With SUVs comprising more than half of India’s record-breaking 3.9 million passenger vehicles sold in the fiscal year 2022-23, it is clear the nation is obsessed with SUVs. Year after year, SUVs have driven the Indian automotive industry towards growth with their attractive package that caters to all kinds of buyers. While there is no doubt that the SUV segment as a whole offers a lot in terms of space, comfort, practicality and utility, it is the compact SUVs that have truly played a pivotal role in the mass-market success of the segment altogether. From their affordable price tag to their assertive appeal, compact SUVs have touched upon the aspirations of everyday consumers that want a lot more for a lot less.
With a little something for everyone, here’s why India is madly in love with compact SUVs.
Rugged Looks and Aspirational Value
No matter which compact SUV you pick, one of the best things about them is their rugged, assertive and muscular looks. When compared to both sedans as well as hatchbacks, compact SUVs bring a large and higher bodyline that gives them a strong road presence that is bold and impactful. Adorned with the latest design trends, compact SUVs offer elements that truly elevate their overall stance. With muscular lines, faux skid plates, an aggressive grille and boxy appearances, every time you look at a compact SUV, you can’t help but appreciate its rugged appeal. Another thing that truly works in favour of compact SUVs, is the aspirational value attached to them. While an entry-level hatchback might just be the first car for many, it is compact SUVs that are a symbol of social prestige and material success. Buying a compact SUV isn’t just a feeling, it is more of a milestone for millions of buyers who associate them with a sense of achievement.
Maximum Practicality
Not just looks, compact SUVs are known to offer great practicality. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that practicality is the very essence of the segment’s unprecedented growth. Everything about a compact SUV speaks volumes about its practical approach. Starting off from the exteriors itself, the biggest advantage of a compact SUV is its tall and high bodyline, which is truly practical considering Indian roads. Capable enough to tackle bumps, potholes and even uneven terrain, compact SUVs go beyond what a regular hatchback or sedan can deliver. On the inside, this higher stance translates to a higher seating position that offers an exceptional driving experience with a commanding view of the road ahead, something that hatchbacks and sedans both miss out on.
With a longer wheelbase than most hatchbacks, compact SUVs also pack in a great amount of space that comfortably seats not just those in the front but also those at the back. To complement all that space, compact SUVs are topped with intelligent storage spaces and comfortable features to make the ride truly enjoyable. It is the compact SUV segment that tastefully blends the comfort of a sedan and the compactness of a hatchback, which makes it one of the most practical offerings across the market. With a large boot, roof rails and even the ability to mount bicycles, compact SUVs score high in terms of practicality.
Loaded with Features
Another thing that makes compact SUVs so special is their comfortable cabins that are loaded with features. Since the segment itself is a hot seller, each carmaker tries to offer the best in terms of onboard features to make offerings more attractive and appealing. Modern-day features such as automatic climate control, keyless entry, push-button start, steering controls, rear armrests etc. are all common offerings onboard contemporary compact SUVs. The in-cabin experience is taken up a notch with some of the most premium features such as electric sunroofs, large touchscreen infotainments, ambient lighting, connected car technology, digital instrument cluster, ventilated seats, cooled glove box, paddle shifters and much more, that were once limited to only high-priced sedans. The feature-to-price ratio of a compact SUV accentuates the segment’s value-for-money quotient.
Even in terms of safety features, compact SUVs tend to offer a package that makes the user feel safer when compared to a similarly priced hatchback or sedan. Coupled with a strong monocoque chassis, with some options even offering a ladder-on-frame chassis, the compact SUV segment scores high on safety as well. Despite their humble price tag and smaller size, compact SUVs offer ample safety features onboard that include the likes of up to 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, hill assist, rear parking sensors, rear cameras and much more. Some of the segment leaders even go ahead to offer advanced safety features such as 360-degree cameras, tyre pressure monitoring systems, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps etc. Safety, comfort or practicality, compact SUVs are high on all kinds of features, making them lucrative options for buyers across all classes.
Balanced Performance and Reliable Driving Dynamics
No matter how good the looks or features are, no segment can truly rule the market without offering an equally capable engine that can deliver exhilarating performance and stable driving dynamics. Well, with compact SUVs, this is exactly what you get in addition to a lot more. When pitched against hatchbacks and sedans, compact SUVs offer some of the best engines that carmakers have up their sleeves. With engines ranging between 1.0 to 1.5 litres, the compact SUV segment offers a taste of peppy turbocharged engines, refined naturally aspirated petrol and even punchy diesel.
Power-packed engines coupled with a compact bodyline and an aerodynamic stance, compact SUVs offer superb driving dynamics with great handling, balanced performance and impeccable high-speed stability. That’s not all, compact SUVs also bring in a host of different transmissions that includes sophisticated ones such as CVTs, DCTs, and iMTs along with conventional ones such as manuals and AMTs. What truly complements the overall appeal of compact SUVs is the fact that they are highly reliable and efficient as well. With a proportionate body-to-power ratio, compact SUVs do not compromise on mileage with some of them even hybrid technology and CNG powertrains onboard to offer maximum practicality, savings and overall value. That’s not all, with the Tata Nexon, the compact SUV segment has even entered the EV space, making it the most diverse segment in the market.
The Price Advantage
With so much on offer, it is natural to think that the compact SUV segment will be priced high. Well, that’s totally not the case. In fact, the biggest advantage of compact SUVs is their price advantage. When compared to premium hatchbacks and sedans, compact SUVs offer a lot more for a price that is competitive. With a starting price of as low as 6 lakh, compact SUVs are nothing short of value for money. In addition to low prices, compact SUVs also offer the advantage of low maintenance and overall reliability. They last longer, have better resale value and are always widely available in the pre-owned market offering plenty of choices for every budget.
Summary
Taking over the industry by storm, the SUV segment registered a massive 35.9% year-on-year growth in the last financial year. A big chunk of this growth is credited to the compact SUV segment, which offers the most options from within the SUV segment. With their affordable pricing, rugged looks, sorted dynamics and great features, the compact SUV segment has truly made SUVs more accessible to the everyday consumer. Everything about a compact SUV throws light on the segment’s overall practicality and value-for-money approach. When compared to both hatchbacks and sedans, compact SUVs offer a lot more for a price that is comparable if not cheaper.
