Ever thought about the various car segments in India and what makes them different and how are they categorized? We explain to you in this story.
From hatchbacks to sedans, various products, and various body shell designs. But what separates them are the destined segments. Divided as A, B, C, D, these car segments help carmakers and buyers understand the categories simplistically. We explain the different car segments of India.
A-Car Segment (Mini Hatchbacks)
Cars like Maruti Alto 800, S-Presso, Renault Kwid, Datsun Go are A-segment cars. This segment is the entry-level segment and mostly consists of cars which are entry-level products from various car makers.
A-segment cars are budget-oriented and hence they are small in size and less on features. Most of the A-segment cars are equipped with small refined petrol engines that does the job well. A-segment is tight on budget as well as on space inside the cabin.
The basic goal of A-segment cars is to be strictly bound to the city commute. These are not designed by keeping highways in mind and hence contain smaller engines, small suspensions and are oriented towards city fuel economy.
In the name of convenience, one can find the use of AMT gearbox in A-segment cars. Affordability makes it the most selling car segments in country.
B-Car Segment (Hatchbacks)
B-segment is mainly concentrated towards the mixture of city commute as well as occasional highway driving.
Cars like Hyundai i20, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz include the B-segment. These hatchbacks are equivalent or less than the 4-meter mark in length but offer a decent amount of space and features for a mid-size family.
B-segment cars are generally equipped with powerful engines and various gearbox options. Features like a sunroof, keyless entry, touchscreen, etc. can easily be found in this segment of cars.
This segment also offers proper automatic transmission options such as CVT, torque converter, or even DCT. Even the engine options on offer range from 1.0 Lt petrol to 1.5 Lt diesel turbo.
C- Car Segment (Sedans)
The C-segment has been divided into two categories.
1. Compact Sedan (C-Sedans)
This term was introduced with the introduction of sedan cars that were shorter than the length of 4-meters. Due to the tax rebate policy, car manufacturers shifted to C-sedans hence offering a compromise of space and luxury at a budget-oriented price tag.
Similar to B-segment cars, the C-sedan segment offers ease of city commute as well as highway driving pleasure. Most of the C-sedans are decently equipped with features and powerful engine options.
C-sedans are generally offered within the same price bracket as that of B-segment cars. Even the transmission and engine options for some products are carried out without any change.
These include cars like Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Aura.
2. Small Sedans
The most selling and most appropriate category for sedan cars in the small sedan segment. It includes cars like Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Maruti Ciaz.
These cars are longer than the 4-meter mark and hence feature a lot of luxury options. From leather seats to ventilated seats, sunroof, large touchscreen infotainment systems and whatnot.
The main aim of this segment is to provide utmost comfort in city driving as well as highway driving. To accommodate the big body shell, these cars are generally equipped with powerful engine options producing well above 100PS of power.
For the ease of driving automatic variants are readily available in these cars to lure the sedan oriented buyer.
D-Car Segment (Mid-size Luxury Sedans)
D-segment is an extension of C-segment buyers. People with more budget looking for more luxury and space enter this segment. These cars are longer, wider, roomier, spacious, luxurious and whatnot than the C-segment cars.
Cars like Honda Civic, BMW 3-series, Skoda Octavia, Hyundai Elantra make up for this segment.
These cars enjoy the use of powerful engine options churning more power and torque than the C-segment. The driving dynamics are more refined and they are calibrated to assist both the driver and the passengers simultaneously.
E-Car Segment (Executive Luxury Cars)
As the name suggests, E-segment stands for the executive class. This segment lures the likes of customers who prefer to spend most of their time at the back of the car.
Mainly oriented towards chauffeur-driven customers, these executive sedans offer tons of luxury and features to provide an isolated experience midst of the city traffic.
But this enhanced rear seat experience does not mean that these fall short on driving terms. The driving enthusiasts also fall in love with the sorted dynamics, fun to drive nature and uber-powerful engine with slick transmission options provided in these cars.
E-segment cars include Skoda Superb, Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Mercedes Benz E-class etc.
Also Read - Best Selling Cars January 2022: Hatchback, Sedan, SUV and MPV
M-Multipurpose Car Segment (MPV Cars)
This segment is designed to carry large families over short and long distances. With a minimum seating capacity of 6-people, these cars can carry any shape, size and volume from one place to another in comfort.
This segment is again segregated into 3 types:
1. Small MPVs
With a length revolving around the 4-meter mark, these MPVs are the entry-level MPV cars in the market. With a seating capacity of 6-7 people, small MPVs can carry the load for budget-oriented.
These cars include the examples such as Maruti Ertiga, Honda BR-V etc.
Equipped with decently powerful engine options and transmission options, small MPVs are more tuned towards fuel economy and comfort rather than outright performance. Their small size comes in-handy within city limits.
2. Mid-Size MPVs
Medium-sized MPVs are basically an extended version of small MPVs. Featuring the same layout of 6-7 seats, mid-size MPVs are basically roomier and more spacious than small MPVs.
These include cars like Toyota Innova Crysta, Mahindra Marazzo etc.
Embedded with powerful engine options, mid-size MPVs are designed to be driven with ease in city limits as well as to perform in a relaxed manner over the highways. Also offered in manual gearbox for the chauffer-oriented buyers, automatic gearbox options are also made readily available on these cars for large family buyers.
3. Large MPVs
As the name suggests, these MPVs are humongous in size and can be compared to mini-buses for their dimensions and purpose.
Equipped with 8-9 seats, these luxury MPVs are aimed towards comfortable and luxurious highway travel for executive people.
Generally equipped with best-in-class features and most powerful engine options, these large MPVs are sold for very specific buyers only and do not target the mass market like the small MPVs.
As their size is big, these are not designed to be driven within city limits. Their main orientation remains for highway travel and is preferred by owners to be chauffer-driven.
MPVs like KIA Carnival, Toyota Vellfire, Mercedes-Benz V-Class are some examples of this segment.
SUVs
One of the most favorite car segments in our nation is indeed the SUV segment. To tackle the rough roads, no roads, and trails, SUVs make the most sense in our country. No wonder the SUV segment has been on the boil for the past few years.
There are mainly 3 categories of SUVs:
1. C-SUVs (Compact SUVs)
This car segment is not very old and with the 4-meter length rule, this segment emerged overnight. With high ground clearance and SUV stance, these are a compromise over the full ladder-on frame SUV body types.
Aimed for the mass market, C-SUVs are a crossover between hatchbacks & SUVs. Due to their small size, city manoeuvring is easy and when the road conditions get worse, their high ground clearance comes in handy.
Due to their heavyweight, they are generally powered with decent engines. Aimed towards a mixture of performance as well as low-end torque, their engine & gearbox are tuned in a way to provide efficiency.
Cars like Tata Nexon, Mahindra CUV300, Maruti Brezza belong to this category.
2. Mid-Size SUVs
The proper SUV segment starts from here. With SUV's ranging from monocoque chassis to ladder-on-frame chassis, these mid-size SUVs are made to tackle the off-road sections easily.
5-7 people seating capacity meshed with rear-wheel drivetrain and powerful low-end torque producing diesel engines are found in these types of SUVs. Although, over the period of time manufacturers have started fitting petrol engines as well in these SUVs.
Due to their large size and less turning radius, these SUVs are not very practical for city driving. Highways and off-road sections are where these SUVs show their capability.
Luxury is also enrolled with features such as auto headlights, auto wipers, keyless start and etc. are fitted nowadays in such SUVs. Such luxury features and a combination of sturdiness makes them favourite among SUV buyers.
SUVs like Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Toyota Fortuner, etc. fall in this category.
3. Large SUVs
These include the luxury SUVs from luxury car makers such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota etc. which are humongous in size and power.
Equipped with world-class luxury features and all the creature comforts, these SUVs are the king of road presence. Fitted with best-of-world mechanicals and technology to alter any terrain and travel through any part of the world while keeping the passengers in a cocoon of luxury and comfort; these SUVs are the ultimate type of SUV one can buy.
Powered by big and very powerful engines, ranging from 6-cylinder diesel to V-8 petrol engines, these SUVs can tackle any terrain with ease. Such panache of luxury & power makes it one of the most desirable car segments in India.
Toyota Land Cruiser LC300, Mercedes Maybach GLS600, Range Rover Sport, etc. fit into this category of SUVs.
We hope you liked our story about the various car segments in India. Tell us about your thoughts by commenting down below. Also, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel 91Wheels by pressing the bell icon.
