Cars are broadly classified into sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs. And then there are crossovers. The term is often used interchangeably with SUVs but crossovers come with some differences. As the name suggests, these vehicles cross the traits of different styles of cars. They look a lot like SUVs, have higher ground clearance, and are capable of some bit of off-roading. But these cars have a single uni-body structure, making them lighter and more fuel-efficient. Plus, they offer more comfort than traditional SUVs.
A good combo?
With a crossover, you get the best of an SUV and a hatchback. Some crossovers went on to become very popular in India but not all had a smooth ride. Here are some good crossover cars that were discontinued in the country.
German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen introduced the Cross Polo in India in 2013. The vehicle was a sportier version of the hatchback Polo wrapped in plastic cladding.
The Cross was a bit more rugged than the hatchback – 17mm longer, 16mm wider, and 21mm taller. This variant also had roof rails and the same ground clearance as the regular Polo.
The Cross Polo did not win too many hearts in India and was subsequently discontinued in 2015.
Renault pegged the Captur as a “premium SUV with Crossover DNA”. The car didn't look like a typical SUV but more like a traditional crossover utility vehicle.
The Captur had a ground clearance of 210mm and came in two variants – 1.5-litre petrol and diesel. The first produced 106HP with 142Nm torque, and the latter had 110HP and 240Nm torque. Priced at anywhere between ₹9.49 lakh to ₹14.05 lakh, it was competing with the mid-sized SUV segment. However, it didn't catch on and was discontinued in 2020.
The TATA Aria was a bit unusual. This seven-seated crossover was created as a combination of an MPV, SUV, and a sedan.
The Aria was introduced with the ambition to take on Mahindra's XUV500. It was equipped with a 2.2-litre common-rail diesel engine that produced 150HP and 320Nm of torque. First launched in 2010, it got a bit of a makeover four years later. That did not change the fate of the car.
The Aria was one of the oldest crossovers in India, but unlike other TATA vehicles failed to make an impression. The company discontinued it in 2017 because of poor performance.
A lost race
After Toyota Etios Liva found many takers, the Japanese automaker decided to take things up a notch. It introduced the Toyota Etios Cross which came with bigger bumpers than its counterpart – the popular hatchback. It had a heavy body kit and robust plastic cladding. With sports alloys and some silver touches, the idea was to give the Etios Cross a rough-and-tough look. However, the Etios Cross seemed outdated in a modern market even though it was 120mm longer, 45mm taller, and 40mm wider than the standard Etios.
The Cross failed to make its mark and was discontinued in 2020.
The Avventura was inspired by Punto and had everything going on for it. It was taller, wider, and longer than the Punto and had a mounted spare tire on the rear tailgate.
The car was well-built and was a competent crossover. However, the poor after-sales service by Fiat and negative sentiment surrounding the company made sure that Avventura never became successful.
Fiat subsequently discontinued Avventura in 2019.
