Top 5 Sedans To Buy Before New Emission Norms Kick In From April 2023

- These sedans will be phased out with the coming of new emission norms
- The Honda City 5th gen & Hyunda Verna diesel models will be phased out too
- Coming of new emission norms will make OEMs tighten their car line-up
The second phase of Bharat Stage 6 emission norms will come into effect from April 1, 2023. It is no surprise that it will be more stringent, with the coming of RDE norms or Real Driving Emission norms, that means the emissions and fuel efficiency will have to be more in line with what the vehicle will actually offer in real world conditions and not under standard laboratory conditions.
Also Read: Honda City To Get Minor Updates; Diesel Engine Models To Be Phased Out
In addition to meet the new efficiency norms, manufacturers will likely have to invest significant amount of money into new technology and update the engine line-ups. As it is, engines running on diesel are between far and few, expect that number to go down even further with BS6 phase two. Expect most OEMs to rejig their passenger car line-up significantly, with small size diesel engines likely to be phased out.
But before the new norms come into the picture, we list out the top 5 sedans that are most likely to be phased out after April 1, 2023. If you are in the market, looking for a compact diesel sedan or mid-size sedan, this is the perfect time to go and purchase that sedan. Not only will there be good discounts but expect dealers to bundle up accessories and further benefits with the purchase.
Honda City 4th Gen (2 Petrol variants)
Yes, the fourth-generation Honda City is still on sale albeit only in two variants – SV and V. Both variants get a 1.5-litre petrol engine, coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The current claimed efficiency is around 17.4 kmpl. The SV variant is priced at Rs. 9.49 lakh while the V variant is priced at Rs. 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Honda City 5th Gen Diesel (3 variants)
For now, the fifth-generation Honda City gets a 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine along with a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine. The petrol variant will continue after April 2023, but the i-DTEC will be discontinued. And with a claimed fuel efficiency of 24.1 kmpl, it will be a cost effective option too. The diesel engine comes paired with just a 6-speed manual gearbox. There are three trims on sale – V, VX and ZX. Prices for City 5th gen diesel start at Rs. 13.73 lakh and go up to Rs. 15.52 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Honda is gearing up to launch an updated model of the City very soon, in the coming months.
Hyundai Verna Diesel (5 variants)
The Hyundai Verna has been a steady-selling model for the company in the past. But, with growing affinity for SUVs and the compact sedan market shrinking, it isn’t a hot-seller it used to be. It is perhaps the only compact sedan that comes with an automatic gearbox paired to a diesel engine. There are five Verna diesel variants on sale – S+, SX, SX(AT), SX(O) and SX(O)AT. Prices start at Rs. 11.28 lakh and go up to Rs. 15.73 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Similar to Honda, Hyundai is also planning to launch the new-generation Verna in India soon.
Skoda Octavia
The Skoda Octavia is a fabled, cult sedan, which enthusiasts swore by, right from the time it was launched, till date. It offers solid performance, is loaded with a bunch of features and is a good car to spend time in, whether you are driving or sitting at the rear. The Octavia gets a 2.0-litre TSI engine with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. There are two variants on sale – Style and L&K, with the former priced at Rs. 31.7 lakh and the latter priced at Rs. 35.41 lakh (ex-showroom).
Skoda Superb
The Skoda Superb too has been around for a while and it is now in a segment wherein people are swiftly moving to SUVs. There are two variants on sale - Sportline and L&K. Both are priced at Rs. 39.52 lakh and Rs. 44 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) respectively. The Superb too gets a 2.0-litre TSI engine, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It is loaded with a bunch of features and offers good performance and comfort. It is likely to be phased out before the new emission norms kick in.
Latest News
Jaiveer Mehra | Feb 23, 2026Skoda Kushaq Facelift Production Commences Ahead Of LaunchThe facelifted Kushaq made its global debut last month with deliveries set to commence from March 2026.1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Feb 23, 20262026 Isuzu D-Max Hi-Lander Launched At Rs 21.05 Lakh; Gets Automatic Gearbox Option, More FeaturesThe Hi-Lander continues to only be offered in 4x2 spec, but now packs in similar features as the base-spec V-Cross.1 min read
car&bike Team | Feb 23, 2026KTM Ends Long-Term Partnership With KISKA DesignWith Bajaj Auto now the owner of KTM, the Austrian brand is shifting to in-house design but will still work with KISKA on some projects.1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Feb 22, 20262026 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Gets New Features, Cosmetic Updates; Prices Start From Rs 25.50 LakhUpdates include the addition of a new 10.3-inch touchscreen & 360 degree cameras, among others; no 4x2 option.1 min read
car&bike Team | Feb 21, 2026Norton Atlas Spotted Testing In India Once AgainThe spied model appears to be the base version of the mid-capacity adventure tourer.1 min read
car&bike Team | Feb 21, 20262026 Tata Punch EV Facelift: Variants, Features, Prices ExplainedThe Punch EV facelift is offered in six variants and with two battery pack options. Here is a rundown of what each variant has to offer.1 min read
Girish Karkera | Feb 20, 2026Road Test: 2025 VinFast VF7 AWD Sky InfinityFlagship all-electric SUV from the Vietnamese car maker gets most of the basics right.1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Feb 18, 2026New BMW X3 30 Vs Mercedes-Benz GLC 300: Midsize Luxury SUV FaceoffWith the new X3 30, BMW has a direct competitor to the petrol GLC 300, but which is the luxury SUV for you?1 min read
Jafar Rizvi | Feb 15, 2026Maruti Suzuki Victoris: Long-Term Review - Report 1The Victoris is Maruti’s latest offering for the Indian market, and after spending some time with it, here are a few early impressions.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Feb 12, 2026BMW X3 30 xDrive M Sport Review: The Driver’s SUV ReturnsRange-toppingX3 30 xDrive M Sport brings back the fun with 255bhp and genuine enthusiast appeal. Does this performance-focused SUV stand out?5 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Feb 11, 2026Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe Review: The Goldilocks AMG?The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe is a concoction of hooliganistic performance and everyday usability. Here’s why this Rs 1.5 crore two-door AMG might be the perfect modern sports coupe for India.6 mins read















































































































