The D-sedan segment in India, once the stepping stone into the world of luxury, is at the verge of extinction. Two cars that are awfully close to their end is the Honda Accord and VW Passat. According to the SIAM dispatch figures, VW India did not ship even a single unit of its premium sedan to dealers since July 2019 but the vehicle is still listed on the official website.

Similarly, Honda Accord too has sold 0 units for more a long time. Accord sales in 2018 were 0 units, and for 2019, till Sep as well, Honda Accord sales have been 0 units. But officially, Honda Cars India has not confirmed if the sedan is discontinued or not. Accord continues to be on company's official website, at a listed price of Rs 43.21 lakhs, ex-sh.

Does this indicates that once the dealers deplete the limited stock they are left with, sales will come to an official end? No official update has been released by either Honda India or VW India on the same. Below are sales numbers for 2019 of D-sedan segment in India.

While the Passat is still one of the most important models for the automaker in European market, we doubt its reintroduction in India in facelifted avatar. It's rivals, the Toyota Camry and Skoda Superb, aren't fairing much better either. We fear that the entire segment would vanish in about a year's time. Will the BS-VI emission regulations spell the doom?

So, if you are one of those very few people who are immune to the SUV fever and is in the market for a premium automobile, it is worth checking if your local VW dealer has the Passat in stock. If you manage to find one, chances of hefty dealer-level cash discount are very high.

The VW Passat which is currently in its eighth generation globally comes equipped with an array of premium features such as LED headlamps with cornering lights, electric sunroof, a comprehensive touchscreen infotainment system with 8-speaker audio system, Nappa leather upholstery, 9 airbags, three-zone automatic climate control, powered front seats with massage function, automatic parking system, Dynamic Chassis Control, 360-degree view, Easy Open/Easy Close boot, and so on.

So, the Passat scores high on value-for-money quotient, especially after the discounts. As of now, the official retail prices range from Rs 25.99 lakh to Rs 33.21 lakh (ex-showroom).

Available in four trim levels, the VW Passat employs a 2.0-liter TDI turbo-diesel engine which is tuned to deliver 177 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 6-speed DSG. The proven mile-muncher returns an impressive ARAI certified mileage of 17.42 kmpl.

VW India's product pipeline primarily has crossovers and a possible Vento replacement. The company also hinted that it could introduce next-gen Polo hatchback after the MQB A0 IN platform is localized.