Luxury Carmakers vs Mass Market: The Gap’s Smaller Than You Think! | ZigAnalysis

[@zigwheels]

Hope you've subscribed. Coming up next, Should You Buy A Used Luxury Car? 😁

[@rahulmaini8296]

Time stamp 2:57 Would it be possible to please share a link of the report/analysis of price change performed in 2015 for the products as discussed?

[@abhishekkatoch6189]

Now days 25 lakh car is giving more value luxury than 60 lakh car... the difference has reduced significantly.

[@rohandesai648]

And even parts and services and features are fine tuned for India. I still remember, there was air filter issue with audi with my uncle car. It took 10 days for part to arrive from Germany and paid 80k for a part that is available easily for mass market. On top of that they did not clean the car properly but charged for the same. Also, there is much talk about power and performance. If you drive electric mass market car, you will anyways not like these luxury cars. Also whats the point of power and performance if car speeds are capped at 120 and roads are dangerous above that speed. And if you are majorly backseat user, these luxury cars do not offer any benefit for premium paid. So unless you want to show off, no point buying luxury car. And dont forget about heavy insurance that is a money waste.

[@limo2646]

Until the insane taxes on luxury cars go down, its stupid to own a new bmw/audi/Mercedes … Max I have decided to own is a new octavia or polo gti

[@motivation-24X7]

Not only taxes bro. New govt policies of 10-15 year car age also a huge problem in many places. If bs7 launches it will restrict diesel cars to max 10 years. 😞

[@kostinarain7373]

They have both stopped production 😂😂

[@mohdkhajanaseeruddin537]

Its insane to even buy a Tata or Mahindra car bro...gst+cess+roadtax +tcs+gst on Insurance put to gether will be upwards of 75%....if you include the income tax you already paid......we are actually paying more than 100% tax to buy a Indian made Tata or Mahindra also....leave alone Luxary cars!!

[@motivation-24X7]

@@mohdkhajanaseeruddin537 bro aap car cash pr to loge ni Jo loan hota h wo intrest or tax usme b hota h after paying income tax. Bahr jaoge to toll tax. Bht taxes h India me 😓

[@SahilSharma-bt5vs]

Virtus GT max

[@gauravj6648]

2018 August Nexon xz+ diesel 12.5 Lacs OTR Ecosport S diesel 14 lacs OTR 2021 Nexon xza+ diesel 15 lacs OTR Ecosport S diesel 14 lacs OTR 2024 Nexon diesel top 18 lacs OTR

[@somilbijur8137]

The 25 to 30 lakh segment, tata safari, XUV 700 the offer almost all the features, comfort, power and then a big car practical for the entire family, which is missing in Bmw X1, GLA, Q3 which cost 50-60 lakhs on road. From pure what you get for your moneys worth its no use to buy a german car today unless you have 30-40 lakhs extra & dont know what to do with it

[@zigwheels]

This! The gap between what a luxury car offered vs a mass market car has reduced. In many cases, luxury cars are missing things while charging significantly more. There's no denying the desirability of a luxury car and a big part of their price is how heavily they're taxed but when you pay so much more money, in an ideal world, we should be talking about upgrades only and not trade-offs

[@mathewmailbox]

The comparison, for example , should be between XUV7OO / KODIAQ/ Merc GLE in terms of the space / size etc. the GLE is 3 times the price of an XUV and more than 2 times of the Kodiaq. Does the swag value justify 3 times the premium for very similar spec?

[@pramodhb6796]

Luxury in the car world is mere brand related fantasy... Apart,cars like Nexa grand vitara,and Mg offer you the needed luxury to travel in comfort.

[@fangdog29]

This is actually not true. You think this until you travel in a car from one of the big Germans. They are genuine highway mile munchers. I have done over 1200+ kms in a single day time driving session in my audi, and I arrived fresh at my hotel. No discomfort, while cruising at high speed. There is no comparison within lesser cars.

[@zigwheels]

Agreed with fangdog! Luxury cars are to be experienced to be believed. It’s like experiencing a 5 star hotel. Every other hotel might be perfectly habitable, it still wouldn’t feel as plush and upmarket.

[@pramodhb6796]

@@fangdog29 yes,but in that sense too..there is Vw and skoda

[@parthasarathy5222]

What car audi a4 or audi a6​@@fangdog29

[@alburaq3290]

Grand Vitara feels cheap. Nothing luxurious about it. MG Hector does feel luxurious though.

[@rajivgarg87]

Neither the luxury brands nor the Indian mass market brands have lost the plot India. It’s the global mass market brands like Honda, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Chevy with world class products selling globally have lost the plot in India. Their global products can surely compete with luxury brands. Cars are beyond specs sheet and brochures. For cars, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. You can’t compare the feeling of luxury, the way power is delivered, fit and finish, NVH levels with a mass market brand. Once you experience it, it’s hard to go back.

[@parthkulkarni1126]

Absolutely 💯💯 That difference will always remain 💯

[@dhritirajbaruah9712]

The conversation between these two fellow. Feeling Lucky that m having genuine understanding🎉

[@karanmagdum90]

I went from a 12 year old diesel manual Jetta which I loved, to a 40 TFSI Audi A4 last month! Absolutely loving the ride and features. Harrier/XUV/tucson are down on quality and the feel by a mile. Tiguan/Q3 is very stiff exactly like the Jetta. Audi A4 has a magical ride and amazing quality. Also Indian car brands can’t match the sound systems of the Germans ..I have a 19 speaker B&O system! It’s insane. Hankook self healing tyres vs MRF on Indian car brands. Viper blades, head lamps, head lamp washers, electric seats which make minimum noise, power windows with silent motors, high quality nappa leather etc etc all for 50L , 2+3 year warranty for just 85k for an Audi A4 and a reasonable service package at 1.8L for 5 years isn’t bad is it?

[@KhushbuBhatnagar-ff3fw]

Indian car makers can match it anytime but they need the market ,,, And their values lies with Middle classes more ..not with the high end customer..

[@zigwheels]

Congratulations!. We love the A4 for its epic ride and its smooth motor. The points you mention are completely valid. But they won’t really make or break a buyer’s decision especially considering the price gulf. They’re simply nice to have.

[@karanmagdum90]

@@zigwheels True! But once you have been spoilt with a CKD German vehicle, you can never go back to a made in India car! I absolutely loved my Jetta and I still have it! 1.6L kms on the odo, with 2 clutches and entire suspension assembly swapped, with a wireless CarPlay system it’s as good as any other German sedan.. only got A4 coz I was bored of the manual gearbox! Fuel costs are exactly double that of a Jetta but I don’t mind it anymore. The badge value compensates for it 😋

[@yellowflash511]

​@@karanmagdum90 "the badge value" lmao you're brainwashed

[@karanmagdum90]

@@yellowflash511 guilty 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@vishnudesai1338]

I enjoyed this conversation, wish I was part of it. I owned a Mitsubishi outlander for long. Currently, looking for an upgrade. I liked the kodiaq a lot, Q3 next and GLA at the bottom. What you discussed is absolutely true and I agree with you but gone are those days when we use to get really good cars from mass market manufacturers. For example a Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda Accord. Tata and Mahindra are still not there yet. Agree with your jeep compass point but they have not updated the car for long. Ford has also left. Except for a Skoda Kodiaq and VW tiguan I actually cannot think of a car in between 40-60 lakhs from the mass manufacturers. Do suggest me one other than the mentioned and no tucson.

[@keshavachandrasp833]

Why doesn’t anyone speak about Tucson?! It’s such a competent product especially in its diesel guise.

[@hermeslord]

Pointless discussion. Currency devaluation and inflation are insane. It’s not just cars, but everything else except televisions have gone super north

[@zigwheels]

We agree about currency devaluations and inflation. The first part can majorly be tackled with local production, don’t you think? A simple cut-paste of the global portfolio isn’t possibly the best method for a market like India.

[@hermeslord]

@@zigwheels anybody from the automotive manufacturing industry can comment on local production.. what everyone calls 'local production' is nothing but local assembly. Every component manufacturer who is relevant, relies on the global supply chain, be it engine, transmission, trims & accessories, even premium fabric, PU foam for seats, good quality polyol still comes from overseas.. all of these are subject to currency fluctuations and supply chain dynamics.. plus added cost of compliances and benchmarked wages and overheads go into the final costs.. car manufacturers am sure trying to manage costs and would love to keep prices lower to grab market share, but ground reality is that we have a currency that's slipping, overheads that are going high.. so its a vicious cycle

[@arnavm.9529]

@@hermeslord Can you prove using data that the jump in prices of luxury cars is PRIMARILY driven by risen costs and not excessive markups?

[@hermeslord]

@@arnavm.9529 simple.. a BMW 320i was selling at 38 lakhs in 2014, in 2024 it costs 60 lakhs for now equivalent 330Li, back then USD was 60 and now its 83.. it totals up to the same 40% increase.. not counting local inflation and newer tech

[@hermeslord]

@@arnavm.9529 dollar in 2014 was 60 rupees, a bmw 320i was 38 lakhs (ex showroom), dollar today is 83, a comparable BMW330 Li is 53 lakhs (ex showroom).. both have risen steadily at 40% rise over 10 years.. i am not even counting inflation and rising overheads..

[@siddhantpahwa8933]

The gap between the expensive products from mass market brands and entry level models from luxury car brands has definitely come down. But, is it all about comparing feature vs feature? I don’t think so.. if you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’re in for an experience, from the moment you step into the showroom, your buying experience, and if you run into snags, how close or different would your experience be if you own a Tata safari vs an Audi Q3.. You’re paying more money (quite a bit more, agreed) for a significantly better/premium experience at each touchpoint.

[@ansar957]

How often do you take your cars for service or visit showroom?.I don’t see any point of paying huge gaps for few days of experience.And the luxury experience of companies like Skoda is not that far behind Benz/Bmw imo.

[@somilbijur8137]

This debate of better experience at service centre & car buying process is only justified if you have enough money to buy a luxury car, you dont mind paying double just for the brand. For everyone else a Tata safari, jeep compass, kodiaq will still offer 80-90% of the comfort of a luxury car for lot less money

[@KaushikMajumdarKopiteForever]

I turned in my BMW X1 after 18 months for a #Volkswagen #Tiguan as I realized I got into the entry level #BMW but got very poor value for money front wheel drive no keyless entry basic instrument cluster small display! My Tiguan is a far better machine rupee for rupee all wheel drive, excellent engine, brilliant speed pick up, nice instrument cluster and basically a great machine only for 36 lacs on road.

[@gopal7623]

You made the right choice…Tiguan is just a perfect all rounder👌 it’s just an underrated vehicle…!!!

[@KaushikMajumdarKopiteForever]

@@gopal7623 absolutely. What confounds me is #Volkswagen’s apathetical effort to market the car. With #socialmedia and the right campaign they can do a much better job at a lower marketing cost and drive sales up.

[@quiet-watcher_]

Superb, Kodiaq are good too

[@sumanthsubbanna3114]

Recently decided to buy the Tucson instead of the Q3

[@mpk927]

Great car ! Love mine aswell

[@mohdkhajanaseeruddin537]

GST+Cess for Tata Safari is also 55%....Govt is making atleast 2.5 times the gross profit the manufacturer makes....and Safari is not even luxary....unless this changes...we in India will not be able to see real value

[@himansh4812]

🙂

[@zigwheels]

Unfortunately, cars will always be treated as a luxury and taxed as such.

[@SahilSharma-bt5vs]

Virtus GT is the new Audi A3. Engine specs, features, and the platform are the same

[@gautamgothia1420]

Verna SX (O) DCT has more features than Audi A6. Bizarre thing is that A6 doesn't even come equipped with ADAS in India

[@nandu7750]

It doesn’t make sense to buy luxury cars anymore in India as we are scrapping old cars. . There is also no incentive for brands to even make good lasting cars. . India is a hell for automotive

[@007DevilDare]

Like Fortuner Ask for..... Seriously Toyota 😂 I know that car has the history of Toyota wars...but Seriously !

[@braddua]

Very informative guys! I wish it were a little more alive though. I missed your usual energy.

[@zigwheels]

Sorry about that, thank you for the feedback!

[@jayysetiya9231]

It’s all about what u want in a car and also if it fits in ur budget . For comfort people choose innova or if the budget is more get a mercedes E class, though both are different segments but the comfort is very good if u have ever sat on the mercedes E class , it’s worth every money if ur budget allows . Also , now people would say get a honda city or any other sedan if u want comfort , but u have to try every car to believe what i m saying , mercedes is way above entry level sedans in the market in terms of comfort on the back seat . And if someone wants performance and a proper driving machine get a octavia or even better buy a BMW M340i if ur budget allows to do so. Because there is no comparison between these cars , now people gonna cry ohhh the features are same as luxury cars and ride quality is same . First of all after 2-3 yrs ,u don’t even use any features in ur car , in the end it’s all about personal preferences & what u want from a car depending on the budget and everytime it boils down to either comfort or performance which any entry level car brand can’t compete with mercedes and BMW respectively And fortuner has neither performance nor comfort it only is used for show off …

[@uaeindi]

One factor which you guys missed exploring further in this discussion is the EVs. Mass Market EVs provide awesome Power and Torque and have excellent NVH levels. You touched upon Ioniq. But even Curvv or BYD Atto 3 or Seal are excellent buys

[@vivekmg2300]

Entry level luxury cars have the same Nano problem. They are perceived as cheap, so a person wants to move up the chain for what is truly perceived by their social circle as luxury

[@_AH9]

Genesis is great alternative to the German trinity, with a considerably lower price tag

[@zigwheels]

They're actively analysing the Indian market to see what car to enter the market with but still no confirmation on when they're arriving officially

[@PrayanshAlurkar]

Mercedes a class worth it now ?

[@fangdog29]

It's seriously overpriced

[@SujDe]

It's not just features and comfort when someone is spending his hard earned money he would also want the car to look really good and Camry looks more like a old saloon

[@Dpak1980]

In India, buying a luxury product is considered a crime. They are punished by taxation.

[@keshavsakthi546]

I know Mahindra is an suv maker but what if they went ahead and made a 200bhp sedan with all the tech offerings that they already have. It would just be Mwah!

[@hemanthk6960]

Please don't give these traitors Mahindra such ideas.. pure evil people

[@kostinarain7373]

😂😂😂😂they should make cycle

[@TheInnocentboy18]

Indeed. Hero Cycles are more reliable than tata/mahindera.

[@zigwheels]

It’s best they stick to what they know best honestly 😅

[@TheInnocentboy18]

@@zigwheels Thats the issue, they don't know anything. They are just making boxes with different designs.

[@sherrysharad]

I'd rather keep an Innova Hybrid top end and go for something exotic/loud like a GT-R, Supra or Porsche 911 for those occasions of 'arrived' moments.

[@Abhibee4018]

Please refer to principle of diminishing marginal utility in ecenomics😊

[@Liberty55555]

Both defined luxury wrongly. Luxury market exist because people want to stand out and show the world they are better than them or as equal as them.

[@SakethDesai]

Luxury brands changed one thing High volume high margin to low volume high margin

[@rahulrk8789]

Waiting for the Nissan Xtrail review from you guys

[@zigwheels]

On its way 🫡

[@joychakraborty012]

Great conversation!

[@channelesbee250]

Which sedan by an Indian brand which is RWD gives the same performance and driving dynamics/pleasure as a BMW 3 series ? There is still value in buying luxury cars. Anyways I liked the conclusion. No matter what you too actually want a luxury brand ultimately, be it as an upgrade and be it as used. The mass market cars won’t give you the same experience. The point you are missing is no one is going to buy their first car as an Audi or BMW. Ultimately if anyone goes on upgrading , it will be a luxury brand. Else every 5-7 years everyone would buy the same car and say it’s an upgrade because by that time the new one will have more tech and features. But that’s not the situation is it. A person who bought a Swift in 2017 will not buy a Swift again and say hey I upgraded because I paid more, I have new design and new features. They will buy a Creta now.

[@zigwheels]

Don't get us wrong, we aren't saying there's no reason to buy a luxury car. Once you're past Rs 50 lakh, the number of mass market brand options start disappearing so eventually they do become the default choice (for now). We're just expressing our belief that the gap between what mass market and luxury brands offer is narrowing but the price gap between them isn't reflecting that.

[@hmmmm9327]

Luxury is having 3 Toyota Innovas (AN40) one 8 seater, one 7 seater, and one modified to have lounge seats(just to show-off). Maintain them as per schedule and they'll outlive the owner i.e bulletproof reliability. Comfortable enough to sustain Indian roads, decent fuel efficiency and lowest maintenance costs. Also no other car required if these 3 cars are in garage. And one Nissan Patrol Y60 4x4

[@Aditya-tw4mz]

great discssion.

[@arunponnada]

Without warranty even brands like VW/Skoda also make you bankrupt

[@danCK1990]

u guys do realize they made more sales year on year even with high taxes right!!! and they are trying to corner the second hand market to get people to purchase their older vehicles at a better rate than new models of our domestic brand...... our market is a value based market not a price market

[@zigwheels]

Yes. Manufacturers like Merc are raking in bigger numbers. But we need to look at what their best sellers are. You’d expect the entry level A/GLA to bring in the most buyers, but it’s actually the E-Class followed by the GLC. The entry level luxury cars are a dying breed.

[@grrg474]

I have Seltos GTX+ DCT . it has Great Power and Torque and Super Low NVH Levels . It has Every Feature you can think of . Just Safety is 3 Star but thats manageable as i drive in city only . Service and Replacement Parts are Reasonable Too . Mass Market Players are killing in the market so much that there is no need to go to Luxury Cars Segment

[@Jaychandok]

Entire perspective and aspiration of "real luxury" industry is missing Wrong information at ever aspect.

[@zigwheels]

Could you help us with your perspective? All ears to know what we could’ve included.

[@Navyguy]

*For some having a warm freshly-cooked meal is a luxury, for another even a Rolls Royce Cullinan isn't !* 🎭🤙🏼

[@zigwheels]

Uff! Deep.

[@vivekmg2300]

In 2024, its high end vs High tech. So if i have the money, i would spend the extra for hybrid, plug in, Adas etc and not just on snob value of a brand. Thats where the luxury brands are caught napping. Look at what Tesla did to the german luxury brands. Its not electric, but self driving though semi auto pilot, still is way ahead compared to Germans

[@absash7838]

The mg astor in it's top turbo varient is the best luxury you could get under 18lakhs, brand attachment aside. If I had the use case I would have bought this car. Hence in comparison I feel Indian brand flagship models and Toyotas feel way more expensive.

[@soumyadeepbarik5711]

MERCEDES B,CLASS , it's a van : HOST MERCEDES B-CLASS , it's not a van , it us more of a hatchback like car.

[@zigwheels]

The host knows. Meant it as a joke! :)

[@royrand8521]

Both of you three guys certainly look,judging by your "hellthee purrsnaalteej",as though you are no strangers to a life of Lugjury. Is this correct ?

[@zigwheels]

Letj focuj on the carj plij?

[@octavian2667]

@@zigwheels

[@Liberty55555]

You guys have no clue no clue. Those who buy Audi and Merc dont even think abt Harrier XUV etc . what are u guys talking abt ? A guy want to spend 60 lacs and he will think abt features ? lol . Its all abt Brand and status. There are no logics in luxury . end of discussion.

[@mosesImmanuel-sc6zy]

Only the indian government has lost the plot with their high taxes

[@theBartSimpson]

Nothing is better then TATA✊🚩 TATA PUNCH♥️ and TATA NEXON🔥 better then LUXURY Brands Best Inngine, Best Power🔥 TATA - Best🔥🔥🔥 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 India Top Selling Luxury SUV- TATA PUNCH and TATA NEXON🏆🔥🔥🔥 🔱🚩

[@_MS__]

Luxury cars are overpriced and under specced. We are made to believe that government taxes are the culprit but their prices keep going up despite GST now steady since many years. BMW has resorted to deleting features essential for limo like 360 camera and rear blinds and continues to soldier on the old 2.0 petrol and diesel in India without any innovation in engine specs yet their prices keep going up. BMW India is not the only culprit. It’s more about the attitude that lets milk the Indians rather than let’s give them the latest and best bang for buck.Yes they’re all a business but paying 90 lacs and not getting rear sun blinds and 360 camera is something even a 10-15 lac car has now a days. 😅

[@zigwheels]

This is the core issue. After budgets enter Rs 50 lakh and above, the majority of options only come from luxury brands. Additionally, many buyers will get luxury cars because they can’t be seen in anything with a “lesser badge” and as the number of rich Indians increases, so will luxury car sales. But that doesn’t mean buyers are blind to what they’re missing out on.

[@_MS__]

@@zigwheels it’s time to boycott some brands and call them out on such double standards hypocrisy. Only then would they realise that we can’t be taken for granted . We are working hard for our money paying 60-70% taxes directly indirectly after all of that if we get a rotten apple then it doesn’t make sense. Imagine paying 90 for a 5 series not getting sun blinds and not being able to put film due to laws. I mean it’s absurd. Who wants a giant tv screen in their car ?? Out of 100 buyers not more than 2 . Which bmw has offered in the 7 series .

[@Liberty55555]

first 5 min spent in incorrectly defining luxury. Also there is no need to define it so much rather u can talk abt cars directly.

[@saurabhodeyar7747]

Luxury is sitting and talking about luxury cars😅

[@zigwheels]

Indeed it is!

[@Punk0401]

Ignoring actual value towards perceived brand value is really wrong. People are buying BMW 2 series just for the logo and simply ignore the fundamental requirements. Having a BMW is more important than having a good spacious car with great dimensions across. 😂

[@zigwheels]

💯

[@yellowflash511]

Yes, because people are brainwashed

[@rdaroga]

My take is simple: 1. Used luxury car: No. Warranty matters. Service costs matter. Reliability matters. 2. Brand new, FWD, entry level luxury cars: No again. For the reasons well covered in this video. Also because they are not much more fun to drive. There's no way I'd pay 60+ lakhs for an FWD. Period. 3. Brand new erstwhile entry level luxury cars. The RWDs: Yes. If I had the money, I'd buy them. The 330 Li, the X3, the C class, etc. I'd buy them for the performance and the driving pleasure. My upgrade from a Jeep, Tiguan, etc. would be to one of these.

[@megasupremetech5440]

Toyota is selling vellfire like hot cakes. Please make a video on that.

[@zigwheels]

The reason is simple enough, the level of comfort is hard to ignore. The van body style just let’s you offer great lounge seats

[@mastroes]

Man.. Hyundai did this !!! When a swift vxi was 6 lakhs .. they were selling the 1st gen creta at 20.. that too in delhi. Its only beyond this point car prices exploded in INDIA.

[@kostinarain7373]

Work harder 😂😂make more money

[@zigwheels]

Always a good idea