When we look at the sales figures, it’s clearly evident that SUVs are dominating the Indian automobile industry with over 51 percent market share. On the other side, the sedan segment has been witnessing a constant sales decline despite having options like Hyundai Verna, Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Virtus, Honda City, Honda Amaze, and Maruti Dzire and Ciaz. In order to revive the sedan segment, OEMs such as Maruti Suzuki, Honda, and Skoda will introduce three new models by the end of this year. Let’s take a look at key details of the upcoming new sedan models.
Upcoming New Sedans in 2024
New-Gen Maruti Dzire
After the Swift, the Indo-Japanese automaker will give a generational change to its top-selling Dzire compact sedan. Its official launch date is yet to be announced, though the all-new Dzire is likely to go on sale during the 2024 Diwali season. Major changes will be made to its exterior and interior that will align with the new Swift.
The compact sedan will have different styling from its hatchback sibling, featuring redesigned front and rear bumpers, headlamps, and alloy wheels. Similar to the new Swift, the 2024 Maruti Dzire will have a Fronx-inspired interior layout with features such as a single-pane sunroof (first-in-segment) and a 360-degree camera. For power, the new Dzire will use the new 1.2L, 3-cylinder Z-Series petrol engine with both manual and AMT gearboxes.
New-Gen Honda Amaze
The Honda Amaze is the smallest sedan offering from the Japanese automaker in India. The model is now ready to enter its third generation during this year’s festive season. The 2024 Honda Amaze will share its platform with the Elevate and derive its design inspiration from the global-spec Accord. The interior might also witness a few significant upgrades, inspired by the Elevate.
The sedan’s new-gen model could be offered with a larger, free-standing touchscreen infotainment system and new upholstery. The all-new Amaze is likely to use the same 1.2L, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that powers the current generation. The motor delivers a peak power of 90bhp and 110Nm of torque. Transmission choices will include a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic. There will be no diesel engine on offer.
Skoda Slavia Facelift
The Skoda Slavia has been on sale in India for two years, and now, as part of the brand’s India 2.0 strategy, the mid-size sedan will soon receive a number of updates. In fact, its testing has already started, and we have seen the model with heavy camouflage. With this update, the 2024 Skoda Slavia will receive Level 2 ADAS (autonomous driver assistance system) along with Skoda’s other MQB A0-IN platform-based models. The sedan will also come with a 360-degree camera.
Minimal changes are expected to be made to its design. The new Slavia facelift is likely to use the existing 1.0L, 3-cylinder TSI petrol (115bhp/175Nm) and 1.5L, 4-cylinder TSI petrol (150bhp/250Nm) engines. Transmissions will also be carried forward from the current model – i.e., a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed torque converter automatic, and a 7-speed DCT automatic.
