Auto Expo 2016. Compact is in, and it is looking good

The ongoing Auto Expo 2016 is witnessing an unprecedented level of interest in two growing sub-segments in the Indian car industry and the defining trend is the move to go sub-four-metre.

When it seemed like the sub-four-metre sedan was possibly on its way out and buyers might have grown out of the urge to look for sedans within that size limit, there are more car makers that are joining the bandwagon with their own. The trend towards creating sub-four-metre sports utility vehicles (SUVs) is a more recent phenomenon and this is likely to be the big growth segment of this year.

Compact sedans The sub-four-metre sedan or compact sedan was a trend that was started by Tata Motors with the Indigo CS, but it has seen multiple manufacturers leveraging the opportunity thrown up by buyers' interest in going three-box within the budget of a hatchback. Last year, Ford joined the club with the new Figo Aspire. At the Auto Expo 2016, Volkswagen brought in its own compact sedan - the Ameo - built on the Polo platform. VW is banking on the new compact sedan to really push up its sales numbers and is also confident of taking the car to other markets. The Ameo will be launched later this year and will be available with the same 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol and 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine that the Polo is offered with.

The other two companies that are in the wings waiting to launch their own versions of compact sedans are Tata Motors and General Motors. The Kite 5 that Tata showcased at the Auto Expo is the final, production ready version of the compact sedan based on the new Zica hatchback. The Kite 5 is 3,995 mm long, has a 400-litre plus boot and will be offered with the brand's new Revotron and Revotorq engines.

General Motors will be looking to enter the fray next year with the new Essentia compact sedan. The Essentia is built on the Beat platform and will be similarly just a shade below the four-metre length limit. It looks a bit gawky from the outside, but has a very appealing cabin. It will also have a large, 350-litre plus boot.

Compact SUVs The other segment that is hot right now and will see a lot of action in the coming months too is the sub-four-metre compact SUV. The Ford EcoSport was one of the early entrants, with the Mahindra KUV1OO joining it last month. The segment will witness the launch of at least three more vehicles during the next about one year. Maruti Suzuki will be the next manufacturer to join the list with the Vitara Brezza. Scheduled to be launched in the next few weeks, the Brezza has been entirely designed and developed in India. The other compact SUV that will be launched within the next few months is the Honda BR-V, alphabetically indicated to be the smaller sibling of the CR-V, this will be different than the others, in that it will be a 7-seater. It will not be sub-four-metre, and it will also be much more than a variation to the Mobilio's styling.

The other car maker that is very close to finalising plans for its compact SUV is Tata Motors. It showcased the Nexon at the Expo, which is actually the final production spec. The Nexon has a more crossover flavour, but it looks funky and sporty.

Hyundai is also likely to mark its entry into this segment next year when it might come up with the production version of the Carlino concept on display at the Expo. This sub-four-metre SUV looks promising from the lines that are visible on the Carlino concept.