India's car shoppers shift focus to safety tech and comfort features

Indian car buyers are increasingly basing purchase decisions on safety and advanced technology rather than solely on engine performance or mileage. Consumers now look for strong crash-test ratings from agencies such as Global NCAP, Euro NCAP, Bharat NCAP and ANCAP, and give priority to features like multiple airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, automatic emergency braking and other ADAS functions.

In addition to safety, buyers are demanding larger touchscreens, digital instrument clusters, panoramic sunroofs, 360‑degree cameras, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and ventilated seats. These preferences are influencing manufacturers to equip even entry‑level models with premium‑grade equipment, while Indian‑made models such as the Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV700 and various Volkswagen and Skoda offerings are being highlighted for their safety credentials.