This Article First Appeared In The Print On Jan 8, 2023
Depending on the source of your data, the market for luxury cars in India was anywhere between 30,000-35,000 units last year. This segment in India is generally considered to be vehicles that cost above Rs 40 lakh ex-showroom. But the definition isn’t cast in stone. Different carmakers tend to slice the market differently. So cost can’t be the sole deciding factor. It’s the make too. Would the Kia EV6 that costs Rs 70 lakh be considered a ‘luxury vehicle’?
The badge makes a difference: rocking up to a function in a Mercedes-Benz matters, even if it is a small Mercedes-Benz. After all, the entry-level Sports Utility Vehicles from Mercedes-Benz (GLA), Audi (Q3) and BMW (X1) are hammered by the Hyundai Tucson when it comes to features. And while the Tucson is quite definitely a looker and a very good car to drive, in the world of the wealthy and particularly snobbish, landing up in the entry-level variant of the BMW X1 will cut more ice.