Different Car Segments in India Explained

The automobile industry of India is full of options be it any category of Cars or Bikes or Scooters etc. One such category is Cars; the Car industry in India is divided into many segments. In this article, we’ll talk about different Car Segments in India.  

India stands among the top five countries in the world when it comes to the number of vehicles sold. Starting from mini Hatchbacks to SUVs and to Crossovers the Car Segments in India is roughly divided into four – A, B, C, D but the Segments is more than that. So let’s start:

A-Segment (MINI HATCHBACKS)

As the heading is suggesting the A-Segment belongs to cute mini hatchback cars available in India. Hatchbacks in the Car Segments in India are the one are way less than 4 meters in length.

These cars possess a small engine that offers ample power that does the job of city commutes well. 

Talking about the engines, in India this segment offers petrol and CNG engine. A-segment hatchbacks also have an option of an AMT gearbox. 

The A-segment cars are small and cheap to buy. Cars in this segment include Maruti Alto, Renault Kwid, Datsun Go and Datsun Redi Go.

B-Segment (SMALL HATCHBACKS)

The B-Segment in Car Segments in India includes those cars which are well suited for the City with a hint of Long-Distance Travel. 

These cars are slightly larger than the A-segment Cars. The B-Segment hatchbacks possess a length of just less than 4 meters. Viewing from the front, small hatchbacks are also a little wider and taller than the smaller segment. 

The engines range from 1.0-litre turbo petrol to a 1.2 litre 4 cylinder engine. You can opt for diesel as well as a petrol engine depending upon the car manufacturer. 

The B-Segment cars get a lot of premium features with premium quality interiors. Cars in this segment include Maruti S-Pesso, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Honda Jazz and more.

C-Segment (Small Sedans or Family Cars)

Cars in the C-Segment are always in huge demand. This segment in Car Segments in India includes the majority of first-time car buyers. 

C-Segment cars have many choices so this segment is divided into further categories: 

Sub-Compact Sedans

This segment offers extra luggage space, as these cars are the sub-4-meters. They share more or less the same platform as B-segment hatchbacks. No compromise is done on the safety and comfort of the vehicle. 

The powertrain and drivetrain are also similar to their hatchback counterparts. Looks-wise the Sub Compact Hatchbacks look proportioned and some look more of a box than a car.

Small Sedans

Small sedans are large on space on the inside and out. This is the reason; they offer a luxurious experience on the inside. 

Cars in small C-Segment offer a decent length and width that makes it somewhat difficult to park in city areas; they measure far more than 4 meters in length.

The engine is from a 1.5-litre to a 1.6-litre and is available in Both Diesel as well as petrol engines.

For utter convenience and comfort, the cars also offer an automatic transmission. The cars in this segment include Maruti WagonR, Celerio, Tata Tiago, Hyundai i10, Hyundai Santro and Ford Freestyle.

D-Segment (Mid-Sized Family Cars or Sedans)

The D-Segment with the majority of numbers and are included in the top 3 overall cars sold in the Indian market. 

Stepping up in terms of luxury are the Mid-Sized family cars or sedans. As the name suggests they are more expensive and offer a lot more than the smaller C-Segment sedans. The owners of these sedans spend most of their time in the back seat relaxing. 

Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid, Volkswagen Vento and BMW 3-series are some of the cars that are a part of this family.

E-Executive Segment (Executive Luxury Cars)

The E-Segment cars in Car Segments in India are classified as 5-star hotels on wheels. There would be no feature now in the automobile industry that these cars don’t come with.

These luxury sedans are even longer and wider, opening up more space on the inside, because of the long wheelbase.

From the letter E, these shout excellence and luxury making them famous among the business class.

Cars that come in this segment are Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, BMW 7-series and more.

M-Multipurpose Cars (MPVs)

The MPV segment is a vast segment with all shapes and sizes. These multipurpose cars also are segmented based on size and offer a great value of money as they haul a minimum of 6 people. MPV cars are further divided into subcategories as follows:

Small MPVs

Starting with the small MPVs, as the name suggests these sit at the very bottom of the size chart.

The size and the length of the vehicle revolve around 4 meters. Their small size lets them have a smaller engine which in turn makes them a bit cheaper to run and maintain.

The seating capacity can range anywhere from 6-7 seater depending upon the car and its manufacturer. 

In India, there aren’t many cars in this segment but for reference, Renault Triber and Maruti Suzuki are the MPVs sold right now.

Medium MPVs

In the Medium MPV segment in this segment of Car Segments in India, the seating capacity may remain the same but the overall leg and headroom are what these MPVs worth buying.

A slightly bigger size leads to a slightly better engine. They come with adequate safety equipment and elements to entertain their occupants. Cars that come under this segment are Toyota Innova.

Large MPVs

The second word for these large MPVs is the minibus. These large MPVs cover everything you ask for.

These huge MPVs can accommodate upward of 8 people and that too with comfort. From TV’s to Minibars, large MPVs have more than one would ask for. 

When travelling long distances these can be really good companions. Toyota Vellfire and Kia Carnival are among some large MPVs that are offered in India.

J-Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs)

The most anticipated and famous in Car segment in India is the J-segment. The Sports Utility Vehicles or  SUVs come under this family. SUV’s categories are as follows : 

Sub-Compact SUVs

This is a segment that is not so common in the Indian market. The smallest SUV comes under this category which measures less than 4 meters in length. 

The Sub-Compact SUVs offer a decent engine with the convenience of an automatic. You can opt for a diesel and a petrol engine depending upon the manufacturer. They come with adequate features in and out with no compromise in basic things.

Ford Ecosport, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, and Hyundai venue are among the top-selling subcompact SUVs here in India.

Compact SUVs

On top of those small SUVs come the Compact SUVs, which are coupled with a powerful engine and with many transmission options, which makes them worth buying as they have everything for customer’s specific needs.

Unlike the sub-compact SUVs, these come with most of the latest technology and they keep you entertained on the go. Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Nissan Kicks, and Renault Duster are among the best SUVs in this segment.

Mid-Size SUVs

The Segment that sits right in between the compact SUVs and full-grown SUVs are the mid-sized vehicles. They offer more seating, they are large. 

An average Midsize SUV can haul anywhere between 5-8 people. The trips with these cars will be a luxury as they come equipped with the latest technology and safety features. 

SUVs that come under this family are Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV500, MG Hector Plus and more.

Large SUVs

Some fancy the large, big and bulky SUVs that are built to last. They usually come with only an automatic transmission to save the hassle of shifting and let you focus on driving. 

The high price justifies that they’ll surely have everything.

Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Land Cruiser, BMW X5 are among the large SUVs.

Crossovers

The last segment in Car Segments in India is Crossovers. It’s the hatchback on stilts. Talking about the engine, they mostly have similar power figures as the compact SUVs.

In terms of features, they are quite feature-loaded and there is nothing to complain about.

Cars that belong to this family are the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross and Honda W-RV.

These were the 8 segments that belong to the Car Segments in India. It is confusing so this table represents Car Segments in India  based on price for simple understanding of Car Segments, also the Indian passenger divide cars popularly into the below mentioned segments :

Hope this article answered all your questions related to the different Car Segments in India.

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