In August last year, reports were suggesting that Skoda has plans to phase out its last remaining D-segment sedans in India. And now it seems the day has finally arrived for Skoda India. As per the company’s website, Octavia has been removed. This pretty much indicates that the sedan has been axed from the Indian market.
Skoda Octavia Key Highlights
The fourth-gen Octavia came with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol engine. This motor made 190 HP and 320 Nm and came equipped with a seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox. This is the same engine and gearbox combo that does the duty in the Superb premium sedan as well as the Kodiaq premium SUV.
The Skoda Octavia is one of the many victims of the BS6 Phase 2 emission norms. This came into effect on April 1, 2023. Earlier reports were claiming that Octavia’s EA888 evo3 DQ381-7F drivetrain did not comply with the new regulations. Another option for Skoda was to replace it with the evo4. But this was not financially viable, and hence Skoda decided to pull the plug on the Octavia.
Skoda Superb Too Might Receive A Similar Treatment
Sadly enough, the Skoda Superb too uses the same powertrain. And this is too expected to be phased out as well. But interestingly enough, Skoda is yet to delist it from its official website. As we understand, the Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan will get the upgraded powertrain to comply with the RDE norms. Both SUVs will now equip the EA888 evo4 DQ381-7A drivetrain developed by Audi AG.
Demand For Sedans On The Decline As SUVs Numbers Rise
Given the rising demand for SUVs in the market, carmakers are not very interested in investing big in the sedan segment. More so for D-segment sedans, which are a rare breed now. With more SUVs on the roads, the number of sedans on the road is decreasing dramatically.
Also Read: E20-compliant Skoda Kushaq & Volkswagen Taigun hit the streets.
