The premium sedan segment of the Indian automotive market has come to a grinding halt. With the continued infatuation with SUVs here in India, cars such as the Skoda Superb and Honda Accord have taken a heavy hit in sales. Honda even pulled out of such segments a few years ago to concentrate its resources on the budget segments of the Indian car market. Although many consider this segment to be high risk-low gain segment of the industry, manufacturers such as Toyota and VW continue to press on. We pit the recently launched 2015 Toyota Camry against the upcoming facelifted VW Passat and see whether the Japanese manufacturer can repair its position in the premium sedan segment.
Design:
2015 Toyota Camry:
The Toyota Camry was never recognized for its impressive styling. While the previous generation strove to enhance the sedan’s visual appeal with sharp angles and a bit of chrome, most of the design elements seemed more of an after-thought rather than an integral part of the car’s development stages. For the 2015 model, Toyota has revamped the majority of the car’s cosmetic traits. While the previous generation Toyota Camry was designed to carry a sophisticated, business-like character, the 2015 facelift adds a bit of sporty appeal.
For the 2015 facelift, he Japanese car manufacturer has ditched the straight angled design language for a more organic approach reminiscent of the autogiant’s cars of yesteryear. As such, the 2015 Toyota Camry now manages to hold a stronger road presence than its predecessors.
2016 VW Passat:
Volkswagen continues its minimalist design philosophy with the new Passat. Despite the large amounts of chrome up front and dual exhaust tips, the 2016 VW Passat exudes an aura of understated elegance. While VW’s design language has matured over the years, its current crop of cars for the Indian car market lacks a bit of charm. The design of the new Passat continues this trend with the shell of the sedan painting a somber feel.
Interior:
2015 Toyota Camry:
The interior of the next generation Toyota Camry fails to grab the same level of attention as its exterior. Toyota’s new Camry dons a conventional beige and black interior with lackluster detailing. Passengers are greeted by a black and beige dashboard. While the Camry’s competitors have opted for an all touch interface for their infotainment system, Toyota has stuck to the conventional physical interface. As a result, the new Camry’s interiors feel dated and a bit too crowded. Drivers may feel the steering wheel may be slightly overloaded with controls as well.
2016 VW Passat:
The 2016 VW Passat blends subtlety and elegance in a manner rivaled only by that of the Skoda Superb. Despite form following function, the Passat manages to execute its minimalist interior with a bit of panache, a trait lacking in the sedan’s exterior.The 2016 VW Passat also comes with an all digital high resolution monitor that provides vital data such as speed and rev count as well as useful information like GPS navigation routes.
Under The Hood:
2015 Toyota Camry:
For the Indian market, Toyota offers the new Camry with traditional petrol as well as hybrid drivetrains. The petrol powered variant of the 2015 Toyota Camry houses a 2.5 l four cylinder mill that churns out 178 hp @ 6000 RPM and a peak torque of 233 Nm @ 4100 RPM. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six speed automatic gearbox.
The hybrid model makes use of the same 2.5 l inline 4 cylinder petrol unit that works in tandem with a permanently running electric motor that produces a total of 200 horses. The hybrid setup makes use of a CVT gearbox to transmit the power.
2016 VW Passat:
The 2016 VW Passat is offered in both petrol and diesel overseas. For the Indian market however, prospective buyers may only have a choice of a sole diesel motor. The India-bound VW Passat will likely be powered by a 2.0 l four cylinder engine that puts out 240 hp.
Verdict:
Although Toyota reigned supreme back in the early 2000’s, the car maker’s popularity has been on the steady decline. The arrival of luxury car makers such as Mercedes Benz and Audi into the same price bracket as the Camry and Passat have increased the competition. We have to wait and see how the market reacts.