The priorities of Indian car buyers are undergoing a significant shift. While fuel efficiency remains a consideration, the new obsession revolves around high-end cabin features that enhance comfort and luxury. Ventilated seats, advanced touchscreen infotainment systems, cooled gloveboxes, and panoramic sunroofs are now key decision-making factors.
The Allure and Debate of the Panoramic Sunroof
The panoramic sunroof, the largest variant of its kind, has captured the imagination of buyers. It offers a sweeping view of the sky, floods the cabin with natural light, and creates an illusion of more space. When opened, it provides an open-air driving sensation without the complete exposure of a convertible. While its practicality in India's often harsh climate is debated, there is no denying its surging popularity. This demand has made it an almost standard offering in the SUV segment.
Top 6 Value-for-Money SUVs with Panoramic Sunroof
Here are the six best SUV options that combine the panoramic sunroof feature with competitive pricing, catering to the evolving demands of the Indian market.
1. Kia Sonet: The Most Affordable Entry
Claiming the title of the most affordable car in India with a panoramic sunroof, the Kia Sonet offers this feature in its HTK+, HTX, HTX+, and HTX+ (O) trims. Prices for these variants range between ₹10.74 lakh and ₹15.49 lakh (ex-showroom).
2. Tata Nexon: The Popular Sub-Compact Choice
A dominant player in the sub-compact SUV space, the Tata Nexon includes a panoramic sunroof in its Creative Plus PS and Fearless Plus PS variants. These are priced from ₹11.25 lakh to ₹14.15 lakh (ex-showroom), making it one of the most accessible options.
3. Mahindra XUV 3XO: The Pioneer
The Mahindra XUV 3XO (formerly XUV300) was the first sub-compact SUV to introduce a panoramic sunroof. The feature is available on the AX7 and AX7 Luxury trims, with prices spanning ₹11.66 lakh to ₹14.40 lakh (ex-showroom).
4. Hyundai Creta: The Segment Leader
As arguably the most popular SUV in the country, the Hyundai Creta offers the panoramic sunroof across a wide range of its variants. These include the EX (O), S (O), S (O) Knight, SX, SX Tech, SX Premium, SX (O), King, and King Knight trims, priced between ₹12.52 lakh and ₹20.20 lakh (ex-showroom).
5. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara: The Hybrid Contender
The recently launched Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara offers its panoramic sunroof in the ZXi (O) and ZXi+ (O) variants. Customers can choose between petrol and petrol-hybrid powertrains in these trims, which are priced from ₹14.08 lakh to ₹19.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
6. Tata Safari: The Robust New Entrant
The new-generation Tata Safari makes a strong statement with a large panoramic sunroof. It is available in the Pure +, Adventure, Adventure +, Accomplished, and Accomplished + variants. The starting price for a Safari equipped with this feature is ₹14.49 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards.
A New Era of Car Buying in India
The transition from a pure focus on running costs to an appreciation for in-cabin experience marks a mature phase in the Indian automotive market. The panoramic sunroof symbolizes this shift, representing a desire for openness, luxury, and a connection with the environment. As the list above demonstrates, this once-niche feature is now democratically available across a spectrum of popular and value-for-money SUV models, empowering more buyers to experience a touch of premium motoring.
