As driving enthusiasts we love our sedans, but SUVs have become so popular today, everyone wants one, across segments and price brackets! The ever-increasing demand for SUVs also explains the decline in sedan sales, despite multiple new sedans getting launched over the past two years. There was a time when a sedan, especially a midsize one was looked upon as a status symbol, which is besides the fact that petrolheads have always liked the idea of a sedan for its sportiness, especially with the low slung stance. However, while overall sedan sales are on the decline, across price brackets, the Volkswagen Virtus is turning out to be a unicorn of sorts.
The made in India, for India sedan from the German car maker’s stables has been bucking the trend. In fact the Volkswagen Virtus is the only car in its segment to witness a growth in sales numbers over the past year. There was a time when the midsize sedan segment was more than just one that was associated with prestige, as it also boasted some of the highest volumes as far as monthly sales are concerned. Even today the midsize sedan segment is one of the most crowded ones and includes names like the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and Skoda Slavia, all of which are hugely popular. That said, all the above models have witnessed a drop in sales over the past year.
Hyundai sold 11,364 units of the Verna in July 2024, as compared to 19,344 units last July. The Honda City, which was the best-selling car in its segment for the longest time managed to clock 7,117 units last month, which is significant drop from its 13,122 units in July last year. The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz on other hand managed 7,193 units in July last year which dropped to 4,206 units this July, possibly also due to the fact that the Ciaz is the oldest model in its segment currently and is due for a refresh now. The Skoda Slavia, effectively a cousin of the Virtus and a car that shares its platform and powertrains with the Volkswagen has also seen a dip in sales numbers, as it has gone down from 10,835 units in July ‘23 to 8,443 units this July.
In comparison, Volkswagen India moved 11,572 units of the Virtus last month, up from the 11,395 units it sold in July 2023, making it the only car in its segment to boast an upward sales graph. This is also in addition to the fact that the Volkswagen Virtus was effectively the highest selling sedan in the country last month. Besides the timely updates to the trims it is offered in, the Virtus also seems to benefit from the fact that it scored full five stars in the Global NCAP safety tests, which is helping it find favour with buyers as well.
