HATCH BATCH

Cars and motoring, Featured articles

Small cars have dominated India’s automobile market since the quaint old Maruti 800. Today’s hatchbacks are far more powerful, stylish and spacious

After the Auto Expo in Delhi this year, one thing was clear — it was going to be an exciting year for the Indian car buyer. Hatchbacks have always been the most popular cars in India, because they are cheaper and easier to drive and park in our overcrowded metros. They have close to 80% of the market share, so it’s not surprising that car makers take this segment very seriously — every manufacturer at the expo had an exciting small car on display. Maruti Suzuki, which has dominated this segment since the time of the Maruti 800, now has a wide range of small cars, from the A-Star to the Swift. Hyundai too has an impressive array of small cars. And Toyota has finally committed to launching a small car by the end of the year. But the biggest surprise at the expo came from US car giant General Motors — known for its sedans and SUVs — which showcased the Beat, a cleverly-made small car. Typically, small cars are those that cost under Rs5.5 lakh, seat five passengers and have reduced luggage space, as they lack a protruding boot. They also offer various optional accessories, so while Rs5.5 lakh is generally considered to be the upper limit, you can buy a small car without the bells and whistles for as little as Rs4 lakh.TO READ FURTHER... Please Login, Register or Subscribe

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