KATANA VS KIDNEY

When a Japanese hybrid flexes comfort and a German flexes its badge, sparks are bound to fly

- By Yash Sunil Photographs Kaizad Adil Darukhanawala

Onetime allies (or axes?) Japan and Germany have geared up for a battle with their sedans. As strange as it sounds in 2025, this segment of premium sedans has all but vanished. Back in the early 2000s, cars like the Skoda Superb, the Hyundai Sonata, the Honda Accord, and the Toyota Camry were all the rage. Today, only one torchbearer remains — the Toyota Camry. On the other hand, a new breed of entry-level luxury sedans is now emerging, causing a bit of a conundrum.

The Camry’s legacy is built on a simple promise. It launched globally in 1982, and while it never became a blockbuster in India after its 2002 CBU arrival, it didn’t need to. It was a car that simply worked, earning a bulletproof reputation for its comfort and reliability. The real genius, though, was its 2013 transformation into the Camry Hybrid, India’s first-ever locally manufactured one. That savvy pivot didn’t just give it green credentials; it gave it the edge to survive the SUV wave that took out its competitors, securing its throne as the last premium sedan standing.

And then came the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, ready to play an entirely different game. This wasn’t a car built on history or heritage; With its sporty roofline, frameless doors, and that magnetic BMW badge, it spoke directly to younger buyers, offering the coveted German prestige without the bigger price tag of a 3 Series. In a market saturated with SUVs, it was a jolt that proved that the entry-level luxury sedan still had a place.