova Hycross is Toyota’s first hybrid SUV offering in India boasting tons of innovative features and smart design choices, catered to the Indian population. The paddle shifters present here are one of the many first in segment features of the Innova Hycross. These are placed strategically behind the steering wheel, giving the driver the utmost level of comfort while driving and shifting gears. These enhance the performance of the vehicle and offer much more comfort if compared to a conventional gear knob.
Toyota Innova Hycross specifications:
- Engine: 2.0L petrol with 5th generation hybrid
- Power: up to 183.7 hp
- Torque: up to 209 Nm
- Transmission: e-Drive with Sequential Shift
- Fuel economy: up to 23.24 kmpl
- Seating capacity: 7 or 8
Toyota Fortuner
This iconic and rugged SUV from Toyota comes equipped with paddle shifters. The Fortuner’s paddle shifters are thoughtfully placed behind the steering wheel, giving the driver’s a much more sportier feeling while driving and shifting the gears. The placement of the shifters is well thought of, enabling smooth and seamless gear change. They provide a dynamic and engaging driving experience, with the power of gear changing at your fingertips, ensuring your hands are secured on the steering wheels at all times.
Toyota Fortuner specifications:
- Engine: 2.8L diesel, 2.7L petrol
- Power: up to 204 hp
- Torque: up to 500 Nm
- Transmission: Manual, Automatic
- Fuel economy: up to 10 kmpl
- Seating capacity: 7
Conclusion
Paddle shifters are a sporty and convenient inclusion to vehicles. They allow for the driver to change gears without taking the hands off the steering wheel, which is especially useful in traffic conditions where frequent gear changing is required. Paddle shifters also boost the driving experience, allowing the drivers to have much more control over the engine and can provide a more dynamic experience to the driver.
FAQs on Cars with Paddle Shifters in India
What are paddle shifters?
Paddle shifters are flappy paddle-type gear shifters built either into the back of a car’s steering wheel or on the steering column. The whole point of paddle shifters is to allow you to manually shift up and down the gears of an automatic transmission.
What cars in India have paddle shifters?
In India, the best cars available with paddle shifters are Hyundai Verna, Kia Sonet, Kia Seltos, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Toyota Innova Hycross, Toyota Innova Fortuner, Volkswagen Virtus, Skoda Kushaq, and Mahindra Scorpio N.
Which variant of Honda Amaze has paddle shifters?
The Kia Seltos paddle shifters comes in GTX+ 1.5D 6AT and 1.4T-GDI 7DCT variants.
What is the advantage of paddle shifters?
Paddle shifters help you drive the automatic car faster by allowing you to stay in a gear longer than otherwise. Moreover, having the gear-shifting control with an automatic transmission adds to the convenience.
Does Maruti Suzuki Ciaz have paddle shifters?
No, Maruti Ciaz doesn’t feature paddle shifters.
