[Hypno0784]

Greetings fellow auto enthusiasts! This is my first post here so kindly ignore my nescience and help me rectify any errors.

Luxury holds a different meaning for each one of us, and as Indian buyers, we have our own unique set of expectations when it comes to luxury cars. In this thread, let's explore the features that make sense for the Indian market and buyers. This discussion can guide luxury car buyers who want to see what they get or miss out on when considering their luxury car choices.

One thing to note is that we're concentrating on sub 2 crore luxury cars, as the exorbitantly priced models tend to offer almost everything imaginable. Our goal is to identify features that balance luxury and practicality for the average buyer.

In my opinion, these features are no-brainers and should be included in the sub-80L bracket irrespective of product positioning in a brand's lineup:

Ventilated seats, massage seats, rear seat recline, soft headrests, window and rear sunblinds, good ambient lighting, a comprehensive safety suite, luxurious and upmarket interiors, plush ride quality, fun engines are driving dynamics and most importantly, opulence, are some of the things that come to my mind.

Of course, I acknowledge that one can modify their car to include almost all these features. However, the allure of luxury cars lies in having these features seamlessly integrated into the chassis, creating a sense of exclusivity and snob value.

My view towards a luxury car is that it should be able to pamper you with all creature comforts but also be fun to drive when you wish so. No Porsche or Ferrari levels, but enough to keep your inner child happy. A different purpose-made machine can take the job of giving you that adrenaline rush.

So, how do you define luxury in your car? What luxury features do you consider essential? Are there any additional features you believe should be on the luxury checklist?

[five46]

In the order of preference (to be affordable enough):
- 6/8 Airbags
- Automatic Transmission
- Ventilated Seats

I would have mentioned 5 Star Safety rating too, but Altroz showed that it's not the territory of luxury cars alone.

Luxury is a subjective matter though. What may be affordable to someone else, may be luxury for me.

[Kkumar]

For me luxury means bespoke. Luxury being a subjective matter it varies from person to person. The car should be as per my taste and I should have the freedom to decide what I need starting from the colour of the car to the type of upholstery and features to be included and even the engine and transmission . If a car maker can provide it then that’s luxury.

[DCEite]

From Indian driving perspective, I would say:

1. Ventilated heated and cooled seats

2. 360 degree camera

3. Lane assist

4. Adaptive cruise control

5. Umbrella holder

6. Remote engine start

7. Turbo mode cooling



What is not required:

1. Panoromic sunroof

2. Panoromic sunroof

3. Panoromic sunroof

[revsperminute]

A few come to mind:

1. Automatic and Adaptive headlamps: Powerful adaptive headlamps are so useful on our poorly lit roads. Drive any high end car with adaptive headlights and you’ll never be able to go back.

2. Noise Insulation and Sound Systems- Even an entry level “luxury” car such as the Skoda Superb keeps so much of the world outside. And the stereo systems are a treat for audiophiles.

3. Auto Dimming Mirrors- Dimming IRVMs and ORVMs to save the driver from Karol Bagh LED hackjobs.

4. Safety Tech: Everything except ADAS

5. Configurability: Want to order a new Range Rover? You can choose each and every option on the car and really make it your own.

6. After-Sales- The after sales service of luxury marques are on a whole another level.

7. Feel-good factor- We ended up going for a GLE instead of a Ford Endeavour. Luxury cars are more of a want than a need. And so, feel-good factor is a must.

8. Longevity- These cars never get old as long as you look after them. Ages like fine wine.


Add all of these features to the stellar driving experience most of them provide and you get a winner.

[PaddleShifter]

Features list for a luxury experience in my car:

1. Automatic doors (fancy item): Ability to open the doors in Tesla fashion while I am approaching the car.

2. Panoramic sunroof/ moonroof (fixed would be fine too).

3. Three or Four zone clinate control. Please let me drive with AC set at 22-23 degrees. You can adjust yours at 25.

4. Ventilated seats: I am a middle class Indian working my a$$ off. Need some cooling after work.

5. UV cut glasses with 30% tint on the sides and 25% front and back.

6. Under thigh support adjustment for driver seat.

7. Heads Up Display with Navigation display.

8. Ability to use CarPlay for navigation and USB drive for music. Built in sub woofer and a good audio system.

9. Heated and anti glare ORVMs.

10. ADAS level 2: Adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot detection.

11. Built in Dashcam (front and rear).

12. Engine and exhaust note.

13. Powered tail gate.

14. Ability to flat fold the rear bench to make a bed for resting.

15. Interiors: To be honest, MG Hector Plus 2023 model has good enough luxury interiors for me.

[GTO]

To me, the more the luxury features, the better . Korean & Chinese car manufacturers sure take the lead in bringing luxury-marque features to the mainstream segments. Fact is, a Creta today can make a 5-year old C-Class look barebones, while a Tucson can make a 6-year old E-Class feel antique in terms of features. Ditto with other cars such as the XUV700 and others.

Especially love features such as ventilated seats, 6 & more airbags, powerful turbo-petrol engines that match / beat the BHP of yesteryear luxury German cars, fast AT gearboxes, ESP etc. I also appreciate the overall improvement in sound quality & audio systems. As much as I love music, I hate ripping apart my car's interiors in the aftermarket. Factory fit is factory fit. And even theft is rare with OEM audio systems.

Features I really don't care about = ADAS (hate it in India) & wireless car charging (a gimmick, the tech isn't there yet).

[Ferruccio]

The flagship models of the Indian and Korean brands do a superb job of capturing what luxury means to Indians.

Take the top-end XUV 700. IMHO the only things that I'd add to further enhance luxury are - 1) Seat ventilation on all seats in Rows 1 and 2 2) UV and IR cut for all window glasses 3) Rear side window blinds 4) A build in refrigerator with ice-maker 5) Active nose cancellation / even better noise insulation

[DicKy]

The luxury features that make sense as an Indian car buyer?

Anything that has bragging rights and brings complexity and pain for long term maintenance is a luxury for an Indian car buyer.

Luxury features for me?

Comfortable large seats with 16+ way power adjustments (thigh/bolster/four way lumber et al), ventilated/cooled seats with massage function. Good to have active side bolstering too.

Rear seats also to have ventilation and full recline mode with ottomans.

4 zone A/C. Also the car shoulddo whatever it takes to maintain the internal temperature without fogging up any windows.

Everything ergonomic and easy to reach, including four way adjustable centre armrests with a cooler inside. Electric anti glare IRVM AND ORVMS. Would be great if the ORVMS don't fog up.

The welcome feature where the seats move backwards and the steering goes up.

Proper key in the pocket entry. the ones where you put your hands in the handle and it opens, not the ones where you have to press a rubber dot button on the handle to open. Also good to have something like the Ford/Lincoln keypad entry system for true keyless entry/exit.

Memory seats with THREE presets!!! Electric seats are pointless without memory function IMO.

360° camera.

Heavy sound deadening. UV cut tinted glass with acoustic deadening. If equipped with sun/moon roof, it better be an electrochromic one.

Physical buttons/knobs galore with knurled and damped finish.

Adaptive cruise control. Powerful headlights that are intelligent to not blind opposite traffic on high beam.



A B-A-N-G-I-N-G crisp audio system. Fluid and responsive touchscreen infotainment that closes away like the new Bentleys. iDrive like physical controls are a must.

All passengers get seat belts that are height adjustable.

Enough ground clearance for our roads.

Goes without saying, a powerful engine that feels effortless and has locomotive like pulling power.

[Proud BRV Owner]

Here is my "wish-list" of "Must Have" luxury inclusions in any 60 L+ car in Indian conditions (no Safety features are included):

1. Air cooled seats with personalized memory
2. Air purifier
3. Garbage Dispenser (some really classy design thinking is needed here - I would put it more as a "civic requirement" rather than luxury inclusion)
4. Rear seat entertainment system with at least 10" 4K screen
5. Multi-channel sound processor
6. Wi-Fi media streamer (something like a Jio fiber box connected via sim)
7. A Great Set of Speakers
8. Video conferencing for rear seats
9. Voice operated calling
10. Complete noise isolation
11. Terrain adaptive + GPS enabled smart suspension system
12. Adaptive auto tyre pressure management
13. Multi-zone climate control AC
14. Photo-chromatic wind shield and window glasses (as per regulated tint limits)
15. Cooled liquid bottle storage for at least 5 x 1 liter bottles
16. Voice commands
17. Adaptive cabin illumination with zonal control
18. Electrically adjustable seats
19. Individually controlled reclining seats
20. Boot lid with proximity sensor
21. GPS navigation connected with local traffic management system
22. GPS enabled Road Quality alerts

[GoBabyGo]

Originally Posted by DCEite

From Indian driving perspective, I would say:

1. Ventilated heated and cooled seats

2. 360 degree camera

3. Lane assist

4. Adaptive cruise control

5. Umbrella holder

6. Remote engine start

7. Turbo mode cooling



What is not required:

1. Panoromic sunroof

2. Panoromic sunroof

3. Panoromic sunroof

I would also like to add

1. Front & Rear Dashcam as standard feature
2. Back seat window curtain or Tinted UV cut glasses as standard feature
3. Extendable passenger & driver sun visor to cover complete side window as standard feature
4. In case of SUV & Hatchback, option of sliding rear seat to make more legroom / knee room, whenever required (even at the cost of less boot space) as standard feature

[arnieshwartz]

My list:

1. Front and rear dash cams.
2. All ventilated leather seats.
3. Thigh support on seats.
4. Auto-sensing headlamps and wipers.
5. Cruise control.
6. Great noise insulation.
7. Powered tail gate with kick sensor.
8. Auto-dimming IRVM.
9. TPMS and run flat tyres.
10. Great audio system.
11. Air purifier.
12. Advanced headlamp technologies.
13. Climate control zones.
14. Individual arm rests.
15. Window curtains or photochromic glasses.
16. Adaptive suspension.
17. Collision avoidance systems.
18. Cooled storage spaces.
19. Electric seat adjustment with memory feature.
20. Keyless entry and remote start.

Last but not the least, enough airbags to cocoon passengers in the event of a collision.

[androdev]

There is more to luxury than meets the eye. IMHO, there are two categories: eliminating something unpleasant and enhancing what's pleasant.

In Indian context, elimination is much more important. Our driving environment is very harsh - noise, horrible road surfaces, air pollution, hot and humid weather, unsafe traffic). A luxury car should isolate you from all these - and the expense that goes into building a car that excels in overcoming these challenges is "invisible".

Enhancing the pleasant experience - usually convenience, aesthetics and entertainment features - are easy to showcase to potential customer but to me these are secondary.

My emphasis would be more on NVH, ride quality, comfort and safety - these are not easily available at lower price point.

[KumarS]

Luxury is all about the experiential value it brings. It's evident that the majority of the items listed here as luxury are centered around technological advancements. This list is continuously expanding and will undoubtedly continue to grow as we progress into the future. However, with the influx of new innovations and technologies in vehicles, can we truly classify them as luxury? Even safety features, while crucial, should not necessarily be categorized as luxury since they are expected in modern vehicles.

To me, true luxury lies in the ease of owning a car. It encompasses various aspects, such as the quality of service provided. A service advisor who genuinely listens to my concerns, along with prompt and efficient service without any unnecessary delays, is what I value. Seamless and timely communication is another essential factor that contributes to the luxurious experience of owning a vehicle. Furthermore, a hassle-free process for warranty and insurance claims, without any arguments or unnecessary visits, is an added luxury. Lastly, being able to receive easy updates without having to request them explicitly gives me the feeling that I am getting service that is truly worth the money I paid.

[stewie]

Originally Posted by androdev

There is more to luxury than meets the eye. IMHO, there are two categories: eliminating something unpleasant and enhancing what's pleasant.
....

My emphasis would be more on NVH, ride quality, comfort and safety - these are not easily available at lower price point.

I think i agree with @androdev here on most things.

Contemporary cars now come with almost all the features that the luxury marquees have, but i feel that we are confusing features for luxury in this thread.

For me real luxury is in having the best of technology and, maybe more importantly, materials cocoon me away from the outside.
Things like - a cooled glove box that is carpeted or insulated well, the dashboard materials used, the amount of soft touch points, (preferably full grain leather), soft closing cubbies etc.
Tinted acoustic glass which keeps the heat and sound away.
Multi zone ACC, Laser Adaptive lighting.

From a drive perspective, having a refined, powerful motor mated to a fast and smooth gearbox.
A suspension setup which takes away road imperfections whether it be on tarmac or rougher sections.
Luxury is having room for all passengers to spread out as much as they want while being wrapped in a cooled, snug embrace.
Room to carry practically all the luggage you want for a week long stay for 4 people.

And of course, a car that makes you look back multiple times after locking her.

So in essence, any car that gives you the best feel for all your senses - sight, hearing, touch even smell. A car that is made with the best materials with the highest levels of workmanship possible.
I'm sure taste will also be catered to, at some point