Best Paddle Shift Cars in the India

Modern cars with cutting-edge technology are becoming more and more popular among astute buyers in India's dynamic automotive scene. The advent of paddle shifters, a feature usually found in high-performance sports cars but now making its way into daily vehicles for better driving comfort and enjoyment, is one of the technical breakthroughs that is enthralling Indian drivers.

What Are Paddle Shift Cars?

Paddle shift cars or paddle shifters are vehicles that have a semi automatic transmission system allowing the driver to change gears without the use of a clutch. This allows you to shift gear while holding the steering wheel without moving your hand to the gear lever.

Here are a few insights on paddle shifters:

• They are also known as paddle shifts, pedal shifters or gear shift paddles
• The main control unit of gear shift paddles are placed behind the steering wheel and are usually not visible
• Paddle shifters typically appear in pairs with the right paddle bearing a “+” sign and the left paddle bearing a “-” sign. This also represents the actual function of these paddles which is upshifting (with right paddle) and downshifting (with left paddle).
• Pedal shifters were originally made for racing cars with sequential transmissions for helping the driver make precise decisions within seconds
• In a standard car made for city roads, gear shift paddles bring a thrilling experience along with convenience of shifting gears manually to transitioning into automatic gears making driving experience more immersive

Benefits of Having A Paddle Shifter

Below are the benefits of having a paddle shift car:

• Convenience: Since paddle shifters are mounted on the steering wheel or the steering column, drivers can easily operate them with their fingers. This helps in making easy and hassle free gear changes without taking your hand off of the steering wheel.
• Smooth Driving Experience: Since you can drive and shift gears as you want while you see what’s ahead of you on the road, paddle shifters enhance your overall driving experience.
• Car Performance: When a car has paddle shifters it often provides faster and smoother gear transitions which leads to enhanced vehicle performance. This improves your overall experience of driving the car.

• Functionality: Pedal shifters in case help in having greater control and responsiveness of the car helping you to tailor your gear choices according to the road conditions and your preferences while driving. They help in optimising your vehicle performance which helps particularly when you need to accelerate or decelerate rapidly, like during overtaking or descending hills.
• Design: While upshift paddles are located on the right bearing a “+” sign, downshift paddles are located on the left bearing a “-” sign. This helps in easy transition during your drive depending on the road and your convenience.

How Do Paddle Shifters Work? 

Paddle shifters usually appear in pairs with “+” and “-” signs. These signs are indicative of right and left paddles - “+” sign for right and “-” sign for left paddles. Typically the right paddle upshifts and the left paddle downshifts, you can downshift without stepping on the brake and it is completely fine. If you are accelerating, you should not move your legs off the gas in order to upshift.

If you are downshifting and approaching a traffic, then let go of the throttle and move to a lower gear. As your rpm goes higher, your car takes advantage of the horse power and gears shift automatically. When you are accelerating, you upshift and when you are decelerating you are downshifting. 

Pro Tip: Don’t be in manual mode if it's your first time and just start using the paddle so that if you miss to upshift or downshift in time during traffic, your car doesn’t get damaged.

6 Best Cars With Paddle Shifters in India

Listed below are top 6 cars in India with paddle shifters:

1. Honda City 

Famous for being known as people’s favourite sedan car, Honda City had pedal shifters offering convenience and ease of driving to the drivers. Other features of the Honda City car that drivers loved due to its power to enhance driving experience were parking sensors, twin airbags, automatic folding mirrors, cruise control, and lane watch camera.

Honda City’s all three petrol variants (fifth generation) namely, V CVT, VX CVT, and ZX CVT, come with paddle shifters.

2. Honda Civic

Another brilliant car from the house of Honda, Civic is a premium sedan with paddle shifters. Some of the other main features in a Honda Civic are ambient interior lighting, front suspension, cruise control, cabin boot access, and steering type.

The three variants OF Honda Civic (petrol as well as diesel) have paddle shifters - namely, V, VX, and ZX.

3. Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Creta became a huge success and gained popularity in the SUV car segment in India. One major reason for this popularity of Creta is owing to it being the first SUV in the segment to offer paddle shifters and that it comes with a fully digital dashboard. Other features of Hyundai Creta that have made it gain this popularity are its 7 inch MID, 7 speed DCT transmission in petrol, 6 speed DCT automatic (6AT) and manual (6 MT) transmission in diesel cars, and premium upholstery.

4. Ford EcoSport

Available in 11 colours, Ford EcoSport is another SUV that offers paddle shifters in its variants - both diesel and petrol. This has made it another popular choice in the SUV segment apart from Hyundai Creta.

Some other features of Ford EcoSport include 6 airbags, cruise control, LED headlamps, and big SUV boot space. 

5. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Maruti is one of the most preferred car brands by the Indian middle class. It recently has also become one of the most preferred cars with paddle shifters in India. This is because it is a 7 seater MPV which has pedal shifters and is affordable compared to the other brands in the market in the MPV segment. 

Available in petrol and CNG variants, this car has some great features to look at like 6 speed automatic transmission (6AT), smart hybrid engine, 2 to 4 airbags depending on the model you choose, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Play are available in select models.

6. Hyundai i20

Breaking the usual norms, Hyundai i20 is the smallest car to come with paddle shifters in India. A hatchback car, i20 has a strong engine to support travel for long journeys as well as city rides.

Other features of Hyundai i20 include BOSE audio system, rear disc brakes, 8 inch touchscreen infotainment system, and availability in 7 colours.

Here are the key specifications of all of the 6 cars we just mentioned above:

Final Thoughts

Selecting a car with paddle shifters ultimately depends on your personal preferences, driving habits, and budget. Taking the time to understand the technology, test-driving various models, and considering the aspects mentioned above will guide you towards making an informed and satisfying purchase.

FAQs

1. What do car paddle shifters actually do?

With paddle shifters, which are often mounted behind the steering wheel, drivers of cars with automatic transmissions can manually shift ratios without the need for a clutch.

2. When driving, how do you operate paddle shifters?

Usually, the left paddle downshifts and the right paddle upshifts to a higher gear. Just press the corresponding paddle to shift gears. Before utilising them while driving, it's important to become familiar with how they work.

3. Do paddle shifters enhance the performance of a car?

By giving drivers more control over gear changes, paddle shifters can improve their driving experience and frequently lead to faster acceleration and improved performance in a variety of driving situations.

4. Can I move a paddle-shift automobile from automatic to manual mode?

Yes, drivers may quickly switch between automated and manual shifting modes in the majority of cars that have paddle shifters installed.

5. Do high-end vehicles exclusively come with paddle shifters?

Paddle shifters were first seen in expensive sports and luxury vehicles, but they are now seen in a wide range of models, including those that are reasonably priced.

6. Is it challenging to get the hang of using paddle shifters?

Paddle shifters are very simple to use, although it may take some getting used to before you can use them smoothly and comfortably while driving.

7. Do paddle shifters come standard on all automatic cars?

No, paddle shifters are not standard on all automatic cars. They are a feature that some models have.

8. Does owning a car with paddle shifters make sense for regular commutes?

Paddle shifters are a useful option for daily driving if you value engaged driving and want to have greater control over the performance of your car.

9. Can fuel efficiency be increased by utilising paddle shifters?

Although the paddle shifters alone have little effect on fuel efficiency, having manual gearbox control might encourage frugal driving practises that may increase fuel efficiency overall.

10. If my present automobile isn't equipped with paddle shifters, is it possible to add them?

It can be difficult and often impractical to install paddle shifters in a car that didn't come with them originally. Before making any major changes to your car's gearbox, it is advised that you speak with a qualified mechanic or the manufacturer of the vehicle.