Volkswagen Virtus Registers Best Ever Monthly Sales In October 2024: What Makes It So Popular?

There was a day and age when a full size sedan, for most Indian car buyers, started and ended at ‘Honda City’. Every other C-Segment sedan used to play second fiddle to the mighty Honda City. Times, well they’ve changed.

The premier status that the Honda City enjoyed for the good part of nearly 2 decades has been usurped by a German challenger – the Volkswagen Virtus, which incidentally had its best ever month in October 2024, registering 2,351 units sales.

This represents a 32 % growth in sales from the same month last year. The Virtus sedan has also managed to beat stable-mate Taigun – a mid-sized compact SUV that shares its platform and engine with the sedan. The Taigun managed 2,051 unit sales in October 2024.

Usually, when a sedan and compact SUV sell side-by-side, at similar price points, the compact SUV tends to outperform the sedan. This is true especially in India, where SUVs have simply taken the bottom off the sedan market. In a market where sedans are being outpaced by SUVs across segments, the Virtus comes across as a lone star, managing sales of about 50,000 units in the 2 years or so it’s been on sale here in India.

While October 2024 has been a great month for the Volkswagen Virtus,  other full size C-Segment sedans have witnessed significant headwinds. This, despite this month being bang in the middle of the great Indian festive season – a time when car buying peaks. To illustrate, Honda City sales dropped to just 1,004 units (a 35 % drop from October 2023) despite the sedan getting a strong hybrid option.

Month-on-month numbers for the City was more positive though, with sales growth of about 12 %. The Hyundai Verna did quite poorly too, dropping 35 % from October 2023, to close at 1,272 units while registering a month-on-month growth of 6 %. The Maruti Ciaz is now firmly the back marker in this segment, doing a little less than 700 units. Sales have been somewhat steady though for the Ciaz, with month-on-month numbers remaining nearly flat while falling only 5 % from October 2024.

The Skoda Slavia – a badge engineered version of the Virtus also saw a sales slip of 16 %, managing 1,657 units in October 2024. However, month on month sales for the Slavia represented a healthy 13 % growth. Overall, the Volkswagen group would be pleased with the numbers that the Virtus and Slavia are together bringing, for they’re essentially the same cars, produced in the same factory. The Virtus and Slavia are doing about 4,000 units on an average, which is quite good, given the dipping interest in sedans overall.

To put things into perspective, the Honda City alone – in its prime – would do about 4,000-5,000 units month after month, year after year. Such has been the battering the sedan market in India has been getting from similarly priced compact SUVs.

Circling back, let’s quickly figure why the Virtus and Slavia sedans are still managing to be attractive enough for car buyers in India,

1. Striking sedan looks. Both cars are long, proportional and have classic sedan lines that please-all-offend-none. For those who want understated elegance, both cars tick all the right boxes.
2. Choice of multiple engines and gearboxes. Want pep yet efficiency, there’s a 1 liter turbo petrol motor with about 115 Bhp-178 Nm, offered with 6 speed manual and torque converter automatic gearbox options. For those who want pure performance, there’s the 1.5 liter turbo petrol motor with 148 Bhp-250 Nm, and 6 speed manual and 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearboxes.
3. Space on the inside is substantial – Both cars are full sized sedans that feel like full sized sedans on the inside.
4. Ground clearance – the weak point of most sedans – is actually the strong suit of both the Virtus and Slavia, with a healthy 179 mm on offer.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, had this to say,

The success of the Volkswagen Virtus in the Indian market is a clear reflection of our customers’ trust and confidence in the brand’s commitment to quality, safety, and performance. The Virtus has not only redefined the premium sedan segment but has also set new standards with its driving dynamics, comfort, safety features, and striking design. We are immensely grateful for the incredible love our cars have received from Indian customers and look forward to amplifying their aspirations with exciting experiences.