What exactly is this ‘red herring’ that we’re referring to on the cover?

Well, the obvious question is which of the three (quite suave) sedans on the cover of this issue – the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, and Volkswagen Virtus – are most worthy of a bite out of your hip pocket, but the more subtle question is this: can this trio really make a dent in the runaway popularity of SUVs?

Consider this, SUVs now account for almost half of all passenger vehicles sold in the country. While sedans, which once symbolised that you’ve actually arrived (both figuratively and literally), are now holding on, by the skin of their teeth, to a meagre tenth of the market.

But take just one look at this trio – they’re each sharp, svelte, and striking. And, better yet, they can each drive rings around the nearest “SUV.”

A lower centre of gravity, reduced weight, and tons more involvement mean that the driving experience in any one of these sedans will be virtually impossible to match in even the sharpest steering SUV. What they won’t do, however, is make you feel as though you’re sitting on a throne. So, if you have Henry VIII delusions – which many of you clearly do if the sales charts are to be believed – my only suggestion is this: before you put your next down payment on a high-riding SUV, take one of these out for a short spin first. You might remember what it feels like to be truly engaged in the driving experience.

And if it’s the engagement of an internal combustion engine that you continue to crave, even in this age of EVs, I urge you to turn to the final page of this issue – because the messiah of the internal combustion engine could well be synthetic fuels, which claim to have a net effect on carbon emissions.

If this sounds too good to be true, well, it could well be. But remember that it’s taken decades for EVs to become mainstream, so for any new technology to become mass-market ready and available will take an enormous amount of time, effort, and investment. So, perhaps that’s where your gaze (and chequebooks) should be focussed…

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