The demand for luxury cars in India has been growing at a steady rate in recent years. Whether it’s luxury sedans and SUVs or high performance sports cars, luxury brands are very keen to meet this demand with their offerings. Established luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi have been introducing more models for sale, while new luxury car brands have been making their way to India to provide more choice than ever before. In this article, we take a look at some of the top luxury car brands in detail.
Mercedes-Benz
Easily one of the most recognizable brands in this list, Mercedes Benz still manages to create waves among the Indian crowd. It is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of luxury passenger cars. Entering the Indian market in 1994, they have managed to have its fair share in sales in the luxury market niche. Mercedes Benz India has reported its best ever half-yearly sales in the country, with 8,528 units sold in H1 2023. The carmaker’s sales see a year-on-year growth of 13% in the January to June period, compared to 7,573 units sold in H1 2022.
The product portfolio comprises Mercedes-Benz with the sub-brands of Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-EQ. The best selling Mercedes model in India is the E-Class LWB. The A-Class is the most affordable Mercedes in India with a starting price of Rs. 42 lakh, whereas the GLS SUV is the most expensive starting at a whopping price of Rs. 2.92 crores. Since the German brand was the first luxury brand to enter the Indian market, they have an extensive dealership network across the country.
BMW
The German auto giant is a staple in the Indian luxury car segment since its entry in India in 2007, and is known for its incredible driving dynamics. Such has been the ravishing success in India that BMW managed to roll out its 1,00,000th car in its Chennai plant in 2022.
It has an impressive portfolio of luxury cars across various segments including fully electric and plug-in hybrids. They even boast the impressive performance M-series cars for the driving enthusiasts delivering an extra dose of adrenaline. The gorgeous M8 Coupe, equipped with 630 HP of power, starts at nearly Rs. 2.55 crore. The entry level SUV- the X1- is the most affordable from the BMW stable starting at Rs. 45.9 lakh. The most expensive of the lot is the sophisticated XM plug-in hybrid SUV which starts at a hefty price of 2.6 crore. They have reported a 5% growth in sales in the first half of 2023, reaching 5,867 units in total.
Audi
The versatile German automaker features high on the Indian luxury car market. Audi stands for sportiness, high build quality and progressive design. Audi arrived in India in the same year as its counterpart BMW and managed to gain popularity in a short space of time. In the last 15 years in India, Audi has managed to churn out impressive sales and have put out a great line of automobiles.
The entry level sedan, the Audi A4, is the most affordable model available in the Indian market starting at around 43.85 lakh. Then, it goes all the way up to Rs. 2.22 crore for the powerful RS Q8 SUV. Their EV portfolio, which includes cars such as the E-tron, E-tron sportback, and the E-tron GT ranges from Rs. 1.02 crore to Rs. 1.94 crore. In comparison, BMW offers EVs such as the i7 and the iX, whereas Mercedes has the EQS, EQE, EQB and AMG EQS in its range. Audi even offers their performance range of RS models, which deliver unmatched performance for adrenaline junkies.
Jaguar
Another strong contender in the Indian luxury car market is the iconic British carmaker, Jaguar. The brand might not boast an extensive portfolio like the other brands on this list, but it doesn’t seem to faze the auto giant. The ideology behind Jaguar is to create timeless models which combine beauty and performance like none other. Since its takeover by Tata Motors, Jaguar has been able to sustain well and make a massive improvement in terms of sales.
Currently, there are four models on sale in India – the F-Pace, the I-Pace, the XF, and the F-type. The most affordable Jaguar is the XF which starts from Rs. 71.6 lakh, and the most expensive on sale is the 5-liter F-type sports car that costs over Rs. 1.53 crore. The F-Pace and the I-Pace represent Jaguar’s SUV lineup, with the F-Pace priced at Rs. 77.41 lakh being more affordable than the all-electric I-Pace at Rs. 1.2 crore.
Land Rover
Next on the list is another well-known British carmaker, Land Rover, renowned for its wide range of incredible SUVs. The British carmaker was another brand Tata took over along with Jaguar back in 2008. Currently, Land Rover makes the Discovery, Discovery Sport, Evoque, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Velar in its Chakan plant in Pune. This has helped to make the prices more competitive and is evident by the increase in sales in India.
Across all the available models, there are plenty of trims to choose from, with price ranges as vast as one can imagine. The most affordable Land Rover is the Discovery Sport with prices starting at 71.39 lakh, and the Evoque is slightly higher at Rs. 72.09 lakh. The Velar is priced aggressively at Rs. 89.41 lakh and the Range Rover is the most expensive of the lot as it goes all the way up to Rs. 4.17 crore. Also, JLR India clocked highest ever sales in FY24, registering a growth of 102%.
Volvo
The Swedish automaker is world-renowned for its safety and it still carries that mantle forward. Volvo cars is currently owned by Geely group based in China. They hold a sizable stake in strategic affiliates: electric performance brand Polestar (50% owned by Volvo) and new Chinese brand Lynk & Co (30%).
Volvo’s sales figures aren’t much to write home about and pales in comparison to other brands such as Mercedes or BMW. Currently, there are three SUVs, including 2 electric cars, and one sedan that Volvo offers in India. The basic XC40 Recharge is the most affordable and it starts at Rs. 56.90 lakh and the top of the line XC90 is priced at Rs. 98.50 lakh. The all-electric XC40 Recharge is one of the more affordable luxury EVs in the Indian automobile scene.
Lexus
The luxury marquee brand of Toyota, the Lexus brand entered India quite late in 2017. The Japanese brand still assembles only the ES in India, whereas the rest of the models – NX, RX, LX, LS and LC – are still imported. Lexus India aims to double its sales here in India and slowly hope to start assembling more models at their Toyota facility in Bengaluru. Most of their models use high-end hybrid systems, which harness the strengths of both electric and fuel power.
Lexus currently has eight models in India, spread between SUV, sedan and coupe segments. The most affordable Lexus is the ES 300h Exquisite which starts at Rs. 61.6 lakh and the LX 500d costs a whopping Rs. 2.82 crore. The only two door coupe available for sale is the LC 500h whose price starts at Rs. 2.29 crore. Lexus has lined up market launches for the new RX, LC500 and the LM luxury MPV in 2023.
Rolls Royce
Rolls Royce is pretty much an anomaly in this list since it’s a super-luxury brand, so it’s unfair to compare it with the rest in terms of sales. Having no facility in India, all the Rolls Royce models come to India with huge import tariffs, which adds to the already steep price. There are five dealerships available in India currently in the cities of Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Hyderabad.
There are a total of 5 models on offer – the Ghost, Phantom, Cullinan, Wraith and Dawn. The least expensive model, funnily enough, is the most expensive model in comparison to other brands. The price of the Rolls Royce Wraith ranges between Rs. 6.22 and 7.21 crore, the Ghost ranges from Rs. 6.95 to Rs. 7.95 crore. The ultra-luxurious Phantom starts at Rs. 8.99 crore and goes all the way up to an eye-watering Rs. 10.48 crore.
Bentley
Now, we have the only brand in this list which would come the closest to the Rolls Royce in terms of quality and utmost luxury. The vehicles offered by Bentley are built for those who enjoy the finest things in life. For enthusiasts and Bentley aficionados, photos and technical specifications further fuel their passion for these incredible machines.
Currently, Bentley just offers 2 models in the Indian market which explains why it is low down in terms of sales while being high on price. These two cars include the Bentley Continental GT and the Bentayga. The cheapest Bentley here is the Continental which starts at Rs. 3.91 crore and the most expensive one is the Bentayga EWB which starts at around Rs. 6 crore.
Porsche
Finally, we have one of the most legendary car brands in the world. Porsche arrived in India in 2004 and has been making waves ever since. Last year, the German sports brand had a very successful year, selling 779 cars and SUVs. The only EV in Porsche’s lineup is the Taycan EV and it contributes to 10% of the sales.
Porsche has relentlessly been trying to improve service and dealerships in India, with eight being launched across the country, three of them coming up in just 2022 alone. The most affordable Porsche is the Macan SUV at Rs. 83.21 lakh. The two mid-engined sports cars – the 718 and the 911 – start at a higher price at around 1.37 – 1.73 crore. The Panamera starts at the range of Rs. 1.58 crore, whereas the all-electric Taycan starts at a starting price of Rs. 1.53 crore.
Also reads: Complete Guide to Buying a Mercedes-Benz GLA, Best Audi Cars in India, Best Land Rover Cars in India
