Top News

The Indian car market may be obsessed with SUVs right now- the primary reasons being their high ground clearance, upright stance and practicality. But that does not mean sedans are going away. The (mid-size) sedan segment in India has just a handful of players- the Hyundai Verna, Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Virtus and the Honda City. All these are set to get facelifts this year. The Verna, in fact, got its mid-life update in March. Here is a closer look at the other three sedan facelifts expected this year.

Skoda first launched the Slavia in India in 2022. It played a key role in the success of Skoda’s India 2.0 strategy, selling well alongside the Kushaq. Now, a facelift is being readied, which is expected to bring significant restyling, more features and a new 8-speed automatic transmission to the sedan.

The facelift will come with a revised front profile. It will likely get a new grille, just like the new Kushaq. The front and rear bumpers will also be new. Both ends are also likely to get connected LED lights. A new set of wheels are also expected. Like the Kushaq facelift, the sedan is also expected to skip out on ADAS. No Lidar or camera module can be seen in spy shots.

Another expected area of change is the colour palette. The outgoing sedan is available in a wide range of colour options- both monotones and dual tones. The facelift is expected to rejig the mix. We may also see some new shades being added.

Inside, the facelifted Slavia is expected to get slight revisions in colours and trims. In terms of features, the new Slavia is expected to get a new, larger, 10-25 digital instrument cluster with a more upmarket interface and better display quality. The previous model used to come with an 8-inch unit. The infotainment system could also get an upgrade. It will likely get an updated user interface. It is unclear if Skoda will give the updated sedan rear seat massaging function, like it did with the Kushaq.

The engine options are expected to remain the same on the facelift as well- 1.0L turbocharged petrol (113hp and 178Nm) and 1.5turbo-petrol (148hp and 250Nm). The smaller engine will get a new 8-speed torque converter automatic in place of the previous six-speed torque converter. This transmission, internally called the AQ300, will be sourced from AISIN. The 1.5 turbo-petrol will be mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission alone.

The Virtus has long been leading the game in the mid-size sedan segment. In many months, it has sold more numbers than the Verna and Slavia. The Virtus too was first launched in 2022 and is also expecting a mid-life update this year. The facelift has already been spied testing. It will get several cosmetic upgrades.

The front fascia will look significantly different from the one on the outgoing model. It will get a redesigned grille, updated headlamps, refreshed bumpers and more. The tail lamps are expected to get sleeker and the car will get new wheels as well. The colour options will likely be rejigged as well.

The interior design is expected to remain similar to that of the outgoing model. Like the Slavia facelift, the updated Virtus will also get a larger instrument cluster, a better touchscreen, ventilated seats and other features. We may also see the new model getting a panoramic sunroof.

The two engine options- 1.0L turbo-petrol making 113hp and 178Nm, and 1.5L turbo-petrol producing 148hp and 250Nm- will continue. The smaller engine will see the addition of the new AISIN-sourced 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission. This gearbox is expected to make the drive smoother and bring about an increase in overall fuel efficiency. The 1.5 turbo-petrol will come with seven-speed DSG alone.

Source: X/ Akbar Merchant

The third one in this list is the Honda City facelift. Honda launched the fifth-generation City in 2020. It is set to get an update this year. Changes on the facelift will be mostly cosmetic.

Set to launch on May 22, 2026the facelifted City will retain the overall silhouette. There will, however, be changes in details. We expect the front fascia to get notable changes- updated headlamps, tweaked nose, and a restyled grille. The front and rear bumper will also be revised.

Inside, the City facelift will have features like electric adjustment for the front seats, ventilated front seats, a digital instrument cluster, a large touchscreen with a better user interface, more level 2 ADAS features, automatic climate control, 360-degree camera, electric sunroof, and more.

There will be no change in the mechanical specifications. The facelift will continue to be powered by the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes 119hp and 145Nm. It is offered with either a manual or a CVT automatic transmission. On the same day, Honda will also launch a corresponding update on the City e:HEV hybrid version. The strong hybrid powertrain of this car makes 124hp and 253 Nm and comes mated to an e-CVT transmission.