BACK IN BLACK

Delayed due to the pandemic and then the second wave, the fourth-gen Octavia is finally here. And the question we need to ask is whether it can temper our craze for SUVs

- SIRISH CHANDRAN

THE PICTURE YOU’RE LOOKING AT doesn’t make any sense. Octavia and Tucson? As far as weirdly off-beat comparison tests go, this is pushing one’s creative license. But grab a coffee and settle down, because this is exactly the challenge the new Octy faces. You see, there is no straightforward rival to the Octavia! Sure there is the Elantra but truth is this segment of cars have been all but wiped out under the onslaught of SUVs. Honda has canned the Civic. The Jetta has with drawn three years ago. Even Maruti and Toyota decided it wasn’t worth the effort of slapping on a Suzuki badge on the Corolla Altis and selling it from Nexa showrooms.

This fourth-generation Octavia has a heavy cross to bear. It needs to make the car relevant once again. And to find out if it can, we’ve brought along what we consider to be the best SUV in this price bracket — the Hyundai Tucson — which also matches the Octy on size, space, comfort and dynamic polish. But first, let’s go for a drive in the new Octy.

THE BURDEN OF EXPECTATION