India’s Dream Car Getting Ignored For THIS? » MotorOctane

Cars in India have significantly evolved over the years. However, one of the cars from the 90s – the Honda City has consistently been India’s dream car. The nameplate is still on sale today, but is getting overshadowed by a popular German competitor! Why?
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Best Car Under Rs 20 Lakh – VW Virtus

Ever since the Honda City first landed in India, the sedan has taken over the hearts of enthusiasts. And with every new gen, the City kept on becoming better in every regard – until 2025. The City competes with the likes of Volkswagen Virtus, which has created some serious trouble for the City. The Virtus has been on sale for a few years now, but in 2025, it is in a different league in terms of sales. For instance, in October 2025, Virtus made an impressive sale of 2,483 units – compared to just 578 units of the City. And this is not just for the mentioned month. For the past few months, the sales of City have been below 1000 while Virtus has been the best-seller in the segment! So, what makes the Virtus such a popular car – making Indians ignore the Honda City?

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Performance

One of the reasons why buyers preferred the Honda City was its performance. It always came with a 1.5-litre NA petrol engine that loves to rev to the redline. On the other hand, Virtus is offered with two engine options – 1.0-litre TSI engine (114bhp & 178Nm) & 1.5-litre TSI engine (148bhp & 250Nm). Both these engines feel eager to push & are pretty punchy. Also, the bigger engine with the DSG gearbox makes the Virtus a fun-to-drive car. 

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Best Car Under Rs 20 Lakh – German engineering

What also adds to the fun-to-drive quotient is the German engineering. The platform, the suspension setup & the steering feedback are spot on. It feels solid at high speeds & in control on twisty roads.

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Design

Now, although we keep the design aspect for the audience to judge, the fact that the Virtus is a better-looking car is equally true. On the outside, the Virtus has a more balanced design compared to any other sedan in the segment. While on the inside, it feels plush, sporty & practical at the same time. On the other hand, the City has a more no-nonsense interior design language – and that may not be appreciated by many in 2025.

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Best Car Under Rs 20 Lakh – Practical

Even in terms of practicality, the Virtus outshines the Honda City. Compared to the City, the Virtus has a larger wheelbase, has more boot space and has a higher ground clearance. Overall, it is a more spacious car with added benefits of an SUV.

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Safety 

Finally, the safety. Previously, the 4th-gen Honda City was crash tested by the Global NCAP, where it scored 4-star safety ratings. The current gen has yet to be tested but is expected to score at least a 4-star safety rating, if not 5-star. On the other hand, the Virtus has the 5-star safety car title in front of its name. This gives the buyer more assurance.

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Overall, the Virtus has got some key fundamentals right to take on the likes of the Honda City. It has been the best-seller in its segment for the past few months. However, the gap between Virtus & its competitors is further expected to improve with the upcoming facelift. In 2026, the VW Virtus is set to receive a facelift, which will bring some design changes & new features like Level 2 ADAS!