Premium Affair

There’s a breath of fresh air in a segment that’s been almost stagnant for a while. Can the Civic rise to the throne against the global giants?

- Agasti Kaulgi

SUVs seem to be stealing the thunder from these premium sedans for a while now. Though, globally, the likes of the Corolla and the Civic have done wonders for their respective companies, they’ve failed rather badly in the Indian continent. Yeah, there’s a good reason why one should think that SUVs are more practical in our conditions. For one, we love carrying people and their luggage and SUVs do allow more room and second, given the condition of our roads, you don’t need Einstein-like IQ to know that SUVs do offer more ruggedness and peace of mind on broken roads.But there’s a lot that executive sedans bring to the table too. Comfort, ease of driving and a fair bit of sophistication are a few things from the list. The Corolla has ruled the segment for over a decade now and it’s been the undisputed king with the sort of kit it offers and the reliability it brings along with it. Skoda disrupted that and made a little dent in Toyota’s character with the driving pleasure and sharp dynamics it offers. Its appeals to the growing breed of young achievers in India. The Elantra too made a mark for itself with the sort of design and features it offers to its buyers, but Hyundai has been almost quiet about it after bringing the new generation in 2016.