Ford Fusion – Ford’s compact SUV Fusion was launched in 2004. It was on sale for 6 years and offered a good blend of driving fun and practicality. People weren’t open to compact SUVs back then and the Fusion seemed like a large hatchback to most people which is why sales didn’t pick up. It got 1.6-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engines and was priced between Rs. 7-7.5 lakhs.
Maruti Grand Vitara XL7 – Can you believe this, Maruti Suzuki actually used to sell a V6 powered car in India. The Grand Vitara XL7 came in 2004 and got a 2.8-litre V6 petrol engine making 168 HP. The vehicle wasn’t that great to drive and the petrol engine was a heavy drinker. The market hadn’t evolved back then and people weren’t open to the idea of spending so much on a Maruti Suzuki. The Grand Vitara XL7 was priced in the whereabouts of Rs. 20 lakhs.
Ford Mondeo – The Ford Mondeo was launched as a premium sedan in 2001 and globally it rivalled the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3-Series. It got a 2.0-litre 142 HP petrol engine and 128 HP diesel engine. The Mondeo was a fun-to-drive car and examples were available in the used car market for cheap. It was known for some issues with the fuel pump.
