6 Obsolete Cars In India That Desperately Need An Update

” You either die a hero or live long enough to watch yourself become the villain” – Harvey Dent

No, we are not going to talk about the caped crusader or the maniac he was trying to nab in one of the most amazing movies of all time but this article is about those cars that desperately needs a generation update before it becomes the Joker in the market.

PS: There is going to be a lot of sarcasm, so buckle up.

Note to all the aggressive keyboard warriors: We are not telling the cars are bad, NO. Just that a generation update is long due and we definitely do not like the step-motherly treatment given to Indians in some of these cases. No matter how good they are, the excitement levels are like :

Right, with that clear, let’s start off with the list of some greatly obsolete cars in India.

1. Volkswagen Polo

   To give you a clear picture, this is what Volkswagen has given India ever since we got Independence

   

   While this is what the Polo looks like in all the other parts of the world:

   

   

   The Volkswagen Polo joins the list of obsolete cars in India, claiming the top spot. And please don’t start by telling us the design of the India spec Polo is timeless, maybe VW heard that. The Polo we have in India is not old, it is vintage when compared to the one in International markets. It is at least 2-3 generations behind and badly needs an update at least in terms of design. We understand the issue of keeping the costs under check especially if the entire new model is brought via the CBU(Completely Built-Up) route but we believe the manufacturing unit in Pune, India is capable of assembling the newer generation too with just some minor tweaks in the assembly line and some training to the folks at the plant. It may not be that simple as well but it’s not bad to try, especially when it looks that good. Yet, people in India are buying it because it is still, fun to drive a car which also happens to be very safe.

2. Kia Carnival

   The step-motherly treatment extends to the Korean manufacturer as well. This is what we get in India:

   

   

   It looks good and very sophisticated on the interior right? Wrong, look at the Carnival everywhere else:

   

   

   Of course, we agree that the Kia Carnival is still the best luxury MPV considering that budget, as the other Luxury MPVs cost more than double the cost of the Carnival. But that being said, it still is not the latest version from the Korean manufacturer. The newly updated Kia Carnival looks more mature and on the inside, it feels more than a generation ahead. The feature list on the international spec Carnival includes, the front console angled towards the driver and hosts a Digital Touchscreen Infotainment System with all the modern connectivity features, a Digital Driver’s Instrument Cluster, Premium Upholstery, Powered Seats, Heated and Ventilated Second Row Seat, Reclining Function from the Driver’s Screen, Steering Wheel with Controls, Automatic Climate Control, Premium Audio System, Dual Sunroof and more.

   Get your car serviced at GoMechanic

3. Maruti Suzuki Alto

   

   The Alto definitely claims a good spot in the list of obsolete cars in India. There might be a difference in opinion on this particular comment but I believe that the Alto is a better entry-level car than the Spresso can ever hope to be. Alto has become a household name, not only because of its initial asking price being low but it is also cheaper to maintain and if maintained well, it does last long. This explains why Alto has very good resale value too.

   As good as it is, we would still like to see it go through an update that makes it safer than the Spresso which got a 0-star rating. And in the process, if Maruti could bring back the peppy 1000cc engine, along with the existing 800cc, it will definitely garner more sales which keep the companies interests also in check. No matter how many Micro-SUVs come along, it still can’t beat the sales, the low-cost maintenance and the peace of mind that a small car offers to people in the lower middle class and in the rural sector.

4. Honda Jazz

   

   The last actual update for Honda Jazz was in the year 2015. One of the prime examples of obsolete cars in India. This was when Virendar Sehwag announced his retirement from Cricket. Now you can relate to how long ago that was right. Ever since then, Honda has thrown only cosmetic updates to the Jazz by giving a new touchscreen infotainment system, sunroof, Android Auto, Apple Carplay, etc. while at the same time removing an awesome feature which was the magic seats, and that definitely is a disappointment.

   The Honda Jazz for India was supposed to get a generation update last year instead after the BS6 switch the company continued the car with a mild facelift. While the Jazz is still the swanky, different looking hatchback with the most spacious interiors and a potent VTEC engine, we would still like to see an actual update rather than another facelift that we could have lived without. In the International markets, this car is sold with a completely new design and the powertrain options are also quite different.

5. Renault Duster

   

   I swear, if you remove just the headlight and taillight section of the car, it looks very much similar to the 1st gen that was introduced way back in July 2012. We must keep in mind that this is the product that kick-started the Compact SUV segment and was ruling it for many years. The performance, rugged and sturdy-feeling of the vehicle paired with an utterly brilliant suspension setup made sure this car was a runaway success and it could literally run in any kind of terrain. The Duster’s suspension was known as a ‘Magic Carpet’ because that is how smooth it used to handle the rough patches of roads and yet stay planted at aggressive highway runs.

   A proper design update keeping its SUV-ish looks and definitely retain the suspension, while bringing along a BS6 compliant Diesel engine will be a sure shot success for Renault. As of now, the consumers in India are looking at many Pseudo-SUVs that cannot handle broken asphalt at all. SUVs and petrol engines are a bad combination in itself to start with, as in an SUV considering its dimensions and weight, you should be looking for a bull (Diesel engine), that pulls the load rather than a horse (Petrol engine) that makes you go fast. If you need to go fast, you need to look for a sedan or a hatchback, not an SUV.

6. Ford Ecosport

   

   The Ford Ecosport stands eligible on the list of obsolete cars. The EcoSport was first launched in India in 2012 and it turned a lot of heads with its quirky design and very compact dimensions. The handling prowess of this machine is famous even to this day. But the glory ends there. Although the power train options and the mechanicals are still good for some more years to come, the design however has started to show its age. This is even more evident with the arrival of stylish SUVs like the Sonet, Kiger, XUV300, Venue, Brezza, etc.

   The Ecosport, if given a proper aesthetic and design update, will definitely influence the Indian market as it has a very good engine and transmission options to choose from and it already has the handling kit to crush its competition. But with Ford’s future in India being uncertain, we are not very hopeful about the update and still, we keep our fingers crossed. Food for thought: American manufacturers usually don’t do well in India do they?