After much hue and cry, the Indian auto industry has finally moved up to the BS6 emission norms. Automakers spent a huge amount to update the cars that included facility up-gradation, new components to lower CO2 emissions and rejigging the product portfolio. All of this has required copious amounts of time, effort and investments, which will help reduce vehicular emissions going forward. As a result, carmakers are using this opportunity to reduce their inventory and discontinue models that were either slow sellers or just too expensive to make the transition to BS6. Here’s a list of all the cars that have been discontinued in the BS6 era in India.
1. Tata Safari Storme
The iconic Tata Safari Storme has been effectively discontinued since the arrival of the BS6 emission norms. The dated 2.2-litre diesel wasn’t upgraded to new emissions and the SUV has aged to take on the competition. The Tata Harrier instead is a formidable rival to the new offerings.
2. Tata Bolt
Old and dated, the Tata Bolt has been discontinued from the automaker’s stable. Both the petrol and diesel engines do not meet the new emission norms, and the Bolt definitely didn’t match up to the new entrants in the segment. The Tata Altroz sits a segment above and is a much better rival.
3. Tata Zest
The Tata Zest has also been discontinued and goes out for the same reasons as the Bolt. That said, the Zest was a good product and a very spacious subcompact sedan in the segment.
4. Tata Hexa
One of Tata’s newer products, the Tata Hexa has been discontinued for now as it was powered by the older 2.2-litre BS4 compliant diesel engine. Based on the erstwhile Aria, the Hexa was spacious and comes close to the Toyota Innova Crysta in the segment.
5. Tata Sumo Gold
Tata’s answer to the Mahindra Bolero, the Sumo Gold does not get the BS6 upgrade and has been discontinued for now. The SUV despite being popular in the rural market does not garner the same kind of volumes as the Bolero, which prompted the carmaker to pull the plug on the model.
6. Honda BR-V
Honda Cars India has discontinued the BR-V seven-seater SUV. Based on the Brio platform, the model was always a substantardard offering compared to the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and even the Renault Lodgy, and has been axed for good.
7. Honda Accord Hybrid
While the Honda Accord Hybrid has been capable of meeting the new emission norms, the high price tag and a sluggish segment makes little sense to retain the model in the company’s line-up. It’ll be awhile before the next Accord makes its way to India.
8. Renault Lodgy
The very capable Renault Lodgy found few takers in India and with the brand’s decision to go petrol-only in the market, the diesel-powered Lodgy has been effectively discontinued in the country.
9. Toyota Etios
Made for India but not quite there, the Toyota Etios sedan despite being popular is now old for the market. Moreover, Toyota will now source small cars from Suzuki which has prompted the carmaker to discontinue the capable but terribly mundane looking sedan.
10. Toyota Etios Liva
The hatchback version of the Etios, the Toyota Etios Liva has also suffered the same fate as the sedan version. The company has no replacement planned, but sells the Suzuki-sourced Glanza in the premium hatchback segment.
11. Toyota Corolla Altis
A car we’ll miss in the Indian market. The Toyota Corolla Altis won’t be upgraded to BS6 emission norms. A big reason for this remains the slow sales in the D-segment sedan space.
12. Volkswagen Ameo
The Volkswagen Ameo is an India-specific offering developed to meet the country’s small car excise norms. However, the car has barely manage to scrape the surface of the potential in the subcompact sedan space. Under Volkswagen India 2.0 strategy in place, the Ameo finds little room in the company’s product portfolio.
13. Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan is the brand’s extremely capable SUV but was a diesel only offering and has been discontinued in India. Instead, we get the petrol-powered Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace that’s only only more spacious but also more practical for the Indian market.
14. Nissan Terrano
The Nissan Terrano was based on the Renault Duster and after a fairly decent run post launch, the model has aged and the company has done little to keep it updated amidst new competition. With no BS6 compliance under the hood, the Terrano has been axed in India.
15. Nissan Micra
Nissan’s popular Micra also faces the axe with BS6 norms coming into effect. The model hasn’t been updated for India in a while and while the new generation model is on sale internationally, there are no plans of introducing that model here. It’ll be awhile before Nissan brings the Micra replacement to the market.
16. Nissan Sunny
Based on the Micra, the Nissan Sunny was always known for its massive rear legroom but just the bare minimum upgrades, there have been hardly any sales of the sedan making discontinuing the model a more viable option for the company.
17. Fiat Linea
One of the most exciting cars of its time, the Fiat Linea has been discontinued. The current version is over a decade and has received a few upgrades to keep the model fresh over the years. We will miss this model for its superlative driving dynamics.
18. Fiat Punto Evo & Avventura
It’s not just the Linea that’s being discontinued, the Fiat brand is shutting shop in India and the Punto Evo and the Avventura are also being pulled off the shelves. To be honest, the Punto and the Avventura have aged and do not conform to the modern-day cars in the same segment. Sadly, they are brilliant drivers and that’s what we’ll miss about them. While the Fiat brand has been discontinued, parent company FCA will continue to operate in India with the Jeep brand.
19. Mitsubishi Outlander
It’s sad to see Mitsubishi’s lacklustre sales in India. The once popular brand has been slow in updating products in India. It introduced the Outlander in 2017 but the model has remained the same and does not meet the new norms either.
20. The Mitsubishi Pajero
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is another product that will be axed as a result of Mitsubishi’s slow response to the Indian market. Unlike the Outlander that gets a petrol version, the Pajero Sport is powered by a diesel engine and remains one of the most capable SUVs off the road. With the BS6 norms coming in, there’s been no communication from Mitsubishi India on upgrading products.
