Everyone’s obsessed with SUVs—big, bulky, and ‘premium’. But are hatchbacks truly dead, or are we just ignoring the most sensible cars on the road? In this podcast video, we break down the reality of car buying in 2025 India: Why hatchbacks still matter, who they’re best for, and which models you should actually consider.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, looking for a second car for the family, or just want something compact for city runs—this is the video you need to watch.

We cover:

• Hatchback vs SUV: Real cost, practicality & purpose

• The best hatchbacks for every budget (including EVs!)

• Hatchbacks to avoid in 2025

• Why India was a hatchback nation—and what changed.

Watch all the above details in Episode 4 of Which Car Should I Buy? With Siddharth Vinayak Patankar.

Welcome to Episode 3 of Which Car Should I Buy? With Siddharth Vinayak Patankar. In this episode of the podcast we discuss car crash safety ratings and get into the details of how cars are crash tested. India’s automotive safety landscape has rapidly evolved, with five-star crash-rated cars becoming increasingly common. But are Bharat NCAP ratings truly robust and reliable? In this insightful discussion, David Ward—founding figure behind Global NCAP—dives deep into the progress made in vehicle safety, the rise of Bharat NCAP, and the challenges that lie ahead. The conversation explores whether current crash testing protocols are stringent enough, how they compare to global benchmarks like Euro NCAP, and the risks of complacency or voluntary under-reporting. With India’s car buyers growing more safety-conscious, this video asks the critical questions: Are these crash ratings transparent? Is Bharat NCAP keeping pace with global best practices? And should crash test protocols evolve more frequently to prevent all cars from scoring the same? A must-watch for anyone interested in car safety, policy evolution, and the future of safer vehicles in India.Mandatory labelling of crash testing of cars will push manufacturers to undergo NCAP testing and will also improve consumer knowledge about safety. Catch all the above details and more in our latest podcast video.

In the car world special editions have been the easiest way to push sales and are the marketing team’s most overused tactic. Over the years we have seen many interesting special editions, which actually meant something. For example the Fiat Palio S10, which was dedicated to the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar or the Maruti Suzuki Zen Carbon & Steel Editions, which were 3-door hot hatches. But then manufacturers lost their way and started randomly creating special editions in a hope of clearing inventory and not actually creating something special. However, there are some manufacturers which have hit gold with special editions and right at the top is Tata Motors, which has a plethora of special/limited edition models across its portfolio. In this podcast video, Siddharth Vinayak Patankar talks about why the limited editions are created, the reasoning behind them and some of the hilarious special editions to hit the Indian roads, and more importantly do they make sense?

SUVs are some of the best sellers in the Indian automotive market, accounting for more than 50 percent of total sales. But there is a lot of confusion about which one to buy, with consumers wondering what suits their needs. It's a confusing market segment, but Siddharth Vinayak Patankar breaks down all the options for you. What are the types of SUVs? How much should you be paying? All these answers, plus of course some trivia for you too! So buckle up, as he gives you a quick course to help you start deciding – Which Car Should I Buy!