VW Polo

It has been almost nine years since the Volkswagen marked its entry in volume-oriented segments with the Polo hatchback. With the best in segment build quality and decent engine options and features in and out, the Polo became a default choice for those who wanted the built-to-last feel of a premium car in a B-segment hatchback.

However, it has been almost ten years of the existence of VW Polo in India, and save for very minor changes to bumpers and headlamps as well as feature addition in and out, the car has remained completely unchanged. The Indian-spec VW Polo hasn’t underwent major sheet metal changes in the last ten years, which now makes it look dated. An all-new, sixth-gen VW Polo exists, and it is on sale internationally. However, because of its MQB platform which hasn't been localised here and the length exceeding 4,000 mm, it is not planned for launch in our market.

Instead of launching the sixth-gen Polo in India, Volkswagen will give the fifth-gen Polo another facelift in our market, and that too very soon. The company will introduce a new, 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine manufactured locally in this car. The new engine will be locally manufactured and likely replace the existing 1.0L MPI petrol, 1.2L TSI petrol and 1.5L TDI diesel engines.

VW Vento

Soon after the Polo, Volkswagen tried to cement its position in India with its second volume-oriented product, the Vento, a B-segment sedan based on the same platform as that of the Polo but with a stretched wheelbase, in 2010.

Just like the VW Polo, the VW Vento hasn’t witnessed a full model change even after nine years in India. Another minor model change is on the way, likely with the same new 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine as the yet-to-be-launched facelifted VW Polo. Internationally, there was a replacement in 2017 in the form of Virtus. However, the VW Virtus also happens to be an MQB model, and so, it hasn't been launched in our market.

Nissan Micra

One of the lowest selling hatchbacks in the Indian market, the Nissan Micra is out of the radar of many prospective buyers. This is particularly due to the fact that the hatchback is now a seriously dated proposition in front of the current crop of modern generation hatchbacks.

The fourth-gen Nissan Micra has been in our market for over nine years now. Facelifted back in 2014, it has remained unchanged in the last five years, save for a rejig of features across variants and introduction of a couple of limited edition variants. The drab-looking interiors and limited features of the old model put off many people. Moreover, it's very pricey compared to competitors, which are new and better.

Internationally, the fifth-gen Nissan Micra was introduced in 2016 but as it has been ruled-out for our market. This model is based on the V-platform like, just like its predecessor. There were rumours about a CMF-A+ platform-based fifth-gen Nissan Micra for our market in 2017. The launch of this model was said to take place in 2019, but that seems unlikely now.

The old Nissan Micra is available with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine (77 PS/104 Nm) linked to a 5-speed MT or a CVT and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine (64 PS/160 Nm) paired with a 5-speed MT.

Nissan Sunny

There was a time when Nissan Sunny revolutionised the sub-compact sedan segment. By offering the space and comfort of a compact segment sedan at the price of a sub-compact sedan, the Nissan Sunny offered a sheer value for money package. The incredible VFM factor made it an instant hit when it was launched in India almost eight years ago.

Except for one mid-life facelift, there, the Nissan Sunny has remained as is, and currently is the slowest-selling sedan in India right now. Despite its humongous space levels on the inside giving it a big car feel, the below-average ambience and dated design do make the India-spec Nissan Sunny a not so appealing proposition. The facelift did try to infuse some premium appeal in the car with added doses of chrome and a couple of new features, but the fact that no sheet metal changes have been carried out makes the Nissan Sunny pale in today’s times.

In April this year, Nissan unveiled the all-new Versa, which, as per the history of the nameplate, should have translated to the all-new Sunny for India. Like the previous generation model, the new generation model is based on the V-platform. In 2017, a CMF-A+ platform-based new generation model was said to be launched in India in 2018. However, there have been no developments since then.5

Renault Duster

The first-gen Renault Duster that was introduced back in 2010 continues in our market even today. Recently, it was given a second facelift, but the age still shows. In the highly competitive premium B-SUV segment, the first-gen Renault Duster seems very outdated now. Internationally, a second-gen model was introduced in 2017, but it's reportedly being skipped for our market.

Renault has tried to infuse some amount of freshness in the Duster by tweaking the front fascia as well as bringing in a couple of new features like projector headlamps and daytime running LEDs. However, the fact that engine options as well as overall styling on the outside as well as inside remains unchanged is a bit disappointing.

The once-again facelifted Renault Duster will continue to be on sale until the third-gen model is ready next decade. It can be had with a 1.5-litre petrol engine (106 PS/142 Nm) is linked to a 5-speed MT or a CVT, or a 1.5-litre diesel engine (85 PS/200 Nm or 110 PS/245 Nm) paired with a 6-speed MT or 6-speed AMT. An AWD system is optional.

It's being said that the 2020 Nissan Sunny would feature a far more upmarket and modern design than its predecessor. Various spy images have indicated that many styling cues will be borrowed from the Altima, while the front-end will have a sharper set of headlights. The new model will have a more rakish windscreen, while the side profile will be characterised by an upward rising beltline, a front quarter-glass, and door-mounted rear view mirrors. The rear-end will feature angular wrap-around tail lamps.

Details of the interior have been scarce until now, but it would be safe to expect a better kitted-out cabin made up of higher quality materials. Reportedly, the powertrain options for the US-spec model will include a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 122 hp of maximum power and 154 Nm of peak torque. The motor will drive the front wheels through a CVT. Currently, the  US-spec Versa is even available with a 5-speed manual transmission, but it's unknown if the same would be offered on the next-gen version.

The Nissan Versa available in the USA is visually the same car as the India-spec Nissan Sunny. That said, the next-gen model for the USA market isn't India-bound. Nissan could replace the current version with a CMF-A+ based model in case it wishes to take another crack at the premium sedan segment.

Also Read - 2019 Nissan Livina (Mitsubishi Xpander twin) officially unveiled

It may be noted that some time ago, it came to light that the Renault-Nissan Alliance will focus on rationalising two platforms for its future models for the Indian market - CMF-A/CMF-A+ and B0.

Cars with discount offers of more than INR 1 lakh

VW Vento

The Vento is a slow-selling C2-segment from the VW Group (average monthly sale - 466 units*) that is available with some fantastic discounts amounting to more than INR 2 lakh. The offers include a 10 per cent off the ex-showroom price, which leads to a discount of up to INR 1.35 lakh. That said, this offer is applicable only on the models from the MY 2018 stock. The fresh stock is available with a cash discount of INR 60,000. There's even an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, along with a loyalty bonus of INR 10,000 and a corporate discount of INR 15,000. Furthermore, the company is offering a free 4-year warranty cover with 4-year roadside assistance and 1st-year labour cost-free service. All these offers together lead to benefits worth INR 2 lakh.

VW Ameo

Even the VW Ameo (average monthly sale- 756 units*), which is a Polo-based compact sedan, is being sold with some fantastic offers. The MY 2018 stock is available with a 10 per cent discount on the ex-showroom price, which leads to a price cut of up to INR 90,000. The fresh stock is available with a cash discount of INR 30,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, loyalty bonus of INR 10,000, and a corporate bonus worth INR 15,000. Moreover, the company is offering a free 4-year warranty cover along with 4-year roadside assistance and 1st-year labour cost-free service. Together, these offers lead to discounts worth INR 1.35 lakh.

VW Polo

The Volkswagen Polo (average monthly sale - 1,490 units*) is on sale with some great discounts this month. The offers include a 10 per cent discount on the ex-showroom price of the car, which leads to a discount of up to INR 90,000. That said, this offer is applicable only on the MY 2018 models. The fresh stock is available with a cash discount of INR 30,000. There's even an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, along with a loyalty bonus of INR 10,000 on all the models.

Furthermore, there's even a corporate bonus of INR 15,000 on select models. Finally, the company is even offering a 4-year warranty and a 4-year roadside assistance package along with 1st-year labour cost-free service. All of these offers together lead to benefits worth INR 1.5 lakh.

Toyota Yaris

MY 2018 inventory of the Toyota Yaris (average monthly sale- 450 units*) is on sale with offers worth INR 1.34 lakh, Even the fresh stock is available with discounts of INR 65,000. The V-spec model from the leftover stock can be bought with a discount of INR 1.34 lakh, which includes INR 84,000 cash discount, INR 20,000 in exchange bonus, and a corporate bonus of INR 30,000. The J CVT variant can be bought with a cash discount of INR 42,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, and a corporate discount of INR 20,000. The J trim with manual transmission is on sale with benefits of up to INR 65,000, which include a cash discount of INR 25,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, and a corporate bonus of INR 20,000. The MY 2019 stock is also available with a cash discount of INR 65,000.

Toyota Corolla Altis

The Toyota Corolla Altis (avg monthly sale - 213 units*) is available with discounts and offers worth up to INR 1.2 lakh. The D1-segment sedan is on sale with a corporate bonus of INR 40,000, an exchange bonus of INR 20,000, and free accessories worth INR 50,000.

Nissan Micra

With an average monthly sale of 149 units*, the Nissan Micra is currently among the slowest-selling B-segment contenders in the country. It is presently available with a discount of up to INR 1 lakh, which the carmaker hopes would increase the popularity of its least priced model. The discount offer is exclusively applicable on the top-spec XV CVT variant of the leftover stock from last year.

Nissan Sunny

With an average monthly sale of 144 units*, the Nissan Sunny is among the least popular models in the C2-segment. That said, it is currently available at a starting price of INR 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), which makes it a pretty lucrative proposition. Even the leftover stock of the top-spec Sunny XV CVT model is available with a cash discount of INR 1.28 lakh, which translates into an on-road price of just INR 9.99 lakh in Delhi.

Skoda Rapid

The slow-selling Skoda Rapid (average monthly sales - 927 units*) is available with discounts amounting to INR 1.3 lakh. There is a straight price cut of INR 1.3 lakh on the Ambition Diesel trim, which now costs only INR 9.99 lakh. The petrol model in Active trim is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 7.99 lakh. However, please note that these offers are available only on the MY2018 stock.

Honda BR-V

With an average monthly sale of merely 365 units*, the Honda BR-V is among the slowest-selling models in its category. No surprise, then, that Honda Cars India is currently offering discounts in tune of INR 1.10 lakh to push the sales of its 7-seater offering. The company is offering free 1st-year insurance worth up to INR 35,000, along with an exchange bonus of INR 50,000, and accessories worth INR 16,000. Select dealers are known to be offering an additional discount of INR 10,000 to MNC and government employees. Even the leftover stock of the Honda BR-V is available with some fantastic offers, amounting to approximately INR 1.5 lakh. Other than the discounts listed above, buyers of the left-over stock are entitled to a cash discount of up to INR 50,000.

Renault Captur

The sl0w-selling Renault Captur (average monthly sale - 231 units*) is available with discounts of more than INR 2 lakh. There is a cash discount of INR 80,000, along with a corporate discount of INR 5,000. Furthermore, the company is offering finance option of a 0 per cent interest rate on a loan amount of INR 8 lakh for 2 years. Together, all the offers amount to more than INR 2 lakh.

*from September 2018 to February 2019

The Nissan Sunny Special Edition features several styling updates that set it apart from the regular version. The exterior carries a black roof wrap, body decals, blacked-out wheel covers, and a rear spoiler. On the inside, the latest limited edition model offers a black-and-red seat upholstery and a 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone mirroring as part of the package.

The Nissan Sunny Special Edition is also equipped with NissanConnect, a connected car technology with more than 50 features. These include geo-fencing, speed alert, curfew alert, nearby pit-stops, Locate My Car and Share My Car Location.

The Nissan Sunny Special Edition is available in two engine variants - 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel. The 16V HR15 petrol engine outputs a maximum power of 97.6 bhp @ 6000 rpm and a peak torque of 134 Nm @ 4000 rpm. It comes mated to company's X-Tronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The 8V K9K dCi diesel engine produces a maximum power of 84.8 bhp @ 3750 rpm and a peak torque of 200 Nm @ 2000 rpm.

Commenting on the launch of the new edition, Hardeep Singh Brar, Director Sales and Commercial, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd, said:

The Nissan Sunny is our flagship sedan and has enjoyed immense customer loyalty over the years. As a company that is always on the lookout for customer feedback, we are proud to present the Sunny Special Edition, an embodiment of this customer-centric product philosophy, smart technological upgrades and best-in-class spacious interiors that make it a perfect car for customers looking for a sophisticated driving experience.

Also See- Indian-spec Nissan Kicks teased, is bigger than the global version

Earlier this month, we reported that the current Micra and Sunny are getting a second facelift as their successors for the emerging markets are work in progress, with alliance partner Renault also in the planning meets. The next set of updates should help the fast-ageing models soldier on for a couple of years more.

While some media reports claim that the India-spec next-generation Nissan Sunny and Micra will ride on the cost-effective CMF-A+ platform, these models are years away from showrooms.

Speaking to the local publication last month, Marco Silva, President, Nissan Brazil, said that the old Nissan Micra and the Nissan Sunny “will undergo a minor change.” The company is yet to finalise plans for a full model change. Silva revealed Nissan is “even studying cooperation with Renault for such changes.”

In India, reports a year ago claimed a made-for-India new generation Micra arrives in 2019, and before that, Nissan is coming out with the next-gen Sunny in 2018. However, it's in black and white that the redesigned sedan isn’t arriving anytime soon, as Nissan is focusing on the Kicks’ launch scheduled early 2019 as the market moves towards crossovers.

The current Micra and Sunny are struggling for life in the intensely competitive Indian market. While rivals easily sell thousands of units a month, Nissan cars register a monthly sales of less than 500 units. They are priced starting from INR 5,03,328* (Active)/INR 6,42,001* (facelift) and INR 6,99,000* respectively.

The fifth generation Nissan Micra is an upper B segment vehicle developed with a clear focus on European competitors VW Polo and Ford Fiesta. Longer, wider and lower than ever before, it rides on a version of the V platform with a lot more sophistication. Measures to shift it upmarket has borne fruit as sales recovered 44% last year with the supermini improving to 12th position in the European sub-compact segment, its best performance in 11 years.

Also See: Indian-spec Nissan Kicks shows interior in video

The Indian-spec new generation Micra and Sunny, as per local reports, would ride on a more cost-effective CMF-A+ platform but having the same design as the global version.

*Ex-showroom Delhi

[Source: icarros.com.br]

The next-gen Nissan Sunny may have a design motivated by the fifth-gen Nissan Micra, as proposed in the rendering. Nissan has no plans to bring the hatchback or an all-new Sunny based on its platform to India. The Renault-Nissan Alliance will focus on rationalizing two platforms for future models in India - CMF-A/CMF-A+ and B0/Logan. The next-gen Sunny will ride on the CMF-A+ platform.

The current Nissan Sunny has a length of 4,455 mm and the outstretched body has not worked favourably for market share. The 2018 Nissan Sunny will have a smaller body to achieve a better balance between space and agility. The Renault Duster's 1.5-litre H4K petrol engine (106 PS/142 Nm) will power the car. Nissan should offer this engine with 5-MT and X-Tronic CVT. A diesel engine option is not planned, Autocar reveals.

Also See: India-bound 2018 Nissan Leaf shows its tail lamps & window frame in spyshots

The 2018 Nissan Sunny will compete with Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Maruti Ciaz. The Toyota Vios is also arriving next year to intensify rivalry. The alliance wants to stop cross-badging, which may have sealed the fate of the Renault Scala, for the French are planning crossovers in every segment.

The alliance plant in Chennai will be assigned the B-Segment sedan's production, a big volume of which will be earmarked for Africa, Middle East and Asia.

[Source: Autocar India]

Nissan India has quietly slashed the prices of the Nissan Sunny by up to a whopping INR 1.90 Lakhs. It is now priced between INR 6.99 Lakhs - INR 8.99 Lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi).

The top-end petrol XV CVT variant receives an INR 1.90 lakh price cut, which is the biggest across the range. Priced at INR 8.99 Lakhs now, the Nissan Sunny seems more appealing given the features offered and that its pricing is on par with top-end sub-4m sedans.

Nissan updated the Sunny in January to include new features as well as an optional Sandstone Brown colour option and black interior. The XV grade comes with features like intelligent key, push button start, and safety features including anti-lock braking (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), brake assist (BA) and four airbags.

The price cut, according to Nissan, comes from increased levels of localisation at its production facility in Oragadam, Chennai. Given that the average monthly sales of the Sunny nose-dived to 182 units in the past 6 months, the price cut comes as no surprise to us.

Nissan India has updated the MY2017 Nissan Sunny with minor exterior and interior tweaks. Prices remain unchanged, so the Sunny ranges between INR 7.91 Lakhs - INR 10.89 Lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi).

The exterior of the 2017 Sunny can be ordered in a new Sandstone Brown option, thus increasing the palette to six colours: Pearl White, Blade Silver, Bronze Grey, Deep Grey, Night Shade and Sandstone Brown. The car also gains chrome-finished door handles.

Inside, the 2017 Sunny drops the beige and black dashboard for an all-black colour contrasted by silver garnish across the cabin. The door cards and fabric upholstery have been made black to match the dashboard. The top-end XV grade comes standard with features such as intelligent key, push button start, and safety features including anti-lock braking (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), brake assist (BA) and four airbags.

There are no changes under the hood; Nissan continues to offer the option between a 1.5L petrol motor and 1.5L dCi diesel engine. Both variants come equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard, while a CVT is optional in the petrol variant.

With the European fifth generation Nissan Micra unveiled, it was time automotive illustrator Theophilus Chin added a boot to the car to give us the next-gen Nissan Sunny.

As the Nissan Sunny (Nissan Latio/Nissan Almera/Nissan Versa) is a key B-segment sedan for Indian, ASEAN, African and Middle East markets, a redesigned new generation model seems inevitable, to remain competitive against the Hyundai Verna, Kia Rio sedan, Suzuki Ciaz, Mazda2 sedan, Toyota Vios, VW Polo sedan, Honda City and the Mitsubishi Attrage.

As good as the rendered next-gen Nissan Sunny looks, the car in the picture could remain a pipe dream. The European Micra isn't planned for a launch in India, and probably not in any other AMEI market, which will source its car from the RNAIPL plant. The AMEI markets will get a different Micra perhaps based on a slightly modified V-Platform that underpins the current model, and the future Sunny could be from that family.

Also Read: 2017 Nissan Note enters production in Japan

A Nissan official last year told IAB that the next-gen Nissan Micra will be made in India, but we have not heard since then of Nissan's plans for the hatchback segment.

[Rendering from Theophilus Chin]

Nissan India has revised their product lineup ahead of the festive season, wherein they have trimmed the number of variants of each product by half. The product lineup comprises of the Nissan Terrano, Sunny, Micra and Micra Active.

The Nissan Micra hatchback receives the most significant revision. Gone is the 5-speed manual gearbox option for the petrol variant, leaving the X-Tronic CVT option for both XL and XV grades. Nissan has also discontinued the base XE and top XVP diesel trims, where the latter was equipped with four airbags. A driver airbag is standard across the range , while dual airbags are fitted in the XV petrol.

Its less expensive sibling, the Nissan Micra Active, is not available in the base XE grade anymore, leaving the XL, XV and XV S. The Nissan Sunny XV petrol is now equipped with a CVT as standard, instead of the mid-spec Sunny XL, while the XV premium diesel with leather upholstery has been discontinued.

Also Read: Nissan Kicks compact SUV detailed in video review

As for the Terrano, Nissan have discontinued the 85 PS Terrano XL variant, 110 PS Terrano XL and 110 PS Terrano XV grades (all three are diesel variants). This leaves a lineup comprising of the Terrano XL petrol, 85 PS Terrano XE and XL Plus and 110 PS Terrano XV Premium.

At the front, to give the standard sedan a more imposing look, Nissan has added tinted headlamps, a body kit and lowered the vehicle on its wheels. The car gets LED lights on the bumper, black grille, and the body kit extends along the sides as skirts and on the rear is a faux diffuser along with a spoiler over the boot lid.

Apart from carrying the 'Sportech' badge on the trunk, the Sunny Sportech is the same in all aspects compared to the regular sedan on sale in the market. No changes have been made either to the mechanical portions or to the inside or the equipment.

The Nissan Sunny Sportech was previously showcased at the 2014 Thailand Motor Show. The Sportech model is built on the VL and E variants of the Sunny and carries only a CVT transmission.

Disclaimer - This story is an advertorial.

#MomentsThatCount

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjyb6HzdZO8

Nissan has dedicated itself to encouraging sports activities globally and has been part of a series of international sports events including the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, UEFA Champion League, and Paralympic Games. It has now partnered with International Cricket Council to strengthen its presence in the international cricket through an 8 years contract running till 2023.

The video above, which has received over 1.35 million views on Youtube, offers a glimpse into how Nissan wants to bring the much loved sports into the everyday lives of Indian fans.

This step comes after their successful sponsorship of the Champions League. Nissan believes in pushing boundaries, taking risks, surprising and inspiring. This partnership would include supporting the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC World Twenty20 along with the Under 19 and Women’s Cricket and qualifying events. This will ensure them in being involved in all the prestigious and popular cricket tournaments.

Nissan will have extensive in-venue activation, broadcast and digital rights to all ICC events during this period.

Guillaume Sicard, President Nissan India Operations commented, “In India, cricket goes way beyond simply being a sport. It is practically a way of life for millions of people. I believe we have found a perfect partner for our brand.” "Our goal is to achieve 5% market share in India by 2020 and we have already invested substantially to build one of our most advanced plants and established one of our three global R&D centres. Now we are keen to repeat in India the sales success we already have in Europe, China, the US, Japan and elsewhere.” "We are thrilled to bring our passion and unique approach to cricket in India and around the world and are very much looking forward to the ICC World Twenty20 in India in 2016.”

According to the corporate vice president and global head of marketing and brand strategy for Nissan, Roel de Vries, “As partners with the ICC we will introduce ways to enrich the experience of cricket fans through our rights with the global Trophy Tour, the International Flag Bearer Program and new live event experiences.”

Nissan will embark on this journey with ICC through the ICC World Twenty20 2016. As a part of the Nissan Trophy Tour, the trophy will visit 12 countries taking part in the tournament which will be staged in India from 11 March to 3 April 2016.

Nissan India will be recalling about 12,000 units of the Sunny sedan and Micra hatchback as part of a global recall campaign. The recall is to address a faulty engine switch and faulty airbags, which were supplied by Japan's Takata corporation.

The affected cars were manufactured between June 2013 and March 2015 at the Alliance plant in Chennai. Globally, over 270,000 cars will be recalled by the Japanese company.

Nissan dealerships and service stations will soon get in touch with the affected owners and carry the necessary replacements at no cost to the customer.

Globally, faulty airbags from Takata have affected over 35 million vehicles from various brands, and caused at least 8 deaths and 130 injuries. Last week, Toyota and Nissan announced that they would recall an additional 2.86 million vehicles globally.

In October 2014, Nissan India recalled 9,000 units of the Micra and Sunny for the same airbag issue. In May 2013, Nissan India had issued a recall for 22,188 units of these cars for a potential defect in their master brake cylinders.

Last month, Honda Cars India issued a recall for 11,381 units of the Accord, 575 CR-Vs and 1 Civic, over a faulty inflator in the airbags, manufactured by Takata again.

Since July 2012, over 7 lakh vehicles have been recalled in India by various manufacturers.

[Source - Economic Times]

Nissan India today exported its 500,000th from the country from the Kamarajar Port in Ennore, near Chennai. The company managed to achieve the landmark in just under 5 years, after the first car was exported in September 2010.

Export models of the company include the Nissan Micra, Nissan Sunny, and Datsun Go. While the Micra makes up for the majority of the exports, the Datsun Go is being exported in small numbers. The Micra is exported primarily to the European markets, with around 72 percent of exports consisting of the hatchback. The Sunny makes up for 26-27 percent and the rest is brought up by the Datsun Go. The Go is exported mainly to South Africa and Nepal.

Apart from exporting an average of 100,000 cars a year out of Chennai, Nissan India also exports close to 1,800 parts to 34 Nissan plants in 24 countries. In terms of parts exports, India is the 2nd largest exporter, the company said.

"Exporting to over 100 countries," said Guillaume Sicard, president of Nissan India operations, "puts pressure on both quality and production." Cars manufactured in the alliance's Chennai plant is exported, at present, to precisely 106 countries.

Since the dimensions of the Verna facelift remain relatively unchanged (the length has increased by 5 mm thanks to the new bumpers), the pecking order in this segment with respect to the longest length and wheelbase remains unchanged: The Ciaz is the longest in overall length and wheelbase, with the City and Sunny trailing behind with a 2,600 mm wheelbase.

In terms of width, the Fiesta (available only with a diesel engine) is the widest followed by the Ciaz and Verna. The Ciaz and City offer a 510 liter boot, the Sunny gets a 490 liter boot, the Verna facelift a 465 liter boot, and the Vento and Rapid sport 460 liters of boot capacity.

Hyundai Verna Diesel vs Rivals -

Hyundai is the only manufacturer in this segment to offer two engine options. The 1.4L diesel Verna facelift makes 90 PS, comparable to the Fiesta, Ciaz and Sunny, whereas the 1.6L diesel Verna facelift makes a class leading 128 PS and 265 Nm of torque.

While the rest of the cars have a power-weight ratio between 78-86 PS/tonne, the 1.6L diesel Verna makes 108.65 PS/tonne. The Verna and City are the only cars in this segment to feature a 6-speed manual transmission. The Vento and Rapid are optionally available with a 7-speed DSG, whereas the Verna 1.6L diesel gets an optional 4-speed torque converter.

Coming to fuel efficiency, the Ciaz and the City post figures in the 26 km/l range, with the Fiesta closely following at 25.01 km/l.

Speaking about prices, HMIL has gone for premium pricing with even the base 1.4-liter Verna costing above the competition, and INR 8,000 cheaper than the VW Vento. The top-end Verna diesel AT is the most expensive mid-size sedan you can buy in India.

Hyundai Verna Petrol vs Rivals -

Again, Hyundai offers the Verna facelift with a 1.4- and 1.6-liter engine to target the entry-level buyers and those who wouldn't mind spending for the higher performance of the 1.6-liter unit. On paper, the Verna 1.6 petrol makes a class-leading power figure. In the power-weight ratio department though, it is outclassed by the Honda City. Save for the Verna 1.6 petrol and the City, the rest of the cars put up a power-weight ratio figure in the region of 90-92 PS/tonne.

All cars here are available with an automatic transmission as an option. The Verna facelift and Ciaz get a 4-speed AT, the City and Sunny come with a CVT, the Rapid features a 6-speed AT while the Vento TSI gets a modern 7-speed DSG.

The Ciaz is once again the benchmark for fuel efficiency, followed by the City and Verna. The Rapid has the lowest efficiency figure.

Coming to prices, the story repeats here with even the base 1.4-liter Verna costing more than the competition, and INR 3,000 cheaper than the Vento. However, the top-end Verna is priced about INR 15,000 cheaper than the top-end City MT, though it should be noted that the City comes with a sunroof.

Read more about the car in our first drive reviews of the 2015 Hyundai Verna Petrol and 2015 Hyundai Verna Diesel.

Nissan has introduced the refreshed Sunny (known as the Nissan Almera) in Malaysia, and along with it, a NISMO version has also been launched.

The changes in the refreshed sedan are identical to the Indian model launched last year: redesigned headlights, a new grille and bumper, new alloy wheels, a new steering wheel, a piano black center console and revised seat trims. The Malaysian model also gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen Android-based navigation system.

All variants are powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine capable of 102 PS (100.56 bhp) and 139 Nm of torque. The gearbox options include a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic unit.

The optional NISMO package on the Sunny adds aggressively designed bumpers with chin spoilers, side skirts, a trunk lid spoiler, 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/50 Continental tyres, a sports exhaust and a revised suspension system.

The NISMO kit (only the visual kit like spoilers, skirts, wheels and bumpers) costs RM 9,000 (INR 1.59 lakhs). With the inclusion of the exhaust and suspension system, the NISMO pack is priced at RM 14,000 (INR 2.48 lakhs).

Also read: Nissan, Datsun announce price hikes in India

The Sunny in Malaysia is priced between RM 64,960 and RM 77,622 (INR 11.51 lakhs to INR 13.75 lakhs).

Nissan has unveiled the Special Edition Nissan Almera Sportech (Nissan Sunny Sportech) at the 2014 Thailand International Motor Expo. The Sportech models are based on the 1.2-litre VL and E trim levels, which come with a 5-speed CVT transmission, pushing out 79 bhp power and 106 Nm of torque to the front wheels.

Cosmetically, at the front, the bumper has been updated to a sharper looking unit that now houses DRL LED lights and a sporty lip that gives the car a lowered stance. To continue the lowered look around to the side, skirts are added along with rear bumper extensions.

While the headlight and grill are retained from the regular version, the 14-inch, 5-spoke alloy wheel has been given a dark-grey metallic finish. The boot-mounted rear spoiler from the stock car has been retained with the addition of a ‘Sportech’ badge on the boot.

The interior retains the same fit and finish as the regular E and VL versions, featuring fabric seats, steering mounted controls and a touch screen entertainment unit.

The Almera E Sportech would be sold through Nissan dealerships across Thailand retailing at 525,000 baht (INR 9.93 lakhs) while the Almera VL Sportech is priced at 625,000 Baht (INR 11.82 lakhs).

PTI reports that Nissan India will announce a recall for the Micra and Sunny in India, to solve an issue relating to their airbags. The recall is part of a global program which has affected over 8 million cars from various brands (Nissan, Honda, BMW, Ford, Toyota and GM to name a few) that are equipped with airbags made by Japanese supplier, Takata.

In India, Nissan will recall about 9,000 units of the Micra and Sunny manufactured between 2010 and 2012. A Nissan India spokesperson said that the company will shortly begin notifying affected customers, and that the driver-side airbag inflator will be replaced by the dealership at no cost.

Globally, Nissan has recalled the Micra and Sunny/Almera/Versa (for certain export markets like Europe and Africa, the Micra and Sunny are exported from India), and the Note, Patrol and Cube models taking the number to 260,000 units.

Also read: Nissan teases a new SUV concept for the Sao Paulo Motor Show

In May last year, Nissan India recalled 22,188 units of the Micra and Sunny for a potential defect with their brake master cylinder. The affected vehicles were made between June 2012 and March 2013, and owners of these cars could have experienced reduced braking performance at lower speeds.