10 Good Sedans That Died An Untimely Death In The Last Decade [Part 2]

A sedan, also called a saloon, is a three-box passenger car with compartments for the engine, passengers, and luggage. Despite being better value for money, this segment of the car does not sell as well as other sectors. Definitely more so than the best-selling SUVs. In terms of passenger cars, the sedan is by far the least popular. This means that sedans make up the majority of the vehicles that have been phased out over the last ten years. So, let’s take a look at some more sedans that were popular in the previous decade but are now discontinued.

1. Maruti Suzuki SX4
   

   

   One of the vehicles in India that was revered as a driver’s car was the Maruti Suzuki SX4. This car was first introduced by the firm in 2007. It was an instant success story thanks to its luxury appearance and elegant interiors. The ride quality on the SX4 was incredible. It was powered by a 1.6-litre VVT DOHC petrol engine that produced 104 horsepower and 145 Newton metres of torque.

   Here are the 10 Forgotten Maruti Suzuki Cars In India: From SX4 To Stingray

   However, as diesel engines became more common in the sector, the SX4 began to lose its market exclusivity. In 2011, Maruti Suzuki attempted to resurrect the SX4 by launching a 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine. It was capable of producing 88hp and 200Nm of torque. But by the time SX4 got this oil burner, it was too late. In 2014, the sedan was phased out.

2. Tata Indigo
   

   

   In 2002, the Tata Indigo was introduced. Anyone would have been perplexed at first glance. The Tata Indica, Tata’s successful prodigy, provided the base for this sedan from the company. When viewed from the side or back, though, things become more fascinating.  It was a very attractive but quirky looking automobile. The automobile appeared to be proportionate, not like an Indica that was forced to tote a boot about. The design components, on the other hand, were not overly altered.

   More about The Tata Indigo: When Tata Made a Sedan For India

   It was a simple yet attractive four-wheeler. The Indigo received an improvement to its engine as well. The Indica used a 55hp 1.4-litre diesel engine, whereas the Indigo got a turbocharged version of the same engine. It produced 68hp. The automobile was also launched with a petrol engine to meet demand. This 1.2-Litre petrol engine also produced 68hp.

3. Ford Fiesta
   

   

   Ford Fiesta was known over the world for its hatchback body. However, Ford decided to offer Fiesta in this segment due to the growing popularity of sedans. The Fiesta sedan was a huge hit on the market and a huge seller. With the Fiesta, Ford offers three powertrain options. A high-performance 1.6-litre Duratec petrol engine (99.8hp and 146Nm peak torque). And a highly refined 1.4-litre Duratorq engine (160Nm peak torque), and a high-value 1.4-litre Duratec Petrol engine (80hp of power).

   More about Ford Fiesta & Why Ford Should Bring It Back!

   Later considering the previous adequate sales, the company launched the next generation of the Fiesta in India in 2011. Later in 2014 due to low sales the company still launched a facelift. Nevertheless, this year was apparently the last year for vehicles in India.

4. Chevrolet Cruze
   

   

   Chevrolet was an American automaker that made a few good automobiles in India before going out of business and closing down. The Chevrolet Cruze Type-1, often known as the Diesel Pocket Rocket, is one such vehicle. Chevrolet brought the Cruze to India in 2009 to rival the likes of Toyota Corolla, Skoda Octavia, Hond Civic and others. Under the hood, the car came with a bonkers of an engine. The Cruze was able to be the most powerful diesel sedan in the segment because of this big engine.

   Interesting Read: Remembering The Chevrolet Cruze Type-1: The Diesel Rocket!

   This portable rocket could accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 9.8 seconds. Later, in 2012, the engine was modified to produce additional power and torque. The same engine produced 163 hp and 380 Nm  The transmission was also updated to a 6-speed manual transmission. In 2017, as Chevrolet exits the Indian automobile market, so did this D-segment sedan.

5. Hyundai Accent
   

   

   The c-segment sedan Hyundai Accent was among the first cars to enter the then-new Indian automobile market. In 1999, the Hyundai Accent arrived in India promising a lot. The car had the most up-to-date features and was regarded as an all-around flawless combination. The car was noted for not only transporting people but also for being ideal on twisty roads. The automobile has excellent vehicle dynamics. This is why the automobile gleams.

   Informative: Hyundai Accent | A Take on the Esteem

   Even under the hood, it came with a set of powerful engines that. A 1.5-litre SOHC engine with 96 Hp and 134 Nm of peak torque. The Hyundai Accent was also available with a 1.6-litre DOHC petrol engine that produced 106 horsepower and 144 Nm of peak torque. There was also a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine that produced 86 horsepower and 186 Nm of peak torque. Later in 2013, Hyundai pulled the plug on this vehicle due to a decline in sales.

6. Skoda Laura
   

   

   In India, the Laura has been on sale since 2005, when it replaced the first-generation Octavia, and it received a major redesign in 2009. Back then, the Skoda Laura was only available with a diesel engine. Nevertheless, the engine was fairly powerful and offered a choice of two gearboxes, a manual as well as an automatic.

   Interesting Read: Skoda Laura vRS | A Fast & Practical Skoda From 2011

   Laura under the hood came with a 1.8-litre diesel motor that was capable of generating a sincere 105hp and 250Nm of peak torque. That said, back when it was new, the car came with the best features of the time and offered a luxurious cabin. After multiple facelifts and a generation change, it was discontinued in 2015.

7. Hyundai Sonata
   

   

   In 2001, Hyundai released the first generation Sonata. At the time, foreign players had begun to introduce new and more modern models. The customer base was gradually growing. The Hyundai Sonata was never a poor car. Rather it was designed to stand out from the crowd. What most people don’t realise is that in 2001-2002, it actually outperformed its sole competitor, the Honda Accord. The situation was not the same with the subsequent models, though.

   More information about The Hyundai Sonata: The Poor Man’s Mercedes

   The automobile began to lose its elegance and presence. Over the years, Hyundai Sonata has grown in size and also power. The last generation of Hyundai Sonata came with a 2359 cc motor. The engine generated 198 bhp with 250 Nm of torque and came with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. 2015 was the last we could see a brand new Sonata coming out of its showroom.

8. Volkswagen Jetta
   

   

   The Volkswagen Jetta is one of India’s most underappreciated cars, despite offering a luxury package. The Volkswagen Jetta was first introduced in India in 2008, competing with sedans like Laura and Octavia in the lower D-segment. In those days, it offered a premium package with an initial price range of 12.97 to 16.677 lakhs. Vienna leather seats with an electronic lumbar adjust were included in the price. Music could be played through the ten-speaker system with a 6-CD changer.

   More about The Volkswagen Jetta | Before There Was The Virtus

   It has ABS and ESP, as well as eight airbags, for safety. Other features of the Jetta included dual-zone climate control. It came with both petrol and diesel engines, a 1.4-litre TSI intercooler petrol engine producing 120hp and 200Nm of torque. The diesel was a 2.0 TDI engine producing 138 horsepower and 320Nm torque. Both the four-cylinder engines were coupled to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. In 2018, the Volkswagen Jetta was discontinued.

9. Volkswagen Passat
   

   

   In 2007, the Volkswagen Passat was the company’s first vehicle to arrive on the Indian shore. It was available with two engine options a 1.8-litre petrol engine with 158hp and roughly 250Nm of torque. And a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 158hp and around 250Nm of torque. The diesel engine was a 2.0-litre TDI capable of 165 horsepower and 350 Nm of peak torque.

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   At the time, the diesel mill was considered one of the most advanced. That’s not all; the premium car also came with a long list of options. That said, after a decade in 2017, the company gave the vehicle a thorough generation change. Later due to BS6 norms and low sales, the car was discontinued in late 2019.

10. Renault Fluence
    

    

    Before launching one of the country’s selling compact SUVs of the time, Duster, Renault launched its D-segment sedan, the Fluence in India IN 2011. The Renault Fluence was supposed to provide a luxurious ride. But we think consumers were put off by its appearance! Fluence was a resounding failure in India. Renault, on the other hand, chose to launch the facelift in the hopes of increasing sales. But when the facelift was introduced in India, Fluence plummeted even further.

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    Fluence is also one of the many discontinued automobiles in India that are no longer available. The sedan came with a petrol and a diesel engine mated to a manual and an automatic transmission. The car rivalled the likes of Toyota Corolla, Skoda Laura, and other D-segment sedans of the time.

So, these were the other 10 cars that were discontinued in the last decade. Let us know in the comment section below, which among them is your favourite? Also, did we miss any vehicles?