It is indubitable that hybrids are the way to get a slice of the green credentials, at least until the infrastructure for all-electric mobility, or the development cost of fuel-cell technology lowers substantially. In this comparison, there's an evident classification - the Japanese vs. the Germans and hybrid vs. conventional powertrains.
Normally, every car in a comparison holds some USP against the competition, which is not something that may be said about the
Honda Accord. On the plus side, the car is big, fast, safe, comfortable, and the has a smooth and seamless hybrid drive. But that's simply not enough when one plonks ₹ 55 lakhs (on-road Mumbai) on the car, and gets iffy plastics on the inside, no feel-good features for the rear passengers (HVAC and infotainment controls, reclining seats, sun blinds, etc.), and an unsettled ride (a common Accord trait). The total lack of a spare wheel or any alternative solution is another big bummer. It's also a rare Honda that fails at spatial packaging - the interior space and the trunk volume are relatively poor, especially considering how big the car is. Also, I don't like the face of all the new Hondas, with the overloaded chrome grille piercing into the LED headlamps.
The
VW Passat in an incredibly classy offering, inside out. The styling is very elegant (albeit a little boring), and that sweet interior has lots of feel-good touches (that lovely, lovely Engine On / Off switch). The punchy diesel motor and well-judged suspension with adjustable dampers make it a potential fun-to-drive package, too. That said, VW did a major goof-up, not bringing the TSi version, which would've made it all the more competitive. I haven't driven this version of the Passat, but the gen-1 car rode really stiff and had a lifeless steering. There are reliability concerns over the 6-speed DQ250 DSG, too, but they're far less than the notorious 7-speed DQ200. I hope that's not the case with the latest car. The multitude of blank switches on the centre console is also very annoying, and definitely not expected when it costs about ₹ 41 lakhs (Highline Connect, on-road Mumbai).
If one looks to go in for a hybrid experience, the
Toyota Camry is the way to go. The cons of the Camry are the weird styling - both interior and exterior, a missing tachometer (not that one would miss a tacho in a car with green credentials), Toyota's vehement refusal to offer Android Auto / Apple CarPlay in the infotainment system, and some low-rent plastic bits. Also, the rear seat is set lower than before, and I found the earlier version's sofa-like seat much more comfortable. And why do all Toyotas have that prominent orange-peel effect on the paint? But all these are far outweighed by its virtues, including strong and smooth performance from the hybrid drive, lots of gizmos, balanced ride and handling setup, a big boot with a full-sized alloy spare (take that, Honda!), and outstanding fuel efficiency. Also, at about ₹ 45 lakhs (on-road Mumbai), it's a cool million bucks cheaper than its direct competitor, the Accord!
That brings us to the car I voted for, the
Škoda Superb . Škoda has knocked it out of the park with the proportions and sharp design of the gen-3 Superb. I can't get over how incredibly classy it looks from every angle, and I have a feeling it'll age the least in this company! Then comes the lovely, well thought-out interior, matched with limo-like space. I expected infotainment controls for the rear passengers too (at least in the L&K version), but the comfy seats and all that space more than make up for it. It doesn't compromise on practicality, either, with the cavernous boot and full-size spare wheel. Then the powertrains - punchy 2.0L turbo diesel and a road rocket 1.8L turbo petrol married to the competent chassis and balanced suspension means there's a lot of fun to be had behind the wheel. Although, I was disappointed to see that the V6 4x4 didn't make a comeback, as it would've given the Superb much more exclusivity and desirability. It has all the features that the Passat comes with (except the auto-parking system and one airbag), but one-ups it with the ventilated and heated seats. Yes, one has to live with the knowledge that there's a gremlin in the form of the unreliable gearbox in one's car (petrol more so than the diesel), that can raise its ugly head anytime. But it can be mitigated to some extent by the long 6-year warranty plan by Škoda. Also, the diesel commands a lot more premium than the diesel (close to ₹ 3 lakhs). But given the price - ₹ 37 lakh for L&K TSi and ₹ 40 lakh for L&K TDi (on-road Mumbai) - this car is the most VFM option, and above all, a brilliantly conceived product!